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（以及其他大学）的科学家和工程师广泛使用。这些仪器将提供新的或改进的能力，用于分析与新功能材料和分子的发现和制造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提供细胞发育的持续监测。这些仪器将被安置在专门的设施中，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，特别侧重于支持那些攻读博士学位的人的培训和发展。该仪器结合了气相色谱法（通过在气相中通过固体基质分离挥发性化合物混合物）和质谱法（根据其质量电荷比形成和分离感兴趣的分子的电离形式）。串联质谱法允许第二个质谱阶段，其中最初形成的离子进一步破碎，碎片被检测到。例如，这允许对复杂基质（例如环境或生物衍生样品）中的痕量分析物进行高精度检测和/或对具有非常相似物理性质的异构体分子进行结构解析。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痕量但重要的污染物。延时活细胞成像系统延时活细胞成像系统是一种光学显微镜，可以在没有外界干预的情况下，长时间实时监测模型器官中活细胞的发育情况。该仪器可以使用单一或多种颜色（波长）监测光发射（荧光）的变化，并允许科学家和工程师观察细胞在一系列条件下如何在模型器官内发育。使用这种设备进行的研究使我们能够在体外模拟和研究生物过程，解决诸如“药物如何在器官内贩运？”、“癌细胞在发展成肿瘤时如何排列自己？”以及“我们如何开发改进的体外受精方法？”等基础和临床重要问题。这项设备投资所促成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的合作，从中小企业（包括大学的分拆）到主要的国际公司，改善他们的产品和流程，最终为英国纳税人带来好处。