• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study
    • Courses and subjects
    • Find a course
    • A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Academic departments
    • Visiting the university
    • Explore: get to know us
    • Upcoming events
    • Virtual tours
    • Chat to our students and staff
    • Open days
    • Applicant days
    • Order a prospectus
    • Ask a question
    • Studying here
    • Accommodation and locations
    • Applying
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Transferring from another university
    • The Student Contract
    • Clearing 2022
    • International students
    • Fees and finance
    • Advice and help
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and teachers
    • Managing your application
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Apprenticeships
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Aerial view of the Moulsecoomb campus
About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • News and events
    • News and events
    • Coronavirus
    • News
    • Events
    • Livestream
    • Open lectures
    • Term dates
  • News
    • News
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013

Brighton scientists go back to work

University of Brighton scientists have returned to their labs to make hand sanitizer in “the interests of scientific citizenship”.

7 April 2020

They spent a day making more than 20 litres of a handrub formulation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and said: “As long as we have the resources and the reagents, we can come in and do it again, as required”.

Professor Hal Sosabowski, the university’s Professor of Public Understanding of Science, said: “Hand sanitizer is in short supply so we decided to help by filling that gap in the supply chain as best we can. Many frontline NHS staff may struggle to get enough supplies in the middle of this tragedy and that is why we want help even though we know that this is probably a drop in an ocean.”

He and colleagues including Dr Angela MacAdam and Dr Matt Ingram in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, first researched production methods from the WHO before the team left their homes. Then it was back to the lab wearing lab coats and safety glasses. They were assisted by Professor Bhavik Patel who advised remotely.

Professor Sosabowski and Dr Angela MacAdam in the lab

Professor Sosabowski and Dr Angela MacAdam in the lab

Sanitizer made in the lab

Sanitizer made in the lab

Professor Sosabowski said: “The school have modern, up-to-date labs with the resources, solvents and chemicals required to do such a thing and with the help of our colleagues in (the university’s) Estates Department we were able to gain entry (to the labs), even though we are in lockdown.”

Professor Sosabowski, who has also collected up university eye shields to distribute to GP surgeries, said it was the obvious decision to go back to the labs: “The whole thing about my colleagues is that they’re modest and just want to come in and contribute albeit in this modest way.”

Colleagues, he said, didn’t hesitate: “The ability to contribute something that is tangible has been a relief to all four of us.

“The sanitizer will be sent to wherever it is needed the most and we have all agreed, we’ll make more if the need arises.”

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents