Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/L009102/1
Novel bioanalytical approaches for safety assessment and de-risking of engineered nanomaterials
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:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Nanotechnology has been the greatest impetus to industrial development in the 21st century with a global market of $250B in 2009. Concern is warranted, however, because environmental discharges are increasing and adverse effects on human and environmental health have been shown, yet there is much uncertainty as to the toxic mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Metabolomics is a transformative technology that measures 1000's of metabolites in organisms, yielding information-rich molecular responses that can reveal so-called 'Adverse Outcome Pathways'. AOPs are a concept for linking molecular toxicity to whole organism responses that are relevant to risk assessment. Characterising AOPs for thousands of ENMs (due to the vast diversity of structures, sizes, coatings) is essential to determine the nature of the risks, to facilitate responsible innovation by removing 'structures' that are toxic, and to provide knowledge to underpin science-based risk assessment. Building on our large research program in metabolomics and nanotoxicology, and working with our CASE and Project Partners, we will address two interlinked significant challenges, (1) to develop and apply ultrahigh throughput molecular diagnostics for the safety assessment of ENMs, and (2) to advance policy for the use of such enabling technologies for ENM risk assessment. Our CASE PARTNER, Thermo Scientific, is a world leader in the development of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and has recently identified metabolomics as a priority area. In 2012, Thermo Scientific formed a Technology Alliance Partnership (TAP) with the University of Birmingham, the first and only such partnership within Europe, building on their earlier TAPs with Princeton and Stanford University's. Our PROJECT PARTNER, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), is the scientific and technical arm of the European Commission with the mission to provide EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. Collectively this team will provide SPECIALIST TRAINING: in LC, MS and extraction chemistry, and unparalleled access to current and pre-released technologies (Thermo); in metabolomics, nanotoxicology and more broadly analytical environmental sciences (Viant lab; comprising of 9 postdocs and representing the largest group in environmental metabolomics nationally); and in risk assessment and policy (Birmingham Law School) including the regulation of ENMs (JRC & OECD Working Group). TRANSFERABLE SKILLS will be taught at both Birmingham, through the extensive courses in the Biosciences Graduate Research School, and at Thermo, including business awareness, project management and financial training. This training will be truly MULTIDISCIPLINARY to enrich the student experience. Furthermore the main supervisor in particular is highly experienced, having completed 6 PhDs in the past five years and with 5 current students, several of which are/were NERC CASE. The student will be integrated within three pre-existing and overlapping communities of PhD students and other researchers, providing an exceptional TRAINING ENVIRONMENT: the growing Environmental Systems Biology network at Birmingham, comprising >6 research groups; the NanoForum community, a network of >10 research groups from several Schools at Birmingham working in nanomaterial synthesis, characterisation and biological effects; and the community of ca. 30 scientists who constitute the TAP with Thermo Scientific. The IMPACTS of this research will be great: economically to Thermo through the development, application and marketing of their technologies for risk assessment in a multi-$B nanotechnology industry; longer term, economically to the nanotechnology industry through 'de-risking'; and by training a next-generation scientist, who is competent in molecular science and Big Data, and skilled in the translation of basic science into policy to create real impact.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/L009102/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £83,515
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £16,226 | £11,000 | £56,292 |
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