Thank you to everyone who took part in the Sandpit event on Wednesday 6th July 2022. The objective of the day was to bring together any potential grant applicants to provide a forum for free-thinking, to delve into the problems surrounding CO poisoning.
Below is Baroness Finlay's summary of the morning.
A critical part of the Sandpit process is the capture of thoughts and ideas. To ensure that all the input to the day is not lost, below are the notes taken from each session.
Group 1 - Improving Diagnosis
A critical area of research. Given the limitations of carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) it is essential that a new biomarker is found to make diagnosis easier, to ensure that those who need treatment receive it, and to make sure that all cases of CO exposure are identified, so a true picture emerges. This may include the development of new techniques, improved patient pathways, and improvements in the application of technology.
Group 2 - Better Treatments and Therapeutics
To improve the treatments and therapeutics for CO exposure, we need to better understand the mechanisms of CO poisoning, to review and build upon current methods, and to further explore the increased susceptibility and specific risks associated with vulnerable groups and those with underlying health conditions.
Group 3 - The effects of CO on Vulnerable Groups
It is generally thought that the elderly, children, pregnant women (and unborn child), people living in fuel poverty, and people with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to CO exposure. Similarly, it is important to understand the long-term outcomes of exposure on healthy individuals. To be able to develop policies and solutions to mitigate these risks, we need to increase our knowledge of the consequences of exposure.
