ChELSI: Chemical Engineering Life Science Interface
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Chemical & Biological Engineering
Abstract
In the United States and countries such as Singapore and Korea, chemical engineers collaborate extensively with biologists at what is termed the Life Science Interface. In the United Kingdom, such collaborations are worryingly few in numbers. We propose to establish a research centre - ChELSI, where Chemical Engineers will work at the Life Science Interface. ChELSI's purpose is to build a centre of excellence in its own right and to reach out to the whole UK chemical engineering community.ChELSI will be based in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Sheffield. At the core of ChELSI will be existing staff from the Biological and Environmental Systems Group bolstered by new appointments - 3 lecturers, 3 PDRAs, 3 PhD students, 2 technicians and administrative support. The University of Sheffield will contribute to ChELSI by providing 1000 m2 of new laboratories, offices and an ideas space . In this bid we seek funds to support the 11 research staff for five years and to provide laboratory equipment and consumables and small amounts of funding to enable pump-priming of external collaborations.Our vision for ChELSI is that it will be focused on problems of relevance to human health. We propose initial projects in the areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine, kidney diseases, reproductive biology and protein aggregation. However the staff resources we propose should be much more broadly oriented and propose that these be in three thematic areas: (1) analytical techniques underpinning - omic measurement (2) multi-scale modelling and (3) metabolic engineering. These individuals will contribute to our exemplar projects, initiate their own activity and provide a vital source of expertise for reaching out to new collaborators. The concept of ChELSI is that it will be outward looking. To ensure success it must bridge to the life science community and the UK chemical engineering community. This concept is embedded in every level of what we plan: from the layout of the new facilities, with its ideas space , to our portal concept, our hub-and-spoke model for use of facilities, our multi-level communications plan and the membership of our advisory panel.At the end of the five years funding sought with this bid, we expect ChELSI to be a thriving centre of excellence for chemical engineering at the life science interface. More than 25 individuals will work in Sheffield with the costs of the lecturers and technicians borne by the University. Further there will be active links to other chemical engineering departments in the UK and beyond where chemical engineers have become involved in life-science work, in part we hope, because of ChELSI. The net result of this collection of engineers taking their skills to another problem set will be added vitality in their discipline in the UK, the emergence of the UK as the lead competitor to the USA in this field and emergence of quantitative systems level analysis as a routine tool in UK life science research.Given the rate of progress in life science tools and knowledge, we argue that if investment is not made now, the UK will not bridge the gap to the US, chemical engineering here will diverge in nature from other leading countries and UK biologists will either not have access to these skills or will have to seek them overseas.
Publications
Al-Majdoub ZM
(2020)
Mass spectrometry-based abundance atlas of ABC transporters in human liver, gut, kidney, brain and skin.
in FEBS letters
Albers SV
(2009)
SulfoSYS (Sulfolobus Systems Biology): towards a silicon cell model for the central carbohydrate metabolism of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus under temperature variation.
in Biochemical Society transactions
Alessa AHA
(2019)
Accelerated directed evolution of dye-decolorizing peroxidase using a bacterial extracellular protein secretion system (BENNY).
in Bioresources and bioprocessing
Almiñana C
(2012)
Early developing pig embryos mediate their own environment in the maternal tract.
in PloS one
Assiddiq BF
(2008)
Identification and characterization of sulfolobus solfataricus P2 proteome using multidimensional liquid phase protein separations.
in Journal of proteome research
Assiddiq BF
(2007)
Multidimensional liquid phase protein separations in conjunction with stable isotope labelling for quantitative proteomics.
in Proteomics
Athamneh K
(2022)
Efficient degradation of various emerging pollutants by wild type and evolved fungal DyP4 peroxidases
in PLOS ONE
Bachmann RT
(2007)
Investigating and modelling the development of septic sewage in filled sewers under static conditions: a lab-scale feasibility study.
in The Science of the total environment
Bandalusena H
(2010)
Creeping flow analysis of an integrated microfluidic device for rheometry
in Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics
Barrios-Llerena ME
(2007)
2-DE proteomic analysis of the model cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis.
