The new Hub for Advanced Long-acting Therapeutics (HALo) will focus on driving research, public and patient engagement, and the translational infrastructure required for the development and manufacture of new Long-acting therapeutics (LATs).

LATs are predicted to revolutionise treatment of health conditions by replacing extensive periods of daily pill taking with a single administered dose.

The approach addresses the issue of missed daily drug doses, which can cause a range of complications, from a lack of efficacy to pathogen resistance. They will also help patients stay on treatment, make it easier to achieve optimal dosing targets and reduce the burden on health systems.

The project is supported with an 拢11 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). As a key partner, Swag直播 has been awarded 拢1.5m from the grant to lead efforts to advance multiple strands of LAT research.

The Swag直播 activity is an interdisciplinary team, led by , Reader in Sustainable Materials. Dr McDonald is Head of Environmental Sustainability and Engagement for the and is also Research Area lead for Chemical Materials Design within the .  

Alongside Dr McDonald is , , and .

The Swag直播 team will focus on:

• Developing innovative in situ forming implant technologies, which allow for a controlled release of medication directly at the site of need.
• Creating predictive models to evaluate drug release kinetics, helping to optimise LAT formulations for better patient outcomes.
• Quantifying the sustainability benefits of LAT medicines, including reductions in packaging waste and resource use, as part of a broader effort to make healthcare more environmentally friendly.

Dr Tom McDonald said: 鈥淟ong-acting therapeutics have the potential to address significant challenges in drug administration by offering more convenient, effective, and sustained treatment options.鈥�

LATs are emerging as the next landmark for healthcare management; pharmaceutical companies are realising the benefits for clinical outcomes and patient well-being. Such technologies are already in use in fields such as contraception, HIV therapy, and the management of mental health conditions.

By focusing on understanding the physical science that underpins existing successful LAT medicines, HALo will create new proof-of-concept LAT medicine candidates for diseases and conditions where no LAT option exists yet, such as high blood pressure and asthma.

HALo is led by Professor Steve Rannard at the and the Hub will primarily be hosted within its Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) - the world鈥檚 first academic centre of excellence focussed on LATs.

Professor Rannard said: 鈥淟ong-acting therapeutics have the potential to simplify the administration of medicines, improve clinical outcomes and reduce the costs of healthcare provision.

鈥淭hey are widely predicted to revolutionise disease treatment and healthcare management. HALo provides a much-needed focal point for new LAT developments in the UK and by working with partners it will ensure the UK is on the path to global leadership in this exciting new field.

鈥淭he outcomes from HALo will have far-reaching benefits globally and also enable CELT focus on low and middle-income country healthcare needs where LATs are expected to be transformational.鈥�

HALo brings together academics, industry, clinicians and other stakeholders including patient groups and policy makers. Key partners of the project, include Swag直播, Queens University Belfast, the University of Nottingham, alongside the Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Alder Hey Children鈥檚 Foundation Trust and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

HALo is one of  that aim to transform healthcare through the development and application of revolutionary new technologies.

Described by the ERC as among the EU鈥檚 most prestigious and competitive grants, today鈥檚 funding has been awarded to the following senior research leaders:

• , Professor of Emerging Optoelectronics, based in the and , to investigate scalable nanomanufacturing paradigms for emerging electronics (SNAP). The program aims to develop sustainable large-area electronics, a potential game-changer in emerging semiconductor markets, that will help reduce society's reliance on current polluting technologies while enabling radically new applications.
• , Chair in Evolutionary Biology, in the School of Biological Sciences, to investigate how genomic complexity shapes long-term bacterial evolution and adaptation.
• , in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Director of the Photon Science Institute to develop a table-top nuclear facility to produce cold actinide molecules that will enable novel searches for new physics beyond the standard model of particle physics.
• Professor Sir Andre Geim, who isolated graphene in 2004 with Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, to explore 2D materials and their van der Waals assemblies.
• , to lead work into chemically fuelled molecular ratchets. Ratcheting underpins the mechanisms of molecular machinery, gives chemical processes direction, and helps explain how chemistry becomes biology.
• , in the Department of Chemistry and  Swag直播 Institute of Biotechnology, to develop enzymatic methods for peptide synthesis (EZYPEP). Peptides are fundamental in life and are widely used as therapeutic agents, vaccines, biomaterials and in many other applications. Currently peptides are produced by chemical synthesis, which is inefficient, expensive, difficult to scale-up and creates a huge amount of harmful waste that is damaging to the environment. EZYPEP will address this problem by developing enzymatic methods for the more sustainable, cleaner and scalable synthesis of peptides, including essential medicines to combat infectious diseases, cancer and diabetes.
•  , based in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to explore Top and Higgs Couplings and extended Higgs Sectors with rare multi-Top multi-Higgs Events with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. This project aims at deeper insight into the most fundamental properties of nature beyond our current understanding.

Swag直播 received seven of the 42 grants awarded to UK institutions.

The grant recipients will join a community of just 255 awarded ERC advanced grants, from a total of 1,829 submissions.

As a result of today鈥檚 announcement, the ERC will be investing nearly 鈧�652 million across the 255 projects.

Head of Department for Physics and Astronomy, which received three of the seven grants, said: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 triple award reflects our department鈥檚 continued leadership in pioneering research. We鈥檙e home to Jodrell Bank, host of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory 鈥� set to be the largest radio telescope in the world; the National Graphene Institute 鈥� a world-leading centre for 2D material research with the largest clean rooms in European academia; we lead experiments at CERN and Fermilab; and 鈥� crucially 鈥� we host a world-leading community of vibrant and collaborative researchers like Professors Flanagan, Geim and Peters who lead the way. Today鈥檚 announcement recognises their role as outstanding research leaders who will drive the next generation to deliver transformative breakthroughs.鈥�

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swag直播, added: 鈥淥ur University鈥檚 history of scientific and engineering research is internationally recognised but it does not constrain us. Instead, it鈥檚 the work of our researchers 鈥� like the seven leaders celebrated today 鈥� and what they decide to do next, that will define us.  We are proud to have a culture where responsible risk-taking is nurtured and transformative outcomes delivered, and we look forward to these colleagues using this environment to deliver world-leading and world-changing research.鈥�

, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, said: "These awards are welcome recognition of the world-leading and transformative frontier science that Swag直播 researchers are delivering. The compelling and innovative research supported by these ERC awards builds on the excellent local environment at Swag直播 and are cornerstones of the University鈥檚 strategy for excellence and leadership in research and innovation. The positive and real-world global impact from these research awards could deliver are genuinely tangible.

"As we enter our third century, the awards made in a highly competitive environment, are evidence that we do so with a continued pioneering approach to discovery and the pursuit of knowledge that our research community was built on."

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth at the ERC, said: 鈥淭his investment nurtures the next generation of brilliant minds. I look forward to seeing the resulting breakthroughs and fresh advancements in the years ahead.鈥�

The ERC grants are part of the EU鈥檚 Horizon Europe programme.

The new Centre aims to link up on Advanced Materials with the broader UK innovation eco-system involving multiple universities, catapult centres and the National Health Service. The research programme will get the benefit of participation of leading academics and technologists of the broader eco-system through the partner network of the Henry Royce Institute.

Tata Steel has a growing business in composites, graphene, and medical materials. The research programme at the Centre will not only focus on pushing the knowledge boundaries in these materials, but also explore 2D and second-life materials. Establishing recycling technologies for materials will be an integral part of materials development.

T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, said: 鈥淭he establishment of the Centre for Innovation in the UK represents a strategic move for Tata Steel towards harnessing the global technology and innovation ecosystem. The Centre at Royce will enable us to work with world-class scientists and a rich partner network to create sustainable, breakthrough, market-ready applications for the benefit of both the Company and the community. Tata Steel is committed to developing pioneering technologies and solutions for a better tomorrow."

Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D, Tata Steel, said: 鈥淲e have set up Centres for Innovation in India in key areas like Mobility, Mining, Mineral Research, and Advanced Materials. The Centre for Innovation in Advanced Materials at Royce is one of the first of Tata Steel鈥檚 multiple global satellite R&D and Technology centres planned in key strategic areas. I am enthusiastic about this collaboration which aligns seamlessly with Tata Steel's pursuit of technology leadership and building future ready businesses by exploring opportunities in materials beyond steel.鈥�

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swag直播, said: 鈥淲e are really pleased that Tata Steel is establishing this Centre for Innovation here in Swag直播, truly leveraging our world-class expertise in advanced materials. Importantly, this excellent Centre will combine the capability of the University of Swag直播鈥檚 leading materials researchers with the commercial expertise of Tata Steel and is set to deliver a very productive innovation-based relationship for both the University and the company.鈥�

Professor David Knowles, Royce CEO, said: 鈥淭his important Royce collaboration with Tata Steel further underscores the opportunities for advanced materials and manufacturing both in the North West and across the UK 鈥� securing the experience and reach of a global player in materials manufacturing to further accelerate the translation of materials-based technologies to address challenges in health, sustainability and net-zero. Critically the Centre leverages on Royce鈥檚 national network of Partners to support a project which has a foot in the North West. We are looking forward to this programme building momentum for the region and feeding into a number of national supply chains supporting regional economic growth around the UK.鈥�

This collaboration aims to strengthen the existing robust relationship between the organisations, capitalising on Tata Steel's extensive expertise in technology translation and commercialisation, complemented by Royce's strengths in science and innovation within advanced materials. Additionally, this initiative will also enable the Royce Hub at Swag直播 to leverage their key Royce Partners which include the Universities of Cambridge and Sheffield, and Imperial College London under this MoU.

With support from the , the UK鈥檚 national centre for research and innovation for advanced materials, the lab gives researchers and industry access to the complete fabrication pipeline from cell culturing to product evaluation.

Funded by a 拢200,000 grant from the UK Space Agency and assisted by the European Space Agency, a University of Swag直播 team are currently investigating how to optimise the bioprinting process for conditions experienced in space, such as lack of gravity.

Using the unique capabilities of the BTP, researchers are also collaborating with clinicians and cell biologists to develop 3D models of human cartilage and bone.

Mr Green, who before entering Parliament spent almost two decades working as an engineer in the mass spectrometry industry, began his trip at the - the most advanced nuclear research capability in UK academia - where he was briefed on current projects by Professor Adrian Bull MBE, Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society. 

The Bolton West MP鈥檚 final destination on the visit, organised by the University鈥檚 policy engagement unit , was the Justice Hub to join a health-themed roundtable discussion with senior academics including Dr Philip Drake, Dr Jennifer Voorhees and Dr Jonathan Hammond.   

Professor Richard Jones, Vice President for Civic Engagement and Innovation at Swag直播, said: 鈥淚t was a pleasure to welcome Chris and give him an insight into some of the pioneering work we do in partnership with businesses right across Greater Swag直播.

鈥淪wag直播's cutting-edge research in making a real difference in tackling pressing policy challenges.  That's why it is important for influencers of policy, including MPs across Greater Swag直播, to see at first-hand the work being done and to take that evidence back with them to Westminster. 

鈥淭his was a particularly timely visit as the Chancellor announced a new investment zone for Greater Swag直播 in the recent Autumn Statement which will give further impetus to the work we do on innovation, advanced materials and manufacturing with our partners in the city-region."

Chris Green MP said: 鈥淚t was a fascinating morning. Swag直播 has a thoroughly merited global reputation for research excellence across a vast swathe of subject areas, not least in technology, innovation and health.

鈥淚 was deeply impressed by all I saw and heard, particularly in the Bioprinting Technology Platform where the remarkable work going on places Greater Swag直播 firmly at the forefront of the medical engineering revolution.

鈥淚 look forward to following the many exciting research projects happening across the University, with lots more in development.鈥�          

Bioprinting involves using specialised 3D printers to print living cells creating new skin, bone, tissue or organs for transplantation.

The technique has the potential to revolutionise medicine, and specifically in the realm of space travel, bioprinting could have a significant impact.

Astronauts on extended space missions have an increased health risk due to the absence of gravity and exposure to radiation. This makes them susceptible to diseases such as osteoporosis caused by loss of bone density and can cause injuries, such as fractures, which currently can鈥檛 be treated in space.

By harnessing bioprinting capabilities in space, researchers aim to protect the health of space explorers.

Currently, bioprinting machines rely on Earth鈥檚 gravity to function effectively. The new research by Swag直播, funded by a 拢200,000 grant from the UK Space Agency and supported by the European Space Agency, seeks to understand how to optimise the bioprinting process for conditions experienced in space, such as lack of gravity.

Dr Marco Domingos, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at Swag直播, said: 鈥淭his project marks a significant leap forward in bioprinting technology and by addressing the challenges posed by microgravity, we are paving the way for remarkable advancements in medicine and space exploration.鈥�

Libby Moxon, Exploration Science Officer for Lunar and Microgravity, added: 鈥淪wag直播鈥檚 pioneering project investigating a novel approach for bioprinting in space will help strengthen the UK鈥檚 leadership in the areas of fluid mechanics, soft matter physics and biomaterials, and could help protect the health of astronauts exploring space around the Earth, Moon and beyond.

鈥淲e鈥檙e backing technology and capabilities that support ambitious space exploration missions to benefit the global space community, and we look forward to following this bioprinting research as it evolves.鈥�

Eventually, the team, including Dr Domingos, Prof Anne Juel and Dr Igor Chernyavsky, will take their findings to a bioprinting station being developed on board the International Space Station, which will allow researchers to print models in space and study the effects of radiation and microgravity.

Dr Domingos said: 鈥淭he first challenge is figuring out how to print anything where there is no gravity. There are few facilities in the UK that are suitable to study the bioprinting process within an environment that matches that of space 鈥� they are either too small, or the time in which microgravity conditions are applies are too short. Hence, it is important to print in space to advance our knowledge in this field.

鈥淏y combining the principles of physics with bioprinting at Swag直播, we hope to come up with a solution before taking it to the International Space Station for testing.鈥�

The project will take place over two years at the Bioprinting Technology Platform based at the Henry Royce Institute on Swag直播鈥檚 campus.

It hopes to develop beyond the challenge of microgravity to address further challenges of preserving, transporting and processing cells in space.

Awarded via the (EPSRC), it follows an initial 拢258m government investment made over the course of five years to establish key infrastructure required by the advanced materials sector. Royce aims to support the growth of world-recognised excellence in UK materials research, accelerating commercial exploitation and delivering positive economic and societal impact.

The new funding will enable the Institute to accelerate translational research in advanced materials targeting our biggest challenges, providing access to research capabilities, identifying opportunities for collaboration between businesses and researchers and developing the next generation of materials scientists.

During his first official visit in his new role as Business Secretary, Grant Shapps said: 鈥楻&D investment is a critical way to turbocharge Britain鈥檚 growth. Growing an economy fit for the future means harnessing the full potential of advanced materials, making science fiction a reality by supporting projects from regenerative medicine to robots developing new recycling capabilities, right across the country - including here in the heart of Swag直播.

'Today鈥檚 拢95 million investment will do just that, bringing together the brightest minds across our businesses and institutions to help future-proof sectors from healthcare to nuclear energy.鈥�

Professor David Knowles, Royce CEO said: 鈥楻oyce and its partners across the UK, along with the advanced materials community, is very pleased to be able to confirm this Phase ll EPSRC funding. Innovation in advanced materials underpins a wider range of our industrial sectors and is fundamental to our economic growth.

鈥極ur Partnership offers a unique combination of materials science expertise, state-of-the-art laboratories and fantastic collaboration spaces for the advanced materials community. As we enter our Phase ll operations we are focused now, more than ever, on working with the community to identify the key challenges and opportunities ahead of us and supporting the translation of innovative research into the viable products and systems needed to ensure a sustainable future for us all.鈥�

EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Dame Lynn Gladden said: 鈥楢dvanced materials are crucial to driving growth across our key industries, from energy and transport to health, and ensuring they are sustainable for the future. This funding will build on the success of the Henry Royce Institute so far, to unleash the potential of this transformative technology for the benefit of the economy and the environment.鈥�

University of Swag直播 President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: 鈥業 am delighted that the fantastic work of the Royce in this sector has been recognised by this major award from EPSRC, further reinforcing Swag直播鈥檚 place at the epicentre of this revolutionary area of research and development.鈥�

Advanced Materials

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

Advanced materials and manufacturing were identified in the government鈥檚  as one of seven technology families in which the UK has globally competitive R&D and industrial strength.

To encourage more recycling, some countries are taxing single-use plastic products containing less than 30% recycled plastic material. But aside from a manufacturer鈥檚 word, there isn鈥檛 an easy way to verify this.

Now, researchers reporting in have developed a simple, fraud-resistant technique to evaluate the recycled content of new plastic products. They added a fluorescent tag to plastic resins, successfully tracking the recycled content in products made with a variety of plastics and colours.

After reducing and reusing, recycling is the last line of defence for keeping plastic out of landfills or the environment. To encourage plastic recycling, some countries have shifted the responsibility to producers for incorporating these 鈥減ost-consumer materials鈥� in new products, such as single-use items and packaging. Whereas the U.K. is taxing plastic products with little recycled content, other countries, such as Italy and Spain, plan to impose taxes soon on products that contain no recycled content.

However, approaches to verify these amounts aren鈥檛 always accurate, potentially leading to fraud and public mistrust. One solution could be to tag recycled plastics with the fluorescent molecule 4,4,-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene (BBS), and then track the tagged recycled feedstocks into their resulting products. BBS鈥檚 fluorescence intensity and colour vary when different levels are present, and it鈥檚 inexpensive and approved for food contact applications. So, Michael Shaver and colleagues wanted to see how BBS could be used to measure the recycled content of single-use plastic products.

The researchers mixed small amounts of BBS into melted high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and then mixed that with virgin HDPE resin, simulating 0 to 100% recycled content materials. As the amount of BBS tagged-HDPE rose in the samples, the fluorescence intensity shifted toward a greener hue of blue under a UV light.

The marked plastic had a unique fluorescence behaviour, which the researchers suggest would be hard for someone with fraudulent intentions to replicate. Next, the team developed a simple digital image analysis technique that converted the material鈥檚 fluorescence into the percentage of recycled content.

鈥淚n tests, the method could identify the recycled content in other real-world plastics, including recycled milk bottles with additives, coloured HDPE, polypropylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate). The BBS strategy could be applied to a variety of single-use plastic products without impacting their appearance or quality,鈥� says Professor Michael Shaver.

The authors acknowledge support from the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub and the Swag直播 Institute of Biotechnology.

The authors have filed a patent on this technology in the U.K.

Cath is a winner in the Contribution to Infrastructure category, which recognises a member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to day-to-day infrastructure to support research and/or teaching.

She is responsible for two highly complex buildings that house a breadth of state-of-the-art technical facilities, from vibration-controlled spaces, to humidity-controlled rooms, as well as laboratories equipped to support wide-ranging research related to biomaterials through to next-generation fuels. She also manages a large and varied team of expert technical staff who operate a >£100m suite of equipment open to both academia and industry users.

Cath, alongside colleague Dan Tate, Technical Project Manager, and members of the wider facilities team, worked tirelessly to oversee the Royce Hub building fit-out, as well as the transfer of existing equipment and the delivery and commissioning of £45m of new state-of-the-art equipment.

Under Cath's leadership, the expert technical team continued to progress all of this during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the Royce Hub facilities can operate efficiently and effectively, providing users with a high quality and safe experience.

Hundreds of individuals and teams were nominated for the year's prestigious awards, with 61 technicians shortlisted for an acclaimed Papin Prize across ten categories. The Papin Prizes are named after Denis Papin, a 17th century technician who invented the steam digester and was one of the first technicians to publish in his own name.

Cath received her award earlier this month at the UK Higher Education Technicians Summit 2021.

The innovative device enables rooms to heat up quicker and minimises energy bills, reducing fuel poverty and the carbon footprint of UK homes.

Thermocill^TM is a discreet window board that directs air from a room’s radiator up and against the window panes creating a warm curtain in front of the glazing.

Researchers from the (MACE) at the University have supported development of a prototype and applied computer modelling to optimise, calculate and verify effectiveness of the unique green-tech.

Dr Amir Keshmiri, a Reader in Fluid Dynamics who led this project at MACE said: “Thermocill is an innovative concept based on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and heat transfer and our results have demonstrated the effectiveness of this device in changing the flow in the room and the thermal comfort”.

Researchers from the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (SMI Hub) have also worked closely with the University to help investigate the suitability and sustainability of different materials for .

The Hub conducted an assessment of the suitability of different materials for manufacturing Thermocill, which included investigations of the mechanical and physical properties as well as recyclability and sustainability.

Other innovative materials will also be considered for future development of the product including hemp, the use of which is becoming more widely recognised for its potential to help fight climate change.

Professor Michael Shaver, SMI Hub Director and Professor of Polymer Chemistry at Swag直播 said: “Households are huge sources of carbon emissions so it’s important that innovative solutions are developed to help reduce their impact. We are proud to advise the company on the sustainability of their plastic choices for both current and future products."

Award-winning entrepreneur and inventor of Thermocill, Keith Rimmer, said: “Both Swag直播 and the SMI Hub have played a key role in helping to support the development of Thermocill, from the initial idea and concept through to real-world application. Finding a sustainable material to make the product from has always been a critically important element, to maximise the positive environmental impact of Thermocill.

“With the first major production run taking place soon we’re at an exciting stage in this journey and it’s very exciting that together, we’ve developed a product that will have a positive impact on energy efficiency and fuel poverty very soon.”

Performance of the product has also been verified by the t, with headline benefits including a 14 per cent reduction in the energy needed to heat up a room and a 150kg reduction in CO2 emissions per year for each household where Thermocill is installed.

A council in the North West has agreed to initially install Thermocill in 2,000 homes across their 22,000 properties, which will lead to 300 tonnes of CO2 emission savings and 16 tonnes of materials saved from going to landfills.

The 2021 event – held from 26-30 April and run by PhD students from Swag直播 – was hosted virtually due to Covid restrictions but the online platform had the benefit of turning the competition into a truly global affair. 

Thirty-five teams from around the world, including participants from Argentina, India and Indonesia, worked throughout the week on their ideas before pitching to a panel of industry experts.

Alongside the challenge element, the Hackathon team also produced a series of , detailing the uses and deployment of graphene in different fields, from water desalination to computing and space applications.

Attendees also took part in Q&A sessions with experts in graphene research and development, including pioneer and Nobel laureate Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov (below).

The event was hosted at the Bright Building at Swag直播 Science Park, generously provided free by Hackathon sponsor Bruntwood SciTech. MC duties were provided by science communicator, comedian and  Dr Luke Chaplin.

