INNOVATIVE KEELE SPIN-OUT COMPANY WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

Keele spin-out company nanoTherics has been honoured with a prestigious award for innovation. The success of the company impressed judges at the Lord Stafford Awards who presented it with the Impact Through Innovation award and a cheque for £5,000 at the finals dinner at Worcester Cathedral.

nanoTherics was formed in 2007 after pioneering joint research into gene transfer by scientists at Keele and the University of Florida. The developed technology uses a process known as transfection, whereby genes are introduced into human cells. The "transfected genes" could then be used to treat genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. nanoTherics is now producing the device used for the transfection process for academic research and commercial use.

Professor Jon Dobson, Director at nanoTherics, said: "This award is recognition not only for the many hours and days of effort that have gone into the development of the technology but also the work that has been necessary to make the idea commercially viable. We have already begun making sales of the device with orders from Florida, Ireland and the UK and it is clear that there are many international laboratories and industrial companies interested in having access to and using the magnefect-nano device. Our early sales of these devices suggest there is a strong market for the solution offered by our technology and the potential market could be worth billions."

Lord Stafford, Patron of the Awards, which were launched at Keele 11 years ago, said: "If you look at innovation in terms of the sheer potential, then the work of nanoTherics is right up there with anything we have seen at the Lord Stafford Awards. The link-up between the company and Keele University, combined with the fact that this is a joint research project with the University of Florida, shows the global aspirations and ambitions of nanoTherics."

NAMING THE COLIN REEVES BUILDING

Professor Colin Reeves returned to the University this week to unveil a plaque to mark the official naming of the School of Computer and Mathematics building in his honour.

He said he was delighted to name the "Colin Reeves Building" and wished everyone "great success" in the future. University staff and former colleagues joined Professor Reeves and his wife, Bess, for lunch in Keele Hall before attending a seminar given by Ray Dawson, of Loughborough University, on "Knowledge management problems and how to overcome them".

Professor Reeves studied Mathematics at Sydney Sussex College Cambridge and went on to complete a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry before a period in the chemical industry and as a programmer on one of the first industrial computers. He came to Keele from Leeds University in 1973/74 to become the founding Professor of Computer Science and remained Head of the Department until his retirement in 1990. 

Professor Reeves had a long and distinguished association with the British Computer Society, rising to become a moderator and then Chairman of the BCS Examinations Board. It was through his influential work in curriculum design that he made the original connections with Sri Lanka for which the School is now well known. In 1983 he accepted an invitation from the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka to visit all their universities and recommend a plan to introduce computing into the university system.  The subsequent Reeves Report formed the foundation for 10 years of UK Government-funded collaboration between Keele and the universities of Sri Lanka.

GLADIATOR GLORY FOR MEDICAL STUDENT

First year medical student Jenny Hands battled her way to glory in a Gladiators television special last weekend. She was picked to represent the Army in the Gladiators Battle of the Forces special that was filmed in May and broadcast last Sunday.

Jenny, who was in the Army for nine years before starting her studies in medicine, said: "The show was billed by Sky as a David and Goliath battle as I'm only 5'3" and nine stone and my opponent and all the other Gladiators towered above me. I was up against Battleaxe on the Duel and she's eight inches taller than me and four stone heavier!

"I put up a valiant, but sadly lacking, fight in the four games (Duel, Hang Tough, Powerball and Gauntlet) and ended up giving my RAF opponent an 8.5 second head-start in the Eliminator. However, what she hadn't bet on was how much the support from the coach load of my soldiers, my friends and family in the crowd was going to spur me on. I ended up overtaking her and becoming Forces Champion."

She donated her £5,000 prize money to Help For Heroes, a charity which helps rehabilitate servicemen and women who are injured on operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

SEISMOMETERS FOR SCHOOLS

Seismometers for Schools is a national project coordinated through the British Geological Survey where universities donate seismometers to local schools, provide training to teachers and then mentor teachers in the use of seismometers in the classroom.  The seismometers can record earthquakes from all over the globe and the earthquake seismograms can be exchanged between schools creating a UK-schools earthquake recording network.  In addition to their use in teaching earth sciences in schools, the seismometers are designed so that they can also be used in physics classes covering topics such as simple harmonic motion, damping, filtering, electro-magnetic induction and wave propagation.

Keele is one of the first universities in the UK to be involved in this project and last week saw the inauguration of the KAP-SEIS (Keele And Partners - Seismology) network. Dr Ian Stimpson hosted the first teacher training day in conjunction with the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences (SPGS), Keele Widening Participation (WP) and the Science Learning Centre, West Midlands.  Teachers attended from schools across the region, including Stoke, Crewe, Leek, Wellington and Cheadle, and learned how to set up the seismometer and use it in classroom teaching.  At the end of the day they were able to take a seismometer, donated by SPGS and WP, back to their schools. Dr Stimpson will provide continued mentoring to the teachers via a dedicated online social network and pupils from the partner schools will visit Keele for an annual earthquake day to demonstrate project work that has been completed using the seismometers. Keele is donating eight seismometers this year and there are two other schools in the region that already have them and are joining the project.

LAW AND PUBLIC LIFE

The School of Law hosted an alumni evening last week designed to give current students the opportunity to meet high profile alumni currently working in the legal profession and to celebrate the achievements of our alumni in public life.

Students had the opportunity to join small group talks given by Mirza Ahmad (Chief Legal Officer, Birmingham City Council), Judge Peter Coulson (first Keele graduate appointed to the High Court) and Fiona Woolf (past President of the Law Society). Students then joined staff and other alumni for a reception held in the Great Hall of Keele Hall, with speeches from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Finch, and Fiona Woolf, who reflected on the way in which the interdisciplinary study of Law had given her and her fellow alumni such a strong foundation for their later successes.

Current students then had the opportunity to meet the alumni more informally. They said how much they valued the opportunity and had been "inspired" by the very helpful advice they received from the visitors. The evening was part of an ongoing series of events organised by the School of Law.

FIREWORKS, RAINBOWS AND MAGIC BULLET MEDICINES LECTURE

Professor Pat Bailey, Natural Sciences, this week gave the third lecture in the University's programme of Inaugural Lectures for 2008/2009. The title of the lecture was "Fireworks, rainbows and magic bullet medicines".

Professor Bailey looked at the inspiration which led him to study chemistry and drew links from his childhood enthusiasm through to his current research on drug design and delivery. He explored how we can control chemical reactions and use chemistry to create new molecules that are important for biology, forensics and materials science. By using simple demonstrations, and scientific explanations of them, he showed how the 'fun' chemistry of fireworks, stink-bombs and colour is linked to chemistry at the cutting edge of research, including the 'magic bullets' of modern medicine.

The other lectures in the series are: Tuesday, 9 December 2008, Professor Jan Wenzelburger, Economics, "Hog cycles and the dynamics of markets"; Wednesday, 14 January 2009, Professor Danielle van der Windt, Primary Care Epidemiology, "The epidemiology of pain: a tale of two countries"; Tuesday, 17 February 2009, Professor Marilyn Andrews, Health and Rehabilitation, "Innovation in healthcare education: a model for the future"; Wednesday, 18 March 2009, Professor Tony Bradney, Law, "Should the Law Respect Religion?"; Wednesday, 13 May 2009 Professor Mihaela Kelemen, Management,  "Management, uncertainty, pragmatism: the new triumvirate".

LEARNING DISABILITY NURSING STUDENTS VISIT BELARUS

Learning disability nursing students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery have recently completed a clinical placement in Belarus. The six students spent two weeks providing care for children and young people with physical and learning disabilities. The placement in Belarus was supported by the Chernobyl Children's Project (UK). The students have delivered a presentation on their experiences to other students and staff. The students are now qualified learning disability staff nurses working in a variety of areas.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED AT KEELE

Students and staff at Keele were last week encouraged to dress up, or down, or to wear fancy dress to support the BBC Children in Need event. The Students' Union put in place a number of collection tins across the campus and held a Tombola and Table Top stall in the Students' Union Ballroom in aid of BBC Children in Need. A grand total of £107 was raised throughout the day, including a £10 donation from Keele Student Society, ActiVE.

Two members of staff from Undergraduate Admissions, Janice Carr and Mark Hayward, transformed into their 'superhero' alter egos, Wonderwoman and Batman, for the appeal. 

Staff from Academic Registry, Finance and various Schools gave generously to the cause and £105 in total was raised through the day and, thanks to Janice, in the evening, a further £85 was collected, making a grand total of £190.

Many thanks to all those who kindly donated!

NEWCASTLE MAYOR VISITS DTL

The Mayor of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Councillor John Cooper, has visited the Med IC4 facility of Dermal Technology Laboratory. The visit followed DTL's success at the recent Business Boost evening when the company was awarded first prize in a competition for new companies.

The Mayor was delighted to see a working biomedical laboratory and met Professor Jon Heylings, Chairman of DTL, Dave Fox, the Managing Director of DTL and members of staff. He also was introduced to Caroline Mairs, Head of the Science Park, and Rosi Monkman, the Science Park Business Manager.

THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY

Bioethicist Professor John Harris, Research Director in the Institute of Science, Ethics and Innovation at Manchester University's School of Law, this week gave the second of Keele's 2008/2009 series of public lectures, "Synthetic Sunshine and Synthetic Biology – The Future of Humanity".

He discussed the radical scientific approaches which could enhance our species – making us live longer and resist disease, for example – and which could result in new and improved successors to humankind.

Future speakers in Keele's Public Lecture series include Clare Short, MP (March 17), Nick Partridge, OBE (Terrence Higgins Trust) (March 23) and Judge Roger Dutton (May 26). David Cooney (Irish ambassador to the UK) and Richard Lambert (Confederation of British Industry) are also set to speak, although the dates are yet to be confirmed.

RESEARCH GRANTS

A collaborative NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) research project  based at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, with Keele University (Dr Anand Pandyan, Research Institute for Life Course Studies), Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust, Stoke-on-Trent NHS Primary Care Trust, Southampton University and Newcastle University, has obtained funding worth £1.97M to develop an integrated service model incorporating innovative technology for the rehabilitation of the upper limb following stroke.

The overall aim of this project is to provide a better care pathway and a service delivery model for upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients which is acceptable and relevant for use throughout the NHS in England.

This project is due to run over a period of five years, with a review at the end of two years, and is split into two phases; a scoping phase and a clinical trials phase. This new programme grant complements the growing portfolio of substantive rehabilitation related projects led by Dr Pandyan, which are aimed at facilitating the recovery of functional movement in severely disabled stroke patients.

Professor Mark Ormerod, Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics, has been awarded two grants worth £54,000 from the STFC to carry out extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray Absorption Near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy measurements on doped supported nickel methane reforming catalysts.

The awards complement funding from the EPSRC and previous STFC funding aimed at obtaining a detailed understanding at a molecular level of the formation of hydrocarbonaceous overlayers on nickel catalyst surfaces, which cause catalyst deactivation, and sulphur poisoning of nickel catalysts, and using this insight to develop improved, more tolerant catalysts for conversion of methane, and in particular waste biogas, into useful chemicals, and for the development of solid oxide fuel cells running on waste biogas.

RADIO 4 INTERVIEW FOR KEELE HISTORIAN

David Maxwell, Professor of African History, School of Humanities, took part in Radio 4's 'Sunday' Programme last weekend. He was interviewed by Roger Bolton about the Evangelical Christian credentials of the Rwandan military leader, Laurent Nkunda, in the context of the wider missionary and Christian history of Congo and Rwanda. 

Discussion covered the authenticity of Nkunda's conversion, the missionary legacy and the social and political significance of contemporary African Christianity.  Professor Maxwell is currently engaged on an ESRC and Nuffield funded research project, which investigates the significance of the missionary encounter in colonial Belgian Congo.

KEELE EXPERTS DISSECT THE US ELECTION RESULTS

Members of the School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy and the Research Institute for Law, Politics and Justice held a symposium on the US elections last week.

The event, supported by the David Bruce Centre for American Studies, attracted an audience of over 60 people, including students, staff and the general public. Michael Tappin presented an interpretation of voting behaviour, Dr Jonathan Parker analysed the extent to which the media favoured Obama, Professor Christopher Bailey discussed whether Obama's election signs a fundamental change in American politics and society, and Dr Jon Herbert evaluated the prospects for President-elect Obama's first term.

BIDDULPH HIGH UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE DAY

Widening Participation this week hosted a University Experience Day for Biddulph High School in collaboration with Staffordshire Aimhigher.

The 47 KS4 students took part in an interactive American High Schools session, run by Dr. Jonathan Parker, as well as gaining a first hand experience of what Keele - and Higher Education in general - has to offer. The students also enjoyed the MASH personality test, which was run by current Keele undergraduate and WP senior mentor, Adam Gledhill, and a fun campus tour conducted by WP student mentors. An insightful, interactive and enjoyable day was had by both students and teaching staff alike.

KEELE MODERN APPRENTICE AMONG BRITAIN'S BEST YOUNG CHEFS

Keele chef Luke Staton, a Modern Apprentice at Keele Hall, was among the finalists in the British Culinary Federation Young Chef of the Year competition at the University College Birmingham College of Food this week.

Luke, who is currently studying for his NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery had to cook a three course menu for two people within two hours. He was marked on presentation, working methods, techniques and culinary skills, hygiene practises, timing balance of textures and flavours.

THREE COUNTIES OPEN ART

Keele's thirteenth Three Counties Open Art Exhibition, which provides a showcase for artists in the region and gives visitors an opportunity to see and buy from a wide range of original work, was opened last week by the Secretary and Registrar, Simon Morris.
 
A total of 455 works were submitted by 171 artists and 151 were accepted for the exhibition, which runs until December 16. The judges   Keele University Arts Advisor, John Rhodes, artist David Gleeson, and Professor Ian Bell   selected work to be included in the exhibition and picked the prize winners.

First prize went to Christopher Clements, of Church Stretton, for "Ilaria"; with second prize to John Stipling, of Huntington, Chester, for "The Naming of the Artists No. 8". Joint third prize was awarded to Jean Byatt, of Longton, for her oil painting, "A Derbyshire Lane", and David Hunt, of Leek for his painting "Rock Barr's Garden".