In Situ Nanoparticle Assemblies for Healthcare Diagnostics and Therapy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Pure and Applied Chemistry
Abstract
There is a growing need for clinicians to be able to diagnose and prescribe therapy according to an individual's healthcare needs and potential responses. To allow this personalised medicine approach to be fulfilled, new technologies allowing rapid and accurate detection of biomarkers indicative of specific diseases are needed and to be available to clinicians to aid in their management of disease. This proposal aims to bring together physical scientists working on nanoparticles capable of detecting biomarkers at ultralow concentrations with information technologists capable of interpreting and presenting data from these complex assays to the clinical partners who are interested in how best to utilise this new information in improved healthcare practice. The basis of the proposal is to create an in vitro diagnostic assay at first which is capable of detecting multiple biomarkers in a patient's sample which allows the clinician to produce a risk profile of the patient. A second aspect of the research is to investigate in vivo imaging by SERS for specific biomarkers and in a multiplexed manner. The disease we are targeting is cardiovascular disease which covers atherosclerotic plaques. Risk of atherosclerosis is identified by increased levels of specific biomarkers, however, atherosclerosis is characterised by a localised rather than a systemic immune response. Therefore the measurement of biomarkers for in vitro prediction will be investigated in parallel to quantification of vascular inflammation and the development of a therapeutic approach to convey treatments directly to the affected vessel. The assays will be based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and use metallic nanoparticles. The output will be in the form of a vibrational spectrum which will contain a high degree of information relating to the relative quantitation of each of the specific biomarkers being investigated. Two types of in vitro assay will be investigated with one of them carrying forward for in vivo imaging. The in vivo assay will recognise the target and through interpretation of the signal allow a decision to be made whether to induce a therapeutic action. The action we are proposing is a photothermal response from an assembly of the nanoparticles triggered by the specific biomarker being interrogated. This makes the response highly specific to that biomarker and will offer a new way to manage atherosclerosis.
Planned Impact
There are a number of different communities who will benefit from the research outputs and improved capacity from this research and again this grouping of communities will be included in our User Engagement Strategy. The most immediate beneficiaries will be the general public who will ultimately be exposed to improved capability in terms of healthcare diagnostics and management. We are proposing to integrate physical sciences, data interpretation and clinical utilisation. The end result from this will be an improved opportunity for clinicians to manage the disease types we are concentrating on and in turn pass on these benefits and improved capability to the patients. This will result in shortened hospital time with more appropriate administration and prescription of therapeutic drugs which in turn minimises potential side effects to the patient and also improves the economics of healthcare by reducing the amount of drugs necessary for prescription. That is of course assuming that the prognosis from the analysis is that minimal drug intervention can be employed. We also see this as a significant benefit in terms of quality of life and in terms of health and wellbeing for the general public. The clinical partners are influential in terms of medical research and medical policy making. e.g McInnes is chair of the newly created Arthritis Research UK New Agents Committee, leader of the CSO/Pfizer co funded Scottish Early Arthritis Research Programme and has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry serving as chair or participant in a range of Industry drug development programmes at the global level. These examples provide evidence of the potential for significant impact. In addition to specific healthcare outcomes we also see opportunities for engagement with a range of industry partners who will be interested in different aspects of the impact from this research. This will include manufacturers who are capable of producing systems necessary for the combined measurements we are proposing (project partner), reagent suppliers who are interested in the specific chemistries employed, software developers who are looking to implement new software approaches to medical problems and also to the pharmaceutical companies who are interested in more efficient prescription of their medicines. We see impact in all of these sectors and will look to engage with these different areas of exploitation as we implement our Impact strategy. Three of the investigators have direct experience of spin-out which is a benefit to both the project and also the end user community. We are uncertain whether there are spin-out opportunities directly arising from any of the intellectual property which will be created during the project however this is something which we will regularly review and use our experience to inform our decision making process on as we progress.
