TPM - Tailoring Plant Metabolism - Work package 2 (WP2) - Designer Willows: high value phenolic glycosides for health and industry
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Willow contains high levels of natural phenolic glycosides which are probably best known for their role in the development of Aspirin but which also offer an alternative route to petroleum-derived chemicals. Application of chemical fingerprinting to Rothamsted's willow germplasm collections has revealed novel products with new pharmacologies, offering a timely and exciting opportunity to exploit willow chemistry and genes for the development of new medicines. In addition, further chemical diversity, present in abundance in some members of the willow family, offers green chemistry routes to BTX-derived phenolics for the chemical industry. Furthermore, low-input perennial cropping systems, such as short rotation coppice willow offer opportunities to achieve carbon-neutral production of materials, whilst also providing energy to drive industrial processes for the recovery of those materials, via the established technology of willow chip combustion for power generation. WP2 will combine natural product chemistry, genetics and genomics to design willow varieties producing novel high-value phenolic glycosides for multiple markets. Through a "plug and play" breeding approach, diverse substrates will be united with species-specific biosynthetic modules. Chemical space will be defined via metabolomics screening of the national willow collection. Metabolomic-transcriptomic time course experiments and mQTL analysis of mapping populations will elucidate the salicinoid biosynthetic pathway(s) and their regulation. Candidate genes will be characterised in microbial systems and/or RNAi and genome editing of the corresponding genes in the closely related poplar. Models of metabolite flux in willow will be derived from stable isotope labelling data and genetic factors influencing metabolism in hybridised genomes will be revealed through 'omics analysis of judicious crosses. Finally, product yields and extraction processes will be optimised for onward exploitation.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Publications
Ogbole OO
(2022)
?-Glutamyl-ß-phenylethylamine, a novel a-glucosidase and a-amylase inhibitory compound from Termitomyces robustus, an edible Nigerian mushroom.
in Natural product research
Mohammad-Beigi H
(2019)
A Possible Connection Between Plant Longevity and the Absence of Protein Fibrillation: Basis for Identifying Aggregation Inhibitors in Plants.
in Frontiers in plant science
Kulasekaran S
(2021)
A willow UDP-glycosyltransferase involved in salicinoid biosynthesis
in Journal of Experimental Botany
Clifton-Brown J
(2019)
Breeding progress and preparedness for mass-scale deployment of perennial lignocellulosic biomass crops switchgrass, miscanthus, willow and poplar.
in Global change biology. Bioenergy
Macalpine W,J.
(2018)
Cultivation and Use of Basket Willows - a guide to growing basket willows
Menard GN
(2022)
Diverting phenylpropanoid pathway flux from sinapine to produce industrially useful 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids in Brassicaceous oilseeds.
in Metabolic engineering
Han W
(2023)
Editorial: Targeted and untargeted metabolomics for the evaluation of plant metabolites in response to the environment.
in Frontiers in plant science
| Description | The project addresses the challenges involved in the development of fast growing woody biomass into a dual-purpose chemical and bioenergy crops. It is based on the propensity of willow and poplar to accumulate phenolic glycosides, useful natural products with potential in a number of industries including pharmaceuticals, polymers and resins. The work is arranged around four over-arching objectives, each containing several sub-work packages. Key findings so far:- Objective 1. Map the extent of phenolic diversity across unique genetic resources • Application of the high throughput metabolomics screen to a large number of willow species, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometric (MS) analysis that was developed in the previous ISP programme 'Cropping Carbon', has allowed us to build a comprehensive chemical map that spans the National Willow Collection (NWC) and the parents and progeny of a number of genetic mapping populations. Visualisation of the chemical data as a network has allowed us to quickly construct an interactive 'star-map' where constellations of genetically and chemically related species are easily identified. The visualisation of data in this format has allowed rapid selection of future breeding material for specific chemicals. • Many novel structures have been determined by isolation of pure components and full NMR and MS characterisation. New molecules with pharmaceutical interest have been discovered. These include salicin-7-sulfate, an analogue of aspirin that has implications in the safety and efficacy of commercial herbal Salix products (paper published 2018; doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2018.02.009). In year 2 we have completed our initial work on structural determination and testing of miyabeacin, an anti-cancer compound of a completely novel type from willow, and have filed a patent (Jan 2019 with further filings in January 2020). A comprehensive paper on miyabeacin was published in 2020, and the UK patent was granted in 2021, and further worldwide filings are in progress Subsequent work on plants in the NWC has revealed further analogues of miyabeacin and a second class of dimeric entities. We have established that the reaction producing miyabeacin is heritable and that novel analogues can be generated via judicious selection of the parental lines in the breeding programme. These compounds are of potential medical interest as well as revealing important clues to the biosynthesis of these novel structures. A further two research papers describing novel willow components (sulfated flavonoids and phenylalkanoid disaccharides) have been published (2019). The potential of plant derived polyphenols, including those from willow, in neuroscience has been developed through a collaboration with Daniel Otzen at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University that has resulted in 2 publications (Jan 2019) on reduction a-synuclein fibrillation by plant natural products, including a possible connection between plant longevity and anti-fibrillation activity. Further novel salicinoids, resulting from metabolic shunts revealed in transgenic poplar plants where RNAi knockdown of biosynthetic genes (see Obj 2) leads to re-configuration of carbon flux, have been isolated and structurally characterised. The dynamic and adaptable nature of phenolic metabolism that we have observed in these plants indicates that many cryptic pathways are available to the plant to divert carbon flow through the benzoate pathway. This is of particular relevance to metabolic engineering goals in poplar and willow, where although the quantity of carbon flux to aromatics is high, the challenges are to direct the bulk of that flux into selected valuable end-products with minimal formation of unwanted side-products. • Field trials have been established and harvesting at different growth stages commenced, for 8 lines bearing different chemistries, to determine the optimum time (in a three