Awarded projects
Saturday 12 May 2012
We are organising an interdisciplinary conference to discuss the relationship between Science and Literature, with the aim of encouraging cross-disciplinary debate concerning the fruitful interactions between these two famously polarised cultures.
There will be a series of chaired panels for 15-minute papers on a variety of topics that deal with the cross-fertilization of literary and scientific knowledge. The conference will be historically grounded in the nineteenth century, as we argue that this period saw the cultural foundation for a dialogue between the Sciences and the Arts that continues to this day.
The Victorian fashion for reading cutting-edge scientific articles alongside, for example, philosophical poetry or serialized novels in magazines and journals was preceded by / inherited from the Romantic tendency to blur the boundaries between scientific and artistic study, and set a precedent for the mutual evaluation of these two fields. Indeed, the periodical itself was a product of the increasing impact of science and technology on literary culture; these developments shaped the material texts and the practices of production and reception. In addition, scientists often employed literary tropes and epigraphs to reiterate their messages; scientific theories could frequently trace their origins back to literature (Herbert Spencer, for example, drew on both Coleridge and Goethe to formulate his theory of evolution). The advancement of science throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries led to an increased concern with social anxieties about science. This manifested itself as a penchant for science fiction novels that purported to explore the possibilities that science was yet to realize.
We will extend this debate to the present day by tracing the legacy of this dialogue well into the twentieth century. The exploitation of science and technology in the world wars revived a literary preoccupation with science represented in post-war fiction, such as Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series (1942-1950), Nevil Shute’s On the Beach (1957), or Harlan Ellison’s short story I have no mouth and I must scream (1967). Today it emerges in phrases like the portmanteau ‘Franken-foods’, which borrows Mary Shelley’s eponymous 19th century protagonist to highlight the fears of contemporary scientific applications.
The conference will explore those intimate relationships between the two cultures of science and literature, and will examine the ways in which anxieties of the long nineteenth century have continued to express themselves in the present day.
Papers presented by delegates are proposed in the following areas:
- Darwinian and Social Anxiety
- Medical Pandemics in Literature
- Representations of physical and mental illness
- Critical approaches to the two cultures
- Popular Science: The Third Culture
- Dissemination of science (inc. the impact of technological innovation on the material text)
We consider our keynote speakers who represent both sides of the debate to be a particular strength. Professor David Amigoni (Keele) and Professor Sharon Ruston (Salford) work on Science in the Victorian and Romantic periods respectively and Professor Joanna Verran (MMU) is a microbiologist with an impressive public engagement profile for using art and fiction to educate students about microbiology. In July 2011 she won the national award for the public understanding of science. We would very much like to follow in her footsteps and help bridge the gap between the sciences and the humanities. Not only do we aim to encourage cooperation and dialogue between the disciplines, but we also hope to help facilitate the public understanding of science using art and fiction, in addition to providing scientists and physicians with a broader knowledge of artistic and cultural innovation.
Start date February 2012
Awarded funds: £1,970.00
Project summary: It is widely accepted that patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) and their relatives find difficult sometimes to understand how RT is planned and delivered using 2D images such as CT Scans. On this basis, we have carried out a pilot study in which 50 patients with cancer of the prostate and their relatives were shown using 3D images (VERT) with the help of 3D glasses the room were RT is given, the machine delivering it (Figure 1) and how RT is planned and given. This is the first time that such a study has been carried out on a one-to-one basis (oncologist and patient with relative). Patients found this exercise very useful as it helped them to reduce the fear factor before entering a room that they have not seen previously, and to better understand RT planning and delivery, and why they might get certain side effects. Relatives felt more involved in the treatment of their loved ones. This study improved both patients and relatives satisfaction. However, 2 patients out of 52 declined entering the study.
We are now starting a bigger study over a period of 3 years including 704 patients (based on statistical analysis from the pilot study data) with different types of cancer (breast, lung, bladder, head and neck, rectum, and prostate) to better understand what are the steps in RT planning and delivery from which both patients and relatives need more information, and why some patients might decline entering this
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £5,561.00
Project summary: Only a few years ago, the idea of having autonomous service robots amongst humans was a subject of science fiction. Today, following significant developments in the area of robotics, it is possible to create and program robots that can tackle many of the everyday tasks that humans find repetitive, mundane or unexciting. Examples of such tasks include the delivery of objects between offices, assisting customers in finding products in large stores, helping elderly and disabled people with their navigation requirements, providing elderly and chronically ill people with their prescribed medication etc.
However, despite the ability of today’s robots to achieve the above tasks (with the obvious benefit in time and cost saving), very few truly autonomous robots are being used for such purposes. One of the main obstacles that prevent the more widespread use of this technology is related to the acceptance of the robots by the potential recipients of the above services. For example in Japan (the producer of the most advanced robots today) elderly and infirm people have rejected the idea of a robot caring for them in a hospital setting.
The reasons behind this rejection are many and complex and range from cultural factors to reasons based on the individual circumstances of users (for example age, physical ability, health etc). Therefore, the design of an assistive robot requires a more user-focused approach that should aim to address the needs of a group of individual users with similar circumstances. Alternatively, it should be possible to propose general-purpose robotic platforms that are flexible enough to be able to adapt to the specific needs of their users. We propose that a user-centred, rather than a goal-centred, design should be followed for such robots.
Start date May 2012
Awarded Funds: £3,800.00
Project summary: Telomeres are the structural units that cap the end of mammalian linear chromosomes (Blackburn, 1991). Chromosomes are structures comprised of a DNA backbone and protein scaffold which each carry a small proportion of the cells essential genetic blueprint; each cell has 23 chromosomes. Due to inefficiencies in DNA replication, each time the cell divides it loses a small proportion of its telomere (Harley et al., 1990). Progressive shortening of telomeres with each division ultimately results in their recognition by the DNA damage complexes as a double-strand break and the growth arrest/cell death of the cell. This progressive shortening provides a crucial control mechanism in the aging process of cells and ensures that cells stop dividing as they get older thereby minimizing the risk of accumulating dangerous mutations. Measurement of the rate of telomere shortening, and accumulation of abnormally short telomeres, in bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (leukocytes) have now been associated with many age – and non-age-related diseases and disorders including diminished cognitive performance, Alzheimer’s dementia, Lewy body dementia, stroke, type 2 diabetes myocardial infarction and other psychological or social indicators including, psychosocial stress (chronic pain/high stress), physical activity and sedentary behaviour, stress appraisal, energy intake, lifespan, ambivalent social relationships, and educational attainment (Panossian et al 2003; Thomas et al 2008, Grodstein et al 2008, Valdes et al 2008, Ding et al 2012, Sibille et al Mol Pain 2012, Shen et al 2012, Du et al 2012, O’Donovan et al 2012, Kume et al 2012, Kark et al 2012, Heidinger et al 2012, Uchino et al 2012, Weischer et al 2012, Surtees et al 2012).
From the above it is apparent that LTL could be a powerful tool when used in combination with other indicators as a predictive measure. This aim of this proposal is to develop LTL measurement protocols for application in subsequent aging and psychosocial research questions.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £ 5,200.00
Project summary: Systems which monitor and measure joint movement have numerous potential uses in the medical sciences, life sciences, sports sciences and digital media disciplines. For instance, Gait analysis is a routine examination in hospital that captures a walking pattern and helps to determine the cause of abnormalities during walking or running. Larger hospitals and research facilities have the necessary equipment for motion tracking, such as the Polhemus system1 which uses electromagnetic sensors and the Metamotion optical system2 which uses pulsing LED signals. However, there are a number of problems with such systems:
• They are expensive – A typical Polhemus system is circa £30,000
• They require infrastructure – often dedicated rooms
• They often require specialist staff to operate them and realise their potential
• They are generally time-consuming to calibrate, configure and use
In recent years there has been major progress in monitoring user movements in gaming environments. This has produced a number of low cost devices of which the Microsoft Kinect has been the most commercially successful. A recent evaluation of the first version of the Kinect system reveals the accuracy to be in the same range as the Polhemus wireless devices at the range required for the envisaged clinical monitoring3.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £900.00
Project summary: We have recently been awarded funding (fees and stipend) by the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble and Keele Acorn for a joint PhD studentship. This studentship will initiate a new collaboration between faculty in ISTM and EPSAM to carry out structural biology on malaria parasite proteins – fully exploiting the remarkable facilities available at the Grenoble Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB). It will examine key biomolecular interactions that are believed to be central to the way the malaria parasite evades the human immune system, focussing on protein–DNA and protein–protein interactions that regulate the expression of virulence genes, with two target complexes identified for structural characterization.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £3,000.00
Project summary: Advancement in knowledge of cell-materials interaction has led to development of novel materials for use in implant technology, in vitro expansion of cells for regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics. Scaffolds fabricated for tissue engineering purposes are required to be of controlled structure and pore size in order to allow diffusion of nutrients and toxins to in-growing tissue. Cells require a suitable environment in order to develop into a 3D structure. Scaffold materials provide the architecture to support 3D tissue growth, although often such materials cause problems for long-term regeneration. Advances in interdisciplinary sciences has resulted in mathematical models that can help guide tissue engineers in better understanding processes that are otherwise difficult to visualize in vivo/in vitro. This modelling allows for less trial-and-error in research leading to higher efficiency of relevant output.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £3,000.00
Project summary: Anecdotal experience of researchers and clinicians suggest that the threat of tort liability (and disciplinary proceedings) might cause defensive medicine and stifle innovation. However, the extent of the problem within the UK is disputed. Moreover, the Bolam test which governs (with some modifications) the scope of clinical liability in England is arguably especially problematic in terms of the incentives given to engage in innovative and cutting age treatment – an innovative treatment is less likely to be “in accordance with a practice accepted as proper by a responsible body of medical men skilled in that particular art.' So while policy-makers encourage and pay considerable lip service to innovation, tort law might give the opposite incentive to clinicians.
The study will combine insights and case studies from one site of innovative research and clinical work in the area of regenerative medicine, with doctrinal, theoretical and policy-oriented analysis grounded in tort law, private law theory, and potentially, theories of regulation and interviews with clinicians (and possibly, researchers) engaging with innovative methods.
Start date May 2012
Awarded fFunds: £3,000.00
Project summary: The aim of this proposal is to combine the diverse areas of research experience and expertise of the applicants in a new collaboration to explore novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of pathogen-attack in plants. The work will focus on the fungal-like Stramenopile Phytophthora and will include identification of pathogen cell-wall components and their putative host receptors, along with the effects of environmental factors such as location, humidity, pH and local temperature.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £1,808.00
Project summary: The objective of this project is to develop non-linear mathematical models to predict magnetic particle (MP) handling in mixed neural cell populations. The study will exploit a cross-disciplinary collaboration between neuroscientists and computer scientists, and use a fusion of methods from cellular neuroscience and mathematical modelling.
Start date May 2012
Awarded funds: £2,910.00
Project summary: Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a water-based inorganic wood preservative that has been extensively used throughout Europe, Asia and America. Arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) pollution from CCA-treated wood has potentially devastating impacts on the aquatic environment (particularly freshwater ecosystems) and human health through the digestion of contaminated fish stocks. Although partial bans on CCA-based treatments were introduced in the UK (2004), America and the EU, CCA leaching into ponds and river systems from pulped/chipped wood waste and in-service materials are still a major concern for regions with no legislate restrictions (e.g., China, S. America, Asia, etc). The leaching process is rapid and contamination can easily reach toxic levels within a few weeks [1]. Such metalloids can concentrate in the tissues of natural aquatic organisms [2] and more pertinently, important commercial fish stock species (e.g., Carp) resulting in an increased risk of human exposure to CCA-based toxins. In this project, we aim to undertake a laboratory-based pilot study of the spatial/temporal distribution of Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr) and Copper (Cu) element concentrations in treated wood products and contaminated river waters before, during and after short-term submersion in natural river waters. Our objectives are to a) generate a well-constrained data set of As/Cr/Cu concentrations in the CCA treated wood products (waste & in-service) and contaminated river waters and then, b) develop a statistically relevant ‘transfer function’ that relates these concentrations (wood-to-water) to potential toxicity levels in fish.
Start date June 2012
Awarded funds: £500.00
Lead applicant: Dr John Rumbold
Project summary: The phenomenology of sleepwalking is still under-researched. The incidence of problematic behaviour during sleepwalking episodes in a non-forensic setting is not precisely known and this has implications for expert evidence about forensic sleepwalking episodes. It is likely that many minor episodes do not progress through the criminal justice system, but the perception of the public is likely to be that sleepwalking is just a convenient ‘excuse’ (in the pejorative sense of the word).
The intention is to distribute sleep diaries to record 3 months of sleep behaviour to known sleepwalkers, recording levels of stress and consumption of caffeine and alcohol to see what proportion of sleepwalkers are triggered by these factors.
Start date May 2013
Awarded funds: £6,500.00
Lead applicant: Dr. Ed Chadwick
Co-applicants: Dr. T Kyriacou & Dr. C Bücher
Project summary: Trauma rehabilitation was identified as an under-funded research area at a recent MRC workshop attended by the lead applicant (MRC Trauma Research Network, Birmingham University, 30 November 2012). An area of trauma research that is closely related to existing strengths in ISTM is replacement of upper limb function following limb loss. Although advanced myoelectric prostheses exist, their adoption and use is currently limited by a lack of sufficiently functional control schemes to match the potential of the available hardware. There is a need for robust and natural solutions to provide not only motion control but also meaningful interaction with the environment.
One of the main challenges to improving prosthesis control is that amputees are all different; remaining muscle morphology and control is very variable, which affects both remaining voluntary function and the available muscle signals that may serve as command sources. Our proposal is therefore not to establish a single ideal control scheme, but to produce a method for optimising control, given the constraints of the residual limb and the limited number of feedback signals specific to the individual. This will be a model-based approach, reflecting our existing strengths, and will produce a patient-specific solution.
Start date May 2013
Awarded funds: £7,000.00
Lead applicant: Wen-Wu LI
Co-applicants: Paul Horrocks; Trevor Greenhough; Tony Curtis
Project summary: We propose here a “pump-priming” of an interdisciplinary group of existing expertise within Keele University to establish a nexus for the identification, characterisation and development of plant-derived secondary metabolites as anti-infective drugs. The existing complementary expertise will initially be centred around WWL (isolation and characterisation of natural products), PH (bioassays for human malaria and other microbial diseases), TG (structural analysis of bioactive molecules and structural modelling) and TC (medicinal chemistry in rEPSAM). We intend that this “pump-priming” be used to demonstrate an existing multidisciplinary approach for future funding applications (see later). Further, as projects evolve, the team will adapt (and grow) to bring in internal/external collaborators as required.
This proposal brings together diverse members of rISTM (theme/site) and builds links with the Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry cluster of rEPSAM. Out-with the immediate team, each member can draw on existing links within the UK and overseas; WWL has links to institutions in China and Nigeria (the latter supported by a PhD studentship) for the sourcing of materials, PH with Nottingham Trent University, Charnwood Molecules and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine as well as access to other disease models, TG is leader of the Midlands UK Structural Biology consortium and TC leads the Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry cluster in Keele and has international links in structure-based design of drugs with New Zealand.
Several opportunities for interactions exist within this nexus – with some underway, which will continue to do so. This application, however, has a focus around extracts from two plants; Viola yedoensis and Cylicodiscus gabunensis. Macrocyclic peptides, cyclotides, from V. yedoensis have already been shown to exhibit anti-HIV activity – our preliminary data suggest a role against malaria. C. gabunensis is used as a herbal remedy for malaria in Nigeria, has been demonstrated to be active in an in vivo murine malaria model and crude extracts demonstrate an extremely potent activity against the P. falciparum human malaria in vitro. The bioactive component for C. gabunensis is unknown – but may include triterpene saponins. Using existing facilities, a bioassay-guided fractionation (flash chromatography and HPLC) will be used to isolate the active component. MS, NMR and X-ray will be used for the structural analysis of the isolated component. Fully-synthetic or semi-synthetic routes for derivatives for structure activity relationships to optimise these early leads will then take place.
Aims of the project: (i) To pump-prime a multidisciplinary collaboration to establish credence for follow-on support to develop plant secondary metabolites as anti-infective drugs (ii) Use bioactivity-guided purification to isolate, characterise and develop the antimalarial molecules present in V. yedoensis and C. gabunensis (iii) Use review points at 6 and 12 months to discuss IP issues, publications and applications for external support