Organisations
- University of Strathclyde (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Glasgow (Collaboration)
- Leiden University (Collaboration)
- Vanderbilt University (Collaboration)
- Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) (Collaboration)
- Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital (Collaboration)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
- Renishaw (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications


Asiala SM
(2017)
Surface-Enhanced, Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SESORS) in Tissue Analogues.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces

Barp A
(2018)
A Riemann-Stein Kernel Method

Barp A
(2022)
A Riemann-Stein kernel method
in Bernoulli

Blomme A
(2022)
THEM6-mediated reprogramming of lipid metabolism supports treatment resistance in prostate cancer
in EMBO Molecular Medicine

Blomme A
(2020)
2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase regulates lipid homeostasis in treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
in Nature communications

Carnevale D
(2018)
Mechanical stretch on endothelial cells interconnects innate and adaptive immune response in hypertension
in Cardiovascular Research

Carracedo M
(2019)
The G-protein coupled receptor ChemR23 determines smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching to enhance high phosphate-induced vascular calcification
in Cardiovascular Research


Cicha I
(2018)
From design to the clinic: practical guidelines for translating cardiovascular nanomedicine.
in Cardiovascular research
Description | We have demonstrated that antibody functionalised metallic nanoparticles can be used to detect adhesion markers indicative of atherosclerosis in vivo and in a semi-quantitative manner. We have also demonstrated we can detect tagged nanoparticles at depth in tissue using a new light scattering approach. We have also achieved targeted detection of three biomarkers in vivo relating to inflammation. These results have all been published. We have further data on the photo thermal properties of various nanoparticles which will be published in due course. |
Exploitation Route | We'd expect this to be the foundation for further studies into in vivo use of nanoparticle for studying cardiovascular disease. |
Sectors | Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | The outcomes haven't generated economic or societal impact but they have been used to advance the knowledge in the field as well as starting a new research area of lateral flow assays using SERS. This has now been funded by the MRC to develop a point of use test for drug induced liver injury. The in vivo analysis has been picked up by other research groups but is unlikely to result in commercial impact just yet. We tried to secure further funding to advance this aspect of the research into more clinical applications but haven't been successful yet. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | 2018-19 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 06/2019 |
Description | BHF Centre for Excellence Award in Vascular Science and Medicine |
Amount | £2,995,151 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RE/13/5/30177 |
Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | Defining differential role(s) of the TAM receptor Axl in atherosclerosis |
Amount | £163,323 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PG/21/10541 |
Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | Follow-on Innovation Voucher Scheme AY2016/17 |
Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of Scotland |
Department | Scottish Funding Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2017 |
End | 08/2018 |
Description | Industry money |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Canon |
Sector | Private |
Country | Japan |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 08/2018 |
Description | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships |
Amount | € 183,500 (EUR) |
Funding ID | NUMBER - 661369 - NanoMATe |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 07/2015 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | NC3Rs |
Amount | £19,567 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 'Assessment of immune-inflammatory biomarkers in the serum/plasma of all the mice from the proposal' |
Organisation | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | Tenovus Scotland Small Research Grant |
Amount | £11,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Tenovus Cancer Care |
Department | Tenovus Scotland |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2016 |
End | 01/2017 |
Description | Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) Catalyst Grant |
Amount | £30,748 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Department | Wellcome Trust Bloomsbury Centre |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 12/2016 |
Title | Data for: "Bayesian Modelling and Quantification of Raman Spectroscopy" |
Description | A new algorithm to fit spectral line shape, given TD-DFT predictions of peak locations. SERS spectra for eosin, rhodamine B, FAM and TAMRA were collected to validate the Bayesian method. The algorithm was also used for quantification of concentration studies of FAM and TAMRA. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | . |
Title | Data for: "Multiplex Imaging of Live Breast Cancer Tumour Models Through Tissue Using Handheld Surface Enhanced Spatially Offset Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (SESORRS)" |
