QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-01

The iRECYCLE-Malaysia project aims to revolutionise e-waste management in Malaysia through the development of sustainable and profitable technologies for recycling plastic-contaminated printed circuit boards. This interdisciplinary research program brings together expertise from institutions in Malaysia and the UK to address the pressing challenge of e-waste in Malaysia, where generation is projected to reach 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2030. Currently, only 25% of Malaysia's e-waste is formally recycled, with 75% handled by the informal sector using outdated, unsafe practices that pose significant environmental and health risks. This situation urgently calls for innovative solutions to transform e-waste management, improve safety, and generate high-quality employment. The project aligns with Malaysia's 12th Plan (2021-2025), which emphasises transitioning to a circular economy and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for e-waste. By developing customised recycling solutions for Malaysia's tropical climate and local context, iRECYCLE-Malaysia will contribute to the country's goals of increasing household recycling rates by 40% and scheduled waste recycling by 35%. Key objectives include: Developing sustainable metal leaching strategies using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents and bioleaching to replace hazardous mineral acid leaching. Establishing processes for separating mixed plastic waste using supercritical fluids to avoid toxic emissions from burning. Designing new separation flowsheets for full recovery of precious and critical metals. Building a pilot-scale demonstration of an integrated e-waste recycling process in Malaysia. Ensuring alignment with circular economy principles and economic feasibility. Developing formal e-waste policies for Malaysia based on stakeholder engagement. The project will deliver step changes in e-waste management by advancing biotechnology applications, developing innovative metal recovery methods, and demonstrating sustainable approaches to recycling complex plastic mixtures. These advancements will position Malaysia at the forefront of e-waste management innovation. iRECYCLE-Malaysia addresses the Ayrton Fund challenge area of "Smart delivery" with a focus on critical minerals. The project will enhance resource security through domestic recovery of critical metals, reducing dependence on imports. The developed processes aim to recover up to 95% of critical metals from e-waste, contributing to the supply of materials essential for clean energy technologies. The project is fully ODA compliant, directly benefiting Malaysia, an upper middle-income country on the DAC list. It addresses specific development challenges related to sustainable waste management and aligns with Malaysia's national priorities. Outcomes will promote economic development and welfare by reducing pollution, enhancing resource security, creating green jobs, and improving working conditions in the e-waste sector. Collaboration between UK and Malaysian institutions will facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer, building local expertise. The project will engage key stakeholders including government agencies, industry partners, informal sector workers, and local communities to ensure relevance and uptake of solutions. Training programs and a pilot demonstration will encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices. By combining cutting-edge scientific research with socio-economic considerations, iRECYCLE-Malaysia aims to create a transformative impact on the country's approach to resource recovery and environmental protection. The project will deliver tangible benefits including reduced environmental pollution, improved public health outcomes, new job opportunities, and enhanced resource security. These advancements will contribute to Malaysia's sustainable development goals while providing a model for e-waste management that can be adapted to other developing countries facing similar challenges.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the ecosystem threatens the climate, health, food security and safety. Methane (CH4) represent the second most abundant GHG accounting for about 25% of present global warming potential. It thus, contribute significantly to the formation of ground level ozone which result to poor air quality. While effort to reduce anthropogenic CH4 emission in agricultural sector has recorded success between 1990 and 2018 in Europe. Current data shows a departure from this trend with an upsurge that requires an urgent effective and sustainable mitigation pathway. My project aims to provide novel insights on the role of macro-algae (MA) in reduction of enteric CH4 emission as well as the effects on the quality of animal products. To achieve this goal, multi-omics (metabolomic, proteomic, lipidomic, elementomic) approach will be used to profile and characterise 16 species of MA (328 samples) collected from diverse geographical regions, over different times, and years. Novel approaches comprising in vitro fermentation and earlier mentioned multi-omics tools including shotgun metagenomic will be applied to characterise the rumen microbiome changes while identifying bioactivity of MA constituents associated with the reduction of enteric CH4 emission. Assessment of possible carryover of MA residues into milk and meat product will be performed to ascertain the safety quality of the products. Robust statistical tests, chem- and bioinformatics tools will be used to analyse and compare multi-omics data to identify specific MA species and metabolic pathways that significantly correlate with the reduction of enteric CH4 emission. The identification of MA species that reduces enteric CH4 emission while enhancing milk and meat quality with zero safety risk provide an opportunity toward enteric CH4 reduction and opens new horizons for breeding next generation of MA. This project and associated synergistic activities will enhance my skills toward research independence.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-12

We propose to establish the UK's first high-power (10TW), high-repetition rate (100Hz) laser facility. The laser will be hosted within the Centre for Laser-Matter Interactions at Queen's University Belfast, an ideal environment which will allow it to operate as a user facility open to both public and private sector users. The facility will be designed to provide, in a compact and cost-effective arrangement, a varied range of secondary radiation and particle sources with unique characteristics, including ultra-short duration (from femtoseconds to picoseconds), small source size (~ microns), and ultra-high brightness. This high level of versatility and flexibility, where not only the beam parameters can be finely tuned, but the very nature of the particle or radiation can be selected with simple experimental adjustments (e.g. x-rays, gamma-rays, electrons, ions, and positrons) can only be achieved with laser-driven sources. The unique properties of these sources offer novel and disruptive possibilities in probing matter at unprecedented spatio-temporal scales, spanning biological, chemical, and nuclear responses. Applications with industrial and societal impact can be enabled in manufacturing, healthcare, homeland security by allowing, for example, ultra-high resolution biological imaging, nanoscale defect detection in materials, radiography of thick objects, and detection of strategically sensitive elements. However, despite their enormous potential, laser-driven accelerators have not yet found widespread applicative use. For an effective translation to practical applications, the main hurdle still to overcome is that of the repetition rate of these sources and, thus, of their average flux. Currently, high-power laser systems typically operate at a maximum repetition rates at the Hz level, which result in days-long runs for source optimisation and hour-long runs of data acquisition. These impractically long optimisation and acquisition times could be shortened a thousand-fold down to a matter of seconds if stable operation at the 100 Hz level could be achieved. The construction and operation of a high-repetition rate high-power laser facility is therefore a key enabler towards the widespread and impactful application of laser-driven radiation and particle sources. This requirement is recognised globally, being mentioned as a pivotal research and development need in several national and international roadmaps and strategic documents. In response to this identified need, several European countries are now investing in the development of high repetition rate laser systems. While he UK is investing significantly in new high power systems (e.g.,the PW EPAC system at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, designed to operate at 10 Hz, and SCAPA (5 Hz at 40 TW) at the University of Strathclyde), there is currently a gap in the provision of higher repetition rate , high-power laser pulses.As a consequence, and despite the world-leading expertise of the UK community in laser-plasma interactions, the UK thus risks falling behind on this central topic of technological and scientific development. This is a key demand also from several academic institutions, public sector organisations, and private companies in the UK, which have expressed strong interest in accessing a laser facility of this kind. We thus propose to address this need by establishing the first high-power and high-repetition rate laser facility in the UK. This facility will naturally complement other national facilities and will represent a focal point for R&D work on high rep-rate laser-driven sources and for day-one applications with disruptive impact in both the public and the private sector.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-12

With the impending rise of diabetes, approximately 224 million people worldwide will have some form of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by 2045. No cures are available, and treatments are only appropriate for the late stages when loss of vision is imminent. There is an urgent need to better understand its pathobiology to develop new therapies and prevention strategies. Lifestyle changes are often recommended to prevent DR. In this context, the circadian system, our internal biological clock, plays a vital role in integrating environmental cues to regulate many genes and processes. This system has evolved to align our physiology with the Earth's daily rotation, aiding survival. At the molecular level, it optimizes cellular functions, including in endothelial cells. Clock disruption in endothelial cells of the retina has been described in patients with diabetes. As we recognize its significance in endothelial cell function, it becomes increasingly crucial to investigate the role of the circadian clock in DR, as it may regulate key processes in the disease. This project aims to understand how circadian disruption in endothelial cells contributes to DR progression. We hypothesize that disruption of the endothelial cell clock due to diabetes plays a significant role in affecting the functioning of endothelial cells in DR. This disruption weakens their ability to withstand diabetic-related damage, leading to poorer DR outcomes and reduced treatment efficacy. In Aim 1, we will establish that endothelial cells obtained from patients across different stages of DR stages display disrupted clocks that correspond to the seriousness of the disease. We will make a comparative analysis of circadian rhythms in endothelial cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells sourced from both healthy individuals and diabetic patients representing a spectrum of DR stages. Using this approach, we aim to establish a clear connection between vascular clock disruption and disease severity while also delving into the mechanisms by which diabetes interferes with the vascular clock. In Aim 2, we will investigate the role of the endothelial cell clock in the progression of DR. We will employ both in vivo and in vitro methods, to assess the role of BMAL1, a core clock protein, in driving the disease. We will use genetically modified mice lacking circadian rhythmicity exclusively in their vessels, induce diabetes in them to simulate elevated blood glucose levels and the onset of DR, and we will evaluate the onset of critical processes in human DR. These include vessel survival, permeability, leukocyte adhesion, and pathological neovascularization. In vitro genetic and chemical approaches with chronomodulators will be used to gain mechanistic insights into how clock disruption influences these processes, potentially leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of DR. Establishing a link between clock disruption and DR progression may enable the use of patient-derived endothelial cells to predict individuals at risk of worsening DR. Monitoring vascular clock disruption in these cells can also guide the selection of appropriate chronomodulators to restore disrupted rhythms, enhancing disease management. In an era marked by a rising prevalence of diabetes and its complications, this research holds the potential to significantly improve the lives of millions through a deeper understanding of the interactions of a molecular system assaulted daily by our modern lifestyles on the progression of vascular complications arising from diabetes.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-12

Sarah Everard was walking near Clapham Common, London in March 2021 when she was attacked and murdered. Ashling Murphy was out for a run along the banks of the Grand canal in County Offaly when she was attacked and murdered in January 2022. These are just two recent, high-profile examples of violence against women in public spaces.   In Northern Ireland, 98% of women (=18 years old) and 73% of girls (12-17 years old) have experienced at least one form of violence. Around 14% of women report the location of their ‘worst recalled violent event’ being in public spaces such as parks, forests, and streets. As a result, and because of the associated health, social and economic impacts of violence against women and girls (VAWG), ending VAWG has been identified as a top government priority in Northern Ireland. Researchers, policymakers, and communities are seeking different solutions to end VAWG in public spaces.   Our project will work with women, girls, and other key stakeholders, to design and develop interventions to end VAWG in public spaces in Belfast. The interventions will inform design of public spaces and how the public use them, and change the attitudes, behaviours, and social and cultural norms of people (including men and boys) living in Belfast. The work will benefit the health and wellbeing of women and girls through ending violence, abuse, and harassment in public spaces.   In our research, we will: Map ongoing and planned policies and interventions aimed at ending VAWG in public spaces in Belfast. Explore the factors influencing use of public spaces by women and girls in Belfast, and map and explore the nature of safe and unsafe public spaces in Belfast. In agreement with women, girls and other stakeholders, develop visual diagrams demonstrating the system, and relationship, of factors affecting VAWG in public spaces, as well as the interventions and policies aiming to end VAWG in public spaces in Belfast. Design, with women, girls, and other stakeholders, a suite of potential co-ordinated policies and interventions to end VAWG in public spaces. Host workshops with women, girls, and other stakeholders, to ‘sense-check’ the suite of policies and interventions, to explore their acceptability, utility, affordability, feasibility, and sustainability. Develop an action plan with stakeholders to end VAWG in public spaces in Belfast.     Outputs include: A review of policies for action to end VAWG in public spaces, and identification of potential new interventions and policies, for stakeholder consideration. A diagram identifying ongoing and planned policies and interventions. A suite of potential co-ordinated policies and interventions, ‘sense-checked’ by women, girls, and other stakeholders. A shared understanding of the evidence and implications for ending VAWG in public spaces in Belfast. A roadmap for shared stakeholder action to end VAWG in public spaces in Belfast.  

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-11

War causes devastation, death, and disability to civilians and combatants alike. The International Committee of the Red Cross has found that, over the past decade, conflicts have tripled to over 100 with an average in-country mission length of 42 years. Although reparations are one of the legal obligations on States (and non-state actors), historically these were often not implemented until after hostilities have ceased. Instead, we will examine the provision of reparations during conflict. Drawing on the findings of our original project, 'Reparations, Responsibility and Victimhood in Transitional Societies (RRV)', we will bridge the gap between the post-conflict experience of reparations, the emerging literature on war torts, and the practice of militaries of using money to harmed civilians during wartime. Given the increase in conflicts and their length, this issue is extremely pertinent. In the past year, American and Dutch militaries have outlined policy changes to mitigate harm to civilians during hostilities including compensation, but many countries - including the UK - still lack reparation programmes for civilian harm. Problems consistent with all forms of compensation during armed conflict include a lack of transparency, accountability, and protection of civilian rights. Such is the case with 'condolence payments': ad-hoc payments to harmed civilians made on an ex-gratia basis of not recognising any liability of those responsible. To address this, scholars (Abraham, Crootof) have proposed 'war torts' that would allow harmed civilians to claim against those factually responsible without imposing liability - regardless of it amounting to wrongdoing under the laws of war. Reparations, in contrast, are victim-centred mechanisms that protect individuals' procedural and substantive rights to an effective remedy after a legal violation. These represent an effort to redress victims' harm and prevent its recurrence in the future. However, most reparations mechanism only deal with civilians as victims. Harmed soldiers are often left out of such debates - and left reliant on pensions which may not adequately remedy their harm. This project addresses this gap by informing UK policy in this area, and by developing international guidelines on best practices from the interaction of these concepts. Our partner organisation, Ceasefire, has called for a reparation mechanism for British military operations that cause civilian harm. We wish to use this project to flesh out how this would look in more detail, and as a model legislative bill. Our findings from the RRV project are central to this policy agenda. Our team is led by the previous PI of the project (Moffett), and brings together a new group of researchers working in this field. Ceasefire, meanwhile, is to the forefront of work advancing the rights and reparations of civilians harmed in armed conflict. The organisation has written extensively on improving UK practice on respecting civilians' rights in armed conflict, calling on the UK government to establish reparation schemes for civilians harmed in military operations. Building on RRV's findings, we will shed new light on this area, engaging with new stakeholders to effect meaningful change in the understanding and application of reparations during conflict.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-11

In this BBSRC Prosperity Partnership, Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Almac Discovery will bring together their joint expertise to create a new state-of-the-art Chemoproteomics Centre of Excellence situated within QUB; this will be the first of its kind in the Northern Ireland region. Specifically, we will use the Prosperity Partnership to co-develop a new mass spectrometry proteomics facility that can study molecular changes in proteins from cells and tissues treated with therapeutic drugs and drug-like molecules ("chemical probes"). This facility builds on a well-established relationship between the partners in basic biological research and early-stage drug discovery (Almac), leveraging the capabilities and state-of-the-art expertise of QUB researchers in mass spectrometry and basic and translational biological research (namely inflammation, cell death and ion channels) across three University Research Centres (Cancer, Experimental Medicine and Pharmacy). The Centre of Excellence will provide completely new chemical tools that will open new areas of biology and a mass spectrometry platform that will benefit both partners, thereby enabling cutting-edge biological research and drug discovery. It is also envisaged that this facility will provide opportunities for other collaborators, both academic and industrial, to advance their basic research and R&D portfolios, providing a business model that will ensure that this Centre of Excellence will continue to support academic and industrial R&D in the region beyond the life of this project. Not only will the Centre of Excellence enhance our regional capabilities, it will also provide skills training for apprenticeships through to doctoral researchers and create value in the forms of new drugs, intellectual property and high quality academic publications (reputation). Thus, the Centre of Excellence will encourage inward investment and sectorial growth in Northern Ireland, helping to "level up" the capacity and contribution of the Northern Ireland Life Sciences sector to the broader UK economy. This is in line with both regional (10X economy, Department for Economy) and Life Sciences Vision (UK) strategies. Our ultimate vision is to build an internationally recognised regional resource whose chemical probes, experimental capabilities, knowledge and expertise can assist the research and development programmes of other regional, national and international industrial and academic partners. Thus, the creation of this industry-facing, University-based facility represents a unique opportunity to provide a step-change in proteomics-based experimental capabilities in Northern Ireland.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-11

Doctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-11

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop resistance to drugs, rendering treatment ineffective1,2. This prevents effective management of infections and increases the risks of disease spread, severe illness, disability, death, and economic loss2. Predictions indicate that AMR bacteria could cause 10 million deaths annually by 20503, surpassing the 7million/3.5years COVID-19 death toll4. AMR affects all areas of life including the environment, plants, animals, and humans, and is therefore a 'One Health' problem. The World Health Organisation warns that uncontrolled AMR could dramatically increase health expenditures, damage food systems and livelihoods, and escalate poverty and inequality2. The interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and their shared environment necessitates a holistic approach to address AMR. Solutions therefore should involve transdisciplinary expertise, cross-sector collaboration, and diverse lived experiences. Addressing the complexities of AMR requires a network that offers both short and long-term resource expertise and dynamic solutions through ongoing dialogue with tomorrow's leaders, early career researchers (ECRs). Futures AMR Network (FAN) has been established to connect and develop talented individuals from various sectors in the early stages of their careers. Supported by experienced mentors, FAN aims to empower collaboration among ECRs to make a meaningful impact in the AMR battle. FAN is a community of scholars spanning disciplines- behavioural economists, social and life scientists, chemists, engineers, and artists. Collaborating closely with stakeholders and the public, FAN seeks to comprehend and address the complexities of AMR. Led by outstanding UK ECRs and supported by world-leading AMR experts, FAN's vision is to harness young talent for innovation in tackling the AMR challenge. Membership is open to all, fostering an interdisciplinary community representative of the entire UK society. FAN currently has 170 members from 12 countries, with 60% identifying as ECRs and 40% as renowned AMR experts, committed to mentoring and developing ECRs into future leaders. FAN also collaborates with government stakeholders and industry leaders, including the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Northern Ireland. These ECR-led programmes will tackle AMR in three key areas: Agri-Food Health, Environment and Medicine using four (ABCD) approaches- Arts and Artificial intelligence, Behavioural economics, Clinical instrumentation/engineering and Discovery: especially phage and other novel therapies. Leveraging its rich expertise, FAN is uniquely positioned to offer a continuous stream of insightful and pioneering thought leadership in AMR research, setting the pace for ongoing exploration and innovation in the field.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

Photography archives play a significant role in shaping how we remember history. In post-conflict contexts where there is no agreed narrative, like Northern Ireland, these archives are contested spaces that leave a powerful legacy. My PhD research examined contemporary archival practices of collecting and managing photographs of Troubles-era Northern Ireland. Through this research, I gained insights into the archival ecosystem in post-conflict Northern Ireland. I also gained insights into the societal and ethical implications of archiving photographs of contested histories, especially when those photographs illustrate traumatic events. These findings could have far reaching benefits for archivists, photographers, scholars, and societies coming out of conflict. During this fellowship, I will undertake engagement and dissemination activities to share my research with a range of audiences, within and outside of academia. I have three aims: to disseminate my research through publications; to attend conferences to discuss my findings with other scholars; and to organise events for archivists, policymakers, community organisations, and academics that contribute contemporary research and practice. My secondary aims are to develop my skillset and build my research profile in order to pursue a career in academia. First, I will share my findings with academic audiences by adapting a chapter of my thesis into a peer-reviewed article. This article will explore my theoretical approach to photography archives, therefore I plan to submit it to the journal History of Photography. I will also work on turning my PhD thesis into a book. Although this is a multiyear endeavour which will extend beyond the fellowship, I will initiate this process by securing a publisher and by beginning the process of revision in preparation for publication. Since I am approaching this fellowship part-time over two years, instead one year full-time, I will be able to make significant strides toward publication. Second, I will present my research at four international academic conferences that are dedicated to the themes of photography, history, and archiving. Attendance at these conferences help to share my findings with other researchers, to raise my research profile, and to build my academic network, both within and outside of the UK. Third, I will collaborate with PRONI to organise a dissemination event for practitioners, policymakers, and community organisations in the archival sector in Northern Ireland. The objective of this event will be to support the local archival community to co-create meaning from my research, making it applicable to and relevant for their work. I will, also, organise an academic workshop on the topic of photography ethics. As founder and director of the Photography Ethics Centre, this has been a significant topic of interest in my work. This event will contribute the development of the research field by creating a space for scholars and practitioners to come into dialogue with each other. This workshop will result in the publication of a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal photographies, dedicated to the same topic. The special issue will help to increase the reach and accessibility of these conversations after the workshop ends. Through this fellowship, I will increase the reach of my research through high-impact events and publications. I will also gain experience to strengthen my skillset as a researcher. These activities will situate me as an emerging scholar and make me a more competitive candidate as I apply for future opportunities after the fellowship.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

To address the immense scale of available data and to realise the potential for increased complexity in machine learning (ML) models to expand the robustness and versatility of artificial intelligence (AI), our project aims to address challenges to efficient and scalable parallelisation of optimisation methods underlying ML. Starting with the training of deep neural networks, we explore various decompositions of ML components that are likely to yield effective parallelisation. We address the challenges of non-convexity in large-scale problems through the use of parallel algorithmic paradigms such as the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), which recent literature results support for various nonconvexity structures. We otherwise address the mitigation of nonconvexity as it 1) impedes the coordination of loosely coupled subproblems in ADMM and 2) as it leads to suboptimal locally optimal solutions. For this, we apply a variety of approaches based on combinatorial reformulations, applications of convexifications, and embeddings in combinatorial frameworks for tightening the convexification. The best approach for mitigating nonconvexity will depend on problem structure. With the foundation applied to improving the training of deep neural networks, we proceed to expand to analogous developments for the parallelisation and mitigation of nonconvexity for more complicated hyperparameterised models in ML that require the solutions to bilevel optimisation models. Improvements to bilevel optimisation methods are challenging and of great value in many fields including in ML, where the improved capacity to solve increasingly complicated models will correspondingly yield AI that is more robust and versatile. This project and the researcher's career will benefit from the combined optimisation expertise of the researcher, parallel computing expertise of the supervisor, access to AI experts at the host organisation, and from available training opportunities.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

When discussing Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Colombia, attention often focuses on the harrowing experiences endured by civilian women at the hands of the different armed actors. SGBV served to attain and retain territorial, political, and social control in rural communities in Colombia (CNMH,2017). However, overlooked by transitional justice experts, public institutions, policymakers, and Colombian society is the prevalence of SGBV within military structures. In the case of paramilitary and guerrilla groups, many fighters experienced sexual abuse, reproductive violence, and gender-based discrimination at the hands of their commanders or fellow fighters. Despite this reality, fighters are denied access to truth, justice, and reparation mechanisms, with the Colombian legal system excluding them from recognition as victims of the conflict (Victims' Law, 2011). Their image as perpetrators prevents them from being seen as "ideal victims" -peaceful, passive, and innocent. Additionally, in the case of women fighters, their militancy in illegal armed groups is viewed as contradictory to their "femininity" and "womanhood", further complicating their victimisation and marginalisation from transitional justice. My research explores how the notion of the "ideal victim"(Christie,2018) has influenced the recognition of women fighters' experiences of SGBV and their engagement with transitional justice in Colombia. Drawing from multiple disciplines including transitional justice, victimology, law, gender studies, political science, and international relations, I critically analyse the discourse surrounding SGBV victimhood in Colombia's transitional justice instruments. This study reveals how the law perpetuates power imbalances and discriminatory practices based on gender and socio-political orders. In Colombia, the discourse of the "ideal victim" has placed women fighters who have suffered from SGBV as "subversive victims". These women are perceived as subversive not only due to their military actions challenging public order but also for disrupting traditional gender and political norms associated with victimhood. What defines these "subversive victims" is their agency, whether armed, political, or individual, in resisting or transforming the discourses and stereotypes that have perpetuated their victimisation and marginalisation. My research addresses two overlooked aspects in Colombian transitional justice: SGBV within armed groups, and the recognition of fighters as victims. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in the social sciences and contributes to the fields of transitional justice, victimology, gender studies, political science, war studies and Latin American studies. As a Spanish-speaking Colombian, I leverage my proficiency in Spanish-English translation to decolonise knowledge (Quijano,2000), bridging gaps and amplifying the visibility of scholarship from Spanish-speaking Latin America in the English-speaking academic community. This enriches global discourse on transitional justice, gender studies, and war studies. The NINE Fellowship aims to maximise the impact and dissemination of my research to academic and non-academic audiences in Spanish and English. I will produce academic publications and share my research in engaging formats aimed at policymakers, transitional justice practitioners, legal professionals, and the public. I will establish networks to exchange knowledge with Colombian civil society groups advocating against SGBV inside armed groups. My goal is to ensure that my work reflects a bottom-up perspective on transitional justice by actively engaging social movements and victims' groups in shaping public policies and normative frameworks to address contexts of violence (UN Secretary-General,2023). Finally, with the NINE Fellowship, I aim to develop the skills needed to progress as an independent researcher and seize new opportunities for advancement.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

Fungal infections including aspergillosis, candidiasis and mucormycosis cause >1.6M deaths per year. Fungal infections are a major problem for immunosuppressed individuals (eg. patients with organ/bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy patients) or those with underlying health problems (eg. chronic lung disease, diabetes mellitus). Infections with fungal pathogens (Aspergillus, Candida, Rhizopus) have also recently emerged as a major problem for patients post-SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 infection. These fungal pathogens were included on the recently published World Health Organisation (WHO) list of critical and high priority fungal pathogens that pose the greatest public health threat and urgently require further research to address gaps in our knowledge. These fungal pathogens are rapidly developing resistance to antifungal therapies which leads to prolonged therapy and hospital stays, increased used of highly toxic second-line antifungal therapies and increased mortality. Due to many similarities between fungal cells and human cells, there are a very limited number of anti-fungal drugs and some fungal strains are resistant to one or all available anti-fungal drugs. This is a very serious problem and many more deaths will occur in the coming years unless new anti-fungal therapies, immunotherapies or vaccines are developed. However, as recently highlighted by the WHO there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the immune response to fungal pathogens that need to be addressed to aid in the development of novel anti-fungal immunotherapies. This proposal will use cutting edge technologies to characterise a hitherto unknown CLR-IFNa/b-PYHIN axis that senses and responds to life-threatening fungal pathogens including Aspergillus, Candida and Rhizopus. We will provide compelling evidence that the PYHINs (pyrin and HIN domain family) are essential to mediate immune responses to Aspergillus and other critical and high priority fungal pathogens. By combining the expertise of the Orr, Bengoechea, Cook, Bowie, Bignell and Tiwari labs in the fields of fungal infection biology and signalling, Type I IFN and infection biology, myeloid cell subsets in response to Aspergillus, PYHIN signalling and biology, Aspergillus infection models and genomics, epigenetics and gene regulation, we will: (i) determine which fungal-induced immune responses are mediated by the CLR-IFNa/b-PYHIN axis and (ii) elucidate fungal-induced CLR-IFNa/b-PYHIN signalling pathway(s). Altogether, our research will cause a paradigm shift in our understanding of the immune response to life-threatening fungal pathogens. This research will provide the foundation to determine whether components of this hitherto unknown pathway have potential as immunotherapy targets for the development of much needed new antifungal immunotherapies.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

I will use this postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) to consolidate my PhD research, significantly increasing its impact on academic and non-academic audiences. The Anthropology Department at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), will be an ideal institutional base for these activities, where my work will benefit from the mentorship of Dr Ioannis Tsioulakis, and affiliation with the Centre for Creative Ethnography. I have five key objectives: To establish a publication track-record. By the end of the PDF, I aim to have published 2 articles in leading journals (Ethnomusicology and L'Année du Maghreb), and to have completed a full monograph draft for publication with a leading publisher. My book, entitled Animated Archives: Organising Post-Revolutionary Tunis Through Sound, will communicate my extensive original research into Tunis's sound worlds and recording industries to academic and non-academic audiences, impacting readers across anthropology, ethnomusicology, sound and media studies, and North Africa studies. I will also carry out a limited number of extra fieldwork interviews to strengthen publications. To engage non-academic publics in my research, and to innovate in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration, through the visual art exhibition: 'Sonic Time in Tunis'. In collaboration with Tunis-based artist Lotfi Ghariani, I will work to display a visual art response to my doctoral research on sonic archives. The exhibition - alongside accompanying talk and workshop events, and a multilingual social media presence - will communicate my research to general publics in the UK, as well as francophone and arabophone social media users. It will explore interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange between individuals based between the Global North and Global South. To build networks and exchange knowledge across multiple disciplines through conference, seminar and workshop presentations. During the fellowship I will present my research across several academic networks: francophone networks at the forefront of social sciences of North Africa; networks focused on sound and politics in the Mediterranean; and new networks of U.S. centred anthropology. These presentations will create opportunities for future collaboration and exchange across disciplines (anthropology, ethnomusicology, social sciences of North Africa), as well as regions (North American, European and SWANA networks) and languages (English, French and Arabic). To develop a teaching practice linked to my research. As an active member of the community at QUB, I will offer a number of lectures for relevant courses in the Anthropology department, developing a teaching practice aligned with the communication of my research. To ensure future continuation through the development of a further postdoctoral research project. I will develop my next research project with the invaluable mentoring of Dr Ioannis Tsioulakis, which will centre on the relationships between Tunisia and Europe. It will be a pioneering study of the role of sonic and visual aesthetics in shaping relationships between overlapping cultural spaces of Northern Tunisia, Malta and Sicily. I will submit a number of funding applications for this project throughout the year, to ensure the continuation of my research. This fellowship will put me in an ideal position to fulfil my long term career aims: to contribute valuable empirical research to the study of post-colonial Tunisia and North Africa - an underrepresented region in UK academia; to pioneer theories and methods addressing the relationship between politics and aesthetics; to work across multiple disciplines, languages and international networks; and to innovate new ways of engaging the public with academic research in anthropology and ethnomusicology.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-09

The UK Net Zero Strategy published in October 2021 reflects the urgency of action needed to avoid climate catastrophe. The net zero journey outlined therein addresses economy and emissions reduction in all sectors, with the specific challenge in aviation a notable element. Global aviation is currently responsible for 2% of emissions with 90% currently from aircraft operations, and this will grow progressively as air transportation grows. In response to this technology and policy are changing rapidly offering both opportunity and challenge, but the standard design systems and processes in practice today are insufficiently agile to support the current need for novel designs that can adapt to these rapidly changing future needs. With current approaches solutions get locked in early based on the available technology level, and optimised around that technology, and consequently have limited opportunity for upgrade and enhancement through operational life, which in the case of aerospace is decades. But delivery of net zero demands radical change quickly. Agile and adaptable design systems are needed to help develop solutions that can be easily upgraded to use advanced technology as it emerges. The key here is that constraints are needed to to allow a baseline solution to be found, but in then optimising around this baseline the constraints become a barrier to future enhancements. To allow future variation without redesign needs new capability. In particular capability to map and measure a design space and to subsequently be able to dynamically change the constraints was found to be a core need for progress in this area. The mapping and measurement capability is needed to understand how constraints are influencing the design at this point in time, and the capability to deal with changing constraints to allow understanding of how the design could change with new technology advance or policy changes. The four research questions emerging from this are therefore: 1. Navigation of Dynamic Design Spaces: How can constraints be represented in a design model such that a changing design space can be navigated and the constraints driving or limiting the design can be identified, and their influence on the design quantified? 2. Evolving Constraints over time: How can constraints be allowed to evolve over time and their influence on the design solutions over time captured, including ability to prioritise requirements/constraints? 3. Measurement and Evaluation of Solution Paths: What metrics are appropriate for maintaining a set of time-history linked solutions open to further development? 4. Keeping Design Options Open: How can design options be kept open, and how can technology changes/policy changes or removal over a long time period be studied? In DECIDE for Net Zero constraints will be permitted to evolve just as every part of the design can. In doing this the design context itself will evolve, creating new fitness landscapes for product evolution. Contrary to standard practice today which is to optimise as far as possible, the aim here is to generate a diverse population of solutions that will have many individuals that survive major disruptions even if some may fail. This is moving significantly beyond current concepts of robust design. This variation of constraints requires a completely novel design system architecture using time history dependent genetics. Geometric analogies for design spaces will allow innovative design tools to support exploration of design spaces in a more meaningful way and the latest bio-inspired methodologies will allow exploration of how products evolve in the context of ever-changing constraints. With this capability robust baseline designs can be developed that will enable the fastest transition to net zero, for example a more modular airframe that can accept plug and play solutions for hydrogen or electric propulsion systems and energy supply which are easy to cost effective to maintain.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-08

The current application aims to enhance the exiting heritage science landscape of the UK, by leveraging globally unique capacities that coalesce at QUB. This will utilise our novel thermal decomposition-based carbon separation technique, to provide a bespoke dating facility addressing legacy issues for UK museum collections through RICHES, while also future-proofing the regional requirements of the heritage sector for Northern Ireland and its stakeholders. 14CHRONO at QUB is a globally recognised leader in heritage science. It currently forms a vital piece of the infrastructure for conservation, heritage and environmental sciences across the UK, but is particularly significant for Northern Ireland where it offers the only dedicated and all-island facility for this sector. Underpinning this significance is a £5.2m upgrade in 2021, which created the Institute for Heritage and Environmental Science (IHES). IHES has leveraged the distinguished history of 14CHRONO, alongside critical mass in analytical science at QUB, to deliver a core piece of infrastructure for fundamental research and access to heritage science and collections-based research in Northern Ireland and across the UK. Alongside 14CHRONO providing the only laboratory encompassing all forms of chronological modelling in a single facility in the UK (e.g. radiocarbon, dendrochronology, Pb210, and tephrochronology), the new, expanded capacities of IHES since 2021 provide a state-of-the-art suite of laboratories that deliver a first all-island facility for isotope geochemistry, materials characterisation, imaging, and environmental modelling in Northern Ireland. The present application crystallises these achievements by continuing to support regional and national partnerships with stakeholders and non-IRO statutory bodies in Northern Ireland. As such, this application will: (i) leverage these newly developed partnerships, capacities and experiences to future-proof the particular local needs of the regional sector in Northern Ireland (e.g. where logistics or fragility of collections prevent accessing facilities in GB) in partnership with the main regional stakeholder, National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI); and (ii) harness these capacities to develop a globally leading-edge facility that combines the unique capacities and state-of-the-art capabilities of 14CHRONO and IHES to address UK-wide and globally relevant legacy conservation and dating issues facing museum collections and heritage professionals. Specifically, it will expand the application of novel approaches to radiocarbon dating and isotope geochemistry, through our recently established Ramped Pyroxidation/Combustion system (can switch between RPO and RC system) and MICADAS Accelerated Mass Spectrometer (AMS) gas interface capabilities, to integrate Micro-CT and evolved gas analysis. This will produce a globally unique facility with a specialism in chemical characterisation of 'problematic' elements within museum collections, capable of addressing legacy conservation histories, and tailoring treatment solutions. Similarly, it will cater for the basic capacity and access requirements of Northern Ireland's heritage sector, providing state-of-the-art facilities for analysis, conservation and research for user groups from within and without the region.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-08

Artificial muscles are an emerging type of electro-responsive material that can expand or contract when being subjected to external stimuli, and have huge potential in the medical industry, in, e.g., smart prosthetics, and in manufacturing lightweight sensitive robotics and materials for similar applications. Natural muscle is an incredible material system capable of handling immense strain, utilising high energy densities and a broad range of frequencies currently unmatched by man-made materials. This proposal aims to address this issue by developing new 4D-printable nanocomposite materials that can facilitate an electromechanical response. These materials will be fabricated into active / passive layered polymer-based materials, resulting in new artificial muscles with improved mechanical strength and efficient electrical response versus the current state-of-the-art. Graphene and carbon nanotubes are ideal candidates for nanofillers that can produce the required dielectric properties; building on findings from preliminary work, their loading, dispersion and interfacial interaction with the polymer matrix will be further investigated in this work. The potential of these 4D-printable polymer nanocomposite materials will be demonstrated by 3D-printing artificial muscles and characterising their structure and properties using mechanical and electrochemical testing, complemented by in situ synchrotron techniques.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-07

With a 97% enumeration rate, the 2021 Northern Ireland Census was highly successful. The 2021 Census is built on a new and more efficient output geography of Data Zones (DZ) and Super Data Zones (SDZs). The new Zones/areas better represent the 2021 population than the previous output geographies. Yet this improvement in representation highlights an important weakness: the new geography is not backward-compatible with (a) previous censuses and (b) administrative data presented for older geographies (eg 2014 electoral wards). We address this weakness and add value to the 2021 Census for all users by linking it to other output geographies for temporal analysis. Our objectives are to create: Create 2021 Census outputs for older administrative or statistical geographies such as electoral wards, and Super Output Areas used for dissemination of outputs from the 2011 Census. Extend the temporal range of census small-area statistics back to 2001, 1991, 1981 and 1971 for selected geographies. Provide a spatial framework that will link 2021 Census output geographies to alternative output geographies, which will assist comparisons with administrative data sources and indices of multiple deprivation. The objectives are to create: A research-ready consistent dataset relating to censuses from 1971 to 2021. An outward-facing web resource that will allow non-expert users to assess how small user-defined areas have changed through time. Clear documentation of how the data have been created, processed and coded, where necessary, to make cross-census comparisons, recording changes in numbers, definitions and scope of questions between censuses. There is a documented demand for these products from both (a) the research community and from (b) wider communities of non-expert users. These aims and data outputs meet the call's rubric by creating "tools and research-ready datasets that enable research with census data" and dealing with "census data linked to other sources of data (including government administrative data)" and "census data that has been linked longitudinally." with software tools to make better use of 2021 Census data. Our project will achieve its aims and objectives by taking advantage of: Previous NISRA and ESRC investments in the unique 100m and 1km NI Grid-Square Product (GSP) (1971-2021). These data will be fully documented and prepared for (i) use in single census years; and (ii) for temporal comparisons over two or more censuses. Look-up tables will be created to relate the 100m grid to selected statistical geographies via best-fit approximation. Additionally, the creation of user-defined neighbourhoods will be explored. The NISRA data portal. Selected domains from these extensive data (eg school attendance, benefit counts) represented at electoral ward level will be related to 2021 Census (and other years) data via the look-up tables. Co-design, community outreach, and experience in web resource creation in QUB (https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/qcap/about-us/QCAPApproach/). This will be used to understand what thematic areas are of value and also how to make the web resource easy to use. This project will run between March 2024 and March 2026. Minimal continued support will be necessary to maintain and update the web resource.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-06

Transitional justice (TJ) is a field of scholarship and practice focused on the processes and mechanisms societies use to address legacies of past violence (such as those resulting from armed conflict or dictatorship). These can include, for example, truth commissions, trials, amnesty mechanisms and reparations programmes. As a field, TJ has its roots in Argentina, where CONADEP - one of the world's first truth commissions - was established to investigate the disappearances perpetrated under the dictatorship. Establishing what happened to the disappeared required the involvement of a team of forensic specialists, and this case became the first of many across the globe in which forensic scientists have been central to TJ efforts to locate, exhume, and identify the remains of those who have been disappeared. Despite the centrality of forensic scientists to this work, the interaction between forensic scientists and TJ remains relatively unexplored. Through this Fellowship I will address this gap by interrogating this overlooked interaction, focusing on the theme of knowledge production. I will examine what knowledge forensic scientists produce and how they do this, the factors that influence or impede this knowledge production work, and the ways in which the knowledge produced by forensic scientists can shape or influence TJ mechanisms and outcomes. In addition to this in-depth exploration of the work of forensic scientists 'on-the-ground' in TJ contexts, I will also explore what we can learn from the role of forensic scientists about knowledge production in TJ as a field - an area which has become the focus of scrutiny in light of critiques that the field has a neo-colonial tendency, with Global North scholarship and practice dominating the field. My approach to this research will be interdisciplinary, drawing on literature from multiple disciplines including TJ, law, anthropology, archaeology, forensic science and sociology. Approximately 25 semi-structured interviews will be conducted with elite level interviewees including forensic scientists and other relevant personnel across national units and international organisations involved in recovering and/or identifying the remains of the disappeared This project will enhance understanding of the multi-faceted work of forensic scientists and the nature of the knowledge production relationship between forensic scientists and TJ. The findings will be shared across academic audiences via: a minimum of two journal articles published in internationally-recognised academic journals, targeted to encompass the diverse disciplinary audiences to this project (e.g. the International Journal of Transitional Justice, the Journal of Law and Society, Human Rights in Practice, Forensic Science International), presentations at national and international conferences, and a blog post. In terms of practitioners, this research is particularly timely as the disappearance of persons during periods of conflict or dictatorship is an increasing phenomenon. As a result, many states are grappling with the challenge of recovering those who have been disappeared. Based on the findings of this research I will write at least one policy paper focused on topics identified in collaboration with interviewees. I will host an international workshop (online), bringing together practitioners and academics, to disseminate findings, interrogate key challenges, and establish connections with a view to future collaboration. I will record a podcast which will be accessible to academics, practitioners, and the wider public via QUB's LawPod.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-06

