PIONEER

Summer 2009

www.epsrc.ac.uk 03

Could virtual humans revolutionise healthcare?

ROBERT WINSTON / L’AQUILA EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH / ILLUMINATING DNA EVIDENCE EPSRC: funding the future

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Get involved: Contact us: Research Council (EPSRC) is the main EPSRC’s portfolio of research projects We have dedicated sector teams working to understand the research and skills needs of UK government agency for funding includes more than 2,000 partnerships their sectors and to help connect businesses research and training in engineering with organisations from the industrial, with university expertise. and the physical sciences – from business and charitable sectors. Aerospace, Defence and Marine Contact: Simon Crook, Tel: 01793 444425 mathematics to materials science More than 35 per cent of our research Creative Industries and from information technology to funding includes collaborative partners. Contact: Pamela Mason, Tel: 01793 444268 structural engineering. EPSRC’s knowledge transfer goals Electronics, Communications and IT Contact: Matthew Ball, Tel: 01793 444351 include: Working with UK universities, it invests Energy around £740m a year in world class • Enhancing opportunities for Contact: Stephen Elsby, Tel: 01793 444458 research and training to promote future business/university research Infrastructure and Environment economic development and improved collaborations to accelerate Contact: Claire Tansley, Tel: 01793 444237 quality of life. knowledge transfer. Manufacturing Contact: Pilar Sepulveda, Tel: 01793 444068 • Ensuring postgraduate skills meet the PIONEER is EPSRC’s quarterly Medicines and Healthcare needs of business through increased Contact: Nicolas Guernion (Medicines) magazine. demand-led and collaborative training. Tel: 01793 444343 Contact: Claire Wagstaffe (Healthcare) It highlights how EPSRC-funded • Strengthening partnerships with Tel: 01793 444586 research and training is helping to business to improve knowledge Transport Systems and Vehicles Contact: Richard Bailey, Tel: 01793 444423 tackle global challenges and the major transfer – including the development issues facing individuals, business If you can’t find a sector relevant to you, of strategic partnerships with please email: [email protected] and the UK economy. research-intensive companies. EPSRC Polaris House North Star Avenue You can find out more about EPSRC and how you can work with us by visiting Swindon our website www.epsrc.ac.uk SN2 1ET E-mail: [email protected] Switchboard: 01793 444000 Helpline: 01793 444100 Website: www.epsrc.ac.uk The views and statements expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily PIONEER those of EPSRC unless explicitly stated. Some of the research highlighted may not yet have Editor: Christopher Buratta been peer-reviewed. E-mail: [email protected] © Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Reproduction permitted only if source Tel: 01793 444305 is acknowledged. Editorial Assistance: Rachel Blackford ISSN 1758-7727 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01793 444459 Mailing changes: [email protected] Contributors David Bradley, Maria Burke, Barry Hague, Kate Ravilious PIONEER 03 CONTENTS Summer 2009 FEATURES 12 Cover story Creating the virtual human that could lead to a new era in personalised healthcare 16 Power to the people Professor Robert Winston on the 12 democratisation of science 18 Earthquake engineering Vital evidence from the recent Italian earthquake will help improve buildings and infrastructure 22 Crime scene investigation The new techniques illuminating vital DNA evidence and extracting ‘lifestyle intelligence’ from fingerprints 24 Heartbeat monitor Technology developed for foundry workers is helping to save lives in the delivery room 26 Carbon countdown How the Energy Technologies Institute and EPSRC are tackling looming carbon 16 reduction targets 28 Material gains 26 The world’s thinnest material is set to make a big impact 30 Industrial revolution redux Could the humble canal barge be the future of transport, again

REGULARS 4 Leader 5 Briefings Diamond transistors, lip reading computers, carbon capture research and a sustainable racing car “You get 11 Interview EPSRC’s Emma Feltham on building strong hit by the bonds with business 18 32 Viewpoint fact there are Professor David Gann discusses how advances in innovation management will play a vital role in people there protecting the future health of the UK economy 34 Profile and this is Leading mathematician Marcus du Sautoy talks about his heroes, Sunday league football and 22 their home” running away to the theatre here has been increased focus in demonstrating technologies that will help in recent months on science and reduce carbon emissions. The projects it engineering’s contribution to a funds will draw on the expertise and modern economy – and in part research created by EPSRC-funded projects, Tits role in economic recovery. and will lead to commercial development It is clear – and has been clear to those of world-leading technologies. of us within the science community for Certain low carbon technologies, such as sometime – that British research can wind and marine will have a visual impact stimulate the great ideas, develop the on our landscape and, echoing Professor innovative new technologies and produce Winston’s sentiments on page 16, it will be the fantastic minds to drive new business. vital that the public help shape their future We must however retain our focus on the development and deployment if they are to long term challenges we face, and cannot stand any chance of success. let the current economic situation detract Leading the world in innovation itself, from these. We must view the immediate as discussed by Professor David Gann on term problems as a stimulus to deliver page 32, will allow us to export our Balancing economic growth through the generation knowledge around the globe and will important challenges