Description | "The purpose of this dataset was to image nanotags, uptaken into ex vivo tumour models, through 10 mm of tissue. Then, using principal component analysis (PCA), differentiate spectrally between the single nanotags and a triplex of the three nanotags. All data can be found in the database file Â"handheldDBÂ". The database can be opened using custom software from cobalt light systems. The customized software was purpose wrote and confidential however all data used is shown in the excel spreadsheets with respect to the corresponding figures. Further details on the data can be found in the readme file provided. " |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | . |
Title | Detection of Cortisol in Serum Using Quantitative Resonance Raman Spectroscopy |
Description | The dataset comprises of excel files containing the raw and processed data for Figures 2-7 in the manuscript. Figure 2 dataset is the excel spreadsheet that contains data that was analysed for the purpose to show the difference between using two different microtitre plates, known as Fluorotrac200 and Fluorotrac600. Figure 3 is broken down into 3 datasets for the three rows (C, D and E) that were analysed using the Fluorotrac200 microtitre plate. Data used for Figure 4 is also conatined in the file 'Figure 3 Row C Data...'. This data represents the results when using the Fluorotrac200 to detect free cortisol in a sample. Both figures were to show the results obatined when detecting free cortisol in a sample. Figure 5 dataset has been saved as a zip file and contains three spreadsheets for the three rows analysed, to show the results obtained for the total cortisol quantitation assay. Figure 6 dataset included the raw and processed data for the total cortisol assay, showing two rows (C and D) using the Fluorotrac200 plate detecting the total cortisol present in a sample. Figure 7 dataset contains the results obatined from using the Aushon chemiluminescence assay to form the basis of a comparison between this and the Raman method, all presented in an excel spreadsheet. Data embargo until 10/08/17 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | n/a |
Title | Point and Shoot Â- The Benefit of Resonant Raman Reporters for Probing Through Plastic and Tissue Barriers Using Handheld Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) |
Description | "Point and Shoot Â- The Benefit of Resonant Raman Reporters for Probing Through Plastic and Tissue Barriers Using Handheld Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) The purpose of this data set was to detect nanotags through varyign thicknesses of plastic and tissue and to image a 3D tumor model through 5 mm of tissue using handheld surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy. By using this technique it is possible to image at depths using Raman spectroscopy. All data was transferred from the raw excel files into matlab where it was processed using customized scripts. Further details on the data can be found in the Readme file provided. " |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | . |
Title | Preferential attachment of specific fluorescent dyes and dye labelled DNA sequences in a SERS multiplex |
Description | "Chemometric analysis was performed on collected SERS spectra of fluorescence dyes and dye labelled DNA sequences to gain an insight on any form of preferential attachment that could occur in a multiplex SERS sample. Experimental parameters were altered to determine if these would effect any form of preferential attachment that was present. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Not recorded |
Title | Surface-enhanced Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SESORS) in Tissue Analogs |
Description | This dataset contains Raman spectra (.txt and .xls files) and dark-field images (.tif and .jpg) pertinent to the investigation of surface-enhanced, spatially-offset Raman spectroscopy for analysis of nanoparticles in tissue analogs. Nanoparticles are spin coated on glass slides, and Raman spectra are used to validate a proposed methodology of recovering NP signal from beneath layers of tissue. Data files included represent data collected relevant to the characterization of a in-house SESORS instrument with PDMS cured in a cuvette, a nanoparticle spin-coating technique, a single-probe vs 2-probe experiment with spin coated NPs and a fixed thickness of tissue, and experiments with spin coated NPs and tissue of varied thickness. Data embargo until 31/12/17 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Unknown |
Description | Collaboration with Antony Vinh - Monash University, Clayton, Australia |
Organisation | Monash University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Together we investigate dynamics of immune cells in hypertensive arteries |
Collaborator Contribution | See above |
Impact | A MS in preparation |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration with David Harrision - Vanderbilt, US |
Organisation | Vanderbilt University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In collaboration with David Harrison we are investigating the interactions between monocytes and endothelial cells |
Collaborator Contribution | See above |
Impact | A manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration with Giuseppina Caligiuri - INSERM (U698), Paris, France |
Organisation | Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital |
Department | INSERM U698 |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | In collaboration with Giuseppina Caligiuri we are investigating the mechanism of neutrophil extravasation. |
Collaborator Contribution | See Above |
