2006 Annual Report - University of Salford

Maximising research – tackling issues
Annual Report &
Financial Statements
Parasite researchers visit ‘roof of the world’
Skin-to-skin contact affects babies’ futures
In May a team of Salford researchers visited Tibet to help the
Chinese Government to save lives in semi-nomadic Tibetan
communities through field-work tracking the spread of the
life-threatening parasite Echinococcus.
The Biosciences Research Institute team discovered that the
parasite is widespread among people in the region known as
the ‘roof of the world’.
The scientists investigated how Echinococcus is spread by
infected dogs, livestock and small mammals to the human
population. The parasite causes hydatid cysts which may form
in the brain, bones, lungs or liver. It can lie dormant for up to
20 years, making it difficult to detect in areas which have poor
access to modern medical facilities.
The team are currently reporting their work to the Chinese
Government which has made tackling the parasite a top
priority for health improvement in western China.
Our midwifery lecturer Mary Price received her doctorate in
August for research into cuddling.
Mary, who teaches at the School of Health Care Professions,
spent five years studying mother and baby relationships
at Rochdale Infirmary to see what effect early physical
contact has.
She found that there are huge benefits to be had by mothers
making skin-to-skin contact with their babies – especially in
the hour just after birth.
She believes that without this initial contact a child’s whole
future life could be affected. Her findings have been adopted
by Rochdale Infirmary’s maternity unit and she hopes they will
soon be spread to other hospitals across the country.
Since the story has been released in the media, Mary has been
in high demand, with articles published in national
newspapers and even as far away as Mumbai and Turkey;
meaning that even more hospitals could adopt her findings.
At Salford, we are committed to furthering the
Mary Price and the importance of skin-to-skin contact
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