The substantial investment from the , marks the fourth phase of The鈥檚 (SSI) mission to transform research culture by establishing the principle that reliable, reproducible, and reusable software is necessary across all research disciplines.

The SSI, which is based at the universities of Swag直播, Edinburgh, and Southampton, was established in 2010 as the world鈥檚 first organisation dedicated to improving software in research, with Swag直播 playing a central role in its success.

The next phase will focus on tackling critical challenges in research software, including environmental sustainability, equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well as the rising interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.

The next phase of the programme will run from 2024 to 2028 and will be led by the .

It is fourth time the SSI has been entrusted with public funding to carry out its mission of transforming research culture by establishing the principle that reliable, reproducible, and reusable software is necessary across all research disciplines.

It achieves this by working with, and investing in, individuals and organisations from across the sector. The SSI鈥檚 鈥渃ollaborate, not compete鈥� ethos has allowed research software to move towards becoming a first-class citizen in the research landscape.

Christopher Smith, Executive Chair  of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, said: 鈥淪oftware plays a fundamental role in all disciplines of research. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important that we invest in supporting the development of research software that is top quality, meets the needs of our research communities, is environmentally sustainable and is ready for the future. 

鈥淭his record 拢10.2 million investment is part of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme鈥檚 ongoing investment in evolving existing capability and supporting new infrastructure. It reflects the SSI鈥檚 strong track record and the importance of its work for the future of research. I am delighted that AHRC will be hosting this investment for all UKRI communities for the next four years.鈥�

Neil Chue Hong, SSI Director and Professor of Research Software Policy and Practice, added: 鈥淓very modern societal advance is driven by research which relies on software. From weather forecasting to whether we can build new narratives for the next decade, it鈥檚 important that we provide equitable access to the digital tools and skills enabling this. This grant - which will see the SSI into its 18th year - enables us to work with the research community to build capability and expertise, ensuring a sustainable future for research software.鈥�

The SSI was founded in 2010 thanks to funding from the (EPSRC). In 2016, the (ESRC) and the (BBSRC) joined EPSRC to further invest and help continue the work of the SSI throughout its second phase. The third phase was funded by all UKRI research councils.

The University is one of 21 universities to receive the status by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - the UK's lead technical authority on cyber security.

It is one of several initiatives outlined in the UK government鈥檚 鈥楶rotecting and promoting the UK in a digital world鈥�, which describes how the government is working with academia and industry to make the UK more resilient to cyber attacks.

The scheme aims to enhance the quality and scale of academic cybersecurity research and postgraduate training being undertaken in the UK; make it easier for potential users of research to identify the best cybersecurity research and postgraduate training that the UK has to offer; and help to develop a shared vision and aims among the UK cybersecurity research community, inside and outside academia.

The Centre will be led by colleagues in the University鈥檚 , which has a long history of world-leading cyber security research and will be directed by and co-directed by Professor Daniel Dresner and .

Nicholas Lord, Professor of Criminology at Swag直播, said: 鈥淲e are very proud to be recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. Receiving this status is further recognition of our long-standing commitment to world-leading cyber security research and key to the realisation of our five-year research plan.

鈥淥ur cyber security research has been a focal point for the University since founding our Digital Futures platform in 2018, with our sociotechnical approach to cyber security coming together recognisably in 2021 by the creation of our Centre for Digital Trust and Society - a truly unique Centre with a strong interdisciplinary nature.

鈥淥ver the next five years we hope that we can use our ACE-CSR recognition to strengthen our collaborations with other ACEs and NCSC, as well as enhance our collaborations with the Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority with a view to integrating cyber security into the city region鈥檚 business community.鈥�

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research at Swag直播, added: 鈥淚 am thrilled that our University has been recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. This achievement, led by our Centre for Digital Trust and Security, underscores our commitment to pioneering cyber security research and innovation through interdisciplinary collaborative research. This approach and ambition is vital to ensure that the benefits of the rapid pace of technological change are developed in ways that ensure a safe and more secure digital world for our citizens and organisations.鈥�

The University was required to show evidence of NCSC鈥檚 tough standards to be considered, including: commitment from the University's leadership team to support and invest in the University's cyber security research capacity and capability; a critical mass of academic staff engaged in leading-edge cyber security research; a proven track record of producing high impact cyber security research; and sustained funding from a variety of sources to ensure the continuing financial viability of the research team's activities.

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director Cyber Growth at NCSC, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that 21 universities have been recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, including four who have received the award for the first time. These recognitions are testament to the dedication of academics, support staff and senior management who have ensured that cyber security remains high on the university鈥檚 agenda. And they demonstrate that the UK has a growing number of world-class universities carrying out cutting-edge research into all areas of cyber security. We very much look forward to working with them over the coming years to tackle the most difficult cyber security challenges.鈥�

The Centre for Digital Trust and Society at Swag直播 is one of few cyber and digital security and trust research centre in the UK led from social science, rather than a computer science or engineering department.

It focuses on barriers to, and enablers of, trust in digital and cyber technologies and has more than 80 active researchers affiliated to the Centre.

The Centre prides itself on its strong interdisciplinary engagement across the University and supports six multi-disciplinary research clusters: Trusted Digital Systems, Digital Technologies and Crime, Workplace and Organisational Security, Democracy and Trust, Privacy and Trust and Advanced Mathematics.

Dr Mustafa, Senior Lecturer in Systems and Software Security at Swag直播, said: 鈥淲hile our cybersecurity research across the Department of Computer Science provides the fundamentals and foundations of our Centre鈥檚 research, our social science academics provide the societal relevance and context: secure cyber and digital systems are grounded in everyday human behaviours and interactions. It is for this reason that we coordinate our sociotechnical cybersecurity research activities ensuring the people and social factors remain central. We do this by engaging in cross-cluster and cross-disciplinary research activities, realising our sociotechnical work through internally and externally funded research.鈥�

Over the next five years, researchers will work on a wide range of projects from cyber security controls, building secure and safe (AI) software to counter threats, through understanding offending and victimisation of cybercrimes, to the application of cyber security research in development and industry, as well as the cyber risks to political-economic systems and organisational workplaces, and the need for data privacy and security.

The ACE-CSR will continue to hold strong national and international links - in particular - to work with its partners in the Greater Swag直播 Cyber Ecosystem and the wider North West Cyber Corridor.

The festival welcomes all as it spotlights the region鈥檚 successes, address the challenges faced, and forge lasting connections to tackle them. 

Swag直播 is pleased to be an education partner for 2024, at a time when we are working closely with businesses, partners and training providers to develop and evolve our professional learning and digital skills offer.  

What does the event include? 

The festival runs from 5 to 9 February 2024 at venues across Swag直播, with a distinct theme for each day such as talent, professional development and apprenticeships.  

As well as exhibiting at the event, the University will be showcasing the opportunities available to both businesses and individuals for collaboration, study and professional development alongside specific activities such as: 

• supporting Talent Day CV clinics 
• hosting a virtual or in-person Industry Insights session for school/college and  
• attending a bespoke educators' industry insights Professional Development Day session鈥� 

With a focus on flexible learning this is a great opportunity to share with others that Lifelong and flexible learning are central to the Universities Our Future Strategy, as we aim to further develop inclusive and accessible education, and to be a learning partner for life.  

, Associate Vice-President for Blended and Flexible Learning,  said: "Swag直播 is delighted to join as an educational sponsor for the Swag直播 Digital Skills Festival. Flexible and lifelong learning are central to the University鈥檚 strategy, and we aim to deliver pathways to support our learners throughout their entire lifetimes. This is an exciting time for us as we work together with them and other partners to co-create innovative programmes to address their needs.鈥� 

To find out more:   

The initiative, funded by a Defra Air Quality Grant, seeks to understand the motivations behind burning solid fuels in homes and gardens, improve community knowledge and influence behaviour and improve public health in Greater Swag直播.

Smoke from log burners, domestic fires and garden bonfires contain tiny particles called particulate matter (PM2.5) that can damage people鈥檚 health, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and lead to more serious health conditions. 

The study 鈥� led by Swag直播 on behalf of Greater Swag直播鈥檚 10 councils 鈥� aims to understand the link between household burning practices (indoor and outdoor) and local air quality.