and integration of skills and technologies make us a world leader, not only in that will enable us to make real progress developing new technologies, but in high on these long term challenges. value manufacturing and the associated Perhaps the issues that best demonstrate service sector. this approach are those of the environment Recent changes to EPSRC’s business and energy supply, generation and demand. sector teams, outlined on page 11, will help These issues have risen in public and us meet these responsibilities and ensure the political importance over a prolonged UK’s research base fulfils its potential, that period of relative economic stability. it improves and saves lives through better Now, faced with more pressing economic healthcare, combats the environmental challenges, we must not let our resolve to challenges we face and safeguards our tackle environmental issues waver. We have long term economic prosperity. Stimulating the opportunity to stimulate economic economic recovery is a tough challenge, growth based on new technologies in areas but research at the frontiers has always such as low carbon transport and renewable been about meeting and overcoming energy – to help build what is sometimes tough challenges. described as the ‘green economy’. And, with what seems like a growing list This issue of PIONEER raises some of of daunting challenges confronting us, we these issues and opportunities. Hydrogen must continue to find time to marvel at the fuel cell technology, featured on page 30, wonder of science and engineering as it could have an important role to play in helps us rediscover an instrument, the lituus, low carbon transport. Further work at the lost for nearly three centuries and allows us University of Birmingham is looking at how to hear one of Bach’s compositions in its we build a ‘hydrogen economy’ to support full glory again. Download the PIONEER this, including supply chains, distribution Podcast and take a listen! and storage. The Energy Technologies Institute, featured on page 26, has a vital role to play David Delpy EPSRC chief executive

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REVIVING BACH ART AND ENGINEERING RACING GREEN FUTURE HEALTH briefings READING LIPS DIGITAL HUBS DIAMOND CHIPS CARBON CAPTURE BOOST

Lost horn breathes new life into Bach cantata CUTTING-EDGE computer modelling software has brought an extinct, trumpet-like instrument back to life – allowing a work by Bach to be performed as the composer intended for the first time in nearly 300 years. No-one alive today had heard, played or even seen a picture of the lituus – a two metre long horn made from beech. But it has been recreated thanks to software developed by an EPSRC-funded PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, a Swiss-based music conservatory specialising in early music, has now used Edinburgh’s designs to build two identical examples of the long-lost instrument. Both were used in an experimental performance of Bach’s cantata ‘O Jesus Christ, light of my life’ earlier this year.

To hear recordings of the lituus and find out how it was recreated download The PIONEER Podcast: www.epsrc.ac.uk/ videoaudio briefings

Green race car provides carrot for sustainable motorsport

A CARROT steering wheel, potato starch body and flax fibre seat – no, not a healthy remake of Hansel and Gretel but the component list of a fully functioning high performance Formula 3 racing car. The World F3rst car, made entirely from sustainable materials, underwent its first track test in May and passed with flying colours. engineering success story so we are trying “These materials could be used in With motorsport, including Formula to tap into that industry.” But he added the production cars, race cars or in other One, under increasing pressure to improve race track was only one aspect of the eco- industries. They could be used in its environmental credentials and cut costs, friendly project: “The car is a good way of architectural cladding or sports equipment.” this green racer could provide the answer. showcasing what we can do with sustainable To find out more about the project Developed by the University of materials and biodiesel technology and has and see footage of the track testing visit: Warwick’s Innovative Manufacturing created a network of collaborators. www.worldfirstracing.co.uk Research Centre, supported by EPSRC, the F3 car is fully operational and fully sustainable. The steering wheel is made from a polymer derived from carrots. The engine Multi-lingual lip-reading cover is recycled carbon fibre and the side pods are manufactured using recycled bottles. Even the lubricants are plant oil computers based and the wing mirrors and front wings are made from potato starch and flax fibre. The two-litre turbo engine, as you NEW lip-reading computers can ‘speak’ He said: “This is an exciting advance in would expect, is fuelled by biodiesel. everything from English and Arabic to automatic lip reading technology and the Dr Steve Maggs, from the World F3rst Cantonese and Italian. first scientific confirmation of something Racing project team, said the car had The technology, developed by scientists we already intuitively suspected – that when attracted global interest including at the University of East Anglia, was people speak different languages they use motorsport officials. He said: “We have developed by modelling the lip movements different mouth shapes in different had talks with motorsport officials about of 23 bilingual and trilingual speakers. sequences. ‘green motorsport’ and there is a willingness It could bring huge benefits to deaf “For example, we found frequent within that industry to do it. people, to law enforcement agencies and ‘lip-rounding’ among French speakers and “A lot of it is driven by the sport’s need those operating in noisy environments. more prominent tongue movements among to be not quite as expensive as perhaps it Professor Stephen Cox, who led the Arabic speakers.” The ground-breaking appears, particularly to sponsors. research, said it had confirmed long held research was presented at a major “Motorsport is still a big British beliefs about lip movement and language. conference in Taiwan in April.