HyWay aims to synthesise hydrogen rich syngas from low cost carbon source, and eliminate the environmental issues from conventional waste management (e.g., landfill or incineration). HyWay advances the state-of-the-art in carbonaceous waste management especially plastic waste, waste tires, waste biomass and crude glycerol for hydrogen production. The overall aim of the HyWay is to establish long-term consolidated research collaborations between the participating institutions with complementary expertise and knowledge to design and develop carbon-neutral, scalable, and socially acceptable pathways to sort and convert waste to hydrogen-rich syngas as part of next generation sustainable fuels. Through secondments, workshops, training, webinar series, and industry-focused events, HyWay produces multiple avenues for career development, cross-sectoral experiences, and academic training in a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary environment. Research results are translated into training materials, including formal academic and industry courses on waste sorting, chemical recycling technologies, process modelling, machine learning, technoeconomic analysis and life cycle analysis for postgraduate students, early-stage and experienced researchers and industry; training tutorials for industrial and technical staffs; and creating the basis for developing academic textbooks for the wider research community and possibly in undergraduate module delivery. There is also a focus on transferable skills, with dedicated training activities specially designed to facilitate personal development, technological and communication skills. HyWay delivers through the effective collaboration of 7 member state/associate country universities and companies, and eight third country universities and companies from China, Japan, Australia and Malaysia.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-06

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a major cause of mortality in the critically ill patients with no effective pharmacological treatment. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being investigated as a cell therapy for ARDS including that associated with COVID-19. Clinical investigations have uniformly demonstrated safety with some recent investigations demonstrating significant and clinically meaningful efficacy. Extracellular vesicles are key components of MSC secretome, and growing number of studies including our own demonstrate that EVs recapitulate effects of MSCs in the preclinical models of ARDS. We have identified mitochondrial transfer to be central for EV immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, reparative effects and improvement in the alveolar-capillary integrity- thus targeting all key aspects of ARDS pathogenesis. The main obstacle for further clinical development of EVs is cost effective large scale production of clinical grade EVs. The main objective of the present project is to develop and optimise a scalable method of production of the mitochondria-enriched EVs in the bioreactor system using clinical grade MSCs and zeno-free reagents, which will be readily amenable to large scale GMP production whilst demonstrating therapeutic usefulness and established mechanism of action. Successful transition through this objective will prompt downstream development plans in subsequent DPFS application focused on the testing of the therapeutic efficacy of the resultant EV product in the small and large animal models, scale up of the EV production protocol and its transfer to the c-GMP facility. The end users of this product are ARDS patients and the ICU clinicians. Currently there is no effective treatment for ARDS; this therapeutic agent therefore aims to address an area of unmet clinical need. While this project is focused on ARDS, the data will be relevant to other lung conditions such as COPD, IPF, broncheactasis and inflammatory conditions such as sepsis where dysregulated inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are important aspects of pathogenesis.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-06

Excessive inflammation contributes to the development of many acute and chronic human diseases including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and Alzheimer's Disease. It is therefore crucial to understand how inflammation is exacerbated during the immune response. Levels of a protein called ferritin in blood are commonly used by doctors as a measure of inflammation, but interestingly ferritin's normal role is to store iron inside cells and we do not fully understand what it does outside the cell. Recent research suggests that ferritin has direct effects on immune cells and our preliminary data show that ferritin is released from immune cells called macrophages during a process called pyroptosis. We have also found that extracellular ferritin can activate macrophages, triggering inflammation through a protein complex called the inflammasome. This suggest that extracellular ferritin may be a signal for danger that the immune system reacts to causing a feedback loop of excessive and damaging inflammation. Interestingly, we have recently observed that in ARDS some patients (approx. 30%) have very high ferritin levels (hyperferritineaemia). The patients with hyperferritineaemia are at a higher risk of dying than patients with lower ferritin levels and high ferritin is also associated with high levels of the inflammasome protein interleukin-18 (IL-18) and other indicators of tissue damage in the lung. This suggests that hyperferritineaemia and inflammasome activation might contribute to the development of severe ARDS. Our research proposal aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response to ferritin by identifying the receptor for ferritin on macrophages and how it triggers inflammatory signals. We will then examine inflammasome activation and the role of ferritin in samples from patients with ARDS compared to healthy people. We will see if we can block inflammation in these cells by interfering with the inflammasome or ferritin signalling pathway. Finally we will examine how ferritin and inflammasome signalling may cause damage to other cells in the lung called epithelial and endothelial cells which get damaged by inflammation in ARDS. Understanding the role of extracellular ferritin in inflammation could pave the way for the development of targeted anti-inflammatory therapies for ARDS and other inflammatory diseases.