Characterisation and exploitation of novel antimicrobials within the rumen microbiota
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
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.
Organisations
- Aberystwyth University (Lead Research Organisation)
- NovaBiotics Ltd, UK (Collaboration)
- Federal University of Viçosa (Collaboration)
- British Poultry Council (Collaboration)
- St George's Hospital (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- NeemBiotech (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Collaboration)
- Aix-Marseille University (Collaboration)
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Project Partner)
Publications
De Almeida RTR
(2018)
Exploring the rumen fluid metabolome using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry and Molecular Networking.
in Scientific reports
Elliott CL
(2018)
Using 'Omic Approaches to Compare Temporal Bacterial Colonization of Lolium perenne, Lotus corniculatus, and Trifolium pratense in the Rumen.
in Frontiers in microbiology
Huws SA
(2018)
Addressing Global Ruminant Agricultural Challenges Through Understanding the Rumen Microbiome: Past, Present, and Future.
in Frontiers in microbiology
Huws SA
(2016)
Temporal dynamics of the metabolically active rumen bacteria colonizing fresh perennial ryegrass.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
Mayorga OL
(2016)
Temporal Metagenomic and Metabolomic Characterization of Fresh Perennial Ryegrass Degradation by Rumen Bacteria.
in Frontiers in microbiology
Mulkern A.
(2016)
POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC USES OF NOVEL ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES ISOLATED FROM THE RUMEN MICROBIOME AGAINST PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA
in JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE
Mulkern AJ
(2022)
Microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides offer therapeutic solutions for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
in NPJ biofilms and microbiomes
Mur LA
(2018)
Lung cancer: a new frontier for microbiome research and clinical translation.
in Ecancermedicalscience
| Description | This grant was a partnership award allowing travel between the partners to aid collaboration through further funding. We subsequently obtained a Newton Royal Society grant to mine microbial communities for antimicrobial resistance genes and mine and develop novel antimicrobial compounds within these communities, which ended 3 years ago. We found the existence of numerous drug resistance genes in the microbial communities within the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants as well as discovering that they posses hundreds of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We have subsequently developed these aMPs for application in the treatment of livestock diseases, particularly bovine mastitis. We are currently completing small scale preliminary work to check their efficacy against sub-clinical bovine mastitis and subject to the results hope to follow on with more substantial funding aiding larger scale experiments. This grant and the follow-on Newton Royal Society grant resulted in all the publications noted with more to be completed. We have also exchanged staff and students since obtaining this grant which have aided development of the publications, one of which is in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. Therefore this partnering award had=s and continues to spark much impact between the partners. |
| Exploitation Route | We have submitted many rumen microbiome sequences to publicly available depositories which can be used by others. The publications themselves also aid the scientific community through enhanced understanding. Last but not least we are developing the discovered antimicrobial peptides for commercial application for the livestock sector. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Patent on our novel antimicrobials filed November, 2016. Patent no. GB1621737.4. Data has been communicated to public on many occasions through popular articles and talks. Data has been communicated under confidentiality agreements to appropriate companies to seek licensing agreements. Due to the need to patent our data, publications are only now being submitted. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |
| Description | Microbiology Society microbiome policy panel for microbiome research |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | Invest Northern Ireland Development of microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides |
| Amount | £126,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | Monitoring AMR on Brazilian farms |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Research Councils UK (RCUK) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 04/2018 |
| Description | NRN Bridging fund |
| Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Life Sciences Research Network Wales |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | NRN Life Sciences project grant |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Welsh Assembly |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 02/2017 |
| Description | NRN life sciences project grant |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Life Sciences Research Network Wales |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 02/2017 |
| Description | NRN pathfinder |
| Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Welsh Assembly |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2016 |
| End | 01/2017 |
| Description | One health approach to the understanding of the agricultural contribution to antimicrobial resistance |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | PhD studentship |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Poultry Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | PhD studentship |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Department | Department of Education |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | RCUK-Newton Brazilian institutional links grant |
| Amount | £268,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | kess phd studentship |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Welsh Assembly |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2015 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Description | AMP lung mouse model work |
| Organisation | University of British Columbia |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We own the antimicrobial peptides (patent pending) and have many grants including this Newton grant to further the development of these. |
| Collaborator Contribution | we met the partner who is very renound in antimicrobial peptide research in a Gordons conference in Italy. He offered to complete some mouse Pseudomonas infection model work for our peptides for free for co-authorship and future collaboration. |
| Impact | This collaboration ended as the collaborator insisted on owning IP. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | AMP mechanism of action |
| Organisation | Aix-Marseille University |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We own the antimicrobial peptides and have many funding streams including this Newton fund to understand and develop this compounds. We met the partner in a conference in France and he had expertise in terms of mechanism of action technologies which we have not set up in Aberystwyth. Therefore the partner under MTA and CDA agreements has conducted this aspect of the work for us, giving in-kind contribution in return for co-authorship and future collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As noted above we met the partner in a conference in France and he had expertise in terms of mechanism of action technologies which we have not set up in Aberystwyth. Therefore the partner under MTA and CDA agreements has conducted this aspect of the work for us, giving in-kind contribution in return for co-authorship and future collaboration. |
| Impact | Two co-authored publications so far and more in the pipeline. Exchange of PhD students has also occurred last year (2018). |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Antimicrobial peptide synthesis and modification |
| Organisation | St George's Hospital |
| Department | Orthopaedics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We asked Kai Hilpert to become one of our collaborators on the project and the post-doc assigned to this project spent a month in his lab learning peptide synthesis techniques |
| Collaborator Contribution | Kai has provided us with many peptides at very low cost (1/3 of the cost it would be to get them made commercially) and provided some training and valuable suggestions. |
| Impact | We have 2 joint papers |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | British poultry council |
| Organisation | British Poultry Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | In collaboration with the British Poultry Council we have been testing our novel antimicrobial peptides against a life threatening poultry protozoal parasite, Histomonas meleagridis. We obtained internal funding alongside British Poultry Council funding (£22,000) to this studentship which started in 2016. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided samples for initial testing and the studentship was funded to the value of £22,000. |
| Impact | Initial testing of our antimicrobial peptides against Histomonas PhD studentship |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Huws Mantovani collaboration |
| Organisation | Federal University of Viçosa |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The original partnering award is between Drs Huws and Mantovani. Post the first visit by Dr Huws and colleagues to Visosa in july 2014 Drs Huws and Mantovani (alongside other colleagues as Co-Is) have submitted 2 further grants to RCUK-Confap (one was successful-the newton grant). The grants have been written by myself and Dr Mantovani. Dr Mantovani has send 2 MSc students and 1 post-doctoral scientist to work with Dr Huws. Likewise a post-doctoral scientist from the Huws lab also spent 2 weeks with Dr Mantovani. Huws and Mantovani have published numerous publications from this collaboration, including one in Nature Communications. Huws and Mantovani are now awaiting a response on a Newton impact fund to develop their novel antimicrobial peptides for treatment of bovine mastitis in partnership with RAFT solutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The grants have been written by myself and Dr Mantovani. Exchange of staff from both groups has occurred, thus increasing cross-fertilization of ideas and enhanced training. Both the Newton grant and the BBSRC partnering grant have now finished and both partners are seeking opportunities for further fruitful collaboration. |
| Impact | Many publications are now publisged, including one last year in Nature Communications. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Neem Biotech |
| Organisation | NeemBiotech |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Neem Biotech are sponsoring a PhD studentship centred on work that has arisen from the Newton-RCUK funding which resulted from this BBSRC Brazil partnering award. We are working closely with Neem to try and further understand the novel antimicrobials isolated rom the rumen microbiome and to increase the likelihood of commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Neem biotech provide financial and in kind support. They also meet with us on a monthly basis for project updates and to input advice from a commercial perspective. |
| Impact | The partnership started October, 2015 therefore it is early days but outcomes and impact will likely be apparent in the next year or two. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Newbold Shingfield grant |
| Organisation | Federal University of Viçosa |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Professor Jamie Newbold and Kevin Shingfield attended the workshop held in Visosa in July as part of this grant. Subsequently they have worked closely with Edenio Dentman and submitted 2 grants to RCUK-Confap to strengthen the collaboration (awaiting outcome). This collaboration has occurred due to this grant and my involevemnet was to bring the partners together for discussion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Brazilian partners held the workshop and help write the subsequent grant proposals that arose from this workshop. |
| Impact | None as yet. Sadly Prof Kevin Shingfield passed away during the project also. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Novabiotics |
| Organisation | NovaBiotics Ltd, UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Main company in the UK involved in licensing antimicrobial peptides. Under a confidentiality agreement and material transfer agreement, we have sent them our novel peptides for testing against fungal pathogens |
| Collaborator Contribution | TSome of our AMPs have shown potent anti-fungal acitivities after testing in novabiotics. Novabiotics do not license but have collaborated with us since our initial discussions to enhance our data and support grant applications. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | stability antimicrobial peptides |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Under confidentiality and material transfer agreements we sent Dr Fionnula Lundy our antimicrobial peptides to test stability. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have tested the stability of our antimicrobial peptides and provided useful data to guide future modifications |
| Impact | Data exchange and ideas for future collaboration |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Title | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF TREATMENT |
| Description | The global rise of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, combined with the decreasing number of innovative antibacterial agents being developed, poses a serious threat to modern medicine. There is a growing need to discover new alternative therapies as acquired drug resistance to frontline therapies against infections, is rapidly emerging as a major medical problem. Due to their bactericidal and broad-spectrum activity, minimal toxicity to mammalian cells, their ability to disrupt the cell membrane structure or form pores that cause intracellular compounds to leak out of the cell, leading to cellular death and low level of resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered promising future drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance and research in this is field is advancing. The community of competitive culturable and non-culturable bacteria in the rumen, of which most are as yet unculturable, present an untapped goldmine for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds including antimicrobials. We have taken advantage of this substantially unexplored diversitywithin the rumen to deliver alternative therapies in form of AMPs for the treatment of MDR infections. We employed, metagenomics/omics technologies and bioinformatics in conjunction with bioactivity-led screens to identify potential AMP candidates. Our findings indicate that the rumen microbiome is a reservoir for viable alternative antimicrobials for future therapeutic application. Society economic and health impact of our Technology: The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) identified/developed in our research are fast acting and bactericidal and show no development of bacterial resistance after prolonged exposure of the bacteria to sub-lethal concentrations of them. They have a multi-modal mechanism of action which indicate that they have multiple targets in the bacterial cell and as such, there is less likelihood of resistance developing in them. Not only do the AMPs have broad spectrum antibacterial activity including activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multi-drug resistant cystic fibrosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii strains, they are also efficacious against difficult to treat opportunistic fungal pathogens including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus fumigatus. We also have AMPS with applications in the treatment of histomoniasis. The impact of our research is highly significant in society on a global scale. The economic cost of fighting antimicrobial resistance in hospitals and in the environment to government and the health sector, will be significantly reduced should more alternative therapies such as the AMPs in our research become available to the public. Patients, especially immunocompromised patients, including children, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly suffering from various infections would benefit from the impact. People with numerous skin and topical infections could also benefit from this impact as our in vivo data show that our AMPs have superior efficacy over current treatment options. The food industry, especially the poultry industry could also benefit from this impact, as campylobacteriosis and histomoniasis are major diseases affecting poultry and causing almost a 100% mortality in susceptible birds (in the latter), could be potentially treated with some of our AMPs. This is important as there are currently no approved drug candidates for the treatment of histomoniasis. |
| IP Reference | GB1621737.4 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Publications are currently in preparation for submission. |
| Title | Antimicrobial peptides |
| Description | We have completed in vitro testing and completed 3 mouse trials. We are still in early development phase and are actively seeking licensing opportunities to develop our technology further. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2017 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Impact | Still early phase |
| Description | BSAS conference talk |
| 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 | British society of animal science annual conference. Gave a talk on the rumen microbiome. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Balmoral show general public outreach event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Balmoral show general public outreach event. Organised an outreach event for the general public and children to enhance understanding of the research area. Activities for children included clay modelling of rumen microbes, DNA extraction etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Eisteddfod |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gave talks in Welsh on my research in the national eisteddfod. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
| Description | Eisteddfod rumen microbiology awareness activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We hosted a stand within in the eisteddfod science hall all encompassing the rumen micrbiome to stimulate understanding and enthusiasm angst school children and their parents School teachers showed interest in inviting us in to host a similar event within schools |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | ITN productions Royal Society for Biology media production |
| 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 | ITN productions Royal Society for Biology media production to promote the reasrch area and activities within Queens University, Belfast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview for BBC |
| 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 | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC interview on women in science and my research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited panel member |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | WAs involved in a panel discussion in the Kiasco Animal Microbiome conference in London on the future of livestock MIcrobiome Research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited speaker Sea-climate conference Teagasc, Republic of Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker Sea-climate conference Teagasc, Republic of Ireland. Tlk entitled 'Exploitation of the faecal microbiome of North Ronaldsay algae-eating sheep. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote speaker for Molecular microbial ecology group conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote speaker for Molecular microbial ecology group conference. Talk entitled 'The rumen microbiome: A pandora's box for novel antimicrobials'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote talk British Society of Animal science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk at British Society for Animal Science conference. Talk entitled 'Understanding the role of the rumen microbiome in animal phenotype'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote talk for Microbiology Society 'Microbiomes underpinning agriculture' conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk for Microbiology Society 'Microbiomes underpinning agriculture' conference entitled 'The rumen microbiome and it's role in animal phenotype |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote talk for Microbiology Society conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk for Microbiology Society conference entitled 'Ecological interactionswithin the rumen microbiome play an importnat role in animal phenotype'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Microbiology Society conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk in the Microbiology Society annual conference in Birmingham and displayed numerous posters for the group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | News report on Women in Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | TV news interview on women in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Popular article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | IBERs Magazine article on novel antimicrobial discovery from the rumen microbiome. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Popular article for Aberystwyth alumni magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Submitted an article on my research focused on the rumen microbiome for the Aberystwyth University alumni magazine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Presentation to Meat Promotion Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk to the levy board Meat Promotion Wales outlining agricultural challenges and the importance of understanding the rumen microbiome to address these challenges |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Royal Welsh Agricultural Show |