In the winners’ circle

First prize in the Healthcare Challenge went to the SENSE team for their smart, chronic wound-monitoring patch. They won £250, plus an additional £100 Innovation Prize, three months’ office space at Alderley Park (also courtesy of Bruntwood SciTech) and an hour’s IP consultancy time with Potter Clarkson.

Winners in the Sustainable Industry Challenege were Honeycomb Ink, with low-cost piezoelectric energy harvesting floor tiles for festivals and public events. They won £250, plus a £65 award from LABMAN Automation.

Other winners included:

• FRAS Sustainable Solutions: retrofitting graphene thermal management for plane wings to prevent ice formation.
• Nanocomb: eTextile muscle movement monitor for elite athletes, dubbed a ‘physio in your pocket’.
• Graphene Prosthetics Ltd: graphene nerve conduction prosthetics to alleviate phantom nerve pain in amputees.
• Hex: mattress topper sleep tracker.

Scott Dean, founder of , was a member of the Hackathon organising team of PhD researchers and said: “Hosting the Graphene Hackathon virtually this year gave us the opportunity to reach further than ever before. 

“We were amazed at the quality of the teams’ ideas, from energy harvesting systems to next-gen wireless chargers and remote health monitoring solutions. Each idea was very different from the next and each enabled by the same material – graphene.

“We are very grateful to our wonderful sponsors for all their support in making this event so successful, and to all the teams for their hard work.”

Scott also thanked the judging panel, featuring senior staff from LABMAN, Bruntwood SciTech, the Henry Royce Institute, Catalyst by Masdar, Nixene Publishing and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre.

You can view the videos produced for this year’s event at the and find out more at .

Many people will have the experience of dipping their hands into a bag of mixed nuts only to find the Brazil nuts at the top. This effect can also be readily observed with cereal boxes, with the larger items rising to the top. Colloquially, this phenomenon of particles segregating by their size is known as the ‘Brazil-nut effect’ and also has huge implications for industries where uneven mixing can critically degrade product quality.

Now, for the first time, scientists at Swag直播 have used time-resolved 3D imaging to show how the Brazil nuts rise upwards through a pile of nuts. The work shows the importance of particle shape in the de-mixing process.

A common difficulty with examining granular materials is following what happens to particles on the inside of the pile, which cannot easily be seen. This new research published in the journal makes a key breakthrough in our understanding by utilising advanced imaging techniques at the new National Research Facility for Lab-based X-ray Computed Tomography (NXCT), based in .

Regius Professor Philip Withers said: “In this work, we followed the motion of the Brazil nuts and peanuts through time-lapse X-ray Computed Tomography as the pack was repeatedly agitated. This allowed us to see for the first time the process by which the Brazil nuts move past the peanuts to rise to the top.”

The team captured the unique imaging experiment on video showing the temporal evolution of the nut mixture in 3D. Peanuts are seen to percolate downwards whilst three larger Brazil nuts are seen to rise upwards. The first Brazil nut reaches the top 10% of the bed height after 70 shear cycles, with the other two Brazil nuts reaching this height after 150 shear cycles. The remaining Brazil nuts appear trapped towards the bottom and do not rise upwards.

Dr Parmesh Gajjar, lead author of the study, adds: “Critically, the orientation of the Brazil nut is key to its upward movement. We have found that the Brazil nuts initially start horizontal but do not start to rise until they have first rotated sufficiently towards the vertical axis. Upon reaching the surface, they then return to a flat orientation.

“Our study highlights the important role of particle shape and orientation in segregation. Further, this ability to track the motion in 3D will pave the way for new experimental studies of segregating mixtures and will open the door to even more realistic simulations and powerful predictive models. This will allow us to better design industrial equipment to minimise size segregation thus leading to more uniform mixtures. This is critical to many industries, for instance ensuring an even distribution of active ingredients in medicinal tablets, but also in food processing, mining and construction.”

is one of Swag直播’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

Plastic waste is forecast to reach 40 billion tons per year globally, and is increasingly associated with major world cities. Urgent action is needed to find sustainable solutions to making, using and disposing of plastics.

Greater Swag直播, a region with a growing industrial and economic footprint, has clean growth at the core of its economic ambition and the Innovation Hub demonstrates its commitment to delivering the technology necessary to support this aim.

The SMIH, to be located on the 6^th floor of the Royce Hub Building, will support small to medium businesses from across the whole of GM to find sustainable innovations to waste management and more sustainable plastics. By bringing together material science expertise and business intelligence to offer a defined workflow of ‘Advice’, ‘Assess’ and ‘Innovate’, the SMIH will help businesses to understand where they can make efficiencies, realise opportunities and avoid unintended consequences in their plastics management.

In the Royce Hub Building, three interlinking laboratories will be equipped with capability to characterise, synthesis and process polymers, facilitating innovation in new sustainable polymers, improved methods of recycling, and validation of emerging sustainable materials that appear on the market.

The ability to develop new plastics and recycling infrastructure is also underpinned by an understanding of the behaviours of individuals and businesses that may inhibit innovation adoption. The programme of advise, assessment and innovation will thus incorporate collaborative social science research to help businesses make informed choices to sustainable solutions.

The SMIH will be led by Director Michael Shaver, Professor of Polymer Science at Swag直播 and Lead for Sustainable Materials for the Henry Royce Institute.

Commenting on the announcement of the SMIH, Prof Shaver said: “The Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub provides a platform to work with SMEs across Greater Swag直播 to help them adopt the right sustainable plastic innovation for the right reasons. We will pioneer solutions that fit with our current and emerging waste management practices and help companies make decisions that are truly sustainable rather than just band-aid interventions.”

The investment in the SMIH represents Swag直播’s dedication to environmental sustainability. Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research said: "We are proud to host the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub in Swag直播. Its aims are directly aligned to our environmental sustainability strategy for our research, teaching and how we operate as a social responsible organisation.

