University of Kent

AI-enabled app to turn smartphones into respiratory disease detection devices 📱 Kent sports scientist, Professor John Dickinson, is co-developing an app that can transform a smartphone into a low-cost, non-invasive screening device for early respiratory disease detection to save lives and relieve diagnostics pressures on the NHS. By utilising AI technology to measure both a person’s chest motion and breathing sounds to understand their breathing pattern, the app will give users the ability to detect abnormal breathing patterns in real time, without the need for internet access or clinical equipment. Unlike current methods for diagnosing respiratory problems which rely on trained staff in clinical settings, the mobile-first approach will enable patients to accurately detect abnormal breathing patterns at home and in community settings before consulting their GP. Read more at kent.ac.uk/news/research/…

Our targeted vaccination programme is underway in response to the meningitis outbreak in Kent. Eligible students will have received an invite. Hear from those who took up the offer straight away 👇 More info on the outbreak: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18/men…

We're doing everything we can to contain the meningitis outbreak in Kent. @WesStreeting visited @UniKent to thank @NHSEngland, @UKHSA and university teams who set up a vaccination centre so quickly to protect the local community. Find out more: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18/men…

Sports centre clinic update ⚠️ The queue for our on campus clinic is already very busy, and we're expecting that it may close at a similar time to yesterday due to demand. Students and those eligible can also attend the following locations for vaccination and precautionary antibiotics: Vicarage Lane Clinic, Ashford (TN23 1NJ) • Fri 20 March: 8.30am–7.30pm • Sat 21 March: 9am–4.30pm • Sun 22 March: 9am–4.30pm Faversham Health Centre (ME13 8QR) • Fri 20 March: 9am–5pm • Sat 21 March: 9am–5pm Gate Clinic, Kent and Canterbury Hospital (CT1 3NG) • Fri 20 March: 8.30am–7.30pm • Sat 21 March: 9am–4.30pm • Sun 22 March: 9am–4.30pm Please attend any of these sites if more convenient, and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding. More information - kmhealthandcare.uk/meningitis-ant…

Huge thanks to the @NHSEngland @UniKent team for standing up our vaccination centre in Canterbury so quickly and with such professionalism in challenging circumstances. They deserve real credit. Over 600 students through yesterday afternoon and more coming through now.

MenB vaccine update - 19 March - 2.50pm The queue for the MenB vaccine is now closed due to capacity. The queue has been closed as nursing staff are unable to see any more people within the clinic’s remaining opening hours today. The team have been working incredibly hard to vaccinate as many people as possible. The clinic will reopen on: Friday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm Saturday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm Sunday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm be in the queue by 2pm #UniversityOfKent

Important - vaccination eligibility update ⚠️ Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency, we can share that any student or staff member at the University of Kent is now eligible for the MenB vaccination. The vaccination clinic at our Sports Centre is open until 5pm today and from 9am to 5pm tomorrow (20 March). Students and staff MUST bring their University of Kent IDs to be able to get the vaccination. #UniversityOfKent

We would like to thank all in our community for the care, patience and responsibility you continue to show during this difficult time. We know this situation remains worrying for our students and our wider Kent community. The vaccination programme for students living on-campus accommodation continues to be rolled out. If you have been emailed and have been identified as an eligible student, you can receive your vaccination from 9am in the Sports Hall on the Canterbury campus today. We recognise that there are students who are not currently eligible for the vaccine that may feel concerned. The programme is being delivered in line with national public health advice. We will continue to share updates if there are any changes. If you live in the Canterbury campus halls of residence but have already returned home, arrangements are currently being developed to ensure that you can receive the vaccines nearer home. Further information on how you can receive the vaccination will be provided in due course. Today, we are also welcoming the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, @wesstreeting MP, to campus. He will be meeting with students and staff involved in the vaccination programme and seeing first-hand the work taking place to support our community. Please continue to remain aware of the symptoms of meningitis and sepsis and seek medical advice promptly if you or someone around you becomes unwell.

Meningitis B vaccination programme rolled out Following the recent Government announcement, a vaccination programme is being implemented for students living in our on-campus accommodation in Canterbury, with a vaccination centre now open for eligible students who have been contacted directly with further details. student.kent.ac.uk/news/2276/urge… #UniversityOfKent

Hi we’re working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on this and GPs are being asked to provide precautionary antibiotics to all University of Kent students who get in touch. Known close contacts of cases are also being contacted directly by UKHSA and provided with advice on what to do next. If a student has returned home and has not been contacted, they should seek advice from their GP or local health service for precautionary antibiotics. Anyone who develops symptoms of meningitis or sepsis should seek medical attention urgently. Thanks James

@UniKent What advice do you have for those students who returned home either before or over the weekend and are currently not on campus or in the Canterbury area?