Impact | A manuscript in preparation. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration with Johan Kuiper - University of Leiden, The Netherland |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Department | Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | In collaboration with Johan Kuiper and Ilze Bot we have investigate the antigen presentation capacity of mast cells in atherosclerosis (J Immunol. 2019 Jan 25. pii: ji1800648. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800648. [Epub ahead of print]). |
Collaborator Contribution | See above |
Impact | We published the following MS: J Immunol. 2019 Jan 25. pii: ji1800648. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800648. [Epub ahead of print]. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration with Paolo Decuzzi - IIT, Genova, Italy |
Organisation | Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Since 2019, Paolo Decuzzi and I are developing nanoparticle platforms for immunomodulant drug delivery to atherosclerotic vessels. |
Collaborator Contribution | See above. |
Impact | To date, we have published the following paper: Di Francesco V, Gurgone D, Palomba R, Ferreira MFMM, Catelani T, Cervadoro A, Maffia P, Decuzzi P. Modulating Lipoprotein Transcellular Transport and Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation in ApoE-/- Mice via Nanoformulated Lipid-Methotrexate Conjugates. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2020 Aug 26;12(34):37943-37956. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c12202. Epub 2020 Aug 14. PMID: 32805983. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Collaboration with Tomasz Guzik - Glasgow, UK |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Since 2018, Tomasz Guzik and I are co-leading a joint translational research lab, focusing on immune mechanisms in CVD. We are currently co-supervision a total of 15 postdocs, PhD students and clinical research fellow. |
Collaborator Contribution | See above. |
Impact | To date, we have received the following joint grants: 2018-2021 Saudi Arabia Government PhD Studentship "Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Diseases" £103,000 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik. 2019-2020 MVLS Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) Excellence and Innovation Catalyst Grant "Single cell sequencing of aortic immune cells from Angiotensin II-induced hypertensive mice" £26,052 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik (Co-PI), T. Otto. 2019-2020 SFC/UofG - The Global Challenges Research Fund - "Is inflammation a risk factor for stroke in Nigeria and Ghana?" £75,000 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik (Co-PI), M. Owolabi. 2020-2023 BHF Project Grant PG/19/84/34771 "Defining the individual and integrated roles of inflammatory chemokine receptors (iCCRs) in atherosclerosis" £298,529 - P. Maffia (PI), G. Graham, T. Guzik. And have published the following MS: 1: Nosalski R, Siedlinski M, Denby L, McGinnigle E, Nowak M, Nguyen Dinh Cat A, Medina-Ruiz L, Cantini M, Skiba D, Wilk G, Osmenda G, Rodor J, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Graham G, Maffia P, Graham D, Baker AH, Guzik TJ. T Cell-Derived miRNA-214 Mediates Perivascular Fibrosis in Hypertension. Circ Res. 2020 Feb 17. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.315428. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32065054. 2: Eales JM, Maan AA, Xu X, Michoel T, Hallast P, Batini C, Zadik D, Prestes PR, Molina E, Denniff M, Schroeder J, Bjorkegren JLM, Thompson J, Maffia P, Guzik TJ, Keavney B, Jobling MA, Samani NJ, Charchar FJ, Tomaszewski M. Human Y Chromosome Exerts Pleiotropic Effects on Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019 Nov;39(11):2386-2401. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312405. Epub 2019 Sep 5. PubMed PMID: 31644355; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6818981. 3: Sagan A, Mikolajczyk TP, Mrowiecki W, MacRitchie N, Daly K, Meldrum A, Migliarino S, Delles C, Urbanski K, Filip G, Kapelak B, Maffia P, Touyz R, Guzik TJ. T Cells Are Dominant Population in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Their Infiltration in the Perivascular Tissue Correlates With Disease Severity. Front Immunol. 2019 Sep 4;10:1979. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01979. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31552015; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6736986. 4: Noonan J, Grassia G, MacRitchie N, Garside P, Guzik TJ, Bradshaw AC, Maffia P. A Novel Triple-Cell Two-Dimensional Model to Study Immune-Vascular Interplay in Atherosclerosis. Front Immunol. 2019 Apr 24;10:849. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00849. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31068936; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6491724. 5: MacRitchie N, Grassia G, Noonan J, Cole JE, Hughes CE, Schroeder J, Benson RA, Cochain C, Zernecke A, Guzik TJ, Garside P, Monaco C, Maffia P. The aorta can act as a site of naïve CD4+ T-cell priming. Cardiovasc Res. 2020 Feb 1;116(2):306-316. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvz102. PubMed PMID: 30980670. 6: Maffia P, Guzik TJ. When, where, and how to target vascular inflammation in the post-CANTOS era? Eur Heart J. 2019 Aug 7;40(30):2492-2494. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz133. PubMed PMID: 30929007; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6685316. 7: Mikolajczyk TP, Nosalski R, Skiba DS, Koziol J, Mazur M, Justo-Junior AS, Kowalczyk P, Kusmierczyk Z, Schramm-Luc A, Luc K, Maffia P, Graham D, Kiss AK, Naruszewicz M, Guzik TJ. 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-ß-d-glucose modulates perivascular inflammation and prevents vascular dysfunction in angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Br J Pharmacol. 