"Using the University’s knowledge and influence we are committed to working with our research partners and other key stakeholders to support the innovation, growth and environmental sustainability of the region’s industrial sector for the benefit of society."

The Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub will be a key driver in delivering Royce’s vision of Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Society. Royce CEO Prof David Knowles, who led the bid with Swag直播 said,

The SMIH will be a great asset to Greater Swag直播’s response to the imperative of delivering sustainability in the way we embrace the use, management and recycling plastics in a city ecosystem. The interdisciplinary team will bring together scientific, economic and social research effort to help business’s make long lasting innovative solutions, build a circular economy in GM and export the innovation and best practice both nationally and internationally. This will contribute to both local economic growth and expansion of research efforts to find materials solutions to some our most pressing global challenges.

The SMIH will support SME’s from across Greater Swag直播 like Dsposal who use tech to simplify waste compliance and promote industry transparency. Commenting on the award of the SMIH, Dsposal COO & Co-Founder Sophie Walker said: “This is wonderful news for Greater Swag直播’s SMEs working on improving the sustainability of the plastics value-chains. The SMIH’s interdisciplinary approach focussing both on polymer innovation and behaviour change is welcomed by who are on a mission to make it easy for everyone to do the right thing with their waste.”

The Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub will initially run remotely by reaching out to the Greater Swag直播 SME community to deliver the Assess work stream. Following the reopening of Swag直播, work will get underway to fit out the 6^th floor of the Royce Hub Building which will be completed in Spring 2021.

The Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub is part of the Henry Royce Institute at Swag直播 and is part-funded by the .

Swag直播 is repurposing specialised equipment across its campus to help produce safety equipment for NHS workers battling COVID-19 in an attempt to help reduce the critical demand across the region.

In a combined effort with other universities, including Salford and MMU, The University is utilising 3D printing capabilities to design and make headbands for protective facemasks worn by frontline NHS medical staff in hospitals.

With nearly 50 printers across the University it is aimed that around 500 additional mask headbands can be produced per week. The face shield is being laser cut by regional commercial suppliers and assembled at .

Professor Brian Derby is coordinating the 3D printing response at Swag直播, he said: “3D printing has allowed the Greater Swag直播-based team to progress rapidly from concept, to prototypes, which allowed infection control teams to validate the design and enable the production of PPE acceptable for use in the regions hospitals.”

A team of experimental officers and technical staff who can operate the 3D printers have volunteered to work on site to help with the surge in demand. Measured steps are being taken in an effort to reduce staff travel to minimise risk. NHS staff will collect the masks from the University campus on a daily basis to help resupply their essential stock of PPE.

Swag直播 is assisting the NHS by mobilising its staff, laboratory space and equipment as part of a collective effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in a fast moving and rapidly changing situation.

Swag直播 has established a COVID-19 research rapid response group through which scientists are working with NHS colleagues from Swag直播 University NHS Foundation Trust and the , supported by , and utilising our experimental and translational research expertise through the NHIR Swag直播  and .

Much sought after personal protective equipment (PPE) is also being donated by the University in the midst of a global shortage. Some high-spec or environmentally controlled laboratories including biomedical labs and graphene cleanroom labs, require users to wear PPE including; goggles, gloves and facemasks.

A stock of PPE including 47,660 pairs of nitrile gloves and 200 pairs of protective goggles has now been donated to local health practices to help safeguard doctors and nurses with further stock to be audited and offered.

Elsewhere the which is based at Swag直播 and with national links to industry and academia has put out to link industry partners with NHS colleagues in order to help industry understand and solve problems faced by the nation’s medical staff in a rapidly changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Swag直播, our people are working together and with partners from across society to understand coronavirus (COVID-19) and its wide-ranging impacts on our lives. to support the University’s response to coronavirus or visit the University’s  to lend a helping hand.

New antiviral materials made from sugar have been developed to destroy viruses on contact and may help in the fight against viral outbreaks.

This new development from a collaborative team of international scientists shows promise for the treatment of herpes simplex (cold sore virus), respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis C, HIV, and Zika virus to name a few. The team have demonstrated success treating a range of viruses in the lab – including respiratory infections to genital herpes.

The research is a result of a collaboration between scientists from Swag直播, the  (UNIGE) and the  in Lausanne, Switzerland. Although at a very early stage of development, the broad spectrum activity of this new approach could also be effective against newly prevalent viral diseases such as the recent coronavirus outbreak.

So called ‘virucidal’ substances, such as bleach, are typically capable of destroying viruses on contact but are extremely toxic to humans and so cannot be taken or applied to the human body without causing severe harm. Developing virucides from sugar has allowed for the advent of a new type of antiviral drug, which destroys viruses yet is non-toxic to humans.

Current antiviral drugs work by inhibiting virus growth, but they are not always reliable as viruses can mutate and become resistant to these treatments.

Using modified sugar molecules the team showed that the outer shell of a virus can be disrupted, thereby destroying the infectious particles on contact, as oppose to simply restricting its growth. This new approach has also been shown to defend against drug resistance.

Publishing their work in the journal  the team showed that they successfully engineered new modified molecules using natural glucose derivatives, known as cyclodextrins. The molecules attract viruses before breaking them down on contact, destroying the virus and fighting the infection.

Dr Samuel Jones, from Swag直播 and a member of the  for Advanced Materials, jointly led the pioneering research with Dr Valeria Cagno from the University of Geneva. “We have successfully engineered a new molecule, which is a modified sugar that shows broad-spectrum antiviral properties. The antiviral mechanism is virucidal meaning that viruses struggle to develop resistance. As this is a new type of antiviral and one of the first to ever show broad-spectrum efficacy, it has potential to be a game changer in treating viral infections.” said Sam.

Professor Caroline Tapparel from the University of Geneva and Prof Francesco Stellacci from EPFL were both also senior authors of the study. Prof Tapparel declared: “We developed a powerful molecule able to work against very different viruses, therefore, we think this could be game changing also for emerging infections.”

The molecule is patented and a spin-out company is being set up to continue pushing this new antiviral towards real-world use. With further testing the treatment could find a use in creams, ointments and nasal sprays or other similar treatments for viral infections. This exciting new material can work to break down multiple viruses making for cost-effective new treatments even for resistant viruses.

The paper, Modified Cyclodextrins as Broad-spectrum Antivirals, by Jones et al is published in Science Advances.

Advanced materials research at Swag直播 has demonstrated a comprehensive picture of the evolution of damage in braided textile composites for the first time. This could lead the way to new design and implementation possibilities for next-generation aerospace engineers.

High-specification composite materials can be precisely engineered to suit applications with confidence thanks to new imaging techniques. Textile composites in particular offer great potential in creating light-weight damage-tolerant structures. However, their uptake in the high value manufacturing sector has been inhibited by lack of adequate design and material performance data.

As a result of new research published today in the , braided textile composites could be designed with confidence for applications ranging from, aerospace and automotive drive shafts, to sporting equipment such as hockey sticks. Braiding technology had a humble beginning in the textile industry for making such items as shoe laces. Today, the integration of robotics and advanced industrial systems has propelled this technology into the high value manufacturing domain in sectors such as, aerospace, automotive and energy.

Now for the first time unique 3D imaging processes have provided real-time data of how carbon fibre composite tubes perform under structural loading, which provides a blueprint for maximising efficiency of materials used across industry.

The breakthrough research was led by a team from Swag直播 and could prolong the lifespan of mechanical systems reliant on materials by definitively demonstrating load and stress points at which damage initiates and progresses from sub-critical to critical damage state.

By utilising real-time stress and damage tensor data along with developing bespoke composites design tools, future composites will be designed scientifically rather than through copycatting current designs which play to the requirements and weaknesses of metals currently used in industry.

The scientists leading this research are also prominent scientists from the soon-to-open , based at Swag直播. One for the Royce is in performance and degradation to enable the design of new materials, systems and coatings for a range of applications including; energy, marine, aerospace and automotive.

Professor , Chief Scientist of the Royce, said: “In-situ X-ray imaging has allowed us to shed light on the 3D nature of the initiation and propagation of damage mechanisms in composite tubes for the first time”.

The materials tested and examined in this work were braided carbon fibre composite tubes which are fabricated by braiding the fibre tows into a continuous interlaced helices. Recent advances show there is considerable scope for tailoring braided structure to suit specific service requirements. This flexibility also challenges the design and manufacturing process of braided composites. This means the way engineers develop applications can start to be seen in a different light for the next generations of aircraft for example.

Prof Prasad Potluri, Research Director of the said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to push the advanced braiding technology through the technology readiness levels with the aid of the in situ X-ray imaging facility at the Henry Royce Institute”.

 is one of Swag直播’s  - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

The paper, Damage evolution in braided composite tubes under torsion studied by in-situ X-ray computed tomography by Withers, Potluri et al is available in the .

Advanced Materials were at the centre of the agenda for the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Chris Skidmore, last week during a thorough tour of Swag直播 campus.

The Minister visited the University to discover more about the soon-to-open , hear about the most recent developments, discover more about how the AI and robotics are helping to solve challenges faced by the nuclear industry and finally tour the north campus and future home of IDSwag直播.

During the tour, the Minister, who was accompanied by President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, met with leading academics and discussed breakthrough developments at the University since he last visited the campus just over a year ago.

Professor Phil Withers greeted the Minister to discuss and take-in the the new soon-to-open £150m Royce building, a new national hub for advanced materials research and commercialisation.

During the visit Chris Skidmore said: “Swag直播 is doing amazing research in areas like x-ray imaging systems and the super material graphene. Outstanding university research like this will help build our reputation as a global science superpower while growing our economy, and it was a privilege to witness it first-hand.”

The delegation then visited state-of-the-art research facilities of the (NGI) with Professor Sir Andre Geim, who received a Nobel Prize for his work on initially isolating the two-dimensional (2D) material in 2004 and continues to explore and develop the untapped potential of related 2D materials in Swag直播.

The NGI, along the with (GEIC) forms the heart of , an entire city-centre based end-to-end ecosystem to research, develop and commercialise unique graphene applications in tandem with industry.

A tour of the (MIB) was also on the agenda to visit the labs at the heart of the pioneering research led by Professor Nigel Scrutton and team which was recently honoured with the Queen's Anniversary Prize. The MIB was singled out as a beacon of excellence for being at the forefront of designing a sustainable future for the UK and communities across the world by developing disruptive bio-based technologies.

The visit concluded with the Minister heading to the RAIN project which uses robotic and AI technologies to solve challenges faced by the nuclear industry. It is led by Barry Lennox, Professor of Applied Control in the ,

Advanced materials is one of Swag直播’s research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

Scientists working at Swag直播 have  on the Enigma machine used by the German military in World War Two and cracked by Alan Turing and his team of code breakers at Bletchley Park.

Using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), features inside the Enigma’s metal casing were revealed, including the wiring and structure of the rotors that encrypted messages sent using the machine.

The CT technology, part of the , works by collecting a series of X-ray radiographs which are then reconstructed into a virtual 3D replica.

, Chief Scientist at the Henry Royce Institute and Regius Professor of Materials at Swag直播, said: "Normally Royce facilities are probing new materials to solve engineering problems in industry but when we were approached we were keen to help. Gaining a first look inside the Enigma machine required us to take over 1500 separate x-ray radiographs. It is exciting and appropriate to be able to unlock some of the secrets of such an iconic machine here at Swag直播."

The 1941 German army Enigma machine was loaned to the University by Bletchley Park and its owner, cryptography enthusiast, David Cripps. It is the latest Enigma machine to be verified and one of only 274 registered. Made in Berlin in 1941, the machine is believed to have been supplied to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior in Vienna.

Enigma machine owner David Cripps said: "One thing we’ve been able to do is actually look inside the rotors and see the individual wires and pins which connect the 26 letters on each of the three rotors, enabling a message to be encrypted. This is the first time anyone has been able to look inside the Enigma with this level of detail, using a technique that does not damage the machine."

Appropriately, the scanning work took place in the at Swag直播, which is dedicated to his legacy. Alan Turing was appointed at the University’s School of Mathematics in 1948 after his work on the Enigma. While at Swag直播 his work included programming of software for one of the earliest true

, from the , said: "It is fantastic to unveil this new perspective on the Enigma in the Alan Turing Building, named after the man who played such a large role in cracking its code in World War Two.

"Swag直播 was an environment where Turing flourished. His legacy can be seen right across the University with researchers developing super computers that can model the human brain, exploring number theory and cryptography, as well as training robots to understand language. Right here, people are working on the principles that he laid down and the dreams that he had."

Swag直播 has published a  and  of the Enigma X-ray CT reconstruction, with more results to follow. The results were presented at a special lecture at the University, to inspire students and to help launch the 2019  – a web-based competition open to UK school children in year 11 that will start in January 2019. The competition attracts over 4000 students each year who compete in real-time code-breaking challenges, helping to inspire young people to take up Maths and Computer Science courses.

What happens when you X-ray a chocolate rabbit? How complex is the wafer and chocolate composite of a Kit Kat? And why does the inside of a Ferrero Rocher resemble moon rock?

These are just some of the important, chocolate-related questions scientists at Swag直播 are answering this Easter.

Using X-Ray Computer Tomography at the University’s (MXIF), researchers are creating 3D computer simulation videos of chocolates which show some of your favourite chocolate treats as you’ve never seen them before.

Dr Tristan Lowe, Senior Experimental Officer at MXIF, said: ‘Since the 19th century chocolate has become synonymous with Easter. Now in the 21^st century we can finally reveal some of its hidden secrets and our analysis has some really interesting findings. Using this technology we can analyse the chocolate at micrometre level – that is a one thousandth of millimetre.’

Dr Lowe has produced a series of videos, with accompanying scientific analysis, to reveal over the Easter break. Overall he has X-rayed eight chocolatey favourites. These are a chocolate Easter bunny, Easter egg, a Toblerone, a Crème Egg, a Kit Kat, Maltesers, Ferrero Rocher and a Double Decker.

Some of the results so far have been surprising. For example almost half of a Kit Kat isn’t even made out of chocolate. Whilst 53% of the bar is chocolate, its biscuit (18%) and wafer (29%) like structure in centre make up 47%. Interestingly the structure bears many similarities to the rocks that we have been investigating for the extraction of oil and gas.

Dr Lowe explains the comparison: ‘The interesting part of the Kit Kat bar is the fine wafer structure that can be analysed using a network model similar to that used to understand how the porosity in rocks is connected and this has implications for extraction. In the video the visualised network shows that the wafer is a complex interconnected structure that is fairly uniform in shape.’

The porosity in the Yorkie Bar is very different. Its analysis does show it is the densest chocolate bar of those tested. The porosity in the Yorkie bears a close resemblance to the pores found in 3D printed metal components and is the subject of extensive research to eliminate such defects.

To see the latest videos you can visit the X-ray Imaging Facility’s Channel and Dr Tristan Lowe’s . This work was done in collaboration with YXLON International and is supported by the and Swag直播.

 is one of Swag直播’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons []

This is the first look at the £150m Swag直播 Building of the Henry Royce Institute – the UK’s leading centre for advanced materials research and commercialisation.

Located at the heart of the University of Swag直播’s Engineering Campus, the 16,000 square metre building will house world-leading materials scientists, state-of-the-art equipment and collaborative space for industrial and academic engagement.

Set to open in 2019, it is believed that, at 46 metres high, the Royce building will be the tallest on the University of Swag直播 campus.

It will be located next to the Alan Turing Building on Upper Brook Street, in close proximity to the Schools of Physics and Chemistry, as well as the £61m National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the £350m Swag直播 Engineering Campus Development (MECD), which is currently under construction.

The £235m Royce Institute is a hub and spoke model, with the hub at Swag直播 and spokes at the founding partners: the universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College London, as well as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).

The Royce will enable the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced materials technology that underpins all industrial sectors.

Research and industrial collaboration at The Royce is initially focussed on nine core areas, with Swag直播 championing four of these; Two-dimensional Materials, Materials for Demanding Environments, Nuclear Materials and Biomedical Systems and Devices. The nine-storey building, designed by architects NBBJ, will contain state of the art equipment supporting these four core areas.

The building design is intended to allow ‘Science on Show’ – areas of the building visible to engage people outside – while also providing closed, confidential spaces for commercially sensitive research.

The University has embarked on an ambitious ten-year, £1bn masterplan to transform its campus and deliver world-class facilities for staff, students and visitors. This includes the NGI, which opened last year, and the £60m Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), which is currently under construction.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Swag直播, said: “The Henry Royce Institute building will be a stunning addition to Swag直播 campus, and will become a focal point for the UK’s research and commercialisation in advanced materials.”

Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at the University, said: ”This is one of our major capital projects and forms an important part of our vision for the campus and will benefit from its location, close to the NGI and GEIC.”

The Project and Cost Managers are Arcadis, and Ramboll are the Civil & Structural Engineers. Both companies also completed the NGI and are working on the GEIC, while Arup, the Building Services Engineers, are also currently working on MECD. The preferred contractors, Laing O’Rourke, are also working on GEIC.