Presentation and Poster Abstracts

Presentations

Session 1 - Gustave Tuck LT

  • Computer simulations to Design New Cancer Therapeutics - Lynette Akuffo + Kiyani Sukumar, Nottingham

A review of the current studies of ligand-protein interactions with Bromodomain-containing protein 4 as a cancer target. Then an overview of the computer simulations project we have undertaken to further our understanding of the development of the relevant drugs that attack BRD4 proteins.

  • Advances in imaging techniques to improve stroke outcome - Courtney Ormrod + Sophie Fowler, Nottingham

The concept of ’time is brain’ guides research into more rapid imaging techniques to improve stroke patient prognosis. Our research looks into improvements in clinical accessibility and the application of novel contract agents and multimodal imaging techniques.

  • Photonic Devices for the Detection of Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease - Jasmine Wragg, York

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is becoming one of the most expensive and burdening diseases of this century, of which there is currently no cure. This presentation aims to outline the technology, principles and need for an early-detection Alzheimer’s disease blood test able to detect AD biomarkers decades before symptoms arise. The focus will be on proof-of-principle biosensing with cutting-edge, low-cost photonic technology that I am applying to amyloid detection within an interdisciplinary environment at the University of York. The potential impact of such technology on future healthcare systems will be discussed, where it could support disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring and the democratisation of testing.

  • Localised vibrational therapy: the future of semi-remote MSK care - Zuzanna Kosobudzka , UCL

I will start with a discussion of vibrotactile stimulation’s physiological benefits, exploring the underlying principles (eg. Wolff’s law). I will then go on to talk about how my team and I used this body of research to develop a wearable supporting individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. Our wearable supplies localised vibrational stimulation, modulated by our proprietary ML algorithms, which are informed by surface-mounted sensors. This results in a fully personalised treatment and allows clinicians to lead the patient’s treatment semi-remotely with the mobility progression data collected. Elsa Cooney, Birmingham Exploring stress response behaviours in children with autism in specialist schools in the UK Research into physiological markers of stress has shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have heightened stress response systems that lead to maladaptive behaviours, however there is limited research into the presentation of these maladaptive behaviours. By exploring research and concepts from both a physiological and psychological perspective of stress we gain an integrated clinical behavioural approach to this area of research. Conducting focus groups and interviews with educational staff that work at specialist schools for children with autism, distinct themes surrounding stress behaviours in children with ASD have been identified.

Session 2 - Gustave Tuck LT

  • Genetics of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 - Elizabeth Rider, Nottingham

An investigation of the role of nonsense-mediated decay factor SMG5 in the severity of muscular dystrophy using CRISPR.

  • Well-being and Politics - Osla Campbell + Tanisha Dholakia, Nottingham

Our research explores the characteristics of well-being in politics, philosophy, and psychology, with reference to attitudes throughout history and a particular focus on how well-being can be improved on a personal and global scale.

  • Making miRNA louder and personalised healthcare an affordable reality - Emma Merryweather, York

My research focuses on micro RNA (miRNA), which are widely recognised biomarkers for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Diagnostics to detect miRNA will bring us closer to personalised healthcare. However, miRNA are challenging to detect due to their size and limited abundance. I am optimising a Catalytic Hairpin Assembly (CHA) assay for miRNA signal amplification, without the need for expensive equipment.  Guided Mode Resonance (GMR) sensors use principles of photonics to measure biomarker presence, providing a label-free, point-of-care diagnostic tool. Integrating CHA with the GMR will create a scalable novel technology that empowers medical professionals to make earlier, reliable diagnoses.

  • Fine-Tuning Protein-Hydrogel Properties for In-Vivo and Medical Applications: A Study on the Impact of DTT and Reaction Rate on BSA Protein-Hydrogel Mechanics and Structure - Daniel West, Leeds

Designing protocols to fine tune the properties of protein-hydrogels will be a key requirement in their consideration for in-vivo and medical applications. Two techniques have been employed during hydrogel formation to control the final properties of a photochemically crosslinked Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein-based hydrogel. The proportion of unfolded protein has been controlled via the addition of DTT, degrading disulphide bonds present in globular BSA. The rate of reaction of hydrogel photochemical crosslinking has been controlled via the intensity of incident light during gel formation. Both Rheology and Circular Dichroism (CD) have been employed to characterise the effects of each technique on the bulk hydrogel properties and give insight into the microscale structural changes of the material. Rheological methods have identified the presence of DTT dramatically increasing the storage modulus by approximately 3-fold, and increasing gelation light intensity can also be used to increase the storage modulus. However, combining both techniques we observe a high lamp intensity (40mW/cm^2) with the presence of DTT leads to a comparatively lower elasticity than a lower lamp intensity (2.5mW/cm^2) with DTT. The combination of techniques allows the control of elastic modulus over an order of magnitude (1kPa – 10kPa), a range that correlates with many biological tissues.

Session 3 - Garden Room

  • Jack Winter, Open University The influence of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) on growth and yield of lettuce grown in normal nutrient and nutrient stressed non-aerated, non-circulated hydroponics systems.- Jack Winter, Open University

Biostimulants are gaining research attention owing to their potential as a sustainable way to increase food production, while reducing the need for environmentally harmful synthetic inputs. Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown seaweed harvested from the North Atlantic and is used to produce plant-biostimulants. Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANE) are used in agriculture for their ability to improve growth, yield, and increase biotic and abiotic stress tolerance for many commercial crops. Lettuces were grown for thirty-five days in a controlled greenhouse experiment using Kratky hydroponics systems, with eighteen replicates of four treatments with and without ANE under normal and low nutrient conditions.  Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA. Reduction in nutrients significantly reduced leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, stem diameter, leaf number, whole plant fresh weight (FWT), leaf FWT, stem FWT and root FWT. ANE application significantly increased leaf length, stem diameter, leaf number, whole plant FWT and dry weight (DWT), root length, root FWT and DWT, and leaf DWT regardless of nutrient content. ANE had non-significant effects on leaf width, leaf area, plant height, leaf FWT, stem FWT and DWT. No significant interactions between biostimulant and nutrient applications were observed. This study helped to understand how the application of ANE affects various growth and yield characteristics of lettuces grown in normal nutrient and low nutrient hydroponics systems. ANE could be studied further by analysing dose rates, application methods, application timing, and using spectroscopy to understand the chemical contents of ANE.

  • Ocean flows and heat fluxes between ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica - Catherine Jones, UEA

Analysis of heat transport in our polar oceans can contribute to our understanding of ice sheet melting and rising sea levels in response to global warming. This is especially critical for the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which has the potential to raise sea levels by 65m. The Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) is the main source of heat for the Amundsen Sea, located off the south-west coast of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is the more unstable of the two Antarctic Ice Sheets. Processing of temperature, salinity and pressure data collected in-situ along 6 sections in the Amundsen Sea allows for calculation of flow velocities and heat fluxes between two neighbouring ice shelves and connection of these values to the wider circulation and melting on the Amundsen Sea continental shelf.

  • Organic Polymer Thermoelectric Thin Films for Sustainable Energy - Max Butterworth, Nottingham

It is becoming increasingly apparent that we need to move faster as a society towards renewable energy as a means of tackling climate change. Conventional thermoelectric materials allow the conversion of waste heat into electricity however they require the use of rare heavy inorganic metals. Organic thermoelectrics, therefore, present unique opportunities to not only remove our dependence on elements that are energy intensive to extract from ores but open thermoelectric materials to a vast range of applications.  In this talk, we explore an experimental investigation into the material properties of conductivity, morphology and Seebeck coefficient in the context of doped organic polymers. It was demonstrated that varying the ratio of doped polymer blends allowed for the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity to be tuned to a specific use case of the thermoelectric material. This work forms the basis for further avenues of research into the application of organic thermoelectric devices to areas such as healthcare and cooling systems.

  • Phononics of Quantum Materials - Harry Hawkins, Bath

By generating models for the valence band oscillations of tantalum diselenide upon exposure to a laser pulse it is possible to discover the frequency of the phonons generated. The use of trARPES and a pump-probe scheme presents a method for observing such oscillations by generating several images of the band structure across small time intervals of the order femtoseconds. The main aim of this project is to find the phonons which are most strongly coupled to the band structure across three different regions of the Brillouin zone.

  • Exploring stress response behaviours in children with autism in specialist schools in the UK - Elsa Cooney, Birmingham 

Research into physiological markers of stress has shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have heightened stress response systems that lead to maladaptive behaviours, however there is limited research into the presentation of these maladaptive behaviours. By exploring research and concepts from both a physiological and psychological perspective of stress we gain an integrated clinical behavioural approach to this area of research. Conducting focus groups and interviews with educational staff that work at specialist schools for children with autism, distinct themes surrounding stress behaviours in children with ASD have been identified. 

Posters

  • Differences in oligodendrocyte morphology at different locations along the mouse optic nerve - Alisha Godhania, Bath 

During my placement year, I adapted the protocol for mouse optic nerve dissection to allow cells at the nerve head to be preserved (this area has not previously been well characterised). Analysis of confocal microscopy images revealed significant differences in oligodendrocyte morphology between locations in the nerve. In particular, cells at the nerve head had a more elongated shape. The changes in oligodendrocyte morphology following inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide exposure also depended on their location. This research has implications for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis and blinding diseases such as glaucoma. 

  • Learning from the impacts of the 2022 heatwave on UK poultry supply chain - Dan Pain, Exeter 

During the summer of 2022, the UK experienced unprecedented heatwaves, with the Met Office issuing its first every red warning for extreme heat. The poultry supply chain in the UK was unprepared for these temperatures and suffered significant loses. Through an extensive literature review and interviews with key stakeholders, we investigated the impacts of the heatwave and analysed the likelihood of future heatwaves. Key areas for development across the supply chain were highlighted, namely the poultry farms and in-store refrigeration systems. We complied recommendations for adaptation at all levels of the supply chain, including biological, infrastructural and policy related modifications. 

  • Development of a human-liver chip with potential applications in evaluating drug safety and drug screening - Hannah Coxhead, Bath 

In vitro models are essential tools in understanding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of a drug in a cost effective and high-throughput method however many traditional models lack complexity and physiological relevance. Novel organ-chip technology provides a promising platform to evaluate early-stage drug safety in a human-relevant environment.  This work aims to develop 3D human liver microtissue organ-chips with potential applications in drug discovery. Drug induced liver injury (DILI) continues to cause clinical attrition with many hepatotoxic compounds only emerging at later stages of drug development, the predictive power of this model to identify DILI positive compounds was evaluated. 

  • Identification methods for fibres – documenting problems and limitations - Harpreet Panesar, UEA 

Is Nile Red a suitable method for detecting and staining different coloured fibres and different fibre types; synthetic fibres such as polyester, semi-synthetic such as rayon and natural fibres such as cotton. My project supervisor is Dr Andrew Mayes. PhD student Richard Warren had previously looked at staining polyester threads to see if the Nile Red was a suitable protocol. Additionally using the Raman Microscope and IR Spectrometer to see if these have colour-dependent biases and whether staining with Nile Red would hinder detection, especially using the Raman microscope when comparing stained and unstained fibres.   

  • Maximising Polyphenol Content in Kombucha - Izzy Jordan, Exeter 

Kombucha is a beverage that is consumed for its refreshing taste and beneficial effects on human health. Many of these benefits stem from Kombucha’s antioxidant capacity. The aim of the work presented here was to optimise these benefits by maximising the polyphenols present in the beverage. This was explored by varying aspects in the kombucha recipe, including tea type, the age of SCOBY used and the addition of blackberries. Eight kombucha cultures were prepared through combinations of these parameters and then fermented for three weeks. The antioxidant capacity of each was measured every week throughout this process. The results showed that a combination of black tea and blackberries produced the greatest antioxidant capacity.  After fermentation, a sensory evaluation of the eight kombucha samples was carried out to gauge their commercial viability. The samples with the greatest antioxidant capacity often ranked very low in preference, whilst those with the least antioxidant power, containing white tea and no blackberries, were the most popular. 

  • Modelling the impact of bacterial communities on marine phytoplankton - Katie Ghali. Exeter

Marine phytoplankton provides the principal basis of the food web in our oceans, producing oxygen and acting as a key carbon sink. Phytoplankton cells rely on bacterial metabolites, which improve vitamin and mineral uptake. Ostreococcus tauri is a model marine algal species, but there is still little understanding of how bacterial communities affect its growth. We evaluated the phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities associated with O. tauri cultures, and estimated taxon-specific abundance using digital droplet quantitative PCR. Our results provide a molecular framework for measuring the diversity of algal microbiomes to understand the impact of bacterial interactions on phytoplankton communities. 

  • Investigating hierarchical structural changes in BSA hydrogels from varying gelation conditions - Rebecca Wurr, Leeds 

Protein hydrogels have a wide range of applications in medicine and biological research such as in cell growth and mechanosensing, thanks to the range of rigidities they can offer and their biocompatibility.  This project investigates the effect of changing the photochemical crosslinking conditions of folded globular bovine serum albumin (BSA) hydrogel on its hierarchical structure, from individual proteins all the way up to the hydrogel network level. We combine techniques from multiple disciplines, such as small angle neutron scattering, circular dichroism and high performance liquid chromatography, in order to paint a full picture of the design rules and process of network formation for folded globular proteins. 

  • Preventing extinction in the 21st century - Sam Maynard, Nottingham 

How can we manage the threat of extinction to our flora and fauna? As the world’s climate changes, we are faced with a crisis in our natural heritage. How can we protect, preserve, and remember the environment that we are currently losing at a rapid rate? 

  • Spatial Resolution in Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy - Isobel Hatton, Nottingham 

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique, allowing for non-destructive characterisation of materials with applications across a wide range of fields. This presentation will detail how a Monte Carlo of finite elements algorithm was used to simulate and optimise spatially offset Raman spectroscopy at deeper layers of a material, establishing spatial resolution as a function of depth.   

  • Phagel - the answer to antibiotic resistance in burn victims - Daniel Wan, Tristan Edwards, Ellen Roshier, UCL 

With the rise of antibiotic resistance, treatment of bacterial infections, such as in burn wounds (the 4th most common form of trauma worldwide), can no longer be taken for granted. Conceived as part of the Bright ScIdea Challenge for 2022-23, Phagel is a cooling hydrogel matrix containing a specific combination of bacteriophages for treating septic infections of external wounds and assisting healing. These bacteriophages are able to degrade the biofilms generated by resistant bacteria and eliminate the pathogens, providing an effective alternative to traditional burn treatments.