year growth cycle) and highest yielding plant part (e.g. top, middle or bottom stems) for compounds of interest. These include the anti-cancer salicinoid patented above as well as chemicals with neuro-protective properties. Comprehensive phenotyping and metabolomic data have been collected for all timepoints over 3 years of the trial. Analysis of the complete dataset has now allowed an estimation of chemical yield of various metabolites at a per hectare scale. In addition the experiment has successfully identified the optimum time (in the 3 year coppicing cycle) and tissue to harvest for maximum product formation. Objective 2. Define the phenolic glycoside pathways, their regulation and species-specific reaction mechanisms • A large-scale combined-metabolomic-transcriptomics 60 day time-course experiment for six key lines expressing different branches of a putative biosynthetic grid has been completed. The data has been mined for associations between metabolites and genes, using as anchors two genes of proven involvement in salicinoid biosynthesis. One of these 'known' genes, a cytochrome P450 oxidase was previously isolated by us via a mQTL and map-based cloning approach, and functionally characterised by RNAi knockdown in transgenic poplar via metabolomic analysis. A list of further candidate genes (enzymes) for the pathway has been developed from the transcriptomics data and passed into our poplar transformation pipeline for determination of gene function via metabolomics of knockdowns. The small list of ~20 genes contains further P450s, glycosyltransferases, epoxide lyase and reductases. One the glycosyl transferases (UGTs) has been cloned and expressed in E.coli and shown to accept a range of salicyl derivatives, confirming a potential role in the pathway. A paper describing the biochemical function of this UGT71 has been published, and includes confirmation of a role in salicortin production in poplar, via RNAi knockdown. (https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa562). Transgenic poplar with RNAi glycosyl transferase have also been generated and metabolomic analysis has confirmed that the gene has a key role in the pathway.. A second cytochrome P450 from the list is under investigation by RNAi knockdown in poplar and metabolomics of the transgenic plants has demonstrated a central role in the pathway, apparently upstream of the first P450. This gene has now been expressed in yeast and the biochemical analysis of substrate and products has been completed (see later). Similar willow metabolomics-transcriptomics timecourses (3) have been set up, harvested and analysed by metabolomics in readiness for generation of transcriptome data aimed at elucidation of regulatory switches. RNAseq data from these timecourses is now in hand and has been analysed for further biosynthetic candidate genes. We have successfully developed an in-house genome editing (GE), using CRISPR, protocol for Populus with our first 'proof of concept' experiment indicating successful knockout of a phytoene desaturase (albino phenotype) gene. We have also developed methods for multi-gene family editing with rapid NGS edit screening and bioinformatic analysis. Gene knockout in poplar via GE has now been applied to most of the genes on our candidate salicinoid biosynthesis list. Results with two P450s have clearly demonstrated major roles in the pathway leading to salicortin. Correlating genes(enzymes) that show no change in chemotype on GE knockout, are now being re-targeted via GE-knockout of multiple members of relevant gene families. This has included a key enone reductase gene. Editing of the gene alone showed no change in metabolomic profile. However, constructs designed to knock out multiple members of the reductase family, and subsequent metabolomic analysis, gave a very strong response. Here, we identified the production of miyabeacin and associated dimers in the GE poplar plants. This is the first time that compounds of this type have been produced in populus species. As well as the potential of the presence of this valuable compound in poplar tissues, the result has confirmed the role of the reductase in the salicinoid biosynthesis pathway. Chemotypes of transgenic poplar plants are determined on arrays of plantlets grown in tissue culture and this system has also been adapted to provide freshly excised plantlets for isotope tracing experiments where these excised plantlets are maintained in hydroponics systems. This has allowed us to gain insight into the flux of phenylalanine into the various branches of the phenolic pathway including confirmation that both rings of salicotin arise from the benzoate pool, albeit at different rates. This experimental system will allow mapping of precursor flux through the many tributaries of phenolic chemistry that compete with lignin (i.e. biomass) biosynthesis. Expression of a key poplar P450 gene in yeast and metabolite profiling of resultant yeast cultures fed with prospective substrates has confirmed the identity of an oxidative enzyme that carries out a novel de-aromatisation reaction that is fundamental to the formation of the HCC ring common in many salicinoids. An improved yeast synthetic biology toolkit has now been developed to allow further 'plug and play' plant P450 gene expression, including expression of multiple genes that may form small metabolic modules (metabolons) that work together to passage substrates through 'unstable' intermediates. This toolkit includes yeast strains where interfering endogenous enone reductase genes have been neutralised by CRISPR-GE. We have also confirmed the role of the willow/poplar enone reductase (see above) in yeast. Insertion into the improved yeast strain, alongside our characterized P450s, has allowed salicinoid type molecules to be synthesized in yeast for the first time following feeding with simple substrates. We will now incorporate the glycosyl transferases into the system, along with candidate hydroxylases, to prove the pathway, order of reactions and optimum substrates. • Mapping of metabolites across populations mpF (n=394) and mpG (n=593) grown in the field has commenced to try and determine a QTL for early versus late expression of salicortin production, to further enhance our knowledge of the genes of the pathway, as well as to inform on potential regulatory genes that will be important in engineering higher yield varieties. Metabolomics data for leaf and stem tissue from all members of both populations is in hand and mQTL mapping has been conducted. Already, a highly significant and novel QTL on chromasome XIII is under fine mapping and a second novel QTL for this trait has been identified on chromosome II which may co-locate with an important phenology controlling locus. Fine mapping is underway to confirm this. A high density, genome-wide SNP assay for willow has been designed based on detailed bioinformatic analysis of our parental genome sequences of these (and other) mapping populations. Establishment of a hydroponic growth protocol for willow has been achieved and studies using selected genotypes perturbed with either heavy metals or aromatic chemical pollutants have been initiated. The effect on these stressors on secondary metabolism can now be investigated. Initial results indicate that salicortin synthesis could be induced by heavy metals, presenting the possibility of new transcriptomic