| 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 | Represented IBERS, Abersytwyth University in the stall/building. Took part in outreach activities with the general public |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| Description | Rumen Microbial Genomics network talk as part of the GGAA conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk on the future of ruminant research in the Rumen Microbial Genomics network meeting aligned to the GGAA conference in Brazil. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Rumen microbial genomics Global Research Alliance annual metting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Global Research Alliance is a grouping of international government representatives, economists, funders and scientists focussed on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices. It is a grouping of influencers throughout the world with influence on government policy and funding opportunities. Dr Huws runs the rumen microbial genomics network which is part of the GRA. The meeting was held in the USDA, Washington DC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Rumen microbial genomics workshop |
| 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 | Dr Huws is the coordinator for the global rumen microbial genomics network which is part of the large research councils and teh global research alliances. as part of this role she ran a rumen microbial genomics workshop linked to the INRA-Rowett gut microbiology meeting held in Clermont Ferrand in June, 2016. the workshop was attended by over 80 international delegates including scientists and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | School engagement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Microbiology school event sponsored by microbiology society held in Strathhearn preparotory school, Northern Ireland. The event was to raise awareness of microbes will live on us and in the environment to prim Ary school children |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | School outreach |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit to Strathearn School, Northern Ireland to conduct microbiology activities. This school is a girls only school therefore the main aim was to promote STEM subjects to girls. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science cafe for general public |
| 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 | Aberystwyth Science cafe is an evening evnt intended to communicate research to the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar given on our research in teh ruminant microbiome area in AgResearch, New Zealand. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Soapbox science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Huws and Dr Linda Oyma took part n a soapbox science event in Swansea city centre in September, 2016 to talk about ruminants and their microbiome to members of the general public. Soapbox science is an internationally known event which has the purpose of communicating your research to the public and also to remove unconscious bias that all scientists are male. Therefore all speakers are female. the event requires a lot of planning and props to engage interactively with the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Soapbox science participant |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Took part in soapbox science, an event to heighten awareness of women in science. Event occurred in Swansea city centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Society for microbiology microbiome expert working panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Microbiology society expert working panel on microbiomes was set up to provide a document for stakeholder (in particular policy makers/politicians) on microbiome research and influence funding decisions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | TV interview on publication |
| 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 | Asked to give an interview on BBC on scientific outcomes of a grant on the effects of green odour plant volatiles on ruminant production |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
| Description | Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk given in an industry led conference on animal microbiomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk on the turkey gut micro biome in an industry led conference on turkey production. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk China symposium on Ruminant Physiology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited as a guest speaker for the Chinese meeting on Ruminant physiology in Nanjing agricultural university, China. Spoke about our previously funded BBSRC research on plant-microbe interactions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Talk in the Chinese Academy of Sciences conference in Nanjing University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk in the Chinese Academy of Sciences conference in Nanjing University entitled 'Towards a greater understanding of the rumen microbiome |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit from Vicosa scientists to IBERS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | As part of the BBSRC patterning award Vicosa scientists visited IBERS in September, 2015 to further project discussions and to enhance collaboration within both institutes More PhD student exchange will occur and more grants will be submitted |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Visit to Visosa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | workshop facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop held in Visosa in July 2014 sparked many collaborations between IBERS staff present and UFV staff present. This has resulted in in-kind advice and submission of many grants to RCUK-Confap None as yet |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Welsh government |
| 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 | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Was part of a video created for Welsh government on women in science. this was part of a release on Welsh government action points to increase the number of women in science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Women in science Welsh government promotional video |
| 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 | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was part of a promotional video on women in science for Welsh government. the purpose was to encourage more females to enter and lead in STEM subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | eisteddfod |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ran a science outreach event in the national eisteddfod in Abergavenny focussed on agriculture and ruminants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | royal Welsh agricultural show outreach event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We hosted a stall encompassing activities to stimulate interest and understanding of the rumen microbiome in the Royal Welsh agricultural show Stimulated much interest and significant increase in understanding of the rumen microbiome. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |