CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-06

The Welsh word Cynefin has no English equivalent. Its origins lie in farming and describe the habitual tracks and trails worn by animals in hillsides. It evokes a place where we feel we belong, where the people and landscape around us are familiar and comforting. How do we ensure that everyone experiences this feeling within the NERC community including Wales? Wales is the most economically deprived of all UK nations, has decreasing numbers of individuals applying or studying for A-levels at further education level and the lowest proportion of individuals applying for university in the UK. Whilst applicant numbers to university education are falling the participation gap is steadily widening. In low socio-economic areas of Wales, social mobility and financial restrictions are some of the many barriers preventing potential emerging talents from breaking through into education and following pathways into the NERC community. These factors limit the Welsh representation within NERC and the wider UK environmental science community. Whilst there have been longitudinal large studies of career aspirations and barriers for young people entering STEM fields in the UK (e.g. ASPIRES) there needs to be a fundamental change in how we think about improving the number and diversity of individuals pursuing STEM and a focus on changing the external environment. These concepts are yet to be applied specifically to the field of environmental science and to create practical culture change within the Welsh context. In this pilot project we will establish a new NERC Welsh Network and assess the landscape of the Welsh education pipeline to identify barriers into NERC communities, particularly in low socio-economic areas. This project will pave the way to increase Welsh diversity in the NERC community by: establishing a new understanding of the NERC pipeline within Wales from primary school to NERC communities and organisations through surveys and focus groups, creating a new NERC Welsh Network with equitable opportunities for all career levels and roles to share best practice in inclusive practices allowing cross discipline and organisational knowledge transfer and collaboration, identifying barriers and understanding of generative mechanisms for underrepresented Welsh groups entering into the UK environmental science  developing training in inclusive practices relevant for those working in this sector, producing clear guidelines and policy for education and NERC research centres and environmental organisations to begin actionable change from within to help diversify the NERC community. setup a Welsh network of champion NERC scientists to disseminate best practice and create lasting impact through role models for prospective scientists and online resources. These include impactful bilingual videos (Welsh and English) showcasing the breadth and depth of the NERC opportunities available to all ages in and beyond Wales in particularly traditionally unengaged communities. These will be utilised at future events and increase the visibility of NERC science and opportunities. develop pilot engagement initiatives including examples of targeted activities specific to Welsh communities and online resources  determining key entry points along the pipeline to trial positive activities to address inequity and produce a theory of change model for Wales specific to environmental sciences In a follow-on project, we will deploy our Welsh network and knowledge of barriers and entry points to establish a targeted scheme across all-Wales utilising actionable guidelines, inclusive training, resources and engagement activities to initiate lasting change for the NERC community.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential in medical diagnostics, providing detailed pictures of the body's internal structures. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has greatly enhanced MRI capabilities, improving diagnostic accuracy, speed, and efficiency. However, these advancements have also increased the carbon footprint of both MRI and AI applications. The GAIA project aims to reduce the carbon emissions associated with AI in medical imaging by developing innovative hardware and software technologies for data management. The health-care sector contributes 4-6% to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Medical imaging departments contribute, globally, up to 1% of GHG emissions and a single MRI scanner uses the same electricity as 26 four-person households. AI technology in medical imaging is making significant progress, for example by speeding up MRI scans, improving image quality, and enhancing efficiency. This helps reduce costs and energy use while allowing more patients to be scanned. However, AI benefits come with their own environmental burden. Developing AI for medical imaging is energy-intensive and increases GHG emissions due to big data storage and intensive model training. Although emissions linked to medical AI are currently modest (around 0.5 g of carbon for the analysis of a single patient's MRI scan), AI's environmental impact will grow as its implementation in practice inevitably expands. Given that over 95 million MRI scans are performed each year around the world, the large-scale use of AI in a single medical imaging application would contribute at least 52 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to roughly 25 round-trip flights from Munich to New York. Multiple AI applications for each patient will raise this figure proportionally. Given the alarming conclusion from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-2021) that global warming of 1.5-2 °C will be exceeded this century unless drastic reductions in CO2 and other GHG emissions are implemented, there is an urgent and unmet need for strategies to mitigate the environmental burden of AI and the informatics pipeline in medical imaging. GAIA will provide a sustainable solution for greener medical imaging by reducing the carbon footprint of AI-powered technologies. Its goal is to develop medical imaging technology that maintains high performance while minimising environmental and social costs. Instead of making AI systems more complex and energy-intensive, GAIA will shift the current AI paradigm towards developing smaller and simpler solutions. This will be done by developing both hardware and software solutions: affordable, low-energy devices running innovative lightweight AI models to handle MRI data, aiming for a nearly net-zero carbon footprint. Specific objectives are: Designing and optimizing lightweight deep learning-based models for MRI data storage, processing, analysis which achieve excellent performance keeping minimal model size and complexity.  Designing and building affordable low-energy devices capable to train and deploy the new green AI models for sustainable and democratic medical imaging.  Demonstrating the new GAIA technology on exemplar clinical and research-based MRI applications (e.g., brain lesions segmentation and characterization).   With MRI imaging demand increasing by 2-8% annually, GAIA's efficiency will also give significant economic savings for the UK National Health Service and globally, e.g. reducing up to 75% the costs associated with handling medical imaging data (e.g., electricity consumption, cloud services, data storage/sharing). Although our initial focus is on MRI, we envision GAIA technology extending to other fields, reducing the carbon footprint of any resource- and energy-intensive data handling applications.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Molecular emission lines are a fundamental tool in modern astronomy, whether it be tracing the dense reservoirs of star-forming gas in distant galaxies, working out the dynamical state of nearby molecular clouds, or following the feedstock for life through its cosmic journey from galaxy to planet. With different molecules being able to trace different densities, temperatures, and radiative environments, astronomers have been able to select molecules for the task at hand.  With assumptions about how these molecules emit, we can use them not only to piece together how much mass at different densities is available to form stars, but also capture the dynamics of the star formation process, which help us distinguish between the competing theoretic models. Other molecules, known as the complex organics, are thought to be the precursor for life, and so by observing these molecules, we can see at what point in the in the whole star/planet formation process does the feedstock for life become important. However, the light we observe from these molecules strongly depends on the chemistry of the gas, which in turn depends on the complex environment that the gas is exposed to. There is growing observational evidence that our chemical modelling to date has not done a sufficiently good job of characterising the regimes in which these molecules can exist, which has profound implications for how they emit, and thus for the science that we do with them. To overcome this important problem, we will employ state-of-the-art computer simulations that model the gas in the cold ISM, capturing the detailed chemistry of the gas, and then use the properties of the chemistry and clouds to model the light that is emitted.  Being the only group in the world with such a powerful modelling capability, we will be able to revolutionise our understanding of how star formation tracers behave under different environments, and use this information to reassess what we know about this fundament process. We will also be able to chart the formation and evolution of complex organic molecules – whose origins are currently poorly understood – to help discover the range of environments that would be suitable for harbouring life.  To ensure that our work can reach as many astronomers as possible, all our modelling results and tools will be made publicly available.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Our aim is to develop arrays of superconducting Kinetic Inductance Detectors beyond the current state-of-the-art for use with future millimetre and sub-millimetre observatories. Future large aperture ground-based mm/sub mm telescopes are crucial for progressing our understanding of star formation and galaxy evolution enabling statistically significant surveys of the high-z universe beyond the confusion limit and high spatial resolution observations of star formation regions in the local group. Current facilities such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) are limited large area mapping speed while large field of view telescopes such as the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and future Simons observatory are limited in angular resolution. Therefore, future observatories such as the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) will provide the essential capabilities to further our understanding of cosmology and astrophysics. However, such observatories will require of order 1000 times the number of detectors fielded on current telescopes of this type. This is significant technological challenge that requires immediate development effort. Building upon experience with detector array development using Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs), we plan to develop detectors with i) the capability of increasing multiplexing ratios (number of detectors read out on a single channel), ii) removing the need for cryogenic amplifiers that add significant heat load to cryogenic instruments when used in large numbers, and iii) developing new readout electronics that exploits advances in the field of commercially available microwave electronics and offers a route to increased multiplexing ratios along with the ability to adjust readout tuning on the fly to adapt to changing observing conditions. Our vision is to prove this approach in a timely manner for the UK’s involvement in new instrumentation on current and future observatories providing astronomers with the instrumentation required to advance current understanding limited by our capability to image large areas of sky at sufficient resolution at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Antiviral vaccines and immunotherapies focus predominantly on neutralising antibodies (NtAbs), which prevent cell-free virus from entering cells. These are critical to prevent transmission between people. However, once a cell is infected, the virus becomes inaccessible to NtAbs. As a result, although such antibodies are effective when given prophylactically, they are less effective when given therapeutically. Instead, antibodies that recognise the infected cell are required. These bind to viral antigens on the infected cell surface, where the Fc domain activates effector cells such as NK cells to carry out antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), killing the infected cell and controlling the infection. Thus, NtAbs and ADCC promoting antibodies carry out complementary activities, with NtAbs targeting cell-free virus, and ADCC antibodies targeting cell-associated virus. The importance of Fc-dependent antibody activity is underscored by multiple observations: (i) it correlates with natural and vaccine-mediated control of multiple viruses; (ii) enhancing or abrogating these functions in monoclonal antibodies alters their ability to control viruses in animal models; (iii) it is responsible for the efficacy of numerous clinically approved anti-cancer antibodies; (iv) viruses dedicate genomic space to antagonising it. The viral entry glycoproteins that are targets for NtAbs are often found on the surface of infected cells, leading to the assumption that NtAbs (that bind virions) will also bind infected cells and induce ADCC. As a result, most studies use entry glycoproteins in the form of immobilised protein or transfected cells to assess ADCC. However, when we developed novel unbiased proteomics techniques to map the ability of all viral cell-surface antigens to promote ADCC in the context of live virus, we unexpectedly discovered that although cell-surface entry glycoproteins bind antibody, they are poor inducers of ADCC. Instead, non-entry glycoproteins dominate the ADCC response across multiple viruses. As a result, we found that current vaccine strategies fail to robustly engage a major arm of humoral immunity when tested against live virus. Our discovery that novel antigens promote enhanced ADCC now allows us to assess the role of these previously uncharacterised responses in viral control, the impact that superior targeting of cell-associated virus provides in vaccines and immunotherapies, and to dissect the underlying biology of effective ADCC. In our studies of SARS-CoV-2 we discovered that although the Spike protein in current vaccines induces potent neutralising antibodies, Nucleocapsid, Membrane, and ORF3a, are superior ADCC targets. When we tested antibodies against one of these in animal models, despite having no neutralising activity, it was capable of controlling SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs and preventing viral-mediated lung damage. This demonstrates the protective potential in these novel targets. In addition to expanding the breadth of immune mechanisms induced by vaccines and improving control of cell-associated virus, increasing the number of antigens and epitopes targeted also has the potential to enable maintenance of antiviral efficacy as novel virus variants evolve. We will therefore answer the following questions in order to understand the potential for greater ADCC activity to improve vaccine and immunotherapeutic efficacy: Which of our novel ADCC targets most efficiently induce ADCC in vitro and in vivo?. How is ADCC affected by the evolution of antigenically distinct virus variants? Is ADCC more resistant to antibody waning than neutralisation? Are superior systemic and/or mucosal ADCC responses are a correlate of protection in natural and experimental human challenge models?  

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-05

Our research group has recently proposed regression by composition, a flexible toolkit for building and understanding statistical models. Regression by composition always takes place on the original scale of the data, so offers enormous potential for clinical insight and better decision-making. We seek to enrich the mathematical theory of regression by composition, to release open-source software that expands its applicability, and to evaluate its effectiveness in biomedical science. We will... ...engage specialists in clinical trials, epidemiology, biostatistics and statistical computing to ensure regression by composition is widely applicable in biomedical research, acceptable to its scientists, and accessible to its analysts. More broadly, regression by composition affords an opportunity for reimagining teaching and training in medical statistics. ...assemble a computational engine for fitting regressions by composition. A major objective is to provide general-purpose routines suitable for specialised or user-supplied model components, while taking advantage of exact mathematical results where these are known. ...design flexible longitudinal regressions by composition that are compatible with structural nested models, and congenial for instrumental variable regression or Mendelian randomisation. Because interventions can influence health trajectories in surprising and subtle ways, we will guide scientists towards transportable findings, combining empirical evidence with careful application of mechanistic, first-principles reasoning. ...employ assumption-lean regressions by composition as tools for explainable artificial intelligence. Regression by composition is general enough to express high-dimensional machine learning models; with the addition of tuning parameters controlling regularisation, we will give users the ability to select from a spectrum of accurate and easy-to-understand models for classification, prediction or control.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-05

  Context It is important that the public are involved in different types of research, including rapid research that informs policy and practice decision making. Inclusive opportunities for the public to be involved are essential to make sure that a range of diverse views influence this decision making. Researchers are trying to make sure that public involvement is part of fast paced research studies. This includes rapid evidence reviews (bringing together the findings of existing studies) or rapid primary research (for example, and interview study with patients). These projects typically take between 3 and 6 months. There are national standards and excellent resources available that help guide public involvement in research and to help capture the impact (or difference) the public involvement has made. This includes the PIRIT Toolkit and the UK National Standards for Public Involvement. However, there are no specific tools or guides for rapid research studies.   Challenge There are limited guides and tools available showing the best way to involve public partners and capture the impact they make in rapid evidence research. We could and do draw upon the resources used in conventional research (e.g. clinical trials, systematic reviews, interview studies), but we have identified unique features of rapid research environments that warrant adapted and tailored public involvement and impact capture tools and resources. Further, we know that some people are underserved in rapid research environments and find it harder to have an influence and describe the difference they think their involvement has made. Some excellent resources already exist and so our underlying principle will be to adapt where possible but develop where needed.   Aims and Objectives The aim of this study is to understand the best ways to support public involvement and capture their impact in rapid research settings. Our key objectives include: Understanding the opportunities for involvement and impact during rapid evidence research – this includes when and how public partners are involved, level of influence, barriers and facilitators, best practices and unique support needs Refining the PIRIT Toolkit so that it is suitable for use in rapid evidence research (PIRIT-RAPID) Identify novel and more inclusive ways to support underserved individuals to report impact and add these as complementary resources in the PIRIT Toolkit.     Potential applications and benefits This project will develop a better understanding of public involvement in rapid evidence research environments. We will produce recommendations of best practice when involving members of the public in rapid research. We will update existing resources (e.g. PIRIT Toolkit) so that they can be used effectively in rapid evidence environments.  We will also develop new and more inclusive ways to support people from underserved groups to be involved in the impact discussions. Our overall vision is to support to adapt, develop and mobilise a range of public involvement (PI) and impact capture resources for use in rapid evidence environments.  

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-05

Volcanic hotspots, like Hawaii and Cape Verde, are sourced by plumes that upwell from the deep mantle. Prior to eruption as ocean island basalts (OIB), mantle melts rise and interact with the oceanic lithosphere: melting stops when an upwelling plume reaches the base of the lithosphere, then OIB melts advance upwards through the lithospheric mantle until they pierce the MORB crustal basement by diking. Finally, OIB melts intrude through seafloor sediments that veneer the MORB basement. Our scientific understanding of how melt-lithosphere interaction occurs during melt transport, however, is incomplete due to the inaccessible depths where this takes place: we are limited by indirect evidence and proxy chemical tracers rather than direct observations. Fortunately, the Cape Verde Islands provide a unique opportunity to directly examine the deep interior of an oceanic hotspot volcano, as well as fragments of the underlying MORB crust and a 1-km-thick marine sediment sequence, which have been uplifted 3 km and exposed as subaerial outcrops. Cape Verde is, thus, one of the few places in the world’s ocean basins where one can study extensive subaerial exposures of Mesozoic MORB crustal basement and the overlying marine sediments, which are in direct contact with (and crosscut by) hotspot-derived magmatic bodies. We leverage this unique geology to investigate how mantle melts interact with oceanic lithosphere—mantle, crustal, and sedimentary—to modulate OIB geochemistry and form the intrusive pedestals upon which hotspot volcanoes are built, offering insights into the globally relevant problem of hotspot geodynamics. By making careful field measurements in concert with geochemical and 40Ar/39Ar analyses of OIB samples, the proposal will address 3 hypotheses. First, the juxtaposition of OIB dikes and sills with marine sediment at Maio Island will allow us to directly assess the degree of sediment assimilation by OIB magmas transiting through a thick sedimentary sequence. If no geochemical signatures for sediment assimilation are identified in the dikes and sills, it would show that lavas passing through 1 km of marine sediment are essentially “immune” to assimilation, demonstrating that OIB enriched mantle signatures at other hotspots globally (which sit atop thinner sediment sequences) are unequivocal mantle signatures. Second, our preliminary fieldwork shows that the outcropping MORB crustal basement at Maio is pervasively intruded by OIB dikes (~85%). Confirmation of this hypothesis will provide a mechanism for the dramatic seafloor uplift at Maio via inflation by dike and sill intrusion, a process promoted by this archipelago’s stationary position relative to the hotspot. It will also allow us to use the OIB dikes as a control group for sediment assimilation as they are stratigraphically below the marine sediments. Third, extremely low 187Os/188Os—the lowest ever reported in the ocean basins, including values found only in subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM)—were previously reported in Cape Verde peridotite xenoliths using a method prone to systematic errors. Given the geodynamic implications for SCLM beneath an oceanic hotspot, we will reanalyze 187Os/188Os in the same xenoliths using a more robust method. If the results are confirmed, it would support a model where the Cape Verde plume melting is impeded by stranded SCLM beneath the hotspot, resulting in deeper (and lower degree) melting, thus explaining Cape Verde’s highly alkaline OIB chemistry. We propose a new international collaboration that crosses disciplinary boundaries and includes 2 PIs with very different but complementary expertise: Global OIB geochemistry (Jackson, UCSB), and Cape Verde geology and volcano evolution (Ramalho, Cardiff U.). The proposal will also fund a UCSB graduate student and a Cardiff postdoc who will flourish as part of a cross-disciplinary team. The PIs will collaborate with Cape Verdean colleagues from INGT (Instituto Nacional de Gestão do Território) to deliver new geological maps for the studied areas. The proposed work will fund the participation of one INGT professional in the field campaign, who will support the mapping. We will work with INGT to submit a proposal to make the studied outcrops a protected Geoheritage site, given their global relevance. The PIs will collaborate with Dr. Bruno Faria, a scientist at Cape Verde's Geophysical Institute, to coauthor a publication about island uplift driven by cumulative intrusions. The PIs will communicate the new research to the Cape Verdean public via newspaper and radio news outlets, and social media.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-04

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an extreme version of the "baby blues" and occurs in 15-20% of mothers within a year of giving birth. It is associated with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness and these symptoms are largely unresponsive to existing antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), exemplified by, for example, Prozac. The FDA approvals in 2019 and 2023, respectively of Brexanolone (i.v. allopregnanolone) and the synthetic allopregnanolone analogue Zuranolone (Zurzuvae, SAGE-217) support the hypothesis that PPD is caused by a reduction in the endogenous neurosteroid allopregnanolone. However, the serious side-effects, costs ($34,000) and a 60-h i.v. infusion are significant barriers to the uptake of Brexanolone that have resulted in modest sales of only $2.0M in Q4, 2023. Similarly, Zurzuvae, had only very modest 1Q '24 revenues of $12.4M, suggesting that it's cost ($15,900) and a Black Box warning of possible "central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects" are both significant barriers to its widespread acceptance. The significant side effects of both Brexanolone and Zuranolone (neither of which are currently available in the UK) are related to their inherent lack of selectivity across different (i.e., synaptic and extrasynaptic) subtypes of ?-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs). There therefore remains a huge unmet need for new treatments for postpartum depression. The "allopregnanolone withdrawal" hypothesis is based upon observations that plasma allopregnanolone concentrations increase markedly during pregnancy but then falls dramatically after birth. During pregnancy, the circulating allopregnanolone readily enters the CNS where it is a non-selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of various subtypes (synaptic and extrasynaptic) of GABAARs. Evidence suggests that in PPD the beneficial effects of Brexanolone and Zuranolone are mediated by extrasynaptic d subunit-containing-GABAARs (d-GABAARs) whereas the serious side-effects are caused by effects at synaptic (?2 subunit-containing) GABAARs. Hence, a PAM that is selective for d-GABAARs should be efficacious in PPD, but devoid of the side-effects of allopregnanolone (Brexanolone) and Zurzuvae. In the initial two-year project (MRC DPFS award MR/V038540/1), we explored two chemotypes based upon the poorly brain penetrant literature delta-selective compound 2 (DS2). The exemplar compound MDI-117289 potentiates the effects of GABA at human recombinant d-GABAARs and consistent with the mode of action, it potentiates extrasynaptic (tonic) but not synaptic (phasic) currents in a mouse brain slice electrophysiology assay. Moreover, MDI-117289 not only attenuated pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice but also produced a pronounced effect on mouse brain local field potentials (an in vivo electrophysiological assay), rat brain EEG signals and reversed behavioural deficits in mice produced by early-life adversity, a well-known risk factor for PPD. These ex vivo and in vivo Proof-of-Mechanism studies were the primary endpoints of the previous proposal and therefore represent the successful conclusion of that project. In this current 2-year proposal, we aim to further optimise our lead series with respect to in vitro and in vivo (primarily pharmacokinetic) parameters, including efficacy in an animal model of postpartum depression and by the end of the 12-month Milestone 1 period select a single preclinical candidate compound. This will then be progressed into the 12-month Milestone 2 exploratory non-GLP rat and second species (mini pig or dog) toxicology studies. The overall output of this project will be a compound ready for the GLP toxicology studies required prior to the commencement of Phase 1 clinical studies.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-04

The combination of computer simulation with experiment is fundamental to achieving new understanding in chemistry, and to delivering advances that can address the most pressing societal challenges. The integration of computer simulation into research across the chemical sciences has been accelerated by the accessibility of high-performance computing infrastructure and tailored software that can harness the distributed architectures. New materials and chemical processes can be predicted by models of atoms and electrons using this infrastructure, with periodic density functional theory (DFT) at the forefront of the field of applied materials simulation. However, the efficacy of these modelling paradigms is proportional to the degrees of freedom in the system, which means that big models with lots of electrons, such as when considering catalytic processes, become very expensive to simulate. To address these shortcomings, this Fellowship looks to improve the capability and accessibility of methods that can provide high-level accuracy for electronic structure simulations, necessary for bond-breaking or bond-forming reactions, with reduced degrees of freedom, which means simulations can be performed quicker. This Fellowship is delivering new multiscale modelling paradigms, and the aim of this renewal is to make these paradigms more accessible through easier to use frameworks, and to extend our capabilities by integrating new machine-learning models into the simulation workflow, with the potential for acceleration in accurately resolving aspects of the system wavefunction. The new capabilities will continue to be developed in internationally leading software packages (FHI-aims, ChemShell) with collaborative partners distributed globally in academia and government research laboratories. The Fellowship will simultaneously look to demonstrate the potential of these new methods, with aims to resolve key mechanistic aspects of the synthesis of renewable fuel in collaboration with experimental partners in academia, notably at the host institution (Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University) and via collaborations through the UK Catalysis Hub, as well as industry (Johnson Matthey, bp). The Fellowship aims to provide new knowledge of how the catalytic active site structure defines reactivity and selectivity in processes relating to photo- and electro-catalytic H2 generation; and also to explore how the structure of support materials influences thermally driven catalytic transformation of waste to sustainable aviation fuel. Finally, the Fellowship has complementary aims to support the transition of the research team from emergent researchers to influential and authoritative research leaders who can support the development of both new research domains and the next generation of researchers. The research team will be supported in developing, practising, and reflecting on their leadership activities, so they can deliver lasting impact in their sphere of influence.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-04

While aiming at increased wireless connectivity to enable revolutionary technologies such as autonomous driving or smart cities and industries, telecom networks of the future will have sustainability at their heart. Only with a network-as-a-whole coordination of resources, it will be possible to achieve an optimized trade-off between level of service and energy consumption. However, holistic orchestration of resources can only become a reality if each wireless front end in the infrastructure is flexible enough to tune its working conditions as needed, while operating efficiently. The most important bottleneck stopping this change is the high frequency power amplifier (PA) due to its high energy consumption and limitations imposed by the analogue design. MUST-RF will propose new solutions for the design, modelling and digital signal processing of PAs and wireless transmitters with improved energy efficiency and flexibility. Its main aim is to evolve the most advanced techniques in the field and introduce new ideas to provide significant advancements in all the aspects of PA design. In particular, the Cardiff University team will study multiple-input single-output (MISO) PAs advancing waveform engineering to a multi-port framework and, at modelling level, adding multi-port and memory formulations to the "Cardiff behavioural model". The Maynooth University (Ireland, Dublin) team will focus on the conditioning and control of the MISO PAs, leveraging on their experience in the linearisation of advanced PAs and introducing advanced algorithm and practical DSP solutions for the multi-input control with single observable output. The project, that will culminate in the design and testing of PAs and multi-antenna transmitters at C- and Ka- band, will offer to the scientific community new results, tools, and data which inspire new research and position the British Isles at the forefront of the field. The impact of the project will be accelerated by the involvement of several project partners from Academia and Industry, participating to the Steering Committee and supporting with significant in-kind contributions.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-04

The global radiogenic isotope dataset of mantle-derived mid-oceanic ridge basalts (MORB) shows large-scale variations, providing an invaluable record of the thermochemical history of Earth's mantle. These variations are the conjugated, time-integrated product of secular crust-mantle fluxes, followed by thermodynamically variable melting. Existing models of MORB source formation rarely investigate multiple of these processes at once and mainly focus on mantle enrichment through crustal recycling. I propose to test whether source age, melting rate, and in particular secular mantle depletion through melt extraction can also explain the observed large-scale isotope variations. I will develop Earthcodes, a user-friendly, open-source software to thoroughly interpret radiogenic isotope data in terms of precursor processes. This in silico laboratory of the mantle-crust system will allow users to test geochemical hypotheses by investigating the effects of selected parameter variations on the resulting isotope systematics. This new method will use the large existing open-source datasets and make geochemistry accessible to researchers without a laboratory (e.g. in low and middle income countries) or limited by accessibility (e.g. handicap, home office). I will consolidate these datasets with the measurement of radiogenic Ce isotopes, a crucial tracer of mantle depletion, for a geographically representative selection of MORB samples. I am experienced with this under-used technique and will implement the protocols at Cardiff University. I will use Earthcodes to constrain the magnitude and relative importance of each process in generating the source of modern MORB and associated isotope systematics. I will work with geodynamicists at Cardiff University to evaluate existing 3D models of mantle convection against the new Earthcodes constraints on upper mantle geology. Findings will provide an improved estimate of the rate of Earth's mantle convection.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-03

Context: Many families are struggling with the cost of living. Prices have risen, and often, less healthy food is cheaper and easier to access. Children living in the poorest areas often do not eat enough fruits, vegetables, and other foods that make up a healthy balanced diet. They are more likely to develop overweight or obesity. Local councils and schools can help by providing affordable and healthy school meals. Some areas are going one step further and making school meals free for all children, with the aim of improving take up of school food and access to a healthy diet. Challenge: Despite the school meal offer, we do not know enough about the nutritional content of food offered in schools. Not all children and families choose to take up school meals. For those that do, little is known about food choice and whether children eat the healthier items put on their plates. In the UK, Wales is the only nation to offer Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) to all primary school children. At the moment, we do not know how to make sure the families and children who need healthy school meals the most opt-in to UFSM. This research provides a unique opportunity to explore the changes and impacts of introducing UFSM in schools. Aims and objectives: First, we will work with school staff, local councils, caterers, public health experts and politicians to explore what food is provided at school, and what is chosen by families and learners. We will compare UK nations, which will help us transfer lessons from this work across the UK. Second, we will work with schools in two local authorities in Wales to study the content and nutrition of UFSM school menus, and to measure what is chosen and consumed by learners at school. We will also speak to children, their families, and school and canteen staff to unpick why learners and families choose the meals that they choose. This research will help us understand the types of food children are eating in school, and how this can support a healthy diet. Third, we will send surveys out to schools each year to ask questions about school food choices and to see changes over time. Finally, we will explore the best ways to improve the school food that is provided, how to increase take up of school meals, and how to support children and families to make healthier choices.    Potential applications and benefits: To achieve good health as adults, it is vital that children eat a healthy, balanced diet from an early age. What children eat now can affect their likes, habits and food choices as they get older, impacting on health and wellbeing throughout life. This work will help us to 1) support caterers and school staff to create the best meals for their schools; 2) support schools to encourage take up of school food; and 3) encourage children and families to make healthier choices. Overall, this work will help Wales and other nations improve school food and better understand roll-out of UFSM policy.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-03

The housing sector is responsible for around 20% of the UKs total carbon emissions. With 80% of the homes that will be occupied in 2050 already built, retrofitting the existing housing stock to provide high quality homes, improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions is critical to achieve net-zero targets. Retrofitting existing housing is an infrastructure priority for the UK Government; it is also a significant design challenge. Around 75% of the UK housing stock is more than 50 years old - designed for very different ways of living. Reimaging housing design, the materials used and technologies implemented is critical for the transformation of housing to be fit for current and future generations. Poorly executed design, the use of carbon intensive materials and installation of inappropriate technologies can lead to unintended consequences, including increased damp and mould and reduced indoor air quality which can affect health. Current retrofitting approaches focus mainly on energy, ignoring challenges that residents face around space and design quality. Homes are not set out for current ways of living and redesign to enable this such as providing storage, places to engage as a family and home working are often not available. The retrofit market also relies heavily on synthetic and non-renewable materials, such as plastics and foam insulation which can have negative environmental impacts. In some cases, the embodied carbon emissions of measures can exceed the carbon savings during use. Using bio-based materials such as cork and wood and recycled materials have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact as well as offer energy efficient, healthy and sustainable improvements. Our project, the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE), is leading innovation in design research and co-design through a regional partnership between the GW4 universities of Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, and Exeter and businesses, the social housing sector and community groups. We are co-designing the transformation with residents, local authorities, social landlords, the construction industry, and other key stakeholders. Through interdisciplinary working we are designing, testing, implementing and monitoring innovative solutions to improve the quality of 1920-1940 Council built housing stock which account for approximately 1.4 million of the homes occupied in the UK today. We are seeking how to enable a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting job creation, local and regional supply chains, and strengthen local delivery capacities. We are working in two communities in Bristol and Swansea to develop and demonstrate solutions whilst engaging with residents across the UK who live in 1920-1940 homes to really explore what types of homes they live in, rather than making assumptions. Our design research led process includes co-design, digital modelling, prototyping, monitoring and testing appropriate and transferable options. Our approach aims to improve spatial quality, well-being, affordability and ease of construction. Our design research will promote the transition to living well through co-design methodologies enabling positive behaviour change including attitudes towards natural materials and sustainable living, fostering diversity and supporting green transition goals. Through education and wider community engagement, in partnership with our communities and the Future Observatory, we will encourage the retrofit process enabling wider challenges of our housing stock to be transformed for future generations.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-03

LITHICRETE aims to study the use of lithium mining waste as a resource to produce cementitious materials. This project will equip the UK with a net-zero strategy to cope with the upcoming lithium waste stream by directing it towards concrete manufacture. By 2030, the annual worldwide demand for battery-grade lithium is projected to exceed 2 million tonnes. The UK is committed to rely less on lithium-import and be a self-sufficient lithium economy by 2030, by identifying lithium geological deposits and investing in mining; companies in Southeast and Northeast of the UK, from Cornwall to Durham have already started exploring lithium reserves, with novel extraction and refinement processes under investigation. However, extraction and production of 1 tonne of lithium carbonate generates up to 10 tonnes of solid waste, known as lithium slag (LS). Such waste, mainly comprised of silicon and aluminium oxides, has the potential to be used as a cement replacement material in the production of concrete. In the UK alone, around 22 million tonnes of concrete were produced in 2021; an increase of 14% in comparison to previous years. Reducing the environmental impact of Portland cement has been deemed one of the major objectives in the fight against climate change, as stated in the recent UNEP report (September 2023). Replacing Portland cement with equally performing materials, such as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), is by far the most promising alternative to minimise the construction industry carbon emissions. Due to the global “switch” to renewable energies, and an increasing reuse of recycled over virgin steel, the availability of the most commonly used SCMs, fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), is now limited and will soon be phased-out altogether. On the other hand, the availability of LS is projected to increase, due to the demand for production of electric vehicles, generating a favourable alternative SCM. LITHICRETE is timely, as it utilises an industrial by-product with increasing availability to meet future sustainable concrete demand.  For LS to be adopted as a new material in construction, fundamental research questions remain unanswered on the physical microstructure of LS concrete, the chemistry of LS and what makes it suitable as an SCM. Therefore, investigation is needed to assess its performance, suitability and long-term resilience when used as a replacement for Portland cement. Through this funding proposal, LS as received from British Lithium Ltd plant (UK) will be characterised, its reactivity as an SCM will be explored and the optimum amount of LS as a cement replacement level in concrete will be established. LITHICRETE will establish lithium mining waste as the next generation cementitious material by investigating its incorporation into concrete in laboratory and real-scale environmental conditions. This will enable full assessment of the resilience and durability of LS concrete under different ageing and deterioration mechanisms. LITHICRETE will unite industrial partners, academics and policy makers in the field of design and assessment of sustainable construction materials and mineral extraction. The project will advance scientifically the design of next generation low-carbon concrete. LITHICRETE will establish a synergistic collaboration between the lithium industry and the construction sector to accelerate the UK net-zero agenda by achieving the production of zero-waste UK electric vehicles whilst drastically reducing the carbon footprint of our built environment.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-03

Tomato is the next most important non-cereal crop after potato but yield losses due to fungal and bacterial diseases can be considerable. Although, the use of fungicides/bactericides can control such diseases, they have wider environmental effects so that they are only a short-term solution. A better strategy is to boost the crop's innate defences. I have previously helped to define a key regulatory defence node; nucleoredoxin (NRX) which suppresses oxygen and nitrogen free radical accumulation in the nucleus. However, this effect also suppresses defences against a wide-range of pathogens. This project will address the hypothesis that downward modulation of NRX expression will boost defence against disease. This will involve proof of principle work in tomato based on gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology as well as generating plants that over-express NRX. The impact of NRX gene manipulation will be assessed in responses to economically important tomato pathogens; Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria solani and Ralstonia. Solanacearum, Erwinia carotovora and Fusarium oxysporum. The project will focus on the well-established tomato cv. Moneymaker. Infected and uninfected plants will be imaged at the UK National Plant Phenomic Centre to provide digital description of the impact of NRX manipulation. The molecular effects of altered NRX expression will be assessed using transcriptomic and metabolomic data focusing on changes on infection and also fruit development. This omic data will be integrated into network models to understand the mechanism of NRX action in tomato. Outputs from the project will be CRISPR/Cas9 constructs and new lines with improved tomato defence against pathogens and proof of principle that NRX knockout can be exploited for commercial tomato production either through gene editing or transfer to non-transgenic approaches.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-03

During the Roman period communities were more connected within the imperial province of Britannia and to mainland Europe than they had ever been before, or would be again for many centuries. Archaeological and historical evidence suggests Britannia saw large-scale mobility and migration - and that these movements included not only people, but also objects, ideas and belief systems. Despite this, relatively little is known about migration into Britannia or mobility within the province, especially beyond cities. Understanding Britannia's demography and the dynamics of movement within and beyond the province currently relies on scant historical records, limited epigraphy, unreliable artefactual proxies and isolated scientific studies. Where scientific investigations of Romano-British cemeteries have been undertaken, these have lacked the resolution and/or scale to fully explore mobility. Considering the paradigm-shifting insights delivered by collaborative ancient DNA (aDNA), isotope and archaeological studies of prehistoric and early medieval populations in Britain in recent years, the lack of any large-scale holistic study of mobility in Britannia represents a major research lacuna. We now have the combined archaeological assemblages and archaeological science tools and techniques to address this major historical challenge thanks to developments in aDNA and isotope approaches alongside the critical mass of cemeteries recently excavated and assessed through developer-funded archaeology. The Roman period is an unparalleled opportunity for our research due to the availability of epigraphic and artefactual evidence, facilitating comparisons between biomolecular data and traditional material proxies for migration and mobility. Our proposed project's core aim is to characterise mobility and diversity in Britannia through interdisciplinary study of 396 individuals from cemeteries associated with different site types. By combining archaeological and biomolecular data, we will assess population trends across the province, whilst also building biographies of individuals and places. RoBMoBS will provide the first large-scale multi-proxy study combining aDNA and multi-isotope analyses with archaeological data to transform understanding of mobility and diversity across Britannia, and the first such large-scale combined study of a historic period. RoMoBS has five objectives: RO1: Explore scales and directions of mobility within/into Britannia through isotopic, genetic and archaeological evidence, including variation by site type and chronologically. RO2: Characterise genetic kinship and relatedness within cemetery populations, if present. RO3: Characterise diet through isotope analysis of cemetery populations. RO4: Assess inter- and intra- cemetery correlations between mobility, diet, artefacts, health, and biological sex. RO5: Compare new biomolecular evidence for mobility and kinship with prior historical and archaeological narratives, and characterise cultural and social transformations of communities during Roman rule of Britannia. RoBMoBS will frame innovative new directions for the study of Britannia, providing new multi-scalar population datasets - from familial ties to cross-continental migrations - across key site types. Our publications in field-leading journals in scientific and Roman archaeology will provide a blueprint for redefining populations of the provinces of the empire and for explorations of mobility and kinship in past populations globally. Alongside this, our engagement with museums and the public will illuminate the roots of diversity and mobility in Britain, and our knowledge-exchange will help strengthen the archaeological sector.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

Africa’s power supply systems for critical loads, such as healthcare facilities, are transitioning to a more sustainable, efficient and reliable future. This is driven by the integration of renewable energy, which includes AC and DC power conversion enabled by power semiconductors switching at increasingly high frequencies (e.g., 10–100 kHz). The semiconductors’ operation causes power loss, reducing energy efficiency, and they are the most vulnerable components, counting for 20%–30% of the failure of power conversion systems. Improving the performance of the semiconductors will thus provide significant benefits in energy saving and system reliability improvement. For example, a 1% increase in efficiency in solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters and a 1% in reliability will make 150 GWh more energy available to critical healthcare facilities in Africa. This project’s overarching aim is to leverage the latest advancements in Silicon Carbon (SiC) semiconductor technology to develop high-efficiency and reliable solar photovoltaic-battery energy storage system (PV-BESS) for critical loads. Such compound semiconductors have low conduction loss, fast switching speed, and high operating temperature, which provides all potential for developing low-carbon PV-BESS. Challenges are that high-frequency switching of SiC semiconductors can increase thermal stress and create electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to their high-speed voltage transients (e.g. dv/dt over 10kV/us), affecting the reliability of the PV-BESS and lifespan of critical components such as capacitors and batteries. SiC semiconductors exhibit various material defects and variability, leading to variations and high non-linearities in their electro-thermal performances. Integrating SiC semiconductors into PV-BESS requires a better understanding of induced parasitic parameters and their coupling with components, including capacitors, inductances and gate drivers. To address these issues, the project has three research work packages (WP1-3): Develop accurate characterisation and modelling methods for semiconductor devices (WP1): Accurate SiC electro-thermal models and lifetime models will provide a new understanding of SiC semiconductors, which will be built to evaluate component efficiency and reliability under various environments. Integration optimisation of SiC-based PV-BESS (WP2): This involves studying and modelling the multiphysics coupling between SiC semiconductors and other components, investigation of induced parasitic parameters and system-level topology design of PV-BESS to reduce power conversion stages, thus improving overall efficiency and reliability. Validation and operation optimisation of SiC-based BESS in various operation conditions (WP3): This will investigate integration strategies and verify the benefits brought by SiC devices' advantages to ensuring the BESS’s high-efficiency and reliable operation in both normal and fault conditions. The main deliverables will include validated tools and a testbed for modelling and characterisation of SiC semiconductors (WP1), hardware-in-the-loop demonstrator for validating the SiC-based PV-BESS (WP2), and optimal operation strategies for PV-BESS (WP3). These will be useful to physics R&D institutions, renewable equipment vendors, and power system operators. The project will involve international partnerships with the University of Nairobi, with support from Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) and Toshiba Europe. Researchers involved will benefit from the unique collaboration and training, and the project will help Africa build new physics research capacities in the renewable energy and semiconductor sectors. The project output will boost the PV-BESS’ energy conversion efficiency by 1%–2%, and extend their mean-time-between-failures by 20%. Developed compound semiconductor technologies will have a wider impact across applied industries, including electrified transportation sectors, robotics and aerospace. The integration and BESS technologies can be extended to generic low—and medium-voltage energy systems.    

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

Poverty negatively impacts children's health and education outcomes, contributing to long-term generational inequalities in the UK. Effective early years interventions can reduce inequalities upon arrival to school and provide long-term economic benefits into adulthood. All four UK nations have strong political wills to tackle early years inequalities through interventions such as free childcare. However, not all early years programmes may work as intended or be cost-effective, and finding credible evidence of 'what works' to improve outcomes is a policy challenge. This project directly addresses this evidence gap by measuring the impact of Wales's flagship early years programme, Flying Start. Flying Start was introduced in 2007 and targeted families living in the most deprived areas of Wales. Due to its popularity and perceived success, Flying Start has been expanded twice (2012 - 2016, 2021 - present). Every family with a child aged 0 - 4 in a Flying Start area is entitled to: - free quality, part-time childcare for 2-3-year-olds; - an intensive health visiting service; - access to parenting support; and - support for speech, language and communication development. Flying Start is ambitious and well-resourced - costing twice as much to deliver as similar schemes in England and Northern Ireland (Sure Start). Our project leverages a naturally occurring experiment which allows us to evaluate Flying Start's impact on cohorts of mothers and children using linked administrative data from the SAIL databank. The SAIL Databank is a collection of administrative data on health, schooling and other topics and contains NHS records for everyone in Wales. Our main objectives are to: Measure the impact of Flying Start on child education and health outcomes up until ages 5 - 6. Measure the impact of Flying Start on maternal outcomes until the child is aged 4. Measure the impact of Flying Start on early interventions and access to specialist services. Explore potential inequalities or gaps in the effectiveness of Flying Start. For example, does Flying Start have a stronger or weaker effect on younger mothers? In the short term, our findings will directly address the Welsh Government's statutory duties to evidence policy effectiveness and considerable public interest in this popular and expensive intervention (costing £142 million in 2020-21 alone). This issue is particularly timely given the ongoing expansion of Flying Start in Wales and free childcare in England. In the medium and long term, our project benefits other UK nations and organisations looking for the best evidence on how to shape their early years interventions to maximise impact and value for money. For the wider research community, our project addresses a long-standing evidence gap. There are no robust evaluations of place-based social interventions like Flying Start (based on a recent systematic review, McGowan et al 2021). Our project is based on extensive scoping activities (funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership Maternal and Child Health Network). For this project, we are joined by partners who are major policy-makers (Welsh Government) and representatives of the broader research community (Maternal and Child Health Network). We are in close correspondence with stakeholders and key opinion formers such as Nesta and the National Children's Bureau. In addition to our public engagement with Flying Start service users, these partners will ensure that our project will be relevant and impactful.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

During shipboard operations whilst sailing on IODP Expedition 398 in the Aegean Sea, a complete section of the transition from the Miocene to the Pliocene was recovered. This interval marks the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, the time when closure of the Gibraltar Strait may have caused much of the Mediterranean Sea to become drawn down and inhospitable to many aquatic organisms. Not only is this the first sediment core recovered from the Messinian Salinity Crisis since 1996, but it also the most complete record ever recovered in all 55 years of scientific ocean drilling. To investigate this interval, I propose to acquire funding from IODP to perform preliminary analyses at the University of Bristol. These sediments and the fossil remains they contain represent a unique opportunity to study the ecological response of marine communities within an ecosystem transitioning back to fully marine. The study has implications not only for understanding the potential effects of future climate change as marine environments become more hostile, but also for analogues of ancient Earth scenarios when marine ecosystems exhibited a significantly different chemical state to the modern ocean.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of suffering and death in humans and animals worldwide, the second leading infectious killer of humans after COVID-19. There are currently around 10 million recorded human TB infections per year, with a death rate of 1.8 million per year. TB imposes major economic losses and trade barriers world-wide, impacting disproportionately on the livelihoods of poor and marginalized communities. Zoonotic TB poses special challenges for patient treatment and recovery since the advanced laboratory tools required for its diagnosis are frequently unavailable, so patients are often misdiagnosed and may receive ineffective treatment. This is a particular problem in resource-poor countries, where diagnostic tools capable of accurate and rapid diagnosis at the time of initial patient consultation are not available. There is also two-way transmission between cattle and wild animals (e.g. badgers in the UK). The high prevalence of the disease in parts of the UK, coupled with the test and slaughter strategy for disease control, has a major effect on both the livelihoods and wellbeing of farmers. The surveillance, diagnostic testing, badger culling and vaccination costs the UK government alone a total of £100 million per year. Ending the human TB epidemic by 2050 is a UN sustainable development goal and the WHO recommends the development of more effective rapid diagnostic tests to improve patient outcomes. Hence our vision is the development of a novel, point-of-care TB detector for humans and animals capable of delivering a result within 1 hour. It will improve on state-of-the-art approaches in terms of specificity, sensitivity and time to result (compared to hours for PCR, days for microscopy). Our multi-disciplinary objectives, drawing on our team's individual expertise, will focus on each of the detector's modular components. We will develop a novel and hygienic sample cartridge to accept real-word samples of up to 10 ml volume, incorporating all of key elements of sample preparation, DNA concentration and signal generation. We will use pulsed, highly targeted 2.45 GHz microwaves for the instantaneous liberation of the target, bacterial DNA. We will separate and concentrate the target DNA using magnetic separation using functionalised magnetic nanoparticles, for its presentation to a functionalised metal surface for photonic detection. These elements will draw on our expertise in design of suitable DNA probes. Signal generation will be based on a novel, optical resonance based refractive index sensor, to provide real-time results with no fluorescent labelling. Our technology will be completely transformative in the rapid diagnosis of TB and will be simple enough to be operated by any healthcare worker or farmer. With further translational funding beyond the current project it can be reduced in both size and cost to allow a simple, low-cost detector, which will have particular benefit for use in developing countries. Our platform can be easily adapted to detect most other pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, MRSA, etc., so it could become an important tool to help control the spread of future pandemics. Our project fits with the scheme's objectives in that it is truly interdisciplinary, bringing together experts in veterinary medicine, microbiology, microwave and photonic engineering, to develop a novel, disruptive solution to a world-wide healthcare problem. We will adopt new approaches and generate new understanding that would not otherwise emerge from our single disciplines, delivering the required reciprocal benefits defined by the funding scheme.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

Parkinson's (PD) is set to become the most common brain disorder worldwide by 2040. However, there is still no definitive long term treatment with the best therapeutic only working for a short period of time, and tied with the possibility of causing its own side effects with extended use. Getting involved early in treatment has been proven to improve the quality of life for patients and helps manage the symptoms over time. To make progress in finding new treatments, we need to understand how the disease progresses and what goes wrong at each stage. We're particularly interested in finding early signs of Parkinson's and understanding what causes them. My initial UKRI future leader fellowship supported the first of a four-phase comprehensive plan designed to better understand and treat PD: Phase 1: Identifying the different features of Parkinson's at various points in time. Phase 2: Finding specific targets that can be used to slow down or reduce the impact of these disease features. Phase 3: Modifying these features by targeting the identified areas at specific times. Phase 4: Developing new compounds and testing them in clinical trials. We've already discovered that the electrical activity in neurons derived from stem cells (iPSC) from people with PD is different from healthy neurons. We've also noticed that behaviour related to PD, like anxiety and problems with thinking, can change depending on factors like sex, age and genetics and can actually show up at an early stage. The original UKRI-FLF funding was integral to these findings which has led us towards completion of Phase 1. Here, I propose work for Phase 2. In this renewal, we're trying to find targets that can help lessen the impact of Parkinson's disease. To figure out why these changes happen, my aims for this UKRI-FLF renewal/Phase 2 are: 1. Record the electrical activity in iPSC stem cells to see if there are broad patterns in how ion channels (which control electrical activity) are behaving. 2. Use compounds and a special technique (PatchSeq) to pinpoint exactly which parts of the ion channels are causing the problems. 3. Test these changes in a controlled environment to see if they affect the firing of neurons. 4. Study how the brain's activity changes in PD mice and brain slices to understand the relevant impact on PD related symptoms. The data we have gathered so far using the UKRI FLF has been pivotal in enabling me to successfully apply for further funding to expand the programme into phases 2 and 3 (specifically I have won and been awarded grants from Parkinson's UK and the Moondance Foundation). However, the UKRI FLF renewal will support the core research needed to achieve the aims of phase 2 and catalyse the programme as a whole. By doing this research, we are on the way to finding potential routes to modify the disease features, taking us one step closer to developing effective long-term treatments.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-02

The first known sound recording of an animal was produced in 1889 by the German broadcaster and wildlife sound recordist Ludwig Koch, when he recorded a caged Common Shama thrush. It wasn't, however, until the 1930s that animal sound recording started to flourish, with the development of recording technologies and techniques that facilitated proximity to wild animals. As animal recordings and interest in them started to proliferate, wildlife sound archives emerged as new sites of specialist scientific data sets, primarily as repositories of recordings for bioacoustics research, which is the study of animal sounds, and as reference libraries for the identification of species by scientific taxonomists and wildlife enthusiasts. These archives and their recordings are of contemporary relevance, from their commercial application in Apps, films, and computer games, to their ongoing use in ecological monitoring for environmental conservation. This research project investigates the emergence of a network of seven wildlife sound archives initiated in the mid 20th century across Europe and South Africa. The primary objective of the project is to understand how this network of wildlife sound archives, and the sound recordings they are composed of, are produced and consumed across different social and cultural contexts. More specifically, we will explore: the ethical and political contexts in which the archival network has been produced; the circulation of sound recordings and technologies between the network of archives; the historic and contemporary objectives of the archival network; the utility of wildlife sound recordings to address contemporary environmental issues; and how the network of wildlife sound archives, and the recordings they contain, generate knowledge about the natural world. By investigating seven archives that have rarely, or in most cases, never, been studied outside of natural science research, this project will advance our understanding of how wildlife sound archives have shaped knowledge of the natural world, and hereby make novel contributions to the fields of human geography, sound studies, environmental history, and environmental philosophy. The project will be achieved through an analysis of written archival documents, including correspondence letters of archivists, curators, and sound recordists, and internal archival documentation; interviews with key personnel at each archive, including archivists, curators, and technicians; and an analysis of a selection of wildlife sound recordings held at each archive. In addition to a series of academic outputs, including two co-authored books, the project will create a radio programme, a website, and deliver an international workshop, thereby reaching a range of audiences through various media.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Darker skin contributes to health and criminal justice inequalities between ethnic groups. Bruising is harder to identify and document in those with darker skin, which has implications for those injured due to violence. Non-fatal strangulation, for example, may not require treatment in the Emergency Department (ED), but it does predict future serious injury. Revision to legislation in 2021 (Section 70 Domestic Abuse Act) recognises this and the importance of identifying and evidencing bruising related to assault. However, poor ascertainment in those with darker skin leaves victims feeling that they are not taken seriously, their bruising is not noticed and evidenced by practitioners, which reduces access to justice and healthcare. Limited evidence further biases safeguarding decisions. This issue is not unique to victims of violence. Dermatologists find that skin conditions are missed in those with greater skin pigmentation. In response, cross-polarising filters have been developed in dermatology to see beyond skin pigmentation and provide clearer photographs of abnormalities. These filters can be attached to cameras, and research indicates that they also improve the identification and photographs of bruises. Our aim is to develop an intervention that uses these filters for use by frontline practitioners. Attending police officers and other frontline staff routinely carry out risk assessments and photograph (using their work phone) evidence of injury. However, our Public, Patient Involvement contributors and broader engagement has identified several barriers that need to be mitigated in our development of this intervention. (i) The current guidance on how to collect evidence of a bruise is dated and only relevant to people with white skin. We want to identify opportunities to update it. (ii) Trust in frontline policing varies, with some people actively avoiding engagement. (iii) Some may avoid scrutiny by healthcare specialties. (iv) Other healthcare specialties (e.g. GPs, dentists, sexual assault referral clinics, paramedics, staff in refuges) may also benefit. We seek to understand any victim reluctance, what can be done to overcome it, and which professionals are best placed to use the device. Diversity in skin pigmentation is also associated with ethnicity and therefore variations in cultural expectations on how victims should respond to violence. (v) We seek to capture these variations and how they might impact on the intervention. (vi) We want to identify and overcome any language barriers, for example refugees may have limited English or Welsh. Finally, while using the device is straightforward, this is a complex intervention, and (vii) we aim to identify the training needs of practitioners to collect evidence to current evidential standards as well as addressing cultural factors. We want to eventually evaluate the device in a community setting. Before doing so, (viii) we need to identify outcomes that demonstrate the value of the device. These outcomes include emergency care contacts, visits to ED, mortality and serious injury, and related outcomes including charging of and the prosecution of offenders, which in turn influences victim safety. However, we would also wish to capture outcomes specific to victims including self-reported quality of life and seek to develop insights through engagement with survivors. Our aspiration is for an intervention that is acceptable and addresses healthcare inequalities associated violence and being in a minority ethnic group.

UKRI Gateway to Research · FY 2024 · 2024-12

Cardiff University would use the EPSRC Core Equipment Award 2024 allocation to purchase three items of core equipment that have been identified via a competitive process for maintaining, replacing and upgrading key research assets as part of a broader strategy to support the development and maintenance of its world class laboratories. The proposed items for investment are all relevant to the EPSRC research portfolio and will support existing and future EPS-facing research funding. All three items will be underpinning multi-user equipment and all three have co-leads who are early career researchers. Two will be an upgrade /refurbish existing equipment (‘invest to save’). All proposed items will be listed on Cardiff University’s and GW4 equipment databases and will be openly accessible. Each laboratory will have detailed access guides to help visitors understand accessibility considerations before they visit. (i) Surface Profilometry Facility modernisation A surface profilometer is an essential item of equipment to research friction, lubrication and wear (Tribology) of gears, bearings and other components at the microscopic (micron and nano-metre) scale. We have a surface profilometer facility that is >25 years old and although various components have been upgraded in the past to extend the facility’s lifespan, it is now unreliable, with spare components unavailable and complete failure is likely, resulting in significant disruption within the Tribology group at Cardiff University and the facility’s wider user base. The aim therefore is to replace the obsolete items of the current surface profilometer facility, whilst enabling backwards compatibility with existing equipment to maintain activity and reduce waste and cost. (ii) High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence, charged aerosol & ultraviolet detection High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an essential tool in laboratory analysis, used to separate, identify, quantify and purify chemicals for a diverse range of applications, including pharmaceuticals, biomolecules, polymers and environmental monitoring. We have two existing items of equipment for this purpose that we wish to replace; one has recently failed (and replacement parts are no longer available) and the other is low resolution and increasingly unreliable. Neither can provide semi-preparative functionality. It will have complementary, multiple detectors combined with a fraction collector that will enable chemical composition analysis and semi-preparative purification, providing superior performance compared to existing platforms and enable us to expand our research into new areas. (iii) Fluid Characterisation facility for Soft Materials Reducing our dependence on oil-based/fluorinated materials & additives and non-recoverable plastics is a primary societal goal, backed by industry, political will and (increasingly) legislation, driving research into fully recyclable plastics, green fuels and alternative surfactants. In developing new materials, detailed understanding of flow properties is essential. Current equipment to measure flow properties requires urgent upgrading as they are not cost-effective, are labour intensive and there is increased demand for high-throughput physical characterisation. The equipment requested will provide high-throughput screening and enable detailed study of a wider range of materials, solutions and formulations, supporting the expanding interdisciplinary research base in this area and delivering savings in time, cost and environmental impact. The facility would be unique in Wales and the Southwest making it attractive to a wider research base.