approaches to the pathway genes. The work has now been followed up with a detailed timecourse. Tissue generation for analysis by metabolomics and transcriptomics is now complete Objective 3. Novel designer willows and products • Having screened through the pure species in the NWC we have used the chemotype data to predict the composition of existing hybrids (originally produced to enhance biomass) where new substrates are brought together with alternate genes to form 'designer molecules' that increase the number of analogues for biological testing. Novel structural variants have been obtained in the hybrid progeny serving as a proof of concept. These include variant forms of our lead anti-cancer molecule, thus demonstrating applicability in the approach. • We also sought to optimise levels and create new chemistry through the generation of novel hybrids. Based on chemistry, stock for the breeding of 2 sets of new hybrids has now been identified and entered into the local breeding programme. Plants from the first set havebeen the subject of a metabolomics screen for increased compounds of interest. Analysis of these hybrids has proven that the formation and functionality of miyabeacin derivatives is genetically controlled, and that designer willows can be predictably produced by conventional crossing of chemotypes. We have also demonstrated that it is possible to change the ratio of 1,2- vs 1,4- substitution patterns in these proof of concept lines. As well as the compounds of pharmaceutical interest, the ability to manipulate phenolic substitution is of high applicability for potential renewable materials (e.g. biopolymers (see Obj. 4)). Lines for the determination of the genetic factors influencing metabolism in hybridised Salix genomes were selected from the chemistry and genetic profile data. • New, dedicated intraspecific, interspecific and polyploid crosses for studying genetic factors influencing metabolism in hybridised Salix genomes have been created and pedigrees validated by molecular markers. A large trial was designed and established to provide samples from these populations for multiomic analyses. All samples are now in hand and metabolomic screens of samples from these new populations has demonstrated that chemistry has segregated within these hybrids and the new populations will be highly informative. Our bespoke genome wide SNP-genotyping assay designed for universal application across all populations under study in this project was applied to all individuals of these large populations. In-house screening of a Salix viminalis association mapping population with a new set of genome-wide molecular (GBS) markers was completed (136K markers aligned to our draft reference genome of S. viminalis). This enabled analyses that resulted in a rich database of novel, genome-wide, marker-metabolite associations (over 6K new associations at P < 10-5, roughly half of which reach Bonferroni-adjusted genome-wide significance). These data have also been used to develop and demonstrate the potential of multiomic prediction and Mendelian Randomisation (MR) approaches for inferring causative links between metabolites and adaptive phenotypic traits. • The success of the gene-editing pipeline that we have developed for research in poplar, provides a new platform for designer trees with manipulated phenolic chemistry and we are now in a position to scale-up into a greenhouse trial of new GE lines of poplar for different industrial applications. Objective 4. Prototypes and scale-up for exploitation • Field demonstration trials (80 plants x 16 lines) have been planted and are established in order to provide a demonstration and quantitation of chemical product versus biomass in a conventional coppicing regime. This is vital information for forward crop improvement. Chipped material has been obtained for experimentation after the typical 3 year growth cycle. Sets of experiments, designed to inform on the best storage and down-stream processing regimes for optimum product yield from wood chips has been carried out. Results from this experiment have informed on compound integrity following storage or oven drying. Chipped material from the experiment has been stored and provides a resource for the development of larger scale extraction protocols. Having access to significant amounts of chipped material has also enabled larger scale extracts to be generated. These have been used in the preliminary synthesis of polymeric materials. These have included both resole and novolac type polymers and take advantage of the phenol content present in willow biomass. Preparations mixing biomass-derived phenols with synthetic phenol (and its formaldehyde reaction products) has enabled the first examples of willow derived polymers to be synthesized. We are now implementing a biopolymer testing platform to enable the thermal assessment of the materials for comparison to their synthetic conterparts • Scale-up of chromatographic isolation has allowed us to obtain a relatively large quantity (>100mg) of a lead anti-cancer compound for onward testing. The methodology is now routinely applied to generate larger quantities of other novel products for structural characterisation. • Working with growers in the UK, Ireland and Sweden, three genotypes with chemistry of commercial interest have been grown and harvested in 2019 from 12 sites with varying climate/soil conditions. All tissues from this experiment have been analysed by NMR and mass spectrometry and this has revealed that environmental (soil-type, geography, weather) effects on metabolite accumulation are minimal, demonstrating that designer product orientated willows will be versatile and provide reliable real-world production systems, irrespective of location. Preliminary trials have also been conducted with a commercial willow grower/harvester. This has involved on-farm extraction of freshly chipped biomass willows. Delivery of extract was achieved at the 1000L scale. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings represent the most comprehensive study of willow (and poplar) secondary chemistry and biochemistry ever, and builds a platform for many future research projects, including new strategic programmes. As well as the current area of focus (high value chemicals and dual purpose crops) the knowledge of the pathway genes and metabolite network will underpin many projects, basic and applied, in areas of tree and biomass crop biology such as agronomy, pest resilience, phytoremediation, carbon cycling and climate science. Novel molecules are being processed through a KEC platform through patenting and commercial pipelines. With regard to new polymeric materials, once proof of concept has been established and material properties have been determined we will seek to optimise preparation procedures to generate materials suitable for a variety of potential markets. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Energy Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63349-1 |
| Description | Pathways to impact for the designer willows project are enriched by the historic platform of willow usage in the agro-economy. From the general public's perspective, the growing of willow for basket making and the discovery of aspirin are well known historically. In addition, the principles behind the breeding and utilisation of fast growing willow varieties for the production of biomass, for heat and power generation, are also well understood. This project aims to take the next step and add value to the willow biomass chain, via the extraction of chemical and pharmaceutical products, before use of the wood chips for energy generation. This logical extension of the industry has the potential for impact across multiple sectors - agro-industry, chemicals, bio-energy and pharmaceuticals. This is reflected by the filing of our patents for new pharmaceuticals that we have identified (see IP and licensing section). We have also demonstrated that useful compounds accumulate to relatively high levels and as a consequence their direct extraction remains economically feasible. Through growth at multiple locations, we have amassed evidence that the products are routinely produced and are not subject to detrimental impacts of the environment. This key finding represents important data towards commercialisation and has been communicated to biomass energy growers and policy makers. Alongside work in high value novel products, we have also established methods for the incorporation of extracts from willow biomass into polymer preparations. This preliminary data will provide new opportunities to commercialise products from willow. Further, we have contributed to the national debate on Net Zero via the submission (2022) of written responses to a call for evidence. In 2021 we attended a government workshop led by business secretary Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP with the aim of developing sustainable growth towards Net Zero. Team members have also been involved in a BEIS consultation on increasing bioenergy feedstocks. Scientific impact arises from the use of state-of-the-art metabolomic and genomic technologies to understand a biochemical pathway that has not yet been characterised. We have also characterised a new class of cytochrome P450s via a significant programme of gene editing in poplar and the utilisation of yeast expression systems. For the latter we have carried out strain optimisation which may benefit future research groups. The discovery of new medically bioactive entities and the breeding of willow to produce high yields and panels of analogues for pharmaceutical exploitation broadens the commercial attractiveness of the project. The project has utilised large scale genetic mapping populations and alongside has developed a suite of new bioinformatic tools. These will be of utility in future projects and enable large scale genetics and associated multi-omics studies to proceed more rapidly. The potential of willow to deliver new products was highlighted during the project launch and picked up by a scientific journalist and led to a published feature article in Chemistry World. In addition to the medical aspects, the use of non-food crops to replace petrochemicals as source of carbon-based building blocks for chemical and polymer industries has green credentials in that the process has the potential to be carbon neutral in that greenhouse gas emissions are negated by carbon dioxide uptake by the crop. Also in year one of the project we have taken the following steps to disseminate our research:- The normal academic routes of published papers and presentations at conferences are listed in the engagement section of this form. In 2019, working with a film maker at the University of Hertfordshire, members of the TPM team have constructed a video entitled 'Willow: Then and Now' which tells the history of the use of willow for the past 100years. The film is centered around the National Willow Collection and laboratory facilities at Rothamsted, and contains interview footage from members of the team talking about the TPM project. The film has been released on the University of Hertfordshire web-site and subsequently on the Rothamsted web-site. In year 2 of the project a further video 'willow 2.0' was released by Rothamsted via Youtube and this describes the research of TPM. Following the the discovery of miyabeacin, and highlighting its anti-cancer potential, there was much media interest and significant reports include The Guardian and ScienceFocus, Also in 2018 the project was prominent in the Festival of Ideas, a major 3 day open Rothamsted event celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Institute. Following Covid-19, there has been limited opportunities for engagement via public events. However, discussions have taken place with policy makers and contributors to policy documentation. Case studies in the UK grown report detail the potential of willow higher value compounds. Similarly, there has been engagement with BEIS and DEFRA representatives where progress of the research has been described. In 2021, TPM research has also been the subject of a BBC radio podcast via the Green Thinking:Trees podcast. The project team continue to give presentations of the project at international conferences in metabolomics, plant metabolism and genetics. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Energy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Biomass and Net Zero |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Case Study for UK Grown Report |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.highvaluebiorenewables.net/seecmsfile/?id=419 |
| Description | Evidence for the BEIS consultation on increasing bioenergy feedstocks |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Independant Reviewer for Czech Science Foundation |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Reviewer for national fellowship scheme |
| Description | Independent Reviewer for Royal Society of Chemistry Future Leaders - African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowships |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Reviewer for RSC fellowship scheme. Identification of suitable award holders. |
| Description | Input into published Climate Change |Committee report on agricultural land use and climate change (specific section on SRC willow agronomy and yields) (Macalpine) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Interview with BEIS representatives - Higher value products from Biomass |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Understanding barriers and enablers to growing and upscaling production of Willow 2022 (Macalpine) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Accelerating Willow Breeding and Deployment (AWBD) |
| Amount | £159,774 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Accelerating Willow Breeding and Deployment (AWBD) Phase 2 |
| Amount | £1,709,404 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Biomass Connect: Biomass Connect: The Biomass Feedstock Innovation Demonstrator Platform. Phase 2 |
| Amount | £993,979 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Biopolymer Analysis Platform |
| Amount | £499,773 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Description | Bioproducts for African Agriculture |
| Amount | £2,113,903 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | FP05 |
| Organisation | OCP |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Morocco |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Description | Perennial Biomass Crops for Greenhouse Gas Removal |
| Amount | £5,384,217 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V011553/1 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | Perennial Energy Crop - Decision Support System |
| Amount | £5,021 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Perennial Energy Crops Decision Support System (PEC-DSS): Envirocrops |
| Amount | £12,283 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | Replacement of Core High-Throughput ESI-MS for Triple Fingerprinting Pipeline of Metabolomics Facility |
| Amount | £504,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Replacement of Metabolomics Facility Core Equipment - 600MHz Superconducting NMR Magnet |
| Amount | £787,482 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Rothamsted Centre for Biomass Valorisation. PI. (Co-Is: Beale, Noleto-Dias, Harflett) |
| Amount | £215,484 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | The Biomass Feedstock Innovation Demonstrator Platform |
| Amount | £198,693 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of the UK |
| Department | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Upgrade to LTQ Orbitrap Elite High Resolution LC-MS system |
| Amount | £1,199,261 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Title | A high-throughput, low-cost multiplexed NGS-based amplicon screening method. |
| Description | A high-throughput, low-cost multiplexed NGS-based amplicon screening method. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Method now provided to several research groups for multiple purposes, e.g. SNP genotyping, identifying genome editing events, splicing analysis, eco-Tilling etc. |
| Title | Development of methodologies for larger scale extraction and drying of plant biomass |
| Description | Within the TPM strategic programme we have investigated the extraction and characterisation of numerous phenolic glycosides. Methods have now been developed to move beyond the analytical stage with a view towards translation. Methods have therefore been developed to generate aqueous extracts from willow biomass chip at lab scale. Crucially we have employed new equipment to remove water more quickly from the extracts, thus preserving the chemical composition and providing materials for onward testing. Similar protocols have also been employed at the farm scale. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | New methods will help us to transition our research towards commercialisation |
| Title | Development of methods for the creation of biopolymers from willow biomass |
| Description | Procedures have been developed to create both resole and novolac resins. These are the most relevant phenol containing polymers. Methods are in place to obtain crude phenol mixes direct from willow biomass chips and procedures to utilise these in polymer generation reactions are being investigated. The first proof of concept materials have now been generated. Using new equipment, we will be able to determine thermal properties of the biopolymers and make direct comparisons to fully synthetic counterparts. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The ability to generate polymeric materials from willow biomass opens the door to a new series of renewable polymers with potential commercial application. Use of the national willow collection and the RRes breeding pipeline will enable germplasm to be optimised for this product stream in the future. |
| Title | High Resolution NMR Facilities |
| Description | High Resolution NMR Facilities |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The enhanced capability includes a new Avamce Neo console, new cryoplatform and new 5mm SEI cryoprobe. This has renewed the NMR capability and enhanced sensitivity for the screening by metabolomics and the structural characterisation of novel products. |
| Title | Replacement of Metabolomics Facility Core Equipment - 600MHz Superconducting NMR Magnet |
| Description | Successful IGP award to replace core NMR equipment. Included 600 MHz superconducting magnet replacement. Total award cost was £787,482. Instrument has been an essential component of the TPM delivery pipeline with respect to high throughput metabolomics |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Core equipment for high throughput plant metabolomics. Core equipment for natural product structural elucidation |
| Title | Upgrade of Mass spectrometry infrastructure |
| Description | Funds for new instrumentation awarded to replace high-throughput electrospray MS capability. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Will be available to other users and future research programmes |
| Title | Upgrade to LTQ Orbitrap Elite High Resolution LC-MS system |
| Description | High accuracy LC-MS is a core component of the metabolomics facility. The equipment is used in both metabolite profiling and structure elucidation studies. Following a successful IGP bid, valued at £1.2M, we have been able to replace the current instrument with a superior tribrid mass spectrometer (the Orbitrap IQ-X) which is optimised for small molecule analysis. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Superior mass accuracy. Superior mass resolution. Ability to undertake sophisticated isotope labelling and tracing experiments, thus enabling new areas of science. |
| Description | Collaboration with Josh Klein |
| Organisation | Israel Institute |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Screening of Israeli and Jordanian Willow species |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners supplied dried tissue samples |
| Impact | Ongoing work |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Prof. Daniel Otzen, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus Univeristy |
| Organisation | Aarhus University |
| Department | Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNano) |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Methodologies for natural product screening and fractionation of plant extracts, developed with the RRes ISP teams, have been applied to a range of plants to identify inhibitors of protein fibrillation. Annotation of natural products within the extracts has been carried out as has the characterisation of purified fractions. A number of compounds have been suggested to act as inhibitors of alpha-synuclein fibrillation. Extracts have also been prepared from the RRes National Willow Collection for assessment in the alpha-synuclein assays. A number of accessions were shown to be active and the most active accession has now been fractionated. We have identified the most active fraction and a new IIP award will be started in 2024 to retest purified components from this fraction. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners, supplied crude plant extracts from a number of plants for analysis by the RRes team. They also conducted the biological assays associated with fibrillation testing. The partners have also surveyed a panel of willow extracts and have provided activity data suggesting that there are compounds present in willow that inhibit alpha-synuclein and thus may be promising targets for new neuroprotective drugs. In 2024, Dr Clarice Noleto Dias will visit the lab of Prof Otzen for the testing of purified willow compounds in his established assay system. |
| Impact | The collaboration has resulted in four publications so far. In addition we have bioactivity data in hand indicating willow species that contain potential new neuroprotectives. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with Prof. Ian Graham, University of York |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr Jane Ward has been collaborating with the Graham group to assist in the characterisation of novel natural products using 1D and 2D NMR methodology. She has also assisted in the development of proposals for biosynthetic reaction mechanisms for a number of key compounds. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Graham group have supplied Dr Ward's team with a number of natural products for characterisation. |
| Impact | Data of characterised molecules |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Kent (Michaelis) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Provision of willow extracts and novel metabolites |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bioassay and evaluation of willow compounds in human cancer cell lines |
| Impact | collaboration between cancer biologists and plant biochemists and phytochemists. Joint publication and patents. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Willow chip scale-up collaboration |
| Organisation | Rickerby Estates |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of willow samples, large scale extracts. Advice on varieties, agronomy and supply of cuttings |
| Collaborator Contribution | Harvesting, chipping and ton-scale extraction of willow chips |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with farmer, agricultural engineer, agronomists and analytical chemists |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Title | Cyclodimer of dehydrosalicortin and derivatives thereof isolated from plant of the genus Salix for use in cancer therapy |
| Description | Further application on miyabeacin and cancer |
| IP Reference | China 2020800253348 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Publications, press coverage, further research and funding applications |
| Title | Cyclodimer of dehydrosalicortin and derivatives thereof isolated from plant of the genus Salix for use in cancer therapy |
| Description | Further coverage of miyabeacin and cancer |
| IP Reference | US Patent 17/426424 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Publications, further research and further grant applications |
| Title | Novel compounds and their use in therapy |
| Description | A compound comprising a dimer of a dehydrosalicortin or a derivative, homologue, stereoisomer, prodrug or pharmaceutical salt thereof, wherein the dimer may be the product of a Diels-Alder reaction. The compound may be of the form R1-L-R2, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from Formula III and L may be a tricyclodecadiene, particularly of Formula IIA or IIB: Wherein R3-6 are each independently selected from H or acetyl and R12-15 are each independently selected from H or OH. The compounds are disclosed to be of use in therapy, particularly cancer, compositions for such use are also disclosed. The cancer may be neuroblastoma, breast cancer, oesophageal cancer or ovarian cancer. The compounds may be obtained via extraction from a plant of the genus Salix, particularly the stem material thereof. The Salix family plant may be Salix miyabeana or a hybrid thereof. |
| IP Reference | GB2581035 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | High impact publication, multiple press coverage, new grant applications |
| Title | Novel willow compound and their use in therapy |
| Description | Relates to anti-cancer activity of novel willow metabolites |
| IP Reference | GB1901272.3 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Formal filing of GB patent |
| Title | Novel willow compound and their use in therapy |
| Description | Relates to anti-cancer activity of novel willow metabolites |
| IP Reference | PCT/GB2020/050203 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | PCT filing |
| Title | Novel willow compounds |
| Description | This invention relates to new bioactives from willow |
| IP Reference | GB1901272.3 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Foundation of an IP portfolio around anti-cancer compunds from willow |
| Title | Novel willow compounds and their use in therapy |
| Description | Relates to anti-cancer activity of novel willow metabolites |
| IP Reference | GB1914640.6 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Update to previous application |
| Description | 15th Metabolomics Conference 2019 (noleto-Dias and Bellasi) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Noleto Dias gave an invited presentation and Ms Bellasi presented a poster at the annual metabolomics congress held in the Hague, 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://metabolomics2019.org |
| Description | @STEM point east event (Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Careers orientated workshop focussed on Agri-tech area, talk followed by discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Agrobacterium-mediated Genetic transformation of European Ash using embryogenic cultures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Steve Hanley and Sergio Cerezo-Medina were both invited to attend a discussion on ash pest and disease strategy based on their work with tree genome editing and their unique ability to transform and edit ash. The main aim was to discuss current capabilities and help formulate future strategy for research in the area. A presentation was made in session 1 which included Resiliant ash research to date 6th September 2022. Both individuals were also participants in additional sessions of the workshop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Anti-cancer activity of dimeric salicinoids from willow - HVB Network News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Narrative report on research on novel dimeric molecules from willow possessing anti-cancer activity. Paper referenced via the HVB network website (News section) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.highvaluebiorenewables.net/news/anti-cancer-activity-of-dimeric-salicinoids-from-willow/ |
| Description | Article - Potential childhood cancer treatment found in willow trees |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article highlighting recent research in the discovery of a compound with activity against neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/potential-childhood-cancer-treatment-found-in-willow-trees/ |
| Description | Article in The Guardian Newspaper (Website) - Could the willow help us fight cancer? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Recent research highlighted in The guardian newspaper. Article describes the discovery of novel molecule (miyabeacin) with demonstrated activity on drug resistant cancer cell lines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jul/14/could-the-willow-help-us-fight-cancer |
| Description | BBC Radio - Green Thinking:Trees |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | William MacAlpine contributed to a BBC Radio £ podcast on the subject of 'Green Thinking : Trees' , Podcast released 27/102021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b0dv71 |
