Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/J017442/1
[WATER] [ENVIRONMENT] Translational biomarker research in ecotoxicology: from laboratory discovery to field application
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor M Viant, University of Birmingham, Sch of Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Birmingham, Sch of Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Increasing worldwide contamination of freshwater ecosystems with thousands of industrial chemicals "is one of the key environmental problems facing humanity" (Science, vol. 313, p. 1072, 2006). Assessing the impacts of environmental exposures to these chemicals remains of paramount importance. The Water Framework Directive, representing the central legislation on water quality in Europe, has shifted emphasis away from traditional chemical measurements of ecological status to the assessment of the health of fauna and flora. This is determined primarily from the composition and abundances of aquatic plants and invertebrates. Although an improvement over chemical measurements, these bioindicators lack specificity, have no mechanistic basis and do not provide early warning of ecological damage. Metabolomics measures many hundreds of metabolites in a biological sample, and has been proven (by the lead applicant and others) to provide a sensitive and information-rich approach for discovering the sub-lethal impacts of chemicals on biota. While metabolomics is an exceptional biomarker discovery tool, it is utterly impractical to deploy in routine monitoring, largely because of its expense and complexity. Hence the metabolic biomarker signatures now routinely being discovered by metabolomics cannot be deployed and tested by end-users for toxicity assessments and environmental monitoring. OVERALL AIM: This technology-led PhD project will develop an optimised analytical and computational workflow for efficiently translating molecular biomarker signatures from their discovery (using metabolomics) to targeted, highthroughput and quantitative LC-MS assays for measuring the impacts of chemicals on biota. These assays will be directly transferable to end-users, such as the Environment Agency, providing powerful tools for toxicity assessments and ecological monitoring. CASE PARTNER: Thermofisher Scientific (inc. the purchase of Dionex in 2011) is a world leader in the development of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, with considerable R&D focused on metabolomics. This proposal builds upon an established collaboration between Thermofisher and the University of Birmingham, and will benefit the student via specialised training in LC-MS and unparalleled access to facilities. Reciprocally the project benefits Thermofisher by mapping onto Company goals to develop and optimise LC-MS methods and chemical analysis workflows. The considerable buy-in from the CASE partner is evidenced by their cash contribution, which is 4-fold above the minimum allowed. TRAINING: Robust training in the analytical environmental sciences will be provided at several levels: via partnership with experts at Thermofisher (LC, MS and technology development); via 'training-through-research' in Viant's lab, which comprises of 14 PhD students & postdocs (extraction chemistry, metabolomics, data mining, ecotoxicology); via courses and interactions with other academics in the Schools of Biosciences and Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (analytical and environmental chemistry); and via interactions through Viant's network of national and international collaborators. Extensive generic training will be provided by the Biosciences Graduate Research School (BGRS). SUPERVISORS: Both Adam and Viant have successfully supervised multiple NERC and NERC CASE PhD studentships. Adam has >30 years of expertise in chromatography and more recently LC-MS. Viant has a large, vibrant and well funded (four current NERC grants and Director of a NERC facility) research group that conducts pioneering research in the development and application of metabolomics to the environmental sciences. Together, the supervisors have considerable expertise in all aspects of the proposal. High quality assessment and monitoring procedures are in place via the BGRS and a clear plan for supervisory contact is established.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/J017442/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £70,596
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £13,812 | £8,500 | £48,285 |
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