in Electrophoresis
Barrios-Llerena ME
(2007)
Genetic analysis of polyketide synthase and peptide synthetase genes in cyanobacteria as a mining tool for secondary metabolites.
in Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology
Bewley MA
(2011)
Proteomic evaluation and validation of cathepsin D regulated proteins in macrophages exposed to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
in Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP
Biggs C
(2013)
Aggregation and biofilm formation of bacteria isolated from domestic drinking water
in Water Supply
Biggs CA
(2011)
Effect of temperature on the substrate utilization profiles of microbial communities in different sewer sediments.
in Environmental technology
Blombach F
(2014)
Archaeal MBF1 binds to 30S and 70S ribosomes via its helix-turn-helix domain.
in The Biochemical journal
Brouns SJ
(2008)
Small CRISPR RNAs guide antiviral defense in prokaryotes.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Brown L
(2010)
Polymersome production on a microfluidic platform using pH sensitive block copolymers.
in Lab on a chip
Brown M
(2010)
Properties of the proximate parameter tuning regularization algorithm.
in Bulletin of mathematical biology
Butler T
(2020)
Phaeodactylum tricornutum: A Diatom Cell Factory.
in Trends in biotechnology
Chen Y
(2018)
Microalgae: a robust "green bio-bridge" between energy and environment.
in Critical reviews in biotechnology
Chen Y
(2012)
A simple, reproducible and sensitive spectrophotometric method to estimate microalgal lipids.
in Analytica chimica acta
Chen Y
(2015)
Influence of nutrient status on the accumulation of biomass and lipid in Nannochloropsis salina and Dunaliella salina
in Energy Conversion and Management
Chen Y
(2020)
Influence of gas management on biochemical conversion of CO2 by microalgae for biofuel production
in Applied Energy
Chen Y
(2016)
Dissolved inorganic carbon speciation in aquatic environments and its application to monitor algal carbon uptake.
in The Science of the total environment
Chen Y
(2013)
Simultaneous assay of pigments, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in microalgae
in Analytica Chimica Acta
Chiverton LM
(2016)
Quantitative definition and monitoring of the host cell protein proteome using iTRAQ - a study of an industrial mAb producing CHO-S cell line.
in Biotechnology journal
Chong PK
(2007)
Proteome analysis of Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 propanol metabolism.
in Journal of proteome research
Chong PK
(2007)
Proteome and transcriptional analysis of ethanol-grown Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 reveals ADH2, a potential alcohol dehydrogenase.
in Journal of proteome research
Corfe B
(2011)
Assessing the Loss of Information through Application of the 'Two-hit Rule' in iTRAQ Datasets
in Journal of Integrated OMICS
Corfe B
(2015)
Inflammation decreases keratin level in ulcerative colitis; inadequate restoration associates with increased risk of colitis-associated cancer
in BMJ Open Gastroenterology
Correia AR
(2009)
The conserved Trp155 in human frataxin as a hotspot for oxidative stress related chemical modifications.
in Biochemical and biophysical research communications
Couto N
(2019)
Quantification of Proteins Involved in Drug Metabolism and Disposition in the Human Liver Using Label-Free Global Proteomics.
in Molecular pharmaceutics
Couto N
(2018)
Application of the broadband collision-induced dissociation (bbCID) mass spectrometry approach for protein glycosylation and phosphorylation analysis.
in Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
Couto N
(2021)
Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics and Substrate-Based Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes in Ex Vivo Human Skin and a Human Living Skin Equivalent Model
in Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Craven T
(2010)
Pressure sensor positioning in an electrokinetic microrheometer device: simulations of shear-thinning liquid flows
in Microfluidics and Nanofluidics
Cruz-Migoni A
(2011)
A Burkholderia pseudomallei toxin inhibits helicase activity of translation factor eIF4A.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Davies SL
(2011)
Impact of gene vector design on the control of recombinant monoclonal antibody production by Chinese hamster ovary cells.
in Biotechnology progress
Deepika G
(2012)
Influence of fermentation conditions on the surface properties and adhesion of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.
in Microbial cell factories
Deines P
(2010)
A new coupon design for simultaneous analysis of in situ microbial biofilm formation and community structure in drinking water distribution systems.
in Applied microbiology and biotechnology
Deines P
(2010)
MUWS (Microbiology in Urban Water Systems) - an interdisciplinary approach to study microbial communities in urban water systems
in Drinking Water Engineering and Science
Deshpande K
(2011)
Optimization methods for the real-time inverse problem posed by modelling of liquefied natural gas storage
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Ding T
(2012)
Far-infrared spectroscopy analysis of linear and cyclic peptides, and lysozyme
in Vibrational Spectroscopy
Ding T
(2011)
Characterization of low-frequency modes in aqueous peptides using far-infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation.
in The journal of physical chemistry. A
Dobson PD
(2010)
Further developments towards a genome-scale metabolic model of yeast.
in BMC systems biology
Eboigbodin KE
(2007)
Investigating the surface properties of Escherichia coli under glucose controlled conditions and its effect on aggregation.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Ekman M
(2011)
Metabolic adaptations in a H2 producing heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium: potentials and implications for biological engineering.
in Journal of proteome research
Esser D
(2012)
Change of carbon source causes dramatic effects in the phospho-proteome of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus.
in Journal of proteome research
Evans C
(2012)
An insight into iTRAQ: where do we stand now?
in Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
Evans CA
(2009)
Prostate cancer proteomics: The urgent need for clinically validated biomarkers.
in Proteomics. Clinical applications
Description | The research funded has enabled the establishment of expertise and facilities for advancing analytical techniques underpinning omic characterisations, in particular quantitative proteomics and metabolomics, multi-scale modelling and metabolic engineering, several upstream developments in biomanufacturing impacting on biopharmaceutical, chemical, water, energy and agricultural sectors. These have been used to initiate several projects with life science faculties across the country and beyond, as is evidenced by representative further funding (given elsewhere) that this award has contributed in attracting. It has helped further our interactions with the bio-industry, in particular the bio-pharmaceutical and agricultural sector. The research activities have informed teaching in the Department, resulting in incorporation of life science principles and concepts in chemical engineering curriculum , broadly evidenced by a change in the name of the department from "Chemical & Process Engineering" to "Chemical & Biological Engineering". It has resulted in the establishment of a Masters programme in Biological & Bioprocess Engineering to attract life science graduates to upgrade their education with Chemical Engineering fundamentals. In addition, challenges and concepts in life sciences are taught to undergraduate and post-graduate engineering students in the department to enable and prepare a UK workforce for tomorrow capable of interacting with biologists and addressing the challenges presented by Life Sciences in the Life Science Interface. |
Exploitation Route | The expertise developed using the grant will impact in the education of chemical engineers who will be trained in the challenges of working in the life science interface, as is required, for example, in the burgeoning bio-manufacturing industry with relevance to a wide variety of sectors, such as healthcare, biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, environment, energy, bio-based chemicals, etc. The facilities that this grant has helped establish can be used in developing systems level characterisation of biological systems towards developing an understanding of underlying metabolism and developing processes with impact in several of the sectors mentioned above. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cbe |
Description | The grant has been instrumental in bringing the life sciences interface into chemical engineering education and research at Sheffield, which was the primary vision. This is clearly demonstrated by a change in the name of the associated department from "Chemical & Process Engineering" to "Chemical & Biological Engineering", reflecting the various educational and research activities that the department currently focuses on. The facilities and personnel that the grant helped us attract have been instrumental in developing future Chemical Engineers who are well aware of the challenges they need to address in applying their skill sets to find solutions in the life sciences interface. The grant has been instrumental in initiating and establishing collaborations with life scientists and bio-based industry, contributing to the economic competitiveness of the UK. The grant has enabled establishment of 11 academic members of staff (25% of the department) directly working in the Life Science interface, creating economic and societal impact. It has so far enabled attraction of research income to the tune of GBP 80M (~50M directly apportioned to the department, including 8M from Industry) to create economic and societal impact. It has enabled interactions with Life Science Industries, such as Biogen Idec Ltd., Lonza, Medimmune, Pfizer, Syngenta, etc., to spur economic activity in the UK and beyond. It has enabled interactions with Life Scientists in the UK and abroad (for example, Wageningen Uni, Netherlands, UCL Berkley, USA and Vilnius Univertsity, Lithuania, Bharathidasan University, India) for creating impact. |
First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | BBSRC ALERT14 |
Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/M012166/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | Chinese Scholarship Council |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2009623024 |
Organisation | Chinese Scholarship Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | China |
Start |
Description | Engineering new capacities for solar energy utilisation in bacteria |
Amount | £3,380,116 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/M000265/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2015 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | Enhanced Biofuel Production via Integrated Microbubble Technology |
Amount | £932,491 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/N011511/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | Marie-Sklodowska Curie Fellowship |
Amount | € 195,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 661063 - EQUIP |
Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 05/2015 |
End | 04/2017 |
Description | Sustainable Bioenergy from biomass |
Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2013 |
End | 10/2016 |
Description | The Biogenesis, Structure and Function of Biological Membranes |
Amount | £3,514,959 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/G021546/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2009 |
End | 02/2015 |
Title | Dissolved inorganic carbon speciation in aquatic environments |
Description | A method was proposed for the assay of DIC speciation in aquatic environments. |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Impact is notable in our research group. Yet to notice impact elsewhere. Likely areas of impact are in Marine science and in algal biotechnology practice. |
Title | iTRAQ based proteomic methodology |
Description | Methodology for quantitative proteomics in microalgae were developed using hydrophobic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Notable impact has been seen within the research group and department. Yet to see notable changes elsewhere. |
Title | Seminal fluid protein divergence among populations exhibiting postmating prezygotic reproductive isolation |
Description | Despite holding a central role for fertilisation success, reproductive traits often show elevated rates of evolution and diversification. The rapid evolution of seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) within populations is predicted to cause mis-signalling between the male ejaculate and female reproductive tract between populations resulting in postmating prezygotic (PMPZ) isolation. Crosses between populations of Drosophila montana show PMPZ isolation in the form of reduced fertilisation success in both noncompetitive and competitive contexts. Here we test whether male ejaculate proteins deriving from either the accessory glands or the ejaculatory bulb differ between populations using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We find more than 150 differentially abundant proteins between populations which may contribute to PMPZ isolation. These proteins include a number of proteases and peptidases, and several orthologs of D. melanogaster Sfps, all known to mediate fertilisation success and which mimic PMPZ isolation phenotypes. Males of one population typically produced greater quantities of Sfps and the strongest PMPZ isolation occurs in this direction. The accessory glands and ejaculatory bulb have different functions and the ejaculatory bulb contributes more to population differences than the accessory glands. Proteins with a secretory signal, but not Sfps, evolve faster than non-secretory proteins although the conservative criteria used to define Sfps may have impaired the ability to identify rapidly evolving proteins. We take advantage of quantitative proteomics data from three Drosophila species to determine shared and unique functional enrichments of Sfps that could be subject to selection between taxa and subsequently mediate PMPZ isolation. Our study provides the first high throughput quantitative proteomic evidence showing divergence of reproductive proteins implicated in the emergence of PMPZ isolation between populations. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.pvmcvdnhw |
Description | China research |
Organisation | State Oceanic Administration |
Department | Third Institute of Oceanography |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Initiate collaborative dialogue through project student, resulting in joint publication (no formal collaboration yet). |
Collaborator Contribution | Initiate collaborative dialogue through project student, resulting in joint publication. |
Impact | 2 joint publications so far. There has been an initiation of dialogue but no formal collaboration, multi-disciplinary - Engineering and ocean sciences/oceanography. |
Start Year | 2015 |