| Description | BEIS and Committee on Climate Change consultations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | William Macalpine (project member) gave evidence to a BEIS consultation on Bioenergy Innovation, and additionally to the Committee on Climate Change regarding the UK land use and management and its role in contributing to net-zero emissions by 2050 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Chemistry world article (Ward) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Phone interview (Jane Ward) given to science journalist for article in Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World. Article title: Metabolomic Wind in the Willows (published 31 May 2017) https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/willow-promises-new-medicines/3007491.article |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/willow-promises-new-medicines/3007491.article |
| Description | Consultation with Treeconomy via SHAKE climate change group (MacAlpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | William MacAlpine provided expertise on SRC willow to Treeconomy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Cultivation and Use of Basket Willows |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This guidebook was published by the Basketmakers Association, a trade group and is a revision of a pervious booklet distributed by the trade. Project scientists were involve in updating and drafting this new version. Reference:- Macalpine, W. J., Burns, H., Hammerin, A., Shield, I. F., Butcher, M., Davies, O. and Bertram, G. 2018. Cultivation and Use of Basket Willows - a guide to growing basket willows. The Basketmakers Association. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | DEFRA biomass officials - discussion (Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Initial discussions regarding potential commission to produce report concerning data from long term trial of SRC willow crops, to inform on DEFRA forthcoming policy on UK biomass strategy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Defra Tree Strategy consultation (MacAlpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Input into Defra policy group for national tree strategy (MacAlpinee) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Genetic and genomic approaches to understand agronomic and metabolic traits in the Salicaceae |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sergio Cerezo-Medina gave an invited presentation at the Spain-UK Plant Biotechnology forum 22 - 23 February 2022 (Organised by the Embassy of Spain Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs and the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom). His talk was in Session 4: Breeding and quality improvement techniques. The title of the presentation was "Genetic and genomic approaches to understand agronomic and metabolic traits in the Salicaceae". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Genomes to High Value Biorenewable Products meeting organised by the High Value Biorenewables Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Steve Hanley gave invited presentation on genomic and genetic approaches to gene discovery in relation to high value products |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Government workshop - Achieving Net Zero |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Attendance of William MacAlpine at a Workshop led by Business Secretary Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, at Rothamsted, with industry and researchers to develop strategies for Sustainable Growth towards Net Zero agenda. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | International Plant and Animal Genome Conference 2020 (San diego) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attendance and poster presentation at Plant and Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, California. Jan 11-15, 2020 by three team members - Hanley, Cerezo-Medina and Rendour, Title: Identification and Validation of Candidate Genes for Key Agronomic and Metabolic Traits in the Salicaceae |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | International Poplar Symposium (Buenos Aires)(Beale,Ward, MacAlpine, Noleto-Dias) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Four members of the research team participated the 7th International Polar Symposium: New bioeconomies: exploring the potential role of Salicaceae. held in Buenos Aires. Invited talks were give by Prof Beale, Dr Ward and Mr MacAlpine, and a poster presented by Dr Clarice Noleto-Dias. The symposium also included a field trip and discussions with scientists at the INTA institute and commercial willow plantations in the Parana delta region, where Salix are grown for feedstock to a local paper mill. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited presentation at Wageningen UR omics symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Key note speaker at 'Advances in Plant and Food Metabolics' 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited presentation (Hanley) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation by Steve Hanley at Sustainable bioenergy crops conference, Oxford, Sept 2017 entitled 'dissecting complex traits in Salix: progress in gene discovery' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited presentation (Slavov): Bioenergy Genomics 17 Oxford Conference. Integrated genomic prediction in bioenergy crops. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Generated discussions and outlined future research with peers working in bioenergy crops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.watbio.eu/bioenergy-genomics-17-oxford-conference/ |
| Description | Joint worksop with JIC Molecules from Nature ISP (Beale, Ward, Hanley) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A joint 2 day workshop between this ISP and the John Innes centre ISP 'Molecules from Nature' was held in Norwich, November 2018. The discussions allowed us to exchange details of the two programmes and look for synergies and new ideas and technologies in the area of high value products from plants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | NFU Net Zero Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | William MacAlpine hosted the NFU Net Zero Science Advisory Panel at Rothamsted, to view perennial energy crop research and biomass plantations including the genetic collections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Plant and Animal Genome Conference, 2019, San Diego |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Steve Hanley co-chaired the Forest Tree Genomics session at the conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation - High Value Bioactives from Willow Germplasm, Discovery, development and production of high value bio-based products - HVB Network Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation - High Value Bioactives from Willow Germplasm, Discovery, development and production of high value bio-based products - HVB Network Meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation at 15th International Conference of the metabolomics society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Clarice Noleto-Dias gave a presentation titled "NMR-MS metabolomics reveals sulfonation in the Salicaceae" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Press Release - EXCITING' ANTI-CANCER COMPOUND DISCOVERED IN THE HUMBLE WILLOW |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release on new compound discovered within Tailoring Plant Metabolism ISPG with novel phamacological activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/%E2%80%98exciting%E2%80%99-anti-cancer-compound-discovered-humble-... |
| Description | Public release video (Willow 2.0) describing project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Willow 2.0 is a professionally made video, part of a portfolio made by Rothamsted for publicity and educational purposes. It describes in detail the context and aspirations of the TPM project and has now been made available on youtube |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXV7I6vqMAE |
| Description | Renewable Energy Association - members roundtable Biomass Strategy 2022 (Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Strategy workshop with Renewable Energy Association members concerning future biomass developments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Research Day, Rothamsted Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Steve Hanley gave presentation on 'Integrated genetic and genomic approaches to crop improvement and trait dissection' that has led to two Industrial collaborations and one Innovate UK grant application |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ruby Country Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | William MacAlpine was a speaker at 'The Ruby Country Net Zero Farming Forum' on Carbon Capture: hedgerows and trees in the farmed environment. title of talk 'p Perennial Bioenrgy Crops: Costs, Benefits and Trade-offs' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Science Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | SRC willow chip supplied to the Science Museum for a contemporary exhibit on Carbon Capture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about-us/press-office/science-museum-open-uks-first-major-exhibitio... |
| Description | Slavov (cross-institute BBSRC workshop on predictive breeding) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Explored potential for developing a cross-institute (Roslin, Earlham, JIC, NIAB, RRes, IBERS ...) ISP on predictive breeding. A report was submitted to BBSRC outlining next steps / key questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Slavov (invited presentation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Multi-omic dissection and prediction of complex traits in plants. XIV International Symposium on Integrative Bioinformatics, Harpenden, UK, June 14, 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/events/14th-international-symposium-integrative-bioinformatics |
| Description | Special interest group visit (Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A local natural history group were given a tour of the National Willow Collection. Aspects of the history of willow growing and uses in the UK, the agronomy and breeding of willow for biomass use, research in the programme towards dual use willows and the biodiversity benefits of willow plantations were discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Special interest group visit (macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A local natural history group were given a tour of the National Willow Collection. Aspects of the history of willow growing and uses in the UK, the agronomy and breeding of willow for biomass use, research in the programme towards dual use willows and the biodiversity benefits of willow plantations were discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | The Wonder of Willow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk given at The Fascination of Plants event. Held at Rothamsted Research and Open to the Public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Universirt of Nottingham Students visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Mike Beale and William Macalpine delivered a presentation to 80 students from Nottingham University, concerning willow and its role in bioenergy and chemical products |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | University of Nottingham Students - 2022 visit to Rothamsted (Beale and Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Mike Beale and William Macalpine (Feb 2022) delivered a presentation to ~40 students from Nottingham University, concerning willow and its role in bioenergy and chemical products, part of a one day conference regarding Rothamsted Science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | University of Nottingham Students - virtual visit to Rothamsted (Beale and Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Mike Beale and William Macalpine delivered a presentation to ~40 students from Nottingham University, concerning willow and its role in bioenergy and chemical products, part of a virtual conference regarding Rothamsted Science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Unlocking the UK's biomass resources as a feedstock for Chemical Manufacturing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Jane Ward was quoted in the Innovate UK KTN Report: Unlocking the UK's biomass resources as a feedstock for Chemical Manufacturing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ibioic.com/s/204967_V6_KTN_BIO_Mass_Report.pdf |
| Description | Willow video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Working with film makers from the University of Hertfordshire, under the banner of an initiative called 'everyday lives in war', a video was constructed that begins with the history of willow cultivation and uses in the first world war and ends with a overview of the current project on biomass for energy and for industrial chemicals and medicines. The film includes current project members, speaking about the work, and footage from the field trials established by the project. The film will shortly be released on the University of Herts website, and will also be placed on Rothamsted's web-site. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | https://everydaylivesinwar.herts.ac.uk/?page_id=2848 |
| Description | Willow works (Rothamsted Festival of Ideas) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'Willow works' consisted of an interactive, walk through of field, chemistry and genetics manned pop-up labs leading onto visits to NMR and Mass spectroscopy suites, and an optional tour of the National Willow Collection. The event, which formed one of a number of exhibits/tours that were staged during the 3 day Rothamsted Festival of Ideas, in June 2018 (celebrating the 175th anniversary of Rothamsted) was visited by many thousands of members of the public. All members of the research team were involved and both formal and informal feedback received was extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Workshop - Committee on Climate Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | William MacAlpine was invited and attended 'Steps to scaling up UK sustainable bioenergy supply workshop', held by the Committee on Climate Change. The outcome was a document released to the public https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Biomass-in-a-low-carbon-economy-CCC-2018.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Biomass-in-a-low-carbon-economy-CCC-2018.pdf |
| Description | nottingham students visit (Ward and Macalpine) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two talks presented by team members (Ward and Macalpine) to a large party of bioscience undergraduate and masters students from the University of Nottingham. The presentations covered - 'Harnessing chemical diversity, genetics and willow breeding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |