Current projects

Understanding interactions of identified fungal pathogens on oilseed rape

Associate: James Fortune

Supervisors: Dr Yongju Huang, Prof. Bruce Fitt, Dr Faye Ritchie

Project description: The project aims to understand interactions between Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) and Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) at different stages of their life cycles and to develop new tools to control them.

Understanding host resistance to improve control of light leaf spot on winter oilseed rape in the UK

Associate: Laura Sapelli

Supervisors: Dr Yongju Huang, Dr Faye Ritchie

Project description: Light leaf spot is the most economically important disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK. This disease can cause annual yield losses of winter oilseed rape worth > £100M, despite the use of fungicides. Light leaf spot is caused by the fungal pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae. With the loss of some effective fungicides, development of fungicide insensitivity in P. brassicae and predicted global warming, yield losses are likely to increase. Use of host resistance to control the disease is becoming ever more important.

To develop and characterise novel, inter-connected, microphysical systems (MPS) of human organs for analyses of molecular pathways and disease mechanisms

Associate: Adeel Ahmed

Supervisors: Professor Darragh Murnane, Dr Victoria Hutter, Dr Tomasz Kostrzewski

Project description: The aim of this project will be to establish liver multi-MPS models. These will allow the interactions between the liver and other organs to be accurately modelled in vitro.

Genetic Control of Lemna minor and/or Lemna gibba growth rate and protein content

Associate: Javier Montiel

Supervisors: Dr Cristina Barrero-Sicilia, Dr Yongju Huang, Alyssa Blachez

Project description: The aim of the project is to test the available Lemna minor and/or Lemna gibba European collection (approximately 50 clones), creating a framework for breeding the next generation of varieties with high protein yields and optimal growth rates under heat stress conditions.

An assessment of the benefits and usability of app-based exercises for improving mental health in university students

Associate: Joey Askew

Supervisors: Dr Frances Longstaff, Dr Zoe Yovcheva-Dimov

Project description: The aim of the project is to develop an app that brings a new daily habit of emotional fitness into the world.

Development of microparticle formulations for dysphagia patients

Associate: Kavil Patel

Supervisors: Dr Fang Liu, Dr Craig Richardson

Project description: This project aims to investigate novel technology in coating microparticles and evaluating the drug release mechanisms in older patients with dysphagia.

Developing and Testing an Evidence-Based Teenage Behaviour Change Programme

Associate: Hannah Allcott-Watson

Supervisors: Dr Neil Howlett, Laura Harte

Project description: The aim of the project is to combine the wealth of knowledge and experience across the University and the Company to design an intervention for teenagers to improve their eating habits.

The biological diversity of cyst nematodes in relation to pasteuria

Associate: Hannah Wileman

Supervisors: Dr Roland Perry, Dr Keith Davies

Project description: The aim of the project is to bring together the expertise across the Company and the University to develop environmentally sustainable new approaches to control plant-parasitic nematodes.

Delivering a healthy and sustainable food economy in Letchworth Garden City

Associate: Amelie Andre

Supervisors: Dr Susan Parham, Prof. David Barling, Mr David Ames

Project description: The aim of the project is to underpin and improve the economic base of Letchworth Garden City in relation to food: applying planning, governance and policy tools which are of practical benefit to the townspeople and their health and well-being, and the sustainability of the community and its environment.

Well-being and personal values

Associate: Jackie Le Fevre

Supervisors: Dr Colleen Addicott, Dave Taylor, Andy Brogan

Project description: The aim of the project is to test and validate the Company’s values framework, currently titled ‘Values and Heart’.

Neuroprotective properties of serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists in models of Parkinson’s disease.

Associate: William Powell

Supervisors: Dr Mahmoud Iravani

Project Description: The present neurochemical and behavioural neuroscience project involves the use of well-established techniques to investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of novel drugs.

Investigation into the validation of a resilience intervention

Associate: Rosie Hancock

Supervisors: Dr Colleen Addicott, Belinda Board

Project description: The aim of the project is to test the viability and reliability of the resilience ‘web application’ created by the Company for people undergoing difficulties in the workplace.

Determination of the key parameters influencing dislodgeable foliar pesticide residues.

Associate: Mohamed Badawy

Supervisors: Prof. Kathy Lewis, Dr Neil Morgan

Project description: The broad aim of this 4-year work programme is to better understand the factors that affect the occurrence and behaviour of Dislodgeable Foliar Residues with the intention of enabling the refinement of risk assessments.

Rapid bacteria colony counting algorithm development

Associate: Minghua Zheng

Supervisors: Dr Na Helian

Project description: The aim of this project is to propose and implement new algorithms which are robust to noise for rapid bacterial colony detection and counting.

Novel pharmacodynamic markers as predictors of neuropathic pain and pain relief

Associate: Michael Lanigan

Supervisors: Dr Lisa Lione, Dr Sandor Kantor, Dr Amy Fisher

Project description: The aim of this collaborative project is to refine novel, translatable behavioural and biomarker endpoints for measuring neuropathic pain and analgesia.