2019 Jun;176(12):1951-1965. doi: 10.1111/bph.14583. Epub 2019 Mar 14. PubMed PMID: 30658013; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6534792. 8: Guzik TJ, Antoniades C, Baker AH, Harrison DG, Loughrey CM, Maffia P, Murphy E, Nicklin SA, Peter K, Pearson J, Casadei B. What matters in Cardiovascular Research? Scientific discovery driving clinical delivery. Cardiovasc Res. 2018 Oct 1;114(12):1565-1568. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvy214. PubMed PMID: 30629152; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6658812. 9: Noonan J, Asiala SM, Grassia G, MacRitchie N, Gracie K, Carson J, Moores M, Girolami M, Bradshaw AC, Guzik TJ, Meehan GR, Scales HE, Brewer JM, McInnes IB, Sattar N, Faulds K, Garside P, Graham D, Maffia P. In vivo multiplex molecular imaging of vascular inflammation using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Theranostics. 2018 Nov 29;8(22):6195-6209. doi: 10.7150/thno.28665. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30613292; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6299693. 10: Nosalski R, Maffia P, Guzik TJ. Monocytes M( MP)aking Way for T-Cell Vascular Infiltration. Circ Res. 2018 Aug 31;123(6):638-640. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313668. PubMed PMID: 30355241. 11: Loperena R, Van Beusecum JP, Itani HA, Engel N, Laroumanie F, Xiao L, Elijovich F, Laffer CL, Gnecco JS, Noonan J, Maffia P, Jasiewicz-Honkisz B, Czesnikiewicz-Guzik M, Mikolajczyk T, Sliwa T, Dikalov S, Weyand CM, Guzik TJ, Harrison DG. Hypertension and increased endothelial mechanical stretch promote monocyte differentiation and activation: roles of STAT3, interleukin 6 and hydrogen peroxide. Cardiovasc Res. 2018 Sep 1;114(11):1547-1563. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvy112. PubMed PMID: 29800237; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6106108. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration with Tomasz Guzik - University of Glasgow, UK |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Since 2018, Tomasz Guzik and I are co-leading a joint translational research lab, focusing on immune mechanisms in CVD. We are currently co-supervision a total of 13 postdocs, PhD students and clinical research fellow. |
Collaborator Contribution | See above |
Impact | To date, we have received the following joint grants: 2018-2021 Saudi Arabia Government PhD Studentship "Immune Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Diseases" £103,000 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik. 2019-2020 MVLS Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) Excellence and Innovation Catalyst Grant "Single cell sequencing of aortic immune cells from Angiotensin II-induced hypertensive mice" £26,052 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik (Co-PI), T. Otto. 2019-2020 SFC/UofG - The Global Challenges Research Fund - "Is inflammation a risk factor for stroke in Nigeria and Ghana?" £75,000 - P. Maffia (PI), T. Guzik (Co-PI), M. Owolabi. 2020-2023 BHF Project Grant PG/19/84/34771 "Defining the individual and integrated roles of inflammatory chemokine receptors (iCCRs) in atherosclerosis" £298,529 - P. Maffia (PI), G. Graham, T. Guzik. And have published the following MS: 1: Nosalski R, Siedlinski M, Denby L, McGinnigle E, Nowak M, Nguyen Dinh Cat A, Medina-Ruiz L, Cantini M, Skiba D, Wilk G, Osmenda G, Rodor J, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Graham G, Maffia P, Graham D, Baker AH, Guzik TJ. T Cell-Derived miRNA-214 Mediates Perivascular Fibrosis in Hypertension. Circ Res. 2020 Feb 17. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.315428. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32065054. 2: Eales JM, Maan AA, Xu X, Michoel T, Hallast P, Batini C, Zadik D, Prestes PR, Molina E, Denniff M, Schroeder J, Bjorkegren JLM, Thompson J, Maffia P, Guzik TJ, Keavney B, Jobling MA, Samani NJ, Charchar FJ, Tomaszewski M. Human Y Chromosome Exerts Pleiotropic Effects on Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019 Nov;39(11):2386-2401. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312405. Epub 2019 Sep 5. PubMed PMID: 31644355; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6818981. 3: Sagan A, Mikolajczyk TP, Mrowiecki W, MacRitchie N, Daly K, Meldrum A, Migliarino S, Delles C, Urbanski K, Filip G, Kapelak B, Maffia P, Touyz R, Guzik TJ. T Cells Are Dominant Population in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Their Infiltration in the Perivascular Tissue Correlates With Disease Severity. Front Immunol. 2019 Sep 4;10:1979. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01979. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31552015; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6736986. 4: Noonan J, Grassia G, MacRitchie N, Garside P, Guzik TJ, Bradshaw AC, Maffia P. A Novel Triple-Cell Two-Dimensional Model to Study Immune-Vascular Interplay in Atherosclerosis. Front Immunol. 2019 Apr 24;10:849. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00849. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31068936; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6491724. 5: MacRitchie N, Grassia G, Noonan J, Cole JE, Hughes CE, Schroeder J, Benson RA, Cochain C, Zernecke A, Guzik TJ, Garside P, Monaco C, Maffia P. The aorta can act as a site of naïve CD4+ T-cell priming. Cardiovasc Res. 2020 Feb 1;116(2):306-316. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvz102. PubMed PMID: 30980670. 6: Maffia P, Guzik TJ. When, where, and how to target vascular inflammation in the post-CANTOS era? Eur Heart J. 2019 Aug 7;40(30):2492-2494. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz133. PubMed PMID: 30929007; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6685316. 7: Mikolajczyk TP, Nosalski R, Skiba DS, Koziol J, Mazur M, Justo-Junior AS, Kowalczyk P, Kusmierczyk Z, Schramm-Luc A, Luc K, Maffia P, Graham D, Kiss AK, Naruszewicz M, Guzik TJ. 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-ß-d-glucose modulates perivascular inflammation and prevents vascular dysfunction in angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Br J Pharmacol. 2019 Jun;176(12):1951-1965. doi: 10.1111/bph.14583. Epub 2019 Mar 14. PubMed PMID: 30658013; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6534792. 8: Guzik TJ, Antoniades C, Baker AH, Harrison DG, Loughrey CM, Maffia P, Murphy E, Nicklin SA, Peter K, Pearson J, Casadei B. What matters in Cardiovascular Research? Scientific discovery driving clinical delivery. Cardiovasc Res. 2018 Oct 1;114(12):1565-1568. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvy214. PubMed PMID: 30629152; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6658812. 9: Noonan J, Asiala SM, Grassia G, MacRitchie N, Gracie K, Carson J, Moores M, Girolami M, Bradshaw AC, Guzik TJ, Meehan GR, Scales HE, Brewer JM, McInnes IB, Sattar N, Faulds K, Garside P, Graham D, Maffia P. In vivo multiplex molecular imaging of vascular inflammation using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Theranostics. 2018 Nov 29;8(22):6195-6209. doi: 10.7150/thno.28665. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30613292; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6299693. 10: Nosalski R, Maffia P, Guzik TJ. Monocytes M( MP)aking Way for T-Cell Vascular Infiltration. Circ Res. 2018 Aug 31;123(6):638-640. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313668. PubMed PMID: 30355241. 11: Loperena R, Van Beusecum JP, Itani HA, Engel N, Laroumanie F, Xiao L, Elijovich F, Laffer CL, Gnecco JS, Noonan J, Maffia P, Jasiewicz-Honkisz B, Czesnikiewicz-Guzik M, Mikolajczyk T, Sliwa T, Dikalov S, Weyand CM, Guzik TJ, Harrison DG. Hypertension and increased endothelial mechanical stretch promote monocyte differentiation and activation: roles of STAT3, interleukin 6 and hydrogen peroxide. Cardiovasc Res. 2018 Sep 1;114(11):1547-1563. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvy112. PubMed PMID: 29800237; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6106108. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | "Summer in Science" Summer School 2019 at EMBL, Monterotondo (Rome). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | On 14th June 2019 Dr Pasquale Maffia contributed to Summer in Science, an international Summer School organized by AdamaScienza at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo (Rome). The school offers the opportunity to high-school Italian students to spend two full weeks exploring the fascinating world of research in biomedical sciences, epigenetics, genomics and cell biology. The offered activities include tutorials and hands-on experience in world-leading scientific laboratories. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://adamascienza.com/en/summer-in-science-2/ |
Description | 'Explorathon' night at the Glasgow River Museum 2017 |
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 | Over 1000 members of the public attended the events. Our station interacted with 300 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk/glasgow |
Description | 'Explorathon' night at the Glasgow Science Centre 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Over 3000 members of the public attended the events. Our station interacted with 500 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. All the children are now aware of the main risk factors leading to CVD. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk/glasgow |
Description | 'Explorathon' night at the Glasgow Science Centre 2016 |
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 | Over 2000 members of the public attended the events. Our station interacted with 400 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk/glasgow |
Description | A talk to the Forum of Claims and Underwriting Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | On Thursday 14th June 2018 a presentation was given in Edinburgh to the Forum of Claims and Underwriting Scotland, with a specific focus on the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and how we can improve current diagnosis and treatment. The audience was interested in how new developments in cardiovascular medicine may change the insurance business and what challenges may impact them from an underwriting perspective. The audience gave me a £250 cheque donation for the British Heart Foundation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.focuscotland.co.uk/ |
Description | Blood Pressure Community event at Waitrose (Byres road, Glasgow, UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We checked Blood Pressure and discussed cardiovascular risk with both staff and customers. The customers were highly engaged, continuously asking questions which enabled us to ensure their understanding of the subject matter. They were particularly interested in understanding exactly how exercise, salty diet and smoking contribute to high BP. We were well received, so much so that we have been invited back to do similar events in the future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | British Science Festival 2017 - Brighton |
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 | Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both students and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://nanomatescience.weebly.com/ |
Description | Cell Block Science - Visit to the HM Prison Shotts |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Cell Block Science workshop runs once a week as part of the prison educational program which prisoners choose to attend - The programme takes different researchers in every week from various fields in to engage with the prisoners. Nanomate attended for one session and engaged very closely with 7 of the prisoners. During this session we were able to relay important information regarding cardiovascular disease. This included up-to-date statistics for global, national, regional and local cardiovascular burden. We explained the proportion of cardiovascular disease burden which relates to atherosclerosis. This lead into an overview of the disease initiation and progression, including the involvement of the immune system and inflammation. This pathology was related to the clinical manifestations ie stroke, MI. This was aided visually with simple diagrams and illustrations including images of real atherosclerotic arteries. We also used 3D models of the heart and vessels with plaques at different stages of pathology. We then discussed risk factors and how this relates to disease pathology, particularly those which the prisoners themselves can change - smoking, exercise, diet. There was also discussion about the different research projects we ourselves are currently involved in the lab, and how we go about answering these questions through various techniques, with human samples from transplants/bypasses and also with the use of animal models. The audience was highly engaged. They were particularly interested in understanding exactly how exercise, diet and smoking affect the pathology of the disease. Rather than just being told "exercise is good, smoking is bad, eat healthy" they understood why these things were important - which made them enthusiastic about changing their behaviour. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.epea.org/cell-block-science/ |
Description | Cheltenhan Science Festival 2017 |
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 | Our station interacted with over 13000 people (9500 adults and 3500 kids/educators) in 6 days. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both students and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://nanomatescience.weebly.com/ |
Description | Education, Research and Medicine in Africa - Challenges and Opportunities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | In this virtual Café Scientifique, organized as part of the Italian Science Festival Futuro Remoto three scientists and doctors from three different African countries presented their personal views on education, university, research and medicine in Africa. A great opportunity to discuss in an informal and relax environment challenges and opportunities shaping Africa's present and future and learn more about Africa day by day life. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhf_AKEbuOI&list=UUgjWiNvnYfEiy6YCyjROUmg |
Description | Glasgow Academy Health Week - Visit to the Glasgow Academy Secondary School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Format: 3 x 30 min classes on Heart disease as part of the school's health week Audience: 3 x S2 classes (13/14 years old) of about 20 pupils each. Activity: Interactive presentation which introduced the cardiovascular system and its importance, leading onto discussion of burden of the disease globally, in Europe, in the UK and finally in Scotland - this included a "game" of guessing top 5 cities in UK for highest occurrence of CV death from the BHF annual report. Explanation of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis pathology and how this is driven by "bad cholesterol" and immune-inflammatory processes. The talk was then concluded with describing ways in which they could prevent CVD through healthy eating, exercise and not smoking. This was accompanied with props - 3D heart and artery models depicting different stages of atherosclerosis development. The slides comprised mostly of images with very little text to act as a rough guide/ visual aids - this allowed the pupils to be engaged in the session as it was more of a discussion than a presentation. Outcomes: The pupils were very engaged in the sessions, particularly upon learning about the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the central belt of Scotland, compared to other parts of the UK. They were all very keen to understand what they could do themselves to prevent cardiovascular disease. This was aided by their comprehension of the disease pathology - as they could now understand how bad diet etc. actually caused the disease. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Glasgow Science Festival 2016 |
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 | On 11th-12th June 2016, we portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'Nanomate science stall' with hands-on activities at the Glasgow Science Festival. The team aim to investigate how nanoparticles could be used to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. The two exciting days of science took place at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow with activities supported by supported by Glasgow Polyomics (Wellcome Trust grant 105614/Z/14/Z) and the British Heart Foundation. The 'Nanomate' stall interacted with over 1000 people in 2 days, with 11 researchers involved, 14 kg of clay used, 300 gift boxes distributed and over 250 'I like it' stickers on the evaluation boards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.polyomics.gla.ac.uk/event-nanomate.html |
Description | Green Man Festival 2017 |
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 | Our station interacted with over 2000 people in 3 days. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both kids and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://nanomatescience.weebly.com/ |
Description | Interview by Barbascura X for Salotti Pirata as part of the 2020 Futuro Remoto Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Barbascura X (a famous Youtuber disseminating science for the lay public) as part of the Italian Science Festival Futuro Remoto. We discussed CVD, studying and working in the UK, CVD in developing countries. The interview was viewed by 30,000 people via YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j3LMR4C-7Y&t=543s |
Description | Midlothian Science Festival |
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 | Midlothian Science Festival, Newtongrange Library, Dalkeith, UK (14.10.2015) - We organized a stand with hands-on activities on 'Atherosclerosis: In SERS we trust' (Total attendees: 150 - Our stand engaged with approximately 67 children and 40 adults, including some individuals with severe ADHD). Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://midlothiansciencefestival.com/event/mini-gala-day-newtongrange-library/ |
Description | Nanomate Science at "Futuro Remoto 2019", Napoli, Italy |
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 | Over 15,000 people participated in the event. Our station interacted with 1,000 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.cittadellascienza.it/futuroremoto/ |
Description | Nanomate Science at "Futuro Remoto 2021", Napoli, Italy |
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 | Over 45,000 people participated in the Futuro Remoto Festival 2021, the largest Italian Science Festival. Our station interacted with around 200 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease by running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.futuroremoto.eu/futuro-remoto-edizione-2021/ |
Description | Nanomate at "At home with LIFE SCIENCES, University of Glasgow visits IKEA" |
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 | Over 5000 people participated in the event. Our station interacted with 300 kids and adults. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Both children and adults were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_620953_en.html |
Description | Panto Science: The Periodic Fable |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Our station interacted with 90 kids. My group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children prior to the performance. Children were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery. Children were also invited to play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. All the children are now aware of the main risk factors leading to CVD. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://m.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14136701.What_s_behind_pantomime__Science_show_will_reveal_all/?ref... |
Description | STEM in the Gorbals - Visit to St Francis' Primary School Glasgow |
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 | Audience: Mainly primary school-aged children and their parents. Also, people of various age-groups from the local community in the Gorbals. Activity: Our station interacted with approximately 150-175 people in 3 hours. Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children and adults. The focal points of our exhibit were model atherosclerotic arteries used to explain atherosclerotic disease and demonstrate SERS/nanoparticle detection of specific inflammatory biomarkers. Visitors were able to select nanoparticles (marbles), and insert them into our models. They can then interactively demonstrate specificity of the nanoparticles, as a mixture of magnetic and non-magnetic marbles is used with only magnetic marbles binding to the plaque. An arcade style computer game we developed ("AtheroBlaster") was used so that players could identify unknown cells within atherosclerotic plaques by "shooting" them with nanoparticles, the type of cell being revealed when the player matches the correct nanoparticle with the correct cell, simulating diagnosis of inflammation. Children were also invited to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. Outcomes: Children thoroughly enjoyed making their "bad" and "good" immune cells. They were interested to find out that immune cells are involved in heart disease and were excited to hear about nanoparticles as a potential diagnosis/ therapy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://pbscotland.scot/blog/2018/2/5/spirit-of-the-gorbals-february-2018 |
Description | School Visit (Gavinburn Primary School - Old Kilpatrick, UK) |
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 | School Visit to the Gavinburn Primary School, Old Kilpatrick, UK (02.03.2016) - We organized a stand with hands-on activities on 'Atherosclerosis' (Total attendees: 104 children P4-P7). Our group portrayed the importance of studying cardiovascular disease running a 'science stall' with hands-on activities for children. The team aim to investigate how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vascular inflammation. Children were invited to interact with a hyper-realistic artery, play a specifically-designed computer game, and to create their own "good" or "bad" immune cell from clay, paint it and take it home as a souvenir. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |