Some examples of our research and knowledge exchange work :
• Researchers within our School of Health Sciences conducted research with people who contracted COVID-19 near the start of the pandemic in 2020 . The project aimed to establish what help and support services they needed to aid their recovery from the virus . The results will be used to increase understanding of COVID-19 and to inform future service provision for people recovering from the virus in isolation .
• Our global health and development researchers looked at the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on loneliness and isolation among asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland .
• Multi-disciplinary research groups within the University are involved in a wide range of research projects that promote a person-centred approach to supporting people affected by dementia .
• Our nursing staff are involved in research into osteoporosis that is helping to educate front-line healthcare workers in the moving and handling of patients in hospital .
• RaceRunning ( now known as Frame Running ), an innovative athletic event for people of all ages with limited mobility , is the focus of research being carried out by a QMU physiotherapy expert alongside other UK researchers . The team is investigating the potential health benefits that this activity may have on the lives of children and young people with cerebral palsy . A second , separate research study has been carried out into the evidence-based classification for RaceRunning that may lead to the sport being included as a para-athletic event at the Paralympics .
• Our global health researchers are part of a consortium ‘ ReBUILD for Resilience ’ that is looking at health systems in fragile states that are experiencing violence , conflict , pandemic and other shocks . The team is producing high quality research that will improve the health and lives of millions of people in different parts of the world .
• Longitudinal research carried out with mentally ill adults who were learning to write , led to the development of ‘ The Recovery Letters ’. The collection of writing from people who were recovering from depression , was included in a mental health kit that was issued across Scotland . It was intended to bring support and comfort to people living with mental ill-health during the COVID-19 pandemic .
• One of our leading cultural experts has been involved in the FailSpace research project that explores how the cultural sector can better recognise , acknowledge and learn from failure . The project has developed a new website offering tools designed to help everyone in the cultural sector instigate honest and open conversations about failure between colleagues , artists , funders , participants and board members .
• Our speech and language experts are developing technologies to help improve the speech communication of children with significant speech communication difficulties .
• Our cultural policy lecturer has been working with arts funders in Scotland , Wales and Portugal to put into action her research on how to support high quality in arts projects working with participants . A new set of films has been developed to help arts practitioners get the most out of the toolkit made in Scotland , and the latest research report shows how organisations in the three countries are benefitting from this quality model from QMU .
• Our film and media lecturers are continually developing and researching different techniques and styles of filming ; they include award-winning filmmakers who have had significant success with showcasing their work on the international film festival circuit . They have been able to share the latest techniques with students and advise them on the process of getting films selected for screening at festivals all over the world .
• We have a strong track record in building relationships with businesses , which helps us develop research that supports business development in the UK . Our work with small businesses has led to several internship opportunities for students . We work with international partners , including NGOs and academics at universities abroad , to develop collaborative research with global reach .
• We led the first research project in Scotland to look at the experiences of lesbian , gay and bisexual ( LGB ) people who have received treatment for cancer . The aim is to better understand their experiences during their cancer care journey and to establish if services need to be adapted to meet LGB patient care needs .
• A new interactive initiative using virtual reality ( VR ) with palliative care patients , to transport them virtually to the other side of the world , has looked at the impact that it has on their health and wellbeing .
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