The magic of blood: shining light on chemistry, physics and bioengineering

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Areas to be coveredThis project aims to promote the role of research funded by EPSRC, particularly that at the Life Science Interface. Three areas will be covered. 1 The initial focus will be on issues relating to the chemistry and physics of blood. Blood is a fluid involved in oxygen transport and host defence against disease. However, its colour and magnetic properties makes it accessible to a wide range of physical techniques. A key story will be the use of the optical properties of blood as a probe in medicine and sport, the purpose of two current EPSRC grants by the PI. Bioengineering the blood itself to make a safer and more long-lasting alternative to blood transfusions / so-called blood substitutes / will also be featured. 2 The use of illegal drugs in sport is a contentious and continually evolving media story. It provides an ideal environment within which basic ideas of chemistry and physics can be communicated to a mass audience. Furthermore EPSRC funds a large number of grants in sports science, partly, but not entirely, in response to the London 2012 Olympics bid. These are fertile ground for the media and I would be interesting in assisting other EPSRC scientists in developments outside my immediate research area, using any contacts I have built up. 3 The environmental pollutant nitric oxide is now known to play a key role in normal bodily functions, as well as disease. Nitric oxide's influence ranges from killing bacteria to controlling penile erections (Viagra acts on the nitric oxide pathway). The PI has research interests in the chemistry and biology of nitric oxide, including developing mathematical and computational models to describe its effects on brain and muscle function. StrategyThe overall strategy will make use of the saleability of sport and medicine to the mass media, using these as Trojan Horses to explain chemical and physical principles underpinning current research. TacticsThe tactics will first be to use current and future book projects (blood, drugs in sport, nitric oxide) to create a profile against which to launch proposals for television and radio documentaries. Especially for TV work, it is key to create evocative visual images and an important part of the project will be filming studies (in chemistry, physics or sport), creating taster tapes that can be used to pitch programs.Further media responses to work already produced will be followed up and I will reactively respond to print media stories in these areas. Because of this, considerable flexibility will be built into the project. So for example if a TV or radio documentary series was commissioned about blood or sports science it would be counter-productive to initiate a book writing project on nitric oxide in that year.