Scottish Government Tackling Infections Bioscience UKRI Policy Fellowship
Lead Research Organisation:
Scotland's Rural College
Department Name: Research
Abstract
Each fellowship will last up to 18 months to cover:
a 3-month inception phase for set up activity
a 12-month placement with the host organisation
an impact phase lasting up to 3 months
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers.
This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
a 3-month inception phase for set up activity
a 12-month placement with the host organisation
an impact phase lasting up to 3 months
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers.
This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Nicola Holden (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Holden N
(2024)
Data sharing considerations to maximize the use of pathogen biological and genomics resources data for public health
in Journal of Applied Microbiology
| Description | The main output of the project is a register listing Scottish expertise and any biological resources on One Health pathogens (still in progress). This has the potential to be used for a variety of needs, e.g. in disease outbreak preparedness, for building networks around common topics, or for finding appropriate expertise to a specific area. The project aims and outputs align directly with the UK National Biosecurity Strategy (June 2023), and associated Biosurveillance and Biosecurity initiatives, including those led by the FSA (e.g. PATH-SAFE) and APHA (GAP-DC2). The policy project has provided the opportunity to see how evidence is used for policy making and the steps required for its use. |
| Exploitation Route | To date, knowledge sharing for the project has been for policy and agency interest groups across the One Health spectrum (food, animal health, environment), at a devolved (Scottish) and UK national level. The project has already contributed to a UKRI network to determine how to utilise Scottish assets and expertise to address inequalities in epidemic scenarios. Taking a data management approach has allowed access to health informatics management systems and consideration of how to link pathogen genomics data to health data. The associated publication was shared by a global pathogen genomics alliance (PHA4GE). Positioning of the role has provided opportunities for commercial and public sector engagement, to address topical problems with One Health pathogens. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Environment Healthcare |
| Description | Infectious agents can be transmitted from a variety of routes, from animals, plants and the wider environment. By protecting the health of these sources, human health can also be protected, generating a One Health solution. Scotland has a strong history working on One Health pathogens, contributing to national and global disease epidemiology, pathology, microbiology and control. Associated physical biological resources such as biobanks, tissue banks and culture collections have multiple uses, as historical archives, reference material or for bioprospecting. Maintenance of the resources future-proofs their use, expanding their utility as technological advances are made. The physical material is often supplemented by DNA-based sequence, used for epidemiology, disease outbreak investigations, detection and diagnostics, and for research. Understanding where the expertise and any associated resources for One Health pathogen is a key step in being able to leverage and utilise it. However, the information is dispersed across different academic, research, public sector and commercial organisations. Therefore, to maximise its utility, the information needs to be collated into a cohesive, accessible resource. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Microbes 4 Climate: member of the Stakeholder, and Ethical Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://microbes4climate.eu/ |
| Description | PATH-SAFE Science Advisory Group (SAG) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/pathogen-surveillance-in-agriculture-food-and-environment-programme |
| Description | Mobilising Scotland's Assets in equitable ways for Epidemic Control (MOSAEC) |
| Amount | £119,851 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Z505870 |
| Organisation | University of Strathclyde |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 05/2025 |
| Description | Advancing STEC Diagnostics: organisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I helped to generate and organise a closed interest group workshop on Shiga-toxin producing E. coli. The aim was to define testing regimes that would support management of public health and food safety risks from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. The spring 2024 STEC O145 outbreak was associated with sandwiches from epidemiological evidence. The common factor was hypothesised to be a lettuce variety that is commonly used for sandwiches. So far, the causative organism has not been detected in any foodstuffs or from any lettuce producers, presenting challenges for industry and government. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | EPIC 2025 annual conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | There were multiple outcomes: I presented a poster to publicise the policy project 'A cohesive solution to collate information on One Health pathogen expertise and resources', gaining further interactions and data I participated in workshop discussions and made further connections for future events and activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.epicscotland.org/upcoming-events/epic-conference-march-2025/ |
| Description | Health informatic symposium: HIC "20 in 24": Navigating the Future of Research Data |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participant in a symposium event, run by a Scottish regional Safe Haven, HIC, Dundee. The meeting covered all of the regional Safe Havens and their interaction with and the role of the national Safe Haven, Research Data Scotland. The importance is an understanding of how to link different data types to health data in a secure environment, for research and analyses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.dundee.ac.uk/hic |
| Description | Innovation in Biosurveillance: Recent progress and new opportunities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The workshop was organisation by the Food Standards Agency and was intended to create a critical dialogue between multiple stakeholders on research gaps and collaboration opportunities with regards to biosurveillance. The event had short presentations from various organisations talking about programmes and initiatives such as PATH-SAFE, GAP-DC, AMR National Action Plan and the Biological Security Strategy, as well as hearing from funders and societies in the biosurveillance arena. Following these presentations, there was two breakout sessions; • Barriers to cross-sector and government working in biosurveillance. This session focused on conducting a root cause analysis of 4-6 identified systemic barriers and engage in an ideation process to overcome the root causes leading to systemic barriers. • Identifying gaps and opportunities across the biosurveillance sector. This session focused on mapping research and initiatives across the biosurveillance value chain and identify gaps in technical capabilities and methods to support surveillance. This was followed by identification of opportunities to address the gaps. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | PATH-SAFE Biosurveillance Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and Environment (PATH-SAFE) Biosurveillance Conference on the work being undertaken within the PATH-SAFE programme, and other related biosurveillance programmes, strategies, and initiatives. A two day conference of presentations, question-and-answer sessions and posters, with a focus on the technical details of projects, complimenting the strategic "Innovation in Biosurveillance" event in November 2023, to explore biosurveillance barriers, gaps, and opportunities. Attendance of ~ 130 from the biosurveillance community, across government, academia, and industry. My contribution was as a PATH-SAFE advisory group member, made new industry connections, and direct input and contributions to discussion sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Poster presentation: A Scottish register to tackle One Health and foodborne infections |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A poster on the UKRI-funded policy fellowship project with Scottish Government, presented at the following meetings: The Scottish Government ENRA Science, Evidence and Policy Conference, 24 Sept 2024, Edinburgh The Tayside Microbiology annual meeting, 5th Sept 2024, St. Andrews Shaping the Science of Scotland's Food Future conference, 18th April 2024, Edinburgh |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | STEC O145 outbreak (May 2024) - media contributions |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Following announcement of an E. coli (STEC) outbreak associated with lettuce in convivence foods (like sandwiches), I provided an expert opinion to the Science Media Centre. This sparked multiple inquires for contributions to media outlets, including BBC radio news programmes, television news (Sky News, STV), and newspapers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-ukhsa-e-coli-advice-amid-rise-in-cases/ |
| Description | Science Media Centre: Expert reaction to UKHSA E. coli advice amid rise in cases |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Invited to provide expert scientific comment on the UKHSA advice following a rise in E. coli cases, from an STEC O145 outbreak (May-2024) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-ukhsa-e-coli-advice-amid-rise-in-cases/ |
| Description | Tayside Microbiology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Annual event designed to act as a network for microbiologists in the Tayside region in Scotland, mainly across academia and research institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Naked Scientists Science Feature - STEC: What is E. coli doing on lettuce? |
| 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 | Invited to write a science feature article on the May 2024 E. coli outbreak |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/science-features/stec-what-e-coli-doing-lettuce |
| Description | UK Microbiome One Health Conference 2024: panel member |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation in a discussion panel 'FAIR for all: sequence data' Discussion about use and access of data and metadata |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/events/microbiome-one-health-conference/ |