University of Surrey – Confidence in Concept 2019
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
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
The Confidence in Concept (CIC) scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions to flexibly support a portfolio of early stage translational research projects. CIC is designed to accelerate the transition from discovery research to viable translational projects by supporting preliminary studies to establish proof-of-concept so that the approach will then become competitive for more substantial translational funding.
Organisations
- University of Surrey (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- ISIS Neutron Source Facility (Collaboration)
- BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Collaboration)
- Carnegie Mellon University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Hull York Medical School (Collaboration)
- Medical University of Innsbruck (Collaboration)
- SURREY AND BORDERS PARTNERSHIP NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
Publications
Hunter L
(2022)
Dynamics of Macrophage, T and B Cell Infiltration Within Pulmonary Granulomas Induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Two Non-Human Primate Models of Aerosol Infection
in Frontiers in Immunology
Oluwole DO
(2022)
Antibiotics-Free Compounds for Chronic Wound Healing.
in Pharmaceutics
Vilchèze C
(2022)
Commonalities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transcriptomes in Response to Defined Persisting Macrophage Stresses.
in Frontiers in immunology
Akwani WC
(2022)
The Use of Comparative Genomic Analysis for the Development of Subspecies-Specific PCR Assays for Mycobacterium abscessus.
in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Urbaniec J
(2022)
Phenotypic heterogeneity in persisters: a novel 'hunker' theory of persistence.
in FEMS microbiology reviews
Owusu W
(2023)
A multiplex PCR assay for the differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex reveals high rates of mixed-lineage tuberculosis infections among patients in Ghana
in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Armoh S
(2023)
Solid waste motor tricycle operators in Kumasi, Ghana, harbour respiratory pathogens; a public health threat
in PLOS ONE
Johnson MP
(2024)
Dielectric properties of human macrophages are altered by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
in Electrophoresis
Hoxha A
(2024)
Wound Healing Promotion via Release of Therapeutic Metallic Ions from Phosphate Glass Fibers: An In Vitro and Ex Vivo Study
in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
D Carta
(2025)
Electrospun polyphosphate coacervate glass fibres in the system P2O5-CaO-MgO-Na2O-Fe2O3 for wound healing
in ACS Omega
| Description | Parliamentary engagement during the pandemic |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | Through the work I did with my BSI colleagues the BSI became known as a source of sound scientific advice during the pandemic. We have corresponded with the CMOs office in private as well as publicaly and the CMO has quoted our input on national briefings. |
| Description | "Multifunctional antibacterial phosphate-based glass nanofibres for wound healing" |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | R21-7668912428 |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Description | 3D printing of hybrid scaffolds for bone regeneration |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | A novel, antibiotics free and prophylactic topical in-wound applied formulation for combating biofilms and improving orthopaedic surgical wound healing (BioBride) |
| Amount | £118,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | CTP_2022_-0000000007 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| Start | 12/2023 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership DTP-UKRI: PhD studentship: Synthesis and characterisation of mesoporous phosphate-based glasses for biomedical applications |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 10/2026 |
| Description | EPSRC Industrial CASE (ICASE) "Effect of mechanical properties and surface nanostructure on phosphate-based coacervates biomedical performance" |
| Amount | £117,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 220023 ICase voucher |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 04/2027 |
| Description | Establishing a network to catalyse collaboration for reducing immune ageing (CARINA: CAtalyst Reducing ImmuNe Ageing) |
| Amount | £201,993 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W018225/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 02/2024 |
| Description | FEPS HEIF |
| Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | IAA Capital Award 2023 Smart Porous Phosphate Scaffolds as controlled delivery systems for wound healing and skin regeneration |
| Amount | £27,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IAA Capital Award 2023 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Account Smart Porous Phosphate Scaffolds as controlled delivery systems for wound healing and skin regeneration |
| Amount | £127,322 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | Molecular mapping of SARS-CoV2 and the host response with multiomics mass spectrometry to stratify disease outcomes |
| Amount | £1,736,024 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V011456/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | PhD studentship UK |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Title | Electrospinning of coacervate fibres |
| Description | We have pioneer the electrospinning of water based, coacervate gels. No organic solvents or cross linkers need to be used. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Environmental: no organic solvent used. Synthesis of coacervate is affordable and green |
| Title | Production of porous phosphate glass fibers for controlled drug delivery |