Update – Meningitis – 17 March - Precautionary antibiotics and vaccination programme Following advice from public health colleagues, students living in our on-campus University accommodation are being asked to attend the Senate Building to collect precautionary antibiotics. If you have already been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency and have collected your medication, you do not need to attend again. To help manage queues and distribution, the Senate Building will be open from 9am to 8pm on Tuesday 17 March and Wednesday 18 March. We are also aware the government has announced a vaccination programme for students at Kent. We will let everyone know how this will operate when we have received guidance from the UK Health Security Agency. Further information will continue to be shared via your student email, so please keep an eye on your inbox. If you have any concerns, please be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and seek medical advice if needed. For more information, including symptoms, alternative exam arrangements, please visit: bit.ly/3NtIAO7 #UniversityOfKent

Cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been confirmed in Kent. Sadly, 2 people are known to have died. It's important to know the signs of symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Get more info from @NHSuk. 🔗 nhs.uk/conditions/men…

Update - 11:30am - 16th March We are continuing to work closely with public health colleagues as well as our partners in the local area as this situation develops. We have contacted all our students and staff to ensure they have all the latest advice and support they need, and we will continue to update via email and social media. These communications are shaped by the advice from the UKHSA who have oversight of the overall situation. They have also been contacting known contacts of any cases in our community with advice on what to do and any next steps. Further information about meningitis, symptoms and vaccination is available via the link below. A reminder that there will be no in person assessments or exams this week, and Schools will be in direct contact with students to provide details on alternative arrangements. We recognise that this is a very sad and worrying time for many members of our community. Please remember that support services are available, and we encourage anyone who needs support to reach out to our Student Support and Wellbeing team. We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available. student.kent.ac.uk/news/2276/urge…

We are deeply saddened to confirm that one student from the University of Kent has died following a case of invasive meningitis. Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time. The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are working closely with public health teams and are in touch with staff and students to ensure they get the advice and support they need. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep our community informed at blogs.kent.ac.uk/student-news/2…

Did you get a drone for Christmas? 🕹️ As of the 1st January, anyone looking to fly drones or model aircraft weighing 100g or more outside must complete a Civil Aviation Authority (CCA) online theory test to get a Flyer ID. University of Kent Law Lecturer, Dr Alan McKenna, recently spoke to the BBC about the changes and how they may be enforced. He told the BBC while he believed most people would seek to abide by new UK requirements for flying drones outdoors, some may look to "fly under the radar". "You're always going to get people who make mistakes or can't be bothered," Dr McKenna said - adding concerns about the impact of rising drone use on the environment, privacy and safety were "wider issues" at play. Read more at bbc.in/3N5fuUL #UniKent #Law

New partnerships to supercharge electric ferry travel from Kent ⚡ Two Government-funded projects supported by Kent researchers are bringing the electrification of ferry journeys between Dover and the French coast one step closer to reality.  Funded through Innovate UK’s latest Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, the two projects will our Kent Business School and the School of Engineering and Digital Design work with local and international partners to overcome operational and skills barriers to introducing fully-electric ferries at the Port of Dover.  More at bit.ly/4aNZDDE #UniKent

Funding boost for Kent-led regional health and social care research 🏥 We're pleased to share we've secured funding, from April 2026, to continue to deliver applied health and care research that responds directly to the most urgent health and case issues within the South East of England. Read more at bit.ly/48Du90p #Health #SocialCare #UniversityOfKent #Kent

Reading with your child is a treasured experience but many parents with sight loss miss out 📖 Kent's Dr Angela Nyhout recently spoke to ITV News Meridian about her research and why inclusive reading matters for every family. Angela shared her research-backed insights on how beneficial reading is for both children's language skills and emotional wellbeing, reinforcing the importance of Guide Dogs UK's new service designed to prevent parents from missing out on this treasured experience. In the interview, she said: 'Reading to children exposes them to rich vocabulary that they wouldn't otherwise be exposed to in their day to day lives. They learn to take perspectives, use complex words like think and know to talk about other people's mental states and their own, and they get practice taking perspective. So not only of the characters in the book, but also maybe their parents' perspective where they have a different perspective on the story. ' Watch from 18:38 at itv.com/watch/news/cat…