Southampton researchers are investigating a new way to help children and young people with asthma.
Asthma affects over 330 million people worldwide and is the most common long-term condition in children in the UK. It can have a significant impact on quality of life.
Researchers in our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) are working with young patients to help them manage the condition.
Dr Anna Rattu is a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton. She explains what she hopes to achieve through a one-year BRC Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship.
How did you become interested in research?
I became interested in research during my undergraduate degree in life sciences. I was given the opportunity to design and deliver my own project on a rare respiratory condition.
Following this, I joined Prof Graham Roberts’ group for my PhD. It focused on the management of severe asthma. My research involved developing a quality of life outcome measurement tool and identifying predictors of treatment response. We sought input from key stakeholders, including patients and healthcare professionals across the UK and Europe.
My current research is about optimising asthma management in children and young people. The overarching goal is to improve quality of life for this patient group.
What is the healthcare challenge that you are seeking to address?
My research focuses on asthma, the most common childhood condition. It affects one in 14 children in the UK and costs the NHS over one billion pounds annually.
Despite advances in treatment, many young people still experience persistent symptoms. They may also have life-threatening asthma attacks that require hospital admission.
Children and young people often struggle to manage their asthma. They face challenges such as changing peer relationships, avoiding triggers like smoking and fitting medication into daily life.
I am investigating whether a novel self-management intervention can improve quality of life for children and young people with asthma. This is a key goal in asthma care across the NHS. If the intervention proves to be effective, I will conduct a larger trial to show that the approach can be integrated into routine care.
What do you hope to achieve in your research at the BRC?
As part of my fellowship, I am testing an intervention to improve management of asthma in children and young people. I plan to subsequently test this intervention in real-world settings. The aim is to inform clinical guidelines and ultimately improve paediatric asthma care.
In the long term, I aspire to become an independent researcher and lead a research programme focused on improving the management of respiratory conditions. The BRC fellowship is a key step in this journey. It provides the time and resources I need to generate evidence and develop skills for future funding applications.
How would you sum up your fellowship in three words?
Challenge, growth, reward
What's it like being an early career researcher in Southampton?
Southampton has been my academic home for nearly 10 years, from my undergraduate studies to my current role as a postdoctoral researcher. It has been a great experience.
As an early career researcher, I've had invaluable guidance from my research supervisors and mentors. This has been particularly helpful in preparing for external fellowship applications.
The university has provided lots of support for navigating the post-doctoral space. For example, I’ve been able to access courses on grant writing and career development. I’ve also had plenty of opportunities to present my work within the faculty and the broader research community. This has been key in establishing myself in the field and expanding my network.
I’m enjoying collaborating with healthcare professionals and patients at UHS, as well as national and international colleagues, to design and conduct my research projects.
What advice would you give other early career researchers?
Say ‘yes’ to opportunities that seem interesting, whether that’s teaching or public engagement. These experiences enrich your research - but can also lead to unexpected collaborations and new opportunities.
Navigating a research career can be challenging. But having a solution-oriented mindset and pushing through difficulties will help you grow in the long-run.
Lastly, don’t forget to ask for help and guidance from your network and mentors. Even if they haven’t faced your exact challenge, they can offer some much-needed reassurance and point you in the right direction.
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