Lincoln Scientists Win Wellcome Trust Funding to Tackle Health Issues Related to Climate Change

A Lincoln-based team of scientists have achieved first prize in the Wellcome Data Science Ideathon; a competition designed to develop and pitch ideas on how to solve urgent global health challenges using data science.

The group of experts from the University of Lincoln, UK, combined their expertise in computer science, environmental behaviour, meteorology, primary and rural health, and deep learning, to develop software for a platform which aims to improve mental health and respiratory-related challenges.

By coming first, the team conferred eligibility to receive a Wellcome Trust grant of up to £100,000 to develop a prototype mobile phone application that can monitor methane levels by locale, linked to user demographics, and alert them to any health pathways needed to help them prevent health emergencies.

Increasing changes in climate could pose a direct threat to human health – in particular, mental health disorders and respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – recent literature suggests there is a significant increase in the number of people requiring urgent medical attention.

Dr Harriet Moore, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, said: “Currently, there is not a great deal of research relating to methane emissions and their negative impact on health-related issues.

“Our platform aims to bridge this gap and act as a mobile phone application alert system that would notify users on whether they need to use preventative measures to mitigate a decline in existing health conditions, brought about by an increase in methane emissions.”

Professor of Primary and Pre-hospital Health Care at the University, Niro Siriwardena, said: “We are becoming increasingly aware of the serious effects of climate and pollution on health, which is now developing into one of the most pressing health issues to face the UK and the rest of the world.

“This study led by Dr Harriet Moore is a fantastic opportunity for geographers, rural health, health improvement, and computer scientists at the University of Lincoln, in collaboration with academic partners at the University of Ghana, to contribute to our understanding of this problem and its potential solutions.”

The team will continue to develop and refine the prototype, acknowledging the numerous ethical and global considerations before being released for general use.