Over the next two years, the research partnership will help inform a public health campaign across the city region to raise awareness around the negative impacts of domestic burning, with the aim to reduce particulate matter emissions through reduced and cleaner burning habits.

The survey will run until February 2024 and invites both people who burn at home and those that do not to take part.

Those that complete the survey can enter a draw to win one of five food vouchers. The link to the survey can be found

In conjunction with the study, Greater Swag直播 has launched an to educate residents about the health impacts and regulations surrounding domestic burning. Over 40 air quality monitors will be strategically placed across the region to better understand the link between domestic burning and PM2.5 air pollution.

The study is one of many research projects at the University which is looking into the

Residents who do need to burn this winter are being encouraged to follow these guidelines:   

• Find out if you are in a 鈥� if so your stove needs to be Defra-exempt and you must only use approved fuel.    
• Only burn clean seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20% or dried for a minimum of two years, or use 鈥楻eady to Burn鈥� approved manufactured solid fuels.   
• Do not burn rubbish or general waste.   
• Get your chimney swept each year and your stove checked.   
• Do not let your fire smoulder overnight. 

Take part in the survey

The (GEIC) helps companies progress and launch new technologies, products and processes that exploit the pioneering properties of graphene and other 2D materials.

Mr Khan was given a tour by Professor James Baker, CEO of , and met with application managers and technical specialists engaged in the use of tangible samples and cutting-edge equipment that bring products and applications to life.

He also held informal discussions with Professor John Holden, the University鈥檚 Associate Vice President for Special Projects, and the Vice Dean of Research and Innovation.  

To date, the GEIC has delivered more than 350 successful projects for over 200 companies and supported more than 50 spin outs.

Professor James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Swag直播, said: 鈥淪wag直播 is proud to be known as the home of graphene.  It is where it was first isolated by our researchers in 2004 and is the world鈥檚 first breakthrough 2D material.

鈥�Through GEIC, we offer a dedicated translation centre that helps SMEs bridge the gap from lab to market - something that is not replicated anywhere else in UK academia.

鈥淥ur two-tier membership model also allows us to work on short feasibility projects, through to a long-term strategic partnership with multiple projects in different application areas.

鈥�It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Khan to the centre to be briefed about some of the innovative work we are involved in, and to talk about our ongoing collaborations with major partners including the UAE and the Department for Business and Trade.鈥�

Afzal Khan MP, said: 鈥淭he GEIC has a remarkable success rate in delivering new projects.

鈥淚t is a truly world class facility supported by experienced and knowledgeable applications engineers and internationally renowned academics, working across a broad range of novel technologies and applications.

鈥淓veryone involved in establishing the centre鈥檚 enviable reputation deserves immense credit for what they have achieved.    

鈥淚 am grateful to the University鈥檚 policy engagement unit, , for arranging an especially informative visit and look forward to returning soon.鈥�

Male patients and older patients found online systems particularly helpful, according to the University of Swag直播 study published in the British Journal of General Practice.

However, some respondents still wanted a return to traditional ways of accessing their GP.

The study was funded by the Wellcome Trust and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater Swag直播 Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, a partnership between Swag直播 and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

The research team collected 21,467 written comments from almost 12,000 patients at 240 GP practices across England who used Patchs (www.patchs.ai), a popular online consultation system. They also carried out hour long interviews with 25 patients.

They analysed both the interview transcripts and written comments qualitatively, in nonnumerical form, to identify common themes.

Patchs system allows patients to request help from their healthcare team over the internet which are followed-up by written message, telephone call, video consultation, or arranging an in-person visit.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost all GP practices now use online consultations and patients are often forced to use them to contact their family doctor.

However, in-depth research into patients鈥� views on online consultations has not been carried out until now.

Lead author Dr Susan Moschogianis from Swag直播 said: 鈥淢ost of the patients in our sample said they preferred online consultations because they are more convenient, flexible, and efficient than in-person appointments for dealing with simple health problems such as rashes or colds.

鈥淭he primary benefit reported by most patients was the ability to receive a quick response to their query and male patients in particular reported they were more likely to contact their GP using them.

鈥淧erhaps surprisingly, many older participants found the system easier to navigate than expected and often preferred using it to contact their GP practice than traditional methods.

鈥淏ut not everyone were as positive. Some still wanted a return to traditional ways of accessing their GP practice using more traditional methods such as telephone and in-person visits.

鈥淎nd poor communication about the online consultation systems often left patients disappointed and frustrated.鈥�

Patients' experiences of online consultations with their GP practice can, the researchers found, be influenced by characteristics of the patient, the condition they consult about, system design, and how it is used by GP staff.

This research has implications for both GP practices and system designers for how they could improve the patient experience of online consultations.

Senior author Dr Ben Brown from Swag直播 said: 鈥淥ur findings provide new insight into why some patients prefer in-person consultations and why others prefer to use online consultations.

鈥淲e found that patients鈥� experiences of using these systems could be influenced by a range of factors such as the different demographics of patients and different conditions they are seeking help with.

鈥淏ut also how GP practices conduct online consultations and aspects of the technological design were found to be key drivers of positive patient experiences.

鈥淪ome patients who struggle to communicate in in-person appointments, such as patients with autism, hearing loss and anxiety, prefer using online consultations.

鈥淎nd some patients, especially men, preferred discussing sensitive topics online.

鈥淒rawing directly from the findings we make specific recommendations for GP practices and online consultation system designers for how they can optimise patients鈥� experience.鈥�

Patient experiences of an online consultation system: qualitative study in primary care post-COVID-19 is  published in the .

The research will deliver a method to produce enriched lithium in the quantities needed to make breeder blankets for deuterium-tritium fusion reactors. This allows tritium, which is an extremely scarce resource, to be produced inside the reactor. Thereby solving the challenge of how to fuel fusion reactors.

Dr Kathryn George will lead the project in collaboration with Prof Philip Martin, Prof Clint Sharrad and Dr Laurence Stamford from Swag直播鈥檚 Chemical Engineering department, Prof Bruce Hanson at the University of Leeds and Global Nuclear Security Partners Ltd. 

UKAEA launched the new Fusion Industry Programme challenge 鈥楻ealising the potential of lithium in an economic, sustainable and scalable fusion energy fuel-cycle鈥� in early 2023, encouraging organisations to develop and evaluate prototypes of lithium technology.

In total, five organisations have secured six contracts worth 拢7.4m in total with UKAEA to develop lithium technology for fusion energy. The four universities and one company have received contracts ranging between 拢700,000 and 拢1.5m from UKAEA鈥檚 鈥楩usion Industry Programme鈥�.

Tim Bestwick, UKAEA鈥檚 Chief Development Officer, said: 鈥淔usion energy continues to feature on the world stage, with recent commitments being made at COP28 to develop fusion as a sustainable, low carbon source of energy for future generations.

鈥淭he Fusion Industry Programme is encouraging the development of UK industrial fusion capacity and preparing the UK fusion industry for the future global fusion power plant market.

鈥淭he organisations that have been awarded these contracts have successfully demonstrated their lithium technology concepts and will now develop them to the 鈥榩roof of concept鈥� stage.鈥�

The latest contracts follow the award of Fusion Industry Programme contracts earlier in 2023, focused on digital engineering and fusion fuel requirements, and more recently materials and manufacturing, and heating and cooling technologies.

The collaboration will support the development of future engineering talent, as well as drive the development of innovative and sustainable power solutions.

As part of the collaboration, Swag直播 and Cummins will conduct cutting-edge research with the aim of accelerating product development of the latest generation of air handling technologies, such as e-turbos for fuel cells, together with fuel injection systems for hydrogen-based power solutions.

Academics and their students will explore the future use of hydrogen in power solutions as part of the collaboration, using world class engineering equipment, test cells and laboratories.

Students will also be given the opportunity to apply their learnings to a practical environment and gain valuable industry experience with Cummins. These placements will be open to all students, irrespective of academic discipline, aligning with the variety of roles available at Cummins.

