University of Leeds Core Equipment Award 2022

2022 年利兹大学核心设备奖

• 批准号: EP/X034801/1
• 负责人: Nick Plant
• 金额: $ 159.28万
• 依托单位: University of Leeds
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX034801%2F1
• 关键词: University; Leeds; Core; Equipment; Award

The award will deliver new research equipment to be used by a wide range of scientists and engineers at the University of Leeds (and beyond). The instruments will provide new or improved capabilities for the analysis of complex chemical samples of relevance to the discovery and manufacture of new functional materials and molecules, and for the continuous monitoring of cell-development for biophysical and engineering-driven biomedical research. The instruments will be housed in dedicated facilities with full support and training from dedicated research and technical professionals. Access to the instruments will be open to researchers at all career stages, with a special focus on supporting the training and development of those undertaking doctoral degrees. The two specific items of equipment are:1) Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass SpectrometerThis instrument combines gas chromatography - the separation of mixtures of volatilised compounds by passage over a solid matrix in the gas phase - with mass spectrometry - where ionised forms of the molecules of interest are formed and separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Tandem mass spectrometry allows a second MS phase in which the initially formed ions are further fragmented and the fragments detected. This allows, for example, highly accurate detection of trace analytes in complex matrices (e.g. environmental or biologically-derived samples) and/or structural elucidation between e.g. isomeric molecules with very similar physical properties. Research undertaken using this equipment will impact a broad range of research, including the use of data-driven 'self-optimising' approaches to the rapid development of chemical manufacturing processes, the creation of new sustainable polymer materials from biorenewable feedstocks, and the analysis of trace but important contaminants in combustion and carbon capture processes.2) Time-Lapse Live Cell-Imaging SystemTime-lapse live cell imaging systems are optical microscopes which can monitor the development of live cells in model organs in real-time for extended periods without external intervention. The instrument can monitor changes in light emission (fluorescence) using single or multiple colours (wavelengths), and allows scientists and engineers to observe how cells develop within model organs under a range of conditions.Research undertaken using this equipment allows us to model and study biological processes in vitro, addressing such fundamentally and clinically-important questions as "how are drugs trafficked within organs?", "how do cancer cells arrange themselves as they develop into tumours?" and "how can we develop improved methods for in vitro fertilisation?"The research discoveries enabled by this investment in equipment will be disseminated through publication in appropriate open-access journals. The facilities will also support the growth of collaborative work between the University and business, from SMEs (including spin-outs of the University) to major international companies, improving their products and processes and ultimately returning benefit to the UK taxpayer.

该奖项将提供新的研究设备，供利兹大学(以及更远的地方)的广泛科学家和工程师使用。这些仪器将提供新的或改进的能力，用于分析与发现和制造新的功能材料和分子相关的复杂化学样品，并为生物物理和工程驱动的生物医学研究持续监测细胞发展。这些仪器将被安置在专用设施中，并得到专门研究和技术专业人员的全力支持和培训。这些仪器将向所有职业阶段的研究人员开放，重点是支持那些获得博士学位的人的培训和发展。这两个具体的设备是：1)气相色谱/串联质谱仪该仪器将气相色谱--通过在气相中通过固体基质分离挥发性化合物的混合物--与质谱仪相结合--在质谱仪中，目标分子的电离形式被形成，并根据它们的质量/电荷比进行分离。串联质谱学允许第二MS相，在该相中，初始形成的离子被进一步碎裂并检测到碎片。这允许例如高精度地检测复杂基质(例如，环境或生物衍生样品)中的痕量分析物和/或例如具有非常相似物理性质的异构体分子之间的结构鉴定。使用该设备进行的研究将影响广泛的研究，包括使用数据驱动的“自我优化”方法来快速开发化学制造工艺，从生物可再生原料中创造新的可持续聚合物材料，以及分析燃烧和碳捕获过程中微量但重要的污染物。2)延时活细胞成像系统延时活细胞成像系统是光学显微镜，可以在没有外部干预的情况下实时监测模型器官中活细胞的发育。该仪器可以使用单一或多种颜色(波长)监测发光(荧光)的变化，并允许科学家和工程师观察在一系列条件下细胞在模型器官中的发育情况。使用该设备进行的研究使我们能够在体外模拟和研究生物过程，解决一些根本性和临床上重要的问题，如“药物是如何在器官内贩运的？”“癌细胞在发展成肿瘤的过程中如何排列？”以及“我们如何开发改进的体外受精方法？”这一设备投资带来的研究发现将通过在适当的开放获取期刊上发表来传播。这些设施还将支持大学与企业之间合作工作的发展，从中小企业(包括大学的剥离)到大型国际公司，改进他们的产品和流程，并最终将利益返还给英国纳税人。