| Description | We are using surfactant to manufacture porous phosphate glass fibers and glasses. The method has been filed for IP protection in January 2023 (CHP/124682GB1). |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Controlled drug delivery increase surface area higher bioactivity |
| Description | 3D printing of phosphate glasses |
| Organisation | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Discussion and brainstorming on 3D printing of bone |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosting a PhD student for 3 months (April-July 2025) on fresh printing |
| Impact | multi-disciplinary student exchange joint publications share expertise |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration on human skin raft models |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Interactions and joint experimentation on the use of defective herpes simplex virus amplicons to deliver CAS9 to human skin. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Transfer of knowledge and skills from UCL to University of Surrey around growing human skin raft models from keratinocytes. |
| Impact | Small research grant of ~ £80K awarded by the charity EI Cure to take the first steps in this project, UCL lead, University of Surrey co-lead. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration on skin modelling |
| Organisation | Medical University of Innsbruck |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Thanks to this Institute, I am able to take part to the EU cost action 21 Netskin model, in particular work package 2. I have since then created many new contacts through the network and attended an interdisciplinary meeting in February 24. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Sandrine Dubrac leader of the Epidermal Biology Laboratory at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology has invited me to take part to the EU cost action 21 Netskin model. |
| Impact | Interdisciplinary meeting netskin rome in february 2024 and follow up meeting and papers in production |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | HYMS_Wound healing |
| Organisation | Hull York Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are providing fibers scaffolds for wound healing dressings. Expertise in fibres fabrication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to medical school facilities, expertise in wound healing, provide contact with clinicians and medical stakeholders |
| Impact | Outcome from collaboration are in progress |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Hull York Medical School |
| Organisation | Hull York Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are in charge of design and optimisation of samples tested at the Hull York medical School for their properties in wound healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | HYMS has performed advanced and targeted testing of our materials for wound healing applications. In particular, in vitro cytocompatibility, scratch tests and ex vivo studies on a variety of compositions |
| Impact | The collaboration is truly multi disciplinary bringing together an interdisciplinary team of chemists, bioscientists, and clinicians. We have just submitted me as a PI and members of HYMS as Co-I a 1.2m EPSRC grant for the Healthcare technologies: investigator-led research project grant scheme entitled "WEAVE: Wound healing via Electrospun coacerVatE phosphate glass fibres" |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Small Angle X-ray scattering of porous phosphate glasses |
| Organisation | BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have provided sol-gel and coacervate porous phosphate-based glasses for advanced characterisation using SAXS. Samples were used to test the new beamline and new settings at BAM |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator (Dr Glen Smales) has carried out several small angle cutting edge experiments on glasses doped with Ce, Ga, Ag, Cu, Zn in different concentrations. He has also tested the effect of the surfactant on the porosity. He has also performed all characterisation and fitting and prepared graphs for manuscipts. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary Physics-chemistry 5 manuscripts are under preparation with SAXS data. One on Cu-doepd mesoporous phosphate glasses will be submitted this week |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Surrey COVID-19 Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were PI, banked biological samples from COVID-19 patients throughout 2020 and 2021 and co-ordinated sample sharing between interested parties in this time, including companies developing rapid tests, academics looking for biomarkers and immunologists studying immune responses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hospital clinical and research staff and students in chemistry dept contributed to sample collection from patients |
| Impact | Samples were used by the UK Mass Spectrometry coalition (funded by BBSRC) Disciplines are immunology, emergency medicine, chemistry Samples were used by other immunologists in their research feeding into public health information (eg neutralisation ability of serum from earlier variants against omicron) Attracted funding from National Core Studies on rapid methods to detect cellular immunity |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Surrey Cancer Research Institute |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are responsible for generating the data demonstrating the in vitro efficacy of our novel cancer immunotherapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners provide us with the tumour cell lines on which we test our novel cancer immunotherapy. |
| Impact | This is an inter-disciplinary collaboration between molecular infectious disease biologists and clinical cancer biologists. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Li sensor |
| Organisation | Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Electrode development and optimisation. We are developing a sensor for point of care drug analysis that could be useful for clinicians and patients. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They are helping us with access to patient samples and getting ethical approval for the study. |
| Impact | No outputs just yet, we have recently received ethical approval and are beginning patient recruitment. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Vesuvio Neutron diffraction of phosphate glasses |
| Organisation | ISIS Neutron Source Facility |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Matthew Krzystyniak, lead instrument scientist on the VESUVIO neutron spectrometer at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. We have written a proposal to apply for Vesuvio beamtime for atomic structural characterisation of coacervate phosphate glasses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge and expertise on neutron diffraction. Contribution to experiment design and writing of the proposal |
| Impact | we are going to submit the application for next Vesuvio round, neutron diffraction |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Title | porous phosphate fibers |
| Description | novel method for manufacturing porous phosphate fibers using template technique with enhanced bioactive properties |
| IP Reference | CHP/124682GB1 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Porous phosphate glass fibres have been filed for IP protection in January 2023 (CHP/124682GB1). With the help of the technology transfer office a flyer has been produced to distribute to potential industrial partners |
| Description | Attendance to the RSC Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Network Annual Symposium London 26-27th January 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attendance to the RSC Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Network Annual Symposium. Poster presentation of " phosphate-based glass fibers preapred by coacervation" attracted great interest to the topic and questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EU NetSkin model |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 150 experts from different countries have taken part to this engagement networking activity (Feb 2024). Follow up meetings have been set up for the next few months |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | EU Netpore cost action |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | International meeting online webinar Funds for conferences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | EU mecanano network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Exchange of knowledge on mechanical properties of biomaterials funds for conferences webinar, networking |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interviews |
| 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 | Various activities ranging from briefings to MP's, Lords, briefing notes, newspaper interviews, radio interviews, newsnight, evening news appearances on BBC ITV channels throughout the pandemic but especially around vaccine launches |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| Description | Materials tackling infectious disease a networking workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The workshop and networking event has brought together materials chemists, clinical scientists and researchers in infectious disease biology to build new connections and to identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaborative R&D. Early career researcher attended and presented our work. This sparkled interest and and discussion on our research topic |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Participation in fete with bacterial science stall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Regional and local visitors to stall where we hosted activities to generate discussion on AMR and bacteria. Invited back each year since, including this year (2025) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Royal Society of Chemistry Materials tackling infectious disease workshop November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participation to the Royal Society of Chemistry Materials tackling infectious disease workshop. Talk on "Coacervate and sol-gel phosphate-based glasses containing metallic ions as antibacterial agents". Presentation has sparkled interested in the audience and in the topic |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | TB news alert in Manchester Evening news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Media interview on TB by the Manchester news on TB in the UK . The 'Victorian disease' making a comeback in the UK that expert says is 'a ticking time bomb' Experts have issued health warnings as cases of a Victorian-era lung disease continue to rise in England. Expert TB researcher quoting throughout the article. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/victorian-disease-making-comeback-uk-30908107 |
| Description | Tuberculosis podcast on genomics (https://soundcloud.com/microbinfie) |
| 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 | Podcast on genomic of Tuberculosis as part of microbinfie podcast series on soundcloud platform. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/microbinfie/65-genomics-of-mycobacterium-tuberculosis |
| Description | Tuberculosis podcast: the forgotten pandemic (https://soundcloud.com/microbinfie) |
| 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 | Part of a microbiology podcast series on soundcloud. Invited expert on Tuberculosis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/microbinfie/64-mycobacterium-tuberculosis-the-forgotten-pandemic |