Dr John Clark, Executive Director for Research & Development at Cummins, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic to announce our collaboration with Swag直播, with the partnership holding tremendous potential for both of us. It will provide students and researchers with the opportunity to work with an established, international manufacturer and actively contribute to the advancement of power solution technology. It will also help to drive the development of sustainable products, supporting our commitment to powering a more prosperous world.鈥�

Dr Louise Bates, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Swag直播, added: 鈥淭his partnership is a great opportunity for our research community to engage with an international company, developing widely-used technologies and groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges. Swag直播 is committed to achieving the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals, and this partnership presents a very exciting platform for our two organisations to collaborate and address some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet. We look forward to growing our relationship with Cummins and witnessing what we can achieve together.鈥�

The Cummins Engine Components (CEC) site in Huddersfield designs, develops, produces and refurbishes air handling solutions, which are used globally in vehicles and machinery across various markets.  CEC is part of the international engine, power generation and filtration product manufacturer, Cummins, which employs 73,600 worldwide and generated $28.1 billion in revenue last year. This collaboration between Cummins and Swag直播, and the development of future air handling solutions for sustainable technologies, will support the manufacturer鈥檚 Destination Zero commitment.

鈼�      拢160 million of public funding to boost growth of city-region鈥檚 advanced manufacturing and materials sector.

鈼�      Investments worth over 拢10m from manufacturers Kadant, Werit, First Graphene and Hydrograph unveiled as part of Investment Zone.

A new Investment Zone for Greater Swag直播, announced by the Chancellor in today鈥檚 Autumn Statement, is expected to create 32,000 jobs and leverage 拢1.1 billion of private sector investment.

The Investment Zone will provide 拢160 million in public funding over 10 years to support initiatives and interventions agreed between Greater Swag直播 and Government, which will include new research and innovation, sector-focussed skills programmes, local infrastructure enhancements, and targeted business support.

Greater Swag直播鈥檚 Investment Zone will focus on the advanced materials and manufacturing sector. The package will support established strengths, including, a joint venture between Swag直播 and and other assets in the city-region core, and build on longer-term ambitions to be able to scale up and deploy innovations in our growth businesses, for example through Atom Valley.

ID Swag直播 will become a world-class innovation platform that drives inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the city by leveraging the unique experience and expertise of its joint venture partners, combining Swag直播's long history of industry collaboration and world-class research strengths with Bruntwood SciTech's experience of working in strategic partnership with city councils, universities and NHS Trusts to deliver connected science and technology infrastructure.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Swag直播, said: 鈥淭he Investment Zone will help us attract investment and create jobs and opportunities that will benefit people across Greater Swag直播. Our city-region has been a centre for manufacturing and materials innovation for centuries, from leading the Industrial Revolution right through to the development of graphene, and the Investment Zone will ensure that continues.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also a vote of confidence in devolution and its ability to deliver levelling up. Providing more flexibility and local control over spending can help unlock Greater Swag直播鈥檚 potential.鈥�

, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at Swag直播, said: 鈥淪wag直播 has been at the forefront of research in advanced materials and manufacturing, from the industrial revolution to the discovery of graphene, and we have a strong culture of innovation which builds on that research to create economic benefit. This announcement gives further impetus to the work we do with our partners in business and the city-region, to improve people鈥檚 lives through economic growth and improved productivity throughout Greater Swag直播.鈥� 

Greater Swag直播鈥檚 advanced manufacturing and materials sector comprises hundreds of innovative companies and the city-region鈥檚 universities host world-leading research and development. Advanced manufacturing alone employs approximately 110,000 people and generates around 拢8bn of economic output each year.

Government has also confirmed plans to extend the Made Smarter Adoption programme following its successful pilot in Greater Swag直播 and the North West, with a view to expanding the programme across the UK by 2027. The programme helps SME manufacturers adopt digital technologies to help improve productivity and reduce carbon emissions.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Swag直播 City Council and Greater Swag直播 Lead for Economy, Business, and Inclusive Growth, said: 鈥淕reater Swag直播 has an attractive proposition, with world-leading advanced manufacturing and materials research at our universities, a strong skills base, and an existing ecosystem of innovative companies.

鈥淭he Investment Zone will build on that cluster, linking and investing in different sites across the city-region, and helping us translate research and development and new discoveries into business growth.鈥�

Speaking on behalf of ID Swag直播, John Holden, Associate Vice-President at Swag直播, said: "We鈥檙e delighted that ID Swag直播 will be part of the Greater Swag直播 Investment Zone plans to put the region at the forefront of advanced materials and manufacturing innovation in the UK and globally. The ecosystem we鈥檙e building at ID Swag直播 will leverage Swag直播鈥檚 world-class R&D strengths to help scale and commercialise new ideas, driving new jobs across the city region in future-facing industries. We look forward to working closely with our neighbouring centres of innovation in Greater Swag直播 to create valuable new opportunities for local residents and businesses across the North.鈥�

MEEPS 2023 was themed 鈥楴avigating the Energy Transition: Challenges and Solutions鈥� 鈥� to provide an avenue to discuss opportunities and possible solutions to energy challenges, in attaining a more sustainable energy future. The event programme consisted of three keynote speeches from delegates, two Women-in-Power talks and MEEPS research competition 鈥� 6 Oral and 14 Poster presentations. 

We would sincerely like to appreciate the kind support of our diverse sponsors (Scottish Power Energy Networks, TNEI, Weidmann and the University of Swag直播 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) and our supporters (IEEE Women-in-Power (WiP) UK&I, IET, IEEE PES and IEEE UK&I) which made this event a success. Special thanks go to the passionate and hard-working student branch committee members and also student volunteers from the University of Swag直播. 

According to the feedback we collected after the event, 98% of the attendees expressed that they strongly agreed they are glad to have attended MEEPS 2023. The IEEE PES SBC at UoM would like to thank all participants for attending the event and special thanks again to all the sponsors and guests. For more information about MEEPS 2023 and IEEE PES SBC UoM, please visit the .

(PDF document) 
 

The Mayor and his team met with Institute Acting Director Professor Clint Sharrad, and Associate Directors Professors Scott Heath and Adrian Bull to discuss the Institute鈥檚 unique breadth of research, focus on nuclear skills development and impact through policy engagement work.

Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation Professor Richard Curry, Head of the School of Engineering Professor Sarah Cartmell, and Associate Dean for Research Institutes Professor Stuart Holmes discussed the important role the University has to play in contributing to the UK鈥檚 Net Zero ambitions nationally through research and teaching, as well as to the Greater Swag直播 region. There was also an opportunity during the visit to hear from some of the Institute鈥檚 young researchers about their work.

The Mayor heard about the University鈥檚 world-leading facilities, including the Henry Royce Institute Hub, where the meeting was held, with Professor Abbie Jones, Head of the Nuclear Graphite Research Group, in attendance. Professors Barry Lennox and Fred Currell highlighted our nuclear network across the North West, extending into Cumbria where the Dalton Cumbrian Facility and the Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo1) serve as vital hubs in the heart of the nuclear industry.

Mayor Andy Burnham said: 鈥淚t was a pleasure to visit Swag直播 and meet with so many talented and enthusiastic people from the Dalton Nuclear Institute and elsewhere in the university working on nuclear research. An incredible amount of work is done in the nuclear industry by the university, an industry that is growingly important for the UK.

鈥淭his research also importantly includes decommissioning and the cleaning-up of the UK鈥檚 public sector nuclear facilities as well as discovering new ways to manage and dispose of the nuclear legacy to protect our environment. Many interesting discussions were had on energy, skills, the economy and collaboration with the Dalton Nuclear Institute, a great asset for our city-region.鈥�

Acting Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, Professor Clint Sharrad said: 鈥淲e were delighted to welcome the Mayor and his team to the University today and I was pleased to find we have so many areas of common interest, especially in skills, training and education.

鈥淣uclear is at the heart of the economy across the North West of England, and we all recognised what a great opportunity the sector offers in addressing future energy needs for the country while also providing pathways for young people setting out on their career journeys, as well as those who are mid-career and looking for a new challenge.

鈥淚t was refreshing to hear Andy鈥檚 strong support for all that we are doing, and we will be having further conversations to make sure we maximise the opportunity for adding value to the region鈥檚 economy.鈥�

was launched in 2021 and is part of an ambitious plan set out in the Greater Swag直播 (GM) Local Industrial Strategy to boost the city-region鈥檚 provision and capabilities.

Speaking at the event, President and Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell said: 鈥淭he establishment of this Institute鈥檚 flagship building is emblematic of our commitment to harness the power of technology and innovation to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities. It embodies our dedication to advancing healthcare solutions, fostering breakthroughs in technological research, and helping improve the overall quality of life for people across the spectrum of health and care needs.鈥�

The building is at the centre of the University鈥檚 campus on the Oxford Road Corridor. This location and partnership will provide support for business growth by facilitating better collaboration between the NHS, researchers, and industry.

Mayor of Greater Swag直播, Andy Burnham, was in attendance to celebrate the Institute鈥檚 opening. He said: 鈥淭he Christabel Pankhurst Institute supports world-leading and truly unique research and innovation, and it deserves an equally remarkable home. This fantastic new building is a welcome addition to the Oxford Road Corridor and will support the growth of the Institute for years to come, further cementing Greater Swag直播鈥檚 reputation as a hub for health innovation.鈥�

This event also marked the launch of the Pankhurst Institute鈥檚 gallery, which is positioned on the ground floor of the building. The gallery provides a brief history of history of Dover Street and the surrounding area (with notable residents including the Pankhurst family, Friedrich Engels and writer Elizabeth Gaskell); as well as the journey of the building design and build including a design with sustainability and collaboration at its heart.

Also attending the event was Professor Helen Pankhurst CBE: Women's rights activist, scholar, writer and CARE International's senior advisor working in the UK and Ethiopia. Helen, the Great-granddaughter of Emmeline, granddaughter of Sylvia, and great-niece of Christabel Pankhurst, said: 鈥淚 was honoured to officially unveil the plaque commemorating my great-aunt Christabel Pankhurst鈥檚 life and works, for whom the institute is named. The link between Swag直播 and the Pankhurst family is a strong one and it鈥檚 great to see it continue over time.鈥�

, Director of the Pankhurst Institute, said: 鈥淥ur vision for the Christabel Pankhurst Institute is to make Greater Swag直播 one of the world's most vibrant, well-connected, innovation-driven health tech ecosystems, ensuring that the many excellent capabilities in our university and other regional actors deliver in Greater Swag直播鈥檚 citizens, their health, wellbeing, and economy, more they can achieve working in silos.鈥�

鈥淪wag直播 is uniquely positioned to provide thought leadership given its strengths in healthcare technology research, an exceptional academic and students talent pool, and a thriving local ecosystem of partnerships. Our city and university have a rich history of pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare, and the Christabel Pankhurst Building will be a new beacon in this story of progress and innovation.鈥�

The institute will play a critical role in pulling innovations through from basic research to market-ready products and services, which can then be accelerated into clinical use through Greater Swag直播鈥檚 integrated health and care system and established innovation pathways. To achieve this it will build on, integrate and enhance the already extensive support provided by its partners.

Pankhurst Institute founding partners are Swag直播, Bruntwood SciTech, Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), Health Innovation Swag直播, and Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority.

The centre, led Dr Mauricio A 脕lvarez, will train the next generation of AI researchers to develop AI methods designed to accelerate new scientific discoveries 鈥� specifically in the fields of astronomy, engineering biology and material science.

The University will be working in partnership with The University of Cambridge, and is one of 12 Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) based at 16 universities, announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) today (31 October).

The investment by UKRI aims to ensure that the UK continues to have the skills needed to seize the potential of the AI era, and to nurture the British tech talent that will push the AI revolution forwards. 

拢117 million in total has been awarded to the 12 CDTs and builds on the previous UKRI investment of 拢100 million in 2018.

Doctoral students at Swag直播 will be provided with a foundation in Machine Learning and AI and an in-depth understanding of the implications of its application to solve real-world problems.

The programme will also cover the areas of responsible AI and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Mauricio A 脕lvarez, Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning at Swag直播, said: "We are delighted to be awarded funding for this new AI CDT. Swag直播 is investing heavily in AI research and translation, and the CDT will complement other significant efforts in research through our AI Fundamentals Centre at the University and innovation via the Turing Innovation Catalyst. Our partnership with Cambridge will also enable us to educate experts capable of generalising and translating nationally to stimulate the development and adoption of AI technology in high-potential, lower AI-maturity sectors.

鈥淢odern science depends on a variety of complex systems, both in terms of the facilities that we use and the processes that we model. AI has the potential to help us understand these systems better, as well as to make them more efficient.

鈥�The AI methods we will develop will apply to a wide range of challenges in complex systems, from transport systems to sports teams. We are partnering with a diverse pool of industry collaborators to address these challenges jointly."

Dr Julia Handl, Professor in Decision Sciences at Swag直播, said: 鈥淭his CDT is a fantastic opportunity to bring together researchers from a wide spectrum of disciplines, from across all three of Swag直播鈥檚 Faculties, to ensure we can develop innovative solutions that are appropriate to the complexity and uncertainty of real-world systems. The involvement of the Faculty of Humanities is crucial in ensuring such systems are effective and inclusive in supporting human decision makers, and in delivering the centre鈥檚 cross-cutting theme of increasing business productivity, supported by collaboration with the Productivity Institute, the Masood Enterprise Centre and a range of industry partners.鈥�

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: 鈥淭he UK is in a strong position to harness the power of AI to transform many aspects of our lives for the better. Crucial to this endeavour is nurturing the talented people and teams we need to apply AI to a broad spectrum of challenges, from healthy aging to sustainable agriculture, ensuring its responsible and trustworthy adoption. UKRI is investing 拢117 million in Centres for Doctoral Training to develop the talented researchers and innovators we need for success.鈥�

Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director, Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI, said: 鈥淭his 拢117 million investment, will involve multiple business and institutional partners for the Centres of Doctoral Training. These include well-known brands such as IBM, Astra Zeneca, and Google, as well as small to medium sized enterprises that are innovating in the AI field. A further 拢110 million has been leveraged from all partners in the form of cash or in-kind contributions such as use of facilities, resources or expertise.鈥�

The first cohort of UKRI AI CDT students will start in the 2024/2025 academic year, recruitment for which will begin shortly.

The proposed redevelopment would help meet the demand for student bedrooms on the University鈥檚 popular Fallowfield campus. Located near to the University鈥檚 main buildings, the site is well-connected and provides students with a wide range of support services to ensure the best student experience.

The outline planning application submitted to Swag直播 City Council this week proposes to replace existing older accommodation on site and deliver 3,300 modern bedspaces.

Earlier this year, the University delivered a month-long public consultation for residents, local groups, students and staff to share their feedback on the proposals. Responses were shared via the consultation website and through digital and in-person events held at the University.

You can read more information about the on our website.

Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for Student Experience, University of Swag直播 said: 鈥淎 significant amount of hard work, consideration and engagement has taken place ahead of the submission of these plans to Swag直播 City Council. It reflects our ambitions to deliver modern, high quality living for our students on one of our most popular campuses for new and returning students.

鈥淎s the largest academic institution in the city, it is important that we deliver high-quality purpose-built rooms that can match the status and profile of the University reputation nationally and globally.鈥�

If successful in gaining planning consent, the University will work with a delivery partner to bring the plans forward.

In the coming weeks, Swag直播 City Council will open a statutory public consultation on the submitted application. For more information, please visit .

The research, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council鈥檚 (BBSRC) strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) grants programme, takes the first major step towards understanding complex microbial communities and will support the move towards a more sustainable and Net Zero future.

The University is one of four institutions to receive a share of 拢18 million from the BBSRC to support adventurous research aimed at tackling fundamental questions in bioscience.

The project, worth 拢5.4 million, builds on the work of the Swag直播 Microbiome Network - a network that brings together the leading microbiome science expertise from across the University to deliver a step-change in understanding microbial communities, regardless of habitat.

Lead researcher, Professor Sophie Nixon, BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at Swag直播, said: 鈥淢icrobial communities, often called microbiomes, are found in almost every habitable environment on the planet. They exert a significant influence on each of these environments, whether that be the soil we grow our food, in the guts of animals, or even in extreme environments like geothermal springs 鈥� our target environment for this project. However, microbiomes are inherently complex and challenging to study, and their 鈥榬ules of life鈥� remain obscure.

鈥淩ecent technological advances have allowed researchers to study the interactions between members of microbiomes for the first time. Yet, we have barely scratched the surface of resolving how these interactions affect the structure, function, and stability of the community as a whole.   

Over five years, the researchers from Swag直播 and the Earlham Institute will concentrate on low-diversity communities inhabiting geothermal springs, using a powerful combination of biochemical, 鈥榦mics, and synthetic biology approaches to uncover the rules that govern microbial life in communities.

Using a tractable model system, the team aim to engineer the microbial community both as a learning tool to test emerging hypotheses, such as the ways in which microbes depend on or hinder one another, and as a testbed for future biotechnological development.

Ultimately, the findings will facilitate the engineering of bespoke microbial communities to be used for a plethora of important applications, including new ways to bio-convert CO2 emissions into socio-economically beneficial compounds, contributing toward a more sustainable and Net Zero future. 

Professor Guy Poppy, Interim Executive Chair at BBSRC, said: 鈥淭he latest investment by BBSRC鈥檚 sLoLa award programme represents a pivotal step in advancing frontier bioscience research.

鈥淭hese four world-class teams are poised to unravel the fundamental rules of life, employing interdisciplinary approaches to tackle bold challenges at the forefront of bioscience.

鈥淏y fostering collaboration and innovation, we aim to catalyse ground-breaking discoveries with far-reaching implications for agriculture, health, biotechnology, the green economy and beyond.鈥�

Swag直播鈥檚 research team includes seven researchers from the Faculty of Science and Engineering (five of which are based in the flagship Swag直播 Institute of Biotechnology), two from the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and one from the Earlham Institute - a life science research institute based in Norwich.

A decade ago, scientists at Swag直播 demonstrated that graphene is permeable to protons, nuclei of hydrogen atoms. The unexpected result started a debate in the community because theory predicted that it would take billions of years for a proton to permeate through graphene鈥檚 dense crystalline structure. This had led to suggestions that protons permeate not through the crystal lattice itself, but through the pinholes in its structure.

Now, writing in , a collaboration between the University of Warwick, led by Prof Patrick Unwin, and Swag直播, led by Dr Marcelo Lozada-Hidalgo and Prof Andre Geim, report ultra-high spatial resolution measurements of proton transport through graphene and prove that perfect graphene crystals are permeable to protons. Unexpectedly, protons are strongly accelerated around nanoscale wrinkles and ripples in the crystal.

The discovery has the potential to accelerate the hydrogen economy. Expensive catalysts and membranes, sometimes with significant environmental footprint, currently used to generate and utilise hydrogen could be replaced with more sustainable 2D crystals, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to Net Zero through the generation of green hydrogen.

The team used a technique known as to measure minute proton currents collected from nanometre-sized areas. This allowed the researchers to visualise the spatial distribution of proton currents through graphene membranes. If proton transport took place through holes as some scientists speculated, the currents would be concentrated in a few isolated spots. No such isolated spots were found, which ruled out the presence of holes in the graphene membranes.

Drs Segun Wahab and Enrico Daviddi, leading authors of the paper, commented: 鈥淲e were surprised to see absolutely no defects in the graphene crystals. Our results provide microscopic proof that graphene is intrinsically permeable to protons.鈥�

Unexpectedly, the proton currents were found to be accelerated around nanometre-sized wrinkles in the crystals. The scientists found that this arises because the wrinkles effectively 鈥榮tretch鈥� the graphene lattice, thus providing a larger space for protons to permeate through the pristine crystal lattice. This observation now reconciles the experiment and theory.

Dr Lozada-Hidalgo said: 鈥淲e are effectively stretching an atomic scale mesh and observing a higher current through the stretched interatomic spaces in this mesh 鈥� mind-boggling.鈥�

Prof Unwin commented: 鈥淭hese results showcase SECCM, developed in our lab, as a powerful technique to obtain microscopic insights into electrochemical interfaces, which opens up exciting possibilities for the design of next-generation membranes and separators involving protons.鈥�

The authors are excited about the potential of this discovery to enable new hydrogen-based technologies.

Dr Lozada-Hidalgo said, "Exploiting the catalytic activity of ripples and wrinkles in 2D crystals is a fundamentally new way to accelerate ion transport and chemical reactions. This could lead to the development of low-cost catalysts for hydrogen-related technologies."

Advanced materials is one of Swag直播鈥檚 research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships tackling some of the planet's biggest questions. 

The findings, funded by Health Data Research UK  and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is published in eClinical medicine, act as a warning against the overuse of antibiotics in people.

The team, which also included researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Leeds, were the first to explore how the severity of COVID-19 disease is affected by prior antibiotic use.

The research team found:

• Patients with more frequent antibiotic exposure in the past three years were at higher odds of experiencing severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospital admission and 30-day mortality.
• Using a range of antibiotics was more likely to be associated with COVID-19 hospital admission.
• The odds for hospitalised patients dying from COVID-19 related complications in most frequent antibiotics exposure group were 1.34 higher than patients without prior antibiotic exposure.
• Larger number of prior antibiotic type was also associated with more severe COVID-19 related hospital admission
• The odds of hospitalisation for patients with the highest history of prior antibiotic use and most antibiotic types were 1.8 times greater than patients without antibiotic exposure.

The NHS OpenSAFELY platform, a secure open-source software platform for analysis of electronic health records allowed the researchers to integrate primary and secondary care, COVID-19 test, and death registration data from February 2020 to December 2021.

The sample included 0.67 million patients from an eligible 2.47 million patients with recent COVID-19 infection.

Of the 0.67 million, 98,420 patients were admitted to hospitals, 22,660 died and 55 unique antibiotics were prescribed.

Cases were identified by the researchers according to different severity of COVID-19 outcomes and they created five groups, based on the number of previous three-year antibiotic prescriptions to indicate the frequency of prior antibiotic exposure.

Each group was further split based on the number of different antibiotic types a patient was prescribed.

Co-principal investigator Professor Tjeerd van Staa from Swag直播 said: 鈥淥ur study has provided evidence that patients with high prior antibiotic use were more likely to experience severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospital admission and even death.

鈥淚n addition, we also found an association between the number of different prior antibiotic types and COVID-19 related hospital admission.

鈥淥ne potential explanation may be that frequent antibiotic use increases the likelihood of patients being infected with viruses or bacteria, leading to increased susceptibility to adverse consequences of infection.

鈥淭he literature also shows that antibiotic treatment might also alter gut microbiota, which can impact metabolic and immune function.

鈥淲hile in most situations, gut microbiota will recover after stopping an antibiotic course, frequent antibiotic use may affect the resilience of gut microbiomes more seriously.鈥�

Co-principal investigator Dr Victoria Palin from Swag直播 said: 鈥淭here is little evidence to suggest that repeated intermittent antibiotic exposure is effective in reducing infection-related complications. Indeed, there is mounting evidence that it can be unsafe.

鈥淭hat is why there needs to be more awareness of the impact of long-term antibiotic exposure and its adverse outcomes. We would discourage regular and indiscriminate prescribing of these drugs for self-limiting infections.

鈥淐ommon infection guidelines in England, as developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, focus on the treatment of the first infection episode .

鈥淭hey do not provide guidance around repeated antibiotic use and a patient鈥檚 risk of developing resistance.

鈥淎ntibiotic prescribing guidelines should also clearly outline the possible adverse consequences to a patient of using an antibiotic for self-limiting bacterial infections. Personalised patient leaflets should be provided highlighting these risks and the risks of the patient鈥檚 bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics鈥�

The team at Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Swag直播 (UoM) will implement the new technology across MFT hospitals. The test aims to improve early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 鈥� the most common cancer affecting the liver and the third most common cause of cancer death.

One of the risks for developing HCC is a pre-existing liver disease and scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis. Around two in 100 patients with cirrhosis will develop HCC every year.

In early, curable stages, HCC can have no symptoms and so it is recommended that everyone with known cirrhosis is tested twice a year. Unfortunately, even with current recommended surveillance, more than half of these patients are diagnosed with HCC at a stage where it cannot be cured.

The project is supported by Roche Diagnostics who developed the test, called Elecsys庐GAAD alongside researchers at MFT, UoM and not-for-profit organisation, Vocal who provided valuable input from people affected by liver cancer.

Elecsys庐GAAD is being fast-tracked into the NHS at MFT, which provides specialist liver care to the Greater Swag直播 region. It will be used alongside routine surveillance tests to see how it can benefit patients, so they have the best chance of surviving this type of cancer.

The technology is a fully regulated, accurate test that combines blood tests with gender and age, which indicates the presence of HCC.

Project lead Dr Varinder Athwal, Consultant Hepatologist at MFT and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Swag直播, said: 鈥淪wag直播 has some of the highest rates of liver disease and liver cancer in the UK and far too many people are diagnosed when curative treatment is not possible. We need better tools to identify liver cancer earlier, when it can be cured. This innovation is a non-invasive test that easily fits into our current pathway, and we hope that it will enable us to diagnose more people at early, curable stages of primary liver cancer. As one of the largest trusts in the country, MFT is uniquely placed to test the innovation.鈥�

Professor Rick Body, Group Director of Research and Innovation at MFT, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to receive this funding and very proud to deliver this important research at MFT. Early diagnosis of cancer provides the best chance for successful treatment, which is why implementing this innovative test is so important. We are hopeful that this research will have a huge impact on the future of diagnosis for HCC and will ultimately save lives.鈥�

Professor Neil Hanley, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at UoM said: 鈥淭his new innovative test is a really exciting development and further compelling evidence that if we pull on our strength working across university, NHS and commercial boundaries we will translate research into innovations that make a real difference to people's lives.鈥�

Dr Annie Keane, Deputy Director of Vocal, hosted by MFT and UoM, said: 鈥�We're delighted to support this vital project to bring about better outcomes for people with liver cancer. We鈥檝e worked with the public to develop the funding bid from an early stage. We鈥檒l continue to work in partnership with patients and the public to ensure they are meaningfully involved throughout, including the implementation of the test, as members of the core project team.鈥�

Chris Hudson, Director of Access and Innovation at Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland said: 鈥淲e are thrilled this funding award from NHS England gives us the opportunity to build on the trusted partnership we already have with colleagues in Swag直播 and the important work we are doing together to identify liver disease more accurately and sooner. By bringing together the collective knowledge and expertise of academic, medical and industry partners, this new project has the potential to streamline the diagnosis and treatment pathway for patients with liver cancer across the UK, to improve their experience and outcomes, and help alleviate pressure on the NHS.鈥�

Work to rollout Elecsys庐GAAD will be supported by Health Innovation Swag直播, in partnership with the Greater Swag直播 Cancer Alliance, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Findings from the implementation of the test at MFT will be used to co-develop a plan for the national roll out of the technology. This is supported by National Institute for Health and Care Research London MedTech In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative, Imperial College London - who are observing the impact of the new technology on the NHS and Unity Insights who are carrying out an independent evaluation of the findings across the project. 

This work was commissioned and funded by the NHS Cancer Programme, with the support of SBRI Healthcare and the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (Project Reference Number NCPC02013). The views expressed in the publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NHS Cancer Programme or its stakeholders. 

The funding brings together National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) infrastructure, Universities and NHS organisations to undertake high-quality early and experimental medicine research in mental health. This collaborative approach strengthens the expertise and reach of the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration and ensures research involves patients and the public who better reflect the diversity of the population.

The University will play a key part in the research by leading on three out of the five national themes with significant investment: Capacity Building, Data and Digital, Children and Young People.

The work will be supported by the NIHR Swag直播 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), as part of its new Mental Health research Theme, Greater Swag直播 Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Shruti Garg will lead the Capacity Building workstream, Professor Jonathan Green the Children and Young People theme, and Professor John Ainsworth the Data and Digital theme. Swag直播 digital health start-up CareLoop Health will play a major role as industry partner.

The 鈥楳ental Health Mission鈥�, part of the government鈥檚 Life Sciences Vision, will accelerate mental health research across the UK and attract private investment, potentially benefiting millions of people.

The funding will be used to bolster research to improve the treatment and care for those with mental health conditions and to address key issues affecting patients and clinicians, including early psychosis and severe mood disorders which are currently under-researched.

John Ainsworth is Professor of Health Informatics and Head of the Division of Imaging, Informatics and Data Sciences at Swag直播. He is also Digital and Data Science Programme Lead within NIHR Swag直播 BRC鈥檚 Mental Health Theme. He said: "This is an exciting time in mental health research. With the investment in the Mental Health Mission we will be able to accelerate the development and evaluation of new interventions that will change people鈥檚 lives for the better.

鈥淲e are very proud that Swag直播 will be at the forefront of developments in data and digital technology, therapies and treatment for children and young people, and developing the skills of the next generation of researchers.鈥�

Professor Jonathan Green from Swag直播, who is also Developmental Neuroscience Programme Lead within the Mental Health Theme at NIHR Swag直播 BRC, said: 鈥淥ne of our core goals with this substantial funding is to develop the skills and digitisation nationally to enable NHS-wide 鈥榩latform trials鈥� of new treatments in both child and adult mental health, integrated within community services. This has then the potential to transform the speed of identification and adoption of effective mental health treatments throughout the nation.鈥�

Dr Shruti Garg from Swag直播, who leads on work in the Developmental Neuroscience Programme within NIHR Swag直播 BRC鈥檚 Mental Health Theme said: 鈥淭he Mental Health Mission funding provides an unprecedented investment not only to bolster mental health research but also develop a capable research active workforce. 

鈥淲e want to enable more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to be engaged in research and bring innovative new treatments to individuals with mental health difficulties.鈥�

Professor Sh么n Lewis, Mental Health Theme Co-Lead at NIHR Swag直播 BRC and Professor of Adult Psychiatry at Swag直播, said: 鈥淓arly translational research within mental health is urgently needed to identify new treatments and better ways of delivery. 

鈥淎t Swag直播 BRC, our Mental Health Theme is focused on the development of theory-driven new treatments based on prevention, personalised health, and integration with our other BRC research Themes. The Mental Health Mission investment will accelerate our research, helping us to drive health improvements and lasting change for our diverse communities.鈥�

Professor of Psychological Medicine at Swag直播 will be co-chair of the Mental Health Mission alongside Oxford University visiting .

Professor Manji and Professor Abel said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be working together to make the new Mental Health Mission a truly revolutionary force behind mental health research.

鈥淲e want the Mission to create tangible differences to the lives of patients, both in the UK and internationally.

鈥淏etween us, we bring a wealth of experience in mental health research and innovation, and a commitment to genuine collaboration with patients, industry and healthcare staff.鈥�

The , published in July 2021, set out a proposal to make the UK the most attractive place in the world for Life Sciences Innovation. The Vision included priority healthcare missions for the government to solve in partnership with industry, the NHS, academia, and research charities.

 was launched in November 2022, to grow the Life Sciences sector and address the unmet need for innovative new mental health treatments and technologies.

Dr Kathryn Hentges and her team hope the two-year project, funded by a grant from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), will provide patients and clinicians with new knowledge on the causes of congenital heart diseases and provide families with options in reproductive choices.

Dr Hentges added that longer term she hoped the research could pave the way to future screening for these genes, and empower families with knowledge about the underlying causes of congenital heart conditions.

This project is also another step towards understanding how the heart can develop incorrectly and ultimately help to inform future research that it is hoped could eventually prevent heart defects in babies from happening at all.

Each day in the UK around 13 babies are diagnosed with congenital heart disease and some children will need one or more procedures to help their hearts function normally.

The grant of 拢140,951 is the latest BHF grant awarded to Dr Hentges and will build on her earlier work to better understand which specific genes cause heart defects.

Previous research by the team used machine learning to predict which genes are likely to be involved in the development of the heart. The new grant will allow the team to further analyse these genes using AI to find out if they are the same genes as those found with mutations in congenital heart disease.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had an interest in understanding the causes of birth defects in general and particularly why new gene mutations cause children to be born with these defects,鈥� said Dr Hentges.

鈥淚n this research we are focusing specifically on the heart to understand if we can link particular genes which have a role in development to those that cause congenital heart defects.

鈥淭his project will help speed up the process to achieve a genetic diagnosis for people with congenital heart defects, because it will identify the genes that are the most likely to cause these defects.

鈥淲e hope it will be able to give people an understanding of why something has happened to them that makes then different, and we also hope it will give peace of mind to parents that it is nothing they did in pregnancy that has caused the harm.

鈥淪peaking to clinicians I know this is a huge issue 鈥損arents often have a lot of guilt when children are born with congenital disease, a feeling that they must have done something wrong.

鈥淪o I think it will help a lot of people, helping parents know they didn鈥檛 do anything wrong as well as giving them a specific diagnosis so that in future they will understand the course of the disease progression and make sure they get the best care for their child as they grow up.鈥�

BHF Research Advisor Dr Tian Yu said: 鈥淭oday, thanks to research, more than eight out of 10 babies born with a congenital heart defect in the UK survive to adulthood. However, we don鈥檛 always know why their hearts haven鈥檛 developed properly, and understanding this better could improve the way we diagnose and treat these conditions.

鈥淭his research could help parents better understand why and how these defects occur and help them work with medical experts to ensure they can get the best care for their children as they grow up.鈥�

As part of the government鈥檚 Innovation Accelerator Fund, the four projects focus on the very latest technology around genomics, medical diagnostics, advanced materials and artificial intelligence. The bids were coordinated by the Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority and funding is for two years.

The funding, awarded by the (DSIT), has been allocated to innovative projects in sectors where Greater Swag直播 has existing research strengths,

The projects are:

The Swag直播 Turing Innovation Hub, is led by the University of Swag直播, working with a consortium of business, academic and public sector organisations. The project aims to accelerate Greater Swag直播鈥檚 拢5bn digital economy by supporting existing start-ups and creating new ones 鈥� especially in the field of artificial intelligence. It will also help to develop skills in the region with a particular focus on women, and under-represented groups in the industry. The Hub will bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and business, and will have centres across the region from which to coordinate activity. With no city having a global lead in AI commercialisation, the project aims to position Greater Swag直播 at the forefront, which would have a transformative effect on the regional economy and jobs.

Residents in eight out of the ten local authorities in GM spend more of their life in poor health, and instances of smoking and obesity and associated health issues are more prevalent than the national average. The Greater Swag直播 Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator aims to address this. It is led by Health Innovation Swag直播, hosted by Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust and partnered with the University. Focussing on liver, heart and lung disease, programme outputs are designed to open market opportunities for local businesses and support NHS cultural change from reactive acute care to proactive community prevention, resulting in better health outcomes and reduced demand for hospital services.

The Development and Validation of Technology for Time Critical Genomic Testing (DEVOTE) programme will be led by Swag直播. It focuses on biomarkers, which are chemicals or signals in the body which can be used to diagnose disease or predict future health. At the moment there is a bottleneck between the discovery of new biomarkers, and their use as a tool to help patients. DEVOTE aims to change all that by developing raid tests which can be used at the bedside by clinicians. This will be done through a partnership between the University, Health Innovation Swag直播 and local businesses. Greater Swag直播 is already a leader in this field and the new funding will create a legacy not only in people鈥檚 health but in a culture which makes new advances in future years.

The Sustainable Materials Translational Research Centre is a partnership between the University of Swag直播, including the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Henry Royce Institute, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and Rochdale Development Agency. Sustainable materials are urgently needed to help reach global climate goals but there is a lack of capacity to produce these, and to scale up production of new products which use them. Greater Swag直播 is well positioned to solve this problem, with a rich history of developing materials (notably at Swag直播). The project will help connect local businesses to the national supply chain, and to the outstanding materials research in the city, it will support the creation of new businesses, and attract inward investment, with a particular focus on the Atom Valley Mayoral Development zone, bringing new jobs and opportunities to Rochdale, Bury, Oldham and beyond.

Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at Swag直播 said:  鈥淭he Innovation Accelerator is about taking the great research in GM鈥檚 universities, and translating that into good jobs, inclusive economic growth, and better health outcomes for citizens across the whole of Greater Swag直播. 

鈥淭hese four projects highlight the University of Swag直播鈥檚 research strengths in advanced materials, in digital technologies, and in health sciences, and demonstrate our commitment to working together with business, the NHS, the other GM universities and FE colleges, and local government in the city region for the benefit of the people who live here.

鈥淲e are very much looking forward to working with our partners on these projects, and we welcome the funding to all of the other projects in Greater Swag直播 that has been announced.鈥�

Mayor of Greater Swag直播, Andy Burnham, said: 鈥淕reater Swag直播鈥檚 selection as one of three Innovation Accelerator regions demonstrates the Government鈥檚 confidence in our innovation ecosystem. The projects being backed are undertaking world-leading research to address some of the biggest challenges we face.

鈥淭hey also align with the sectors where Greater Swag直播 has emerging or established strengths, like advanced materials, artificial intelligence (AI) and diagnostics. We look forward to working with partners to ensure this funding supports the growth of our future industries and delivers greater prosperity for our people.鈥�

Minister of State for Science Research & Innovation at DSIT George Freeman said:

鈥淭hrough Record investment in our UK science, technology & innovation sectors, the Innovation Economy is creating new career opportunities in the campuses, clusters & companies of tomorrow.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why UKRI is putting clusters at the heart of its of its 拢25bn budget up to 2025, and why our 拢100m Innovation Accelerator Program provides 拢33m each to 3 emerging clusters to attract industrial co-investment and become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation.

鈥淭he Greater Swag直播 Cluster is becoming a world class hub of R+D in AI and advanced computing, advanced manufacturing and Net Zero Cleantech and associated technologies.

鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that local leaders have come together to use our 拢33m to launch such exciting programs with industry and Universities in this exciting area.鈥� 

The UK government recently launched 鈥溾��, a campaign aimed at providing 鈥渟imple, low or no-cost actions that households can take to immediately cut energy use and save money鈥�. The campaign speaks to persistent calls to increase the assistance provided to households across the UK.

Rapid energy price rises have pushed millions into fuel poverty, with an estimated . For many, independent advice on safely reducing energy use and accessing financial assistance can make a vital difference in confronting the combined cost of living and energy crises.

Trustworthy advice goes far beyond a few short-term behavioural 鈥渉acks鈥� 鈥� some of which have been 鈥� to also include deeper measures to upgrade the UK鈥檚 .

To meet its climate change targets and protect households from rising energy costs, the UK must rapidly insulate millions of homes and . But installing such measures is often complicated and there is limited information, guidance or support. The UK can鈥檛 decarbonise its energy system without increasing the help available to households from trained energy experts.

Reducing the UK鈥檚 carbon emissions should go hand-in-hand with tackling fuel poverty. housing, heating systems and appliances are key drivers of fuel poverty, and people living in well-insulated, low-carbon homes are more likely to have affordable energy bills. While advice alone will never solve fuel poverty, when combined with other measures it can make a . Advisers can point people towards appropriate government aid and or help arrange debt repayment plans, or insulation and heating upgrades.

We know what works

Academic and policy experts, , have undertaken extensive research on integrated energy advice in the UK and beyond. Numerous across the UK and similar countries provide a useful testbed for understanding what works.

Research has shown there are , such as how energy advice is communicated, who is providing it, and how it is framed. The most effective forms of energy advice are those that are , primarily via in-person, community-based and context-sensitive work.

Yet energy advice provision in the UK remains fragmented and insufficient, with across the country. Organisations such as Citizens Advice do brilliant work, but they don鈥檛 have the resources to provide widespread, personalised advice.

NEAS to meet you

One thing that might help is the establishment of a National Energy Advice Service. Akin to the efforts involved in building the UK鈥檚 National Health Service back in the 1940s, it could provide widely accessible, free support for anyone who needs it. With dedicated funding from utilities or government, the service could help integrate , it could reduce skills shortages and help address both fuel poverty and the transition to net zero.

What does this mean in practice? People wanting to improve the energy performance of their home would be able to access a single advice line, or a website. This could either lead to an adviser visit, or advice could be provided remotely if more appropriate. The advice would allow a household to identify the best options in light of its budget and other circumstances, and any support or subsidy schemes that might be available. Perhaps most importantly, people could be pointed towards certified sellers and installers of relevant materials.

The advice service could also work directly with government agencies, the NHS and community groups to seek out and approach those who might benefit from energy efficiency upgrades. This could be done at the neighbourhood scale, through area-based targeting, community retrofit coordinators, , or other local initiatives. Any households or businesses who sign up would be advised on support schemes and energy upgrade options.

Everyone should have access to state-of-the-art energy measures, regardless of their income or other forms of disadvantage. The service must not be restricted to those with the confidence and resources to take the initiative.

So there is a strong case that this would promote energy justice. By integrating financial subsidies, and working with trustworthy installers and companies, a national-level advice service could help promote equitable access to low-carbon energy for all.

, Professor of Human Geography, ; , PhD Candidate, Low-Carbon Energy Transitions, , and , Senior Lecturer in Geography,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The robot, called Lyra, is one example of mobile robotic platforms designed for inspecting hazardous environments and is a groundbreaking invention that can change how people live, work, and think about what is possible.

Lyra was built by researchers at Swag直播, working within the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear (RAIN) Hub and with considerable guidance from technical and operations staff at Dounreay Site Remediation Ltd (DSRL). The technology is commercially available through Ice Nine Ltd.

In April, Lyra completed a survey of a radioactive ventilation duct below a disused laboratory at the Dounreay nuclear complex. It also used Lidar, a detection system similar to radar but which uses lasers, and took swabs using a manipulator arm.

The robot traversed 140m of duct from a single entry point. It provided operators with detailed radiological characterisation information that can now be used to help plan safe and efficient laboratory decommissioning.

To gain this detailed information previously would be complicated and require operations staff to make additional airline suit entries into contaminated areas, increasing cost and elevating risk. Additionally, due to the duct size and radiological threats, human access to this area is currently impossible.

Barry Lennox, RAIN Director and co-founder of Ice Nine Ltd, says the robot can accelerate the pace of decommissioning legacy nuclear facilities in the UK while simultaneously reducing the risk to humans, decreasing costs and even reducing the amount of additional low-level waste generated during decommissioning.

Sadly, the original Lyra had to be disposed of after its critical mission soaked it in plutonium and other materials. 鈥淭his was a shame, as several of the researchers had become very attached to it,鈥� Lennox says.

The research team is grateful for the use of the Lyra robot, which was made available for this work through the NNUF Hot Robotics Programme.

DSRL Project Manager Jason Simpson said: 鈥淒SRL is greatly indebted to the team from Swag直播, their efforts coupled with that of FIS360 Managing Director Frank Allison have clearly demonstrated the substantial benefits to be gained through collaborative working with the supply chain. Now that the characterisation survey is complete, we have built up a comprehensive picture of the duct which will help us make informed decisions on how the duct will be decommissioned going forward.

鈥淎lthough it is recognised that the incentives to succeed differed for all parties, the enthusiasm and commitment from Frank Allison, Barry Lennox, Matthew Nancekievill, Keir Groves and the rest of the team at Swag直播, ensured our objectives ultimately aligned to culminate in the successful deployment and data capture witnessed via Lyra.鈥�

Visit the to watch recordings of all the presentations from the event. 

Lynda McIntosh, Research Communications and Marketing Manager, and Vicky Taylor-Plane, Corporate Communications Manager, updated together on the REF communications plan and the Research Impact Showcase. This was followed by an update from Enna Bartlett, Biotechnology Beacon Communications and Marketing Manager, who presented on current activity in the Biotechnology Beacon. We then heard from Phil Wallace, Research Platforms Team (Digital Futures and Sustainable Futures) Communications and Engagement Coordinator, who updated on the and the North West Partnership for Security and Trust.

Sarah Barton, Research Platforms Team ( and Sustainable Futures) Strategy and Operations Manager, updated on DF/SF activity, including the development of major University, the 鈥楧igital Tools and Climate Responses鈥�, the 鈥楬umans In The Loop: The Future of Design and Digital Manufacturing鈥�, the Sustainable Futures, and the Advances in Data Science and AI.
Anne-Marie Nugnes, Creative Swag直播 Manager, also shared updates on activity, including news on the postponement of the Creative Swag直播 launch events to Autumn, the recruitment of a new intern, the planning of the platform鈥檚 seminar series, and plans to appoint focus area leads for each of the research themes.

 Ad hoc updates were provided by Terri Lucas, Civic Engagement Manager, on the Engaging with Policymakers for the Arts and Humanities event; Leda Channer, Communications and Engagement Coordinator, on activity; Sabina Hawthornthwaite, Faculty Research Strategy Coordinator, on the Centre for Robotics and AI launch; and Matthew Harrison, IDSAI Manager, on the upcoming Turing Fellow 鈥楽potlight鈥�.

The next meeting of the network will take place on 19^th May 2022 and will include updates from Professor Mike Shaver, Sustainable Futures Director, Professor John McAuliffe, Creative Swag直播 Director, and Professor Chris Taylor, Digital Futures Director (TBC).

Sign up to receive updates,, and activity.

About the network:

This network brings together over 100 colleagues from across the University in PS interdisciplinary research roles, including Institute and Centre Managers, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange staff, and Beacons, Faculty and Corporate Communications and Marketing colleagues. The group meets every two months to hear updates from colleagues and discuss synergies and ways of working together across interdisciplinary activity at UoM. For more information, please contact Peter Kane.

The seminar will take place on Wednesday 16^th March 2022 from 13:00 鈥� 14:15 (registration from 12:45) and will take place at Alliance Swag直播 Busines School, Penthouse room 10.007. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

The event is co-hosted with the at the Alliance Swag直播 Business School as part of their FinTech Seminar Series and is part of Digital Futures鈥檚 wider .

Attendees can register to attend the seminar on . In the event of further restrictions, this event will be held as an online seminar. Registrants will be contacted with visitor guidance nearer the time.

About the talk

Technological and data analytic advances over the past few decades have fundamentally changed the way in which we work. Each has driven the other forward with larger datasets requiring technological innovation and technological innovation resulting in the creation of more data. New and continually developing skillsets have emerged and recognition of the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration is rising.

Even so there is a strong direction towards the automation of tasks and replacement of apparently fallible human intelligence with artificial intelligence wherever possible. But what are we losing as we run at pace down this path? What about automation bias? What about the loss of expertise and its development? What about autonomy and engagement? What about starting with the people, seeing them at the heart of knowledge work and leveraging human intelligence to design in a way that engages our thinking?

This has been the approach of Wendy Jephson first as Co-Founder of Sybenetix, then as Head of Research & Ideation for Market Technology at Nasdaq, including her work at Nasdaq on detecting and preventing financial crime, and now as Founder of LetsThink. This talk will discuss the approach with examples of the journey so far.

About the speaker

Wendy Jephson is Founding CEO of LetsThink, a new start-up which produces domain specific technology designed specifically to support complex analytic thinking. They specialise in engaged intelligence, enabling their clients to think brilliantly.

Dual qualified as a commercial lawyer and Business Psychologist with domain expertise in healthcare and financial services, this is her second start up. As Co-Founder of Sybenetix, Wendy was instrumental in the original vision, growth phase and acquisition of her first company by Nasdaq. At Nasdaq she was Head of Research & Ideation and led a unique team of experts that combined behavioural science, financial domain knowledge, and advanced analytics to bring diverse thinking and cross-industry experience to designing and delivering technology to solve some of the biggest challenges facing financial services.

Recognised as a leader in her field, Wendy regularly delivers keynotes to Regulators, Buy and Sell-side organisations, Regulators and leading universities around the world on topics as diverse as AI, Surveillance, Technology Design, Cognitive Engineering, Organisational Resilience and Conduct and Culture. Wendy also have previously sat as a Board member for the Copenhagen, Helsinki, Iceland and Oslo Nasdaq Exchanges and currently acts as an Advisor to AIR, the Alliance for Innovative Regulation and Chairs the Advisory Board of UCL鈥檚 Doctoral Research Programme, Ecobrain.