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many modern day technologies, from silicon based chips in your computer, to gallium arsenide based circuits in your mobile phones. Diamonds sparkle “These types of materials – silicon and gallium arsenide – are chosen upon what their strengths and weaknesses are. Diamond on the other hand is very much an excellent all-round performer in race for new and has been described by many as a perfect material.” Diamond transistor technology could lead to the development of new technologies such as terahertz (T-ray) imaging. chip generation T-ray imaging devices can penetrate clothes and flesh but the radiation is non-ionising and does not damage cells, so could THE WORLD’S smallest diamond transistor could pave the provide safer security or medical scans. way for a new generation of electronics. Diamond transistors could Developed by an EPSRC-supported team at the University of also aid the development of Glasgow, the length of the transistor’s ‘gate’ is just 50 nanometres automotive collision devices – – 1,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. Diamond radar technology that would The smaller the gate the faster the transistor works. has been allow cars to detect imminent The Glasgow device is half the size of the previous smallest collisions and take evasive action. diamond transistor, developed in Japan. described Dr Moran said: “These Diamond has been heralded as an ideal material for the next applications require very fast generation of nanoscale electronics and its ability to operate in by many and ideally high-powered adverse weather and temperature conditions could lead to a transistor technology that needs new wave of devices from safer medical scanners to anti-collision as a perfect to operate in adverse weather technology in cars. and temperature conditions. Dr David Moran, who led the Glasgow team, said: “From its material. This is where diamond transistor invention in 1947, the transistor has been the building block of Dr David Moran technology would excel.”

Engineers take the stress out of artwork

ENGINEERS and art researchers have used advanced computer modelling to help preserve old works of art. The work is based on techniques used to model the stresses and strains of tensioned fabric structures such as the O2 arena in London. Damaged works of art are often lined with new canvas and re-stretched, ready to be enjoyed by future generations. The new techniques will allow conservators to create canvases computer modelling package that predicts the shape of fabric with uniform stress and mitigate against the effects of enclosures very accurately. This aspect of design affects the temperature and humidity. aesthetics, durability and function of these structures. I realised It has been led by Professor Wanda Lewis, at the University that we can apply the same modelling principles to predict the of Warwick’s School of Engineering, and Dr Christina Young, behaviour of artists’ canvases, which is simply a different of the Conservation and Technology Department at The material and structure.” Courtauld Institute of Art. She added: “We can model every detail down to the number Dr Young, a senior lecturer in painting conservation, said: and the position of the staples used, friction of the fabric, the “This work will provide invaluable information to help us effectiveness of the staples and how the fabric is wrapped improve and develop structural conservation treatment for around the corner.” paintings on canvas. It also opens up new options for living The work has been used to improve methods for tensioning artists in finding fabrics which are suitable for novel projects canvas to ensure as uniform distribution of stress as possible. and have longevity.” Researchers are also predicting the effects of temperature and Professor Lewis added: “We have developed a sophisticated humidity on the tensioned fabric. briefings

EPSRC: future health service New technology and novel design are transforming healthcare, improving every aspect of treatment from emergency response and diagnosis through to rehabilitation and preventative monitoring. Research teams, supported by EPSRC, are providing the breakthroughs that might just save your life.

Emergency Drug selection The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH), response supported by EPSRC-funded research, Emergency care practitioners have aims to revolutionise medicine by the skills to treat a wide range of personalising healthcare and tailoring illnesses and injuries on-the-spot. medical treatments to the unique genotype But emergency vehicles have not of each individual patient. evolved to provide the necessary It will use a network of computers across equipment and facilities. the world to simulate the entire internal The Smart Pods project, an EPSRC- workings of the human body. By feeding in supported collaboration between the relevant genetic information about a given Royal College of Art and Loughborough patient, it will be able to show how that University, aims to change all that. patient will respond to different drugs and help select the optimum course of treatment. The ‘Smart Pods’ concept includes a Read the full feature on page 12 suite of radical new features and design innovations like 360° access to the patient, incorporation of more modularised and portable equipment and treatment packages, plus greater portability, flexibility and adaptability of the treatment space itself. “This is the first time emergency vehicle and equipment concepts have been developed with collaborative input from clinicians, ergonomists, social scientists Condition monitoring and designers,” says Dr Sue Hignett of A system using mobile phones will help people with Loughborough University. Smart Pods chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma monitor could allow nearly half the patients their own health and prevent hospital admissions. currently taken to A&E to be treated in the community. It was developed by Oxford University engineers in collaboration with clinical colleagues and was based on research supported by EPSRC. The system, designed by t+ Medical, uses software that can be downloaded to a standard mobile phone handset and has already been adopted by eight primary care trusts across the UK. The software enables patients to easily send data – such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels or medication side effects – to a remote server that gives immediate feedback on their state of health.

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Diagnosis A new technology which dramatically improves the sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance techniques used in hospital scanners has been developed by scientists at the University of York. The technique is based on manipulating parahydrogen, the fuel of the space shuttle. It is expected to allow doctors to learn far more about a patient’s condition from an MRI scan at a lower cost. Professor Ian Greer, dean of the Hull York Medical School, said: “This technological advance has the potential to revolutionise the accessibility and application of high quality medical imaging to patients. “It will bring significant benefits to diagnosis and treatment in virtually all areas of medicine and surgery, ranging from cancer diagnosis to orthopaedics and trauma. It illustrates the enormous success of combining high quality basic science with clinical application.” The research, supported by EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC, was published in the journal Science.

Treatment Silicon chips could one day be used to repair damaged tissue in the human body thanks to an EPSRC-supported breakthrough at the University of Edinburgh. Researchers used conventional silicon chip design and manufacturing to grow neurons – the basic cells of the human nervous system – in fine-detailed patterns on the surface of tiny chips. The development may eventually enable chips to replace damaged nerve or muscle fibres. During the chip manufacturing process, the engineers and scientists printed patterns on the smooth silicon surface. The chip was then dipped in a patented mixture of proteins and neurons grew along the patterns on the surface. It is hoped that the method will eventually enable any type of tissue to be grown on a tailor-made pathway and implanted as prosthetic tissue in the body. The prosthetic chips could eventually be used in support of conventional micro-surgery. briefings

our digital future. The centres will also develop new ways to utilise digital New centres to boost technologies to help business and stimulate economic growth.” Research to be carried out at the centres Digital Britain ambition includes the development of ambient kitchens equipped with sensors in utensils, HI-TECH kitchens to help dementia appliances, cupboards and work surfaces. sufferers live independently and sat-nav The kitchens will help dementia sufferers systems that guide elderly people around live independently by monitoring the user shopping centres could be improving life as they follow the instructions in a in the future thanks to three new cookbook recipe. research centres. Walking ‘sat-nav’ devices will also be The research ‘hubs’ will create digital developed to help older pedestrians navigate technologies to transform the way we live, around shopping centres and large shops. work and play. Science and Innovation Launching the new research hubs at Minister Lord Drayson Building on plans to provide universal The British Library, Science and connectivity to broadband in the UK, the Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: hubs will develop inclusive technologies Aberdeen, Nottingham and Newcastle “New technologies can transform our that could improve the lives of those in universities. quality of life. The unique thing about the rural communities, elderly people and Head of the Digital Economy new hubs in Aberdeen, Newcastle and people with disabilities. programme John Hand said: “Their mission Nottingham is the focus on designing digital Supported by the Research Councils’ will be to connect people with digital technology that includes people from all Digital Economy programme, led by technology to radically improve the way we walks of life – this will ensure that everyone EPSRC, the hubs will be based at live and to ensure every one is included in is part of our digital future.”

challenges of large-scale transportation of We can rapidly build Research in CO2 through pipelines. Leeds University, Imperial College London, Cranfield on expertise and speed carbon capture University and the Universities of Kent, Nottingham and Cambridge are working up the introduction of technology on the oxyfuel combustion process – where vital greener energy coal is burned in a mix of pure oxygen and power station flue gases, creating a stream technologies. Professor David Delpy NEW RESEARCH could dramatically cut of CO2 that can be captured for storage. CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel power A fourth consortium, led by the stations and help the UK meet carbon University of Edinburgh, is focussing on and some of the best minds in our reduction targets. improving the economics of large-scale universities to deliver clean, sustainable EPSRC and energy company E.ON have carbon capture and storage. energy systems for the future.” announced £6.9m of research funding for David Delpy, EPSRC chief executive, This funding is part of the Research four university-led projects investigating said: “Carbon capture and storage is Councils’ Energy programme, which carbon capture and storage (CCS) already a research priority for UK EPSRC leads on behalf of Research technologies. researchers and through previous Councils UK (RCUK). The Energy CCS allows carbon dioxide to be research council funding we have built programme mission is to position the captured from power stations and then up a significant expertise within the UK to meet its energy and environmental stored underground to prevent it from academic sector. targets and policy goals through high quality entering the Earth’s atmosphere. “The research programmes we have research and postgraduate training. Under the funding, the University of announced mean that we can rapidly The funding is the third phase of the Nottingham will lead a consortium of four build on this expertise and speed up the partnership between E.ON and EPSRC. universities looking at how the surfaces of introduction of these vital greener energy More than £6m of research into low materials can be chemically altered to technologies.” carbon and energy efficiency technologies enhance CO2 absorption or ‘soak up’ rates. Dr Paul Golby, chief executive of E.ON is already taking place in other projects Newcastle University and four others will UK, added: “Collaborations such as this launched by the partnership during the address some of the technical and material one with EPSRC are combining innovation last three years.

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Emma Feltham Head of business relationships

“It is an area the UK already has real excellence in. We want to build on the Building strong bonds contacts we have in that space and understand where engineering and physical with business sciences research and training can make a EPSRC has reorganised its business sector teams to make real difference,” says Dr Feltham. “If we sure world-class research and training supports the UK’s invest in the right areas we can help this sector really grow and become a real traditional strengths and stimulates emerging areas. world leader.” Dr Feltham says making sure EPSRC’s sector relationships remain effective is vital PSRC’s sector teams provide to developing research and maximising the a vital link between academia potential impact it can have. and industry. They act as a EPSRC “For the majority of research to have communication channel – sector teams an impact it needs to be picked up by a ensuring tomorrow’s business user organisation, a company, charity or E • Aerospace, defence and marine a government department. The majority challenges are reflected in today’s blue skies research. They ensure industry’s voice • Transport systems and vehicles of people we train will also end up helps shape EPSRC’s strategy and vision. • Electronics, communications and IT working in these types of organisations. They broker partnerships – bringing So we cannot lose sight of what these • Creative industries together user organisations with research user organisations need.” groups who can add real value and linking • Medicines and healthcare But she adds the relationship is not about academics providing applied research research groups with organisations who • Manufacturing can bring valuable perspectives. and development for the private sector. It is essential the sector teams remain • Infrastructure and environment “The problems that industry faces forward looking to reflect trends and issues, • Energy are long-term problems that are really allowing the research community time to challenging. Industry cannot crack them help address them. without academic help. That’s why we need these partnerships.” That was the driving force behind can, and will, make a real impact and Dr Feltham says collaborations can recent changes to EPSRC’s sector structure. where it can be a world leader.” increase investment in academic research In consultation with industry advisers, new She adds the new structure also – but that is not the primary benefit. sector groups have been developed and accommodates changing thinking within “The biggest benefit is the access to existing ones evolved. The changes reflect industry: “A lot of companies don’t associate industry expertise and equipment.” emerging and growth areas and recognise with any one particular sector. They The changes EPSRC has made to its sector new business models and company associate with an identified market gap or teams will help maintain an effective behaviours. opportunity where they can grow. A lot of relationship with the communities that “We spoke to our advisory groups and companies work across different sectors.” benefit from, and rely on, world-class they thought our existing sector structure One sector area that has been given a research, and continue to support the was backward looking,” says Emma greater profile, one not traditionally aspirations of all involved. Feltham, EPSRC’s head of business associated with engineering and the relationships. “They felt it might not reflect physical sciences, is the creative industries To find out more about how EPSRC some of the important sectors for the future, – including games development and can benefit your organisation email: emerging sectors, those where the UK computer-generated imagery. [email protected] PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 virtual human 13

Pleased

EPSRC-supported research to create a virtual to meet humanme could revolutionise medical treatment and herald a new era of personalised healthcare. Words: Kate Ravilious

hat do you do when you get a headache? Some people swear by paracetamol, others claim that only ibuprofen will work and for some aspirin is the key. We are all different and none of us Wrespond in exactly the same way to any one medication. When it comes to more serious medical conditions, such as cancer and HIV, choosing the right medication can be a life and death decision. A new project hopes to improve the odds of this medical lottery, by testing treatments on a ‘virtual human’ first. The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH), is an EU Framework Programme 7 Initiative. It aims to revolutionise medicine by personalising healthcare and tailoring medical treatments to the unique genotype of each individual patient. Professor Peter Coveney is helping co- ordinate some of the work via the Virtual Physiological Human Network of Excellence and his EPSRC-supported research in this area is helping to support the aims of the EU-funded VPH. “This is the Holy Grail for medical treatment and an incredible ambition for us,” says Professor Coveney, from the Department of Chemistry at University College London, and team leader. Essentially the VPH will use a network of computers across the world, to simulate the entire internal workings of the human body, right the way from the neural signals in the brain to the blood flow in the toes. By feeding in relevant genetic information about a given patient, the simulation will be able to show how a patient will respond to different drugs, indicating what will happen at the organ, tissue, cell and molecular level. Based on these results the patient can then be prescribed the optimum course of treatment for them. Currently most medical treatments are designed for an ‘average’ person. Unfortunately many people fall outside of the average range. “Deviations from average can be very substantial,” explains Professor Coveney. And in some cases patients can become extremely ill, or even die, before the doctor manages to find the Professor Peter Coveney best treatment for them. One such example is treating HIV patients, where choosing the right medication can be a critical decision. There are nine drugs available to inhibit HIV-1 protease, a protein produced by the virus to propagate itself. The drugs work by latching onto HIV-1 protease This is the Holy and disabling it, preventing it from reproducing and spreading the infection. Unfortunately HIV-1 protease is good at mutating – changing Grail for medical the sequence and arrangement of amino acids that make up the protein. “HIV-1 protease is made up from 20 different amino acids, and so the number of possible variants is astronomically large,” says treatment and an Professor Coveney. Just two amino acids switching places can make the protein unrecognisable to the drug, leaving the protein free to incredible ambition reproduce again. Right now doctors have no way of matching which of the nine for us. available drugs will latch most effectively onto the particular mutant Professor Peter Coveney of HIV-1 protease that a HIV infected patient carries. Instead they have to use trial and error; prescribing one course of drugs and then testing the immune response of the patient to see if it is working. To overcome this problem Professor Coveney and his colleagues have been testing ‘virtual drugs’ on ‘virtual cells’ of ‘virtual patients’. Their computer simulation is specific to the HIV virus and the nine drugs, but it demonstrates the VPH concept and illustrates how it might work. In this case they collected genotypic assays from HIV patients (these show the amino acid sequence of the patient’s HIV-1 protease) and simulated how each of the nine drugs might bind to each individual’s HIV-1 protease. “We were able to rank the efficacy of the nine drugs for each individual patient,” says he says. Currently they are doing another prototype VPH Professor Coveney. simulation, this time studying the way in which tumours evolve It is still very early days, and the model must be validated and in lung cancer patients. verified before the results can be used to help decide which course Potentially the applications of a full bodied VPH are limitless. of drugs to prescribe on real patients. In addition, the team will “It could be used to help surgeons plan brain surgery, improve our need to address legal and ethical concerns. “Currently the Medical understanding of diseases and disease processes (osteoporosis, for Research Council in the UK has no policy on using this kind example) and design and test new medical devices,” explains of computer model,” says Professor Coveney. Professor Coveney. Over the next few years the team hope to put their simplified And VPH could also be used in more general situations, such as versions of a VPH through its paces; testing it on other viral drug testing for pharmaceutical companies, potentially reducing the infections and verifying their results. “We are aiming to develop a number of tests carried out on animals and shortening the time it framework for the methodology and lay down the ground rules,” takes for a drug to get through clinical trials. anatomy a brief history 1600 BC 16th century 17th century 18th century

Ancient anatomy Anatomy explained Study flourishes Modelling in wax Ancient Egyptian Between 1539 and 1542 M R Columbus, a pupil Anatomical wax models papyrus have one of the most influential of Vesalius, rectifies and aim to reproduce the revealed early books on human anatomy, advances previous human body as close to studies of human De humani corporis fabrica knowledge of the anatomy nature as possible. Used for anatomy. (On the Structure of the including the bones, heart educational purposes, some Human Body), is compiled and brain. Italy becomes models even become part by Andreas Vesalius, often centre of anatomy, allowing of museum collections. referred to as the founder of important research methods modern anatomy. to be used such as dissections on women.

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Above: HIV-1 protease molecule and its interaction with one of the HIV drugs

Unfortunately such personalised medical care doesn’t come cheap: Professor Coveney estimates that it costs in the order of £7,000 to carry out a HIV-1 protease simulation for one patient. However, he is confident that costs will reduce significantly with the economy of scale, and as computing technology advances. It will be a long while before VPH arrives at your local doctor’s surgery, but for people with more serious medical complaints a simplified form of VPH may be just a few years away. Welcome to the era of personalised healthcare.

For more information contact: Professor Peter Coveney, [email protected] or www.vph-noe.eu/ For more information about the Research Councils’ e-science programme contact: Sarah Fulford, [email protected]

19th century 20th century 21st century

Technology advances Imaging the human body Dawning of a virtual human knowledge 1959: Ian Donald uses ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in Research begins on the 1895: German physicist, obstetrics and gynaecology for the first time. Virtual Physiological Human Wilhelm Roentgen, (VPH) bringing together a 1972: A new imaging technique, Computerised Tomography discovers x-rays. network of computers to (CT) scanner, is invented. Combining x-ray images to generate Within two months, simulate the entire internal cross-sectional views as well as 3D images of internal organs x-rays are being used in working of the human body. and structures. Europe and North America. 1974: The first low quality magnetic resonance (MR) images are produced in the UK and marks the beginning of many technological advances in the use of MRI in medicine. “It’s not our science, it is the public’s science.” The world-renowned fertility expert, delivery has arrived in Professor Winston’s office – broadcaster and writer, Professor Robert research material for the book he is busy completing, Winston, chairs EPSRC’s Societal Issues called Bad Ideas. “It’s about human technology and how, ever since Panel. He talks to PIONEER about the role A the hand axe, every piece of technology we have ever of society in shaping the future of research. invented has brought us closer to our demise,” he says. After a Words: Chris Buratta thoughtful pause a wry smile suggests hope is not entirely lost. One of the key themes of the book is science’s relationship with government and the state. In parallel, Professor Winston has been heavily involved in the public’s relationship with science for more than three decades, as a leading researcher, broadcaster, writer and Peer. He has also chaired EPSRC’s Societal Issues Panel (SIP) since its inception in 2006. The panel helps EPSRC promote a healthier relationship between science and society and take account of public thinking in deciding how to invest public funds in research. And Professor Winston is adamant that society has a fundamental role to play in shaping the future of scientific research. “What we as scientists and indeed politicians have to bear in mind is it is not ‘our’ science, it is the public’s science. They pay for it and they must have some degree of ownership. Not tell us what to do, but we should be accountable to them and not necessarily to government.” He adds: “We should be arguing for the democratisation of science. Our best chance is if the public feel they own it. They will see the good and the bad in it and decide what is best.” The work of SIP is still in its infancy and he admits that there is a long way to go. But, he says recognising and exploring societal issues is a major step, or in his own words, ‘if you have an oily coat, you have a view of what’s going wrong with the machine’. He adds: “EPSRC promotes the highest quality research in its field in the world. But EPSRC is also leading the way by beginning to think about how this ties in with the perceptions of science and how that ties in with government and science.” Professor Winston is also clear the research community must use the media to promote informed debate if ‘democratisation’ is to be achieved – a view you would expect from arguably the most high profile scientist of our time. “The media has to be part of it. Lay representation on advisory bodies to the research councils is also part of it. Public dialogue is very much involved in this and we are doing that very effectively, particularly with some of the ethical debates such as nanotechnology.” He adds: “But we have to use the media and we have to do that with high standards and integrity. We have to be aware of the fact that we need to be better at communicating the basics of what we

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 science and society 17

Science has to be seen as part of our humanity. Professor Robert Winston

do so that the complexities can be better understood.” That was 1768. Move forward two and a half centuries and He also acknowledges that stigma and scepticism still Professor Winston argues that portraying the reality of science, surround media work in some quarters of the science community. its potential and its flaws, is still the way forward but this needs So what inspired a young, successful researcher to step into the to be done in a constructive way. media’s glare? He is aware of the pitfalls of ‘science as story’ and says science His first TV encounter, performing the first caesarean section on cannot afford to be portrayed as simply ‘great breakthroughs’. TV during the 60s, had an unexpected dramatic twist: his trousers It must be seen as a continuous and complex process. He adds fell down. Undeterred, he swapped the operating theatre for the the reporting of science in recent years has moved in this stage and before returning his attentions to medicine he picked up a direction, helped, in part, by the issue of climate change. national award for his direction of a play at the Edinburgh Festival. Ultimately, it is about an open, honest and balanced He continues to draw parallels between art, performance and representation of science and technology, a representation that science: “Looking down a microscope and seeing something living. allows informed debate and one which is contributed to by the There’s a sense of wonder and it’s no different to looking research community. at a great work of art.” “If we get that right, we will see science as much more than just He is particularly fascinated by Joseph Wright’s ‘An experiment a driver of the economy, we will see it as a way of looking at the on a bird in an air pump’ in which the artist depicts a scientist world, a way of reading the world, and one that is fundamentally removing the air from a glass jar containing a distressed bird, as a important,” he says. small group look on. “The little girl is looking up in horror, her “It is having science as an inherent part of culture and through elder sister cannot look at all,” he says. “But Joseph Wright’s view that you have a better chance of wise decisions in the way science of the scientist is extraordinary. The scientist is looking at you, is used. Science has to be seen as part of our humanity.” the viewer, with this fixed stare on his face. It is sort of saying ‘this is For more information on EPSRC’s Societal Issues Panel: a failure of public engagement’.” www.epsrc.ac.uk Research in the disaster zone

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 earthquake engineering 19

Just days after a major earthquake struck central Italy in April, a team of specialist engineers were combing the streets and buildings for clues. Supported by EPSRC, earthquake engineers are building a safer future for those who live with constant seismic threat. Words: Chris Buratta

t 3.30am on April 6, the Italian city of L’Aquila was rocked by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The powerful tremors left at least 299 people dead, up to 40,000 people homeless and reduced many of the city’s buildings, and those in A the surrounding towns, to rubble. The days that followed were dominated first by the rescue operation and then by the clean up and re-building process. Among those on the deserted streets of the disaster zone was a team of earthquake engineers. “We were taking trips into the area to look at the damage to buildings, why they had been damaged and to look at ground features associated with the faulting,” says Dr Tiziana Rossetto, an EPSRC-supported earthquake engineer at University College London and part of the UK Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT). It is building failure that causes the vast majority of deaths in an earthquake. The team arrived just days after the main quake. The entire area had been evacuated due to the risk of aftershocks. Accompanied by police and emergency services they documented the damage to buildings, bridges, roads and pipelines. The team carefully classified buildings by structure type and assessed the earthquake’s effect. Much of the city centre consisted of 18th century stone masonry buildings held together with lime mortar and topped with wooden roof structures. “There was extensive damage in the city centres where you have those older buildings,” says Dr Rossetto. “It was interesting to see where they had been restored or strengthened they resisted better. We were also looking at the newer areas outside the town centres where you have reinforced concrete structures.” These newer buildings performed well and most of the structural elements were undamaged. But the team found that non-structural damage to windows, partitions and cladding, had still caused major issues. Above and right: Devastation caused by the Italian earthquake in April

“If these elements are damaged it can be dangerous and a particular case was the hospital. The structure was OK, but the partitions and the cladding had been damaged. You had compromised hygiene and there might have been damage to Every earthquake sensitive equipment. So the hospital was still not being used at the time we were there. They still had a field hospital in place,” teaches us something recalls Dr Rossetto. These research missions to earthquake zones are vital to and every earthquake progressing engineering techniques and improving building performance in areas of seismic risk. is different. Dr Rossetto has been part of research teams investigating the Dr Tiziana Rossetto most powerful earthquakes of the last decade, including Kashmir in 2005, the Sichuan region of China in 2008 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. The frontline research is vital to updating building codes and mitigating the effects of future quakes. Earthquake engineers must act fast, to assess damage before it is cleared or repaired, and often work in dangerous and remote locations. In 2008, the EEFIT team were trapped overnight in the mountains in Sichuan because of a landslide. In Kashmir, they talked their way on to a US Army Chinook helicopter to get closer to the affected areas. “It is really important teams like ourselves go in,” Dr Rossetto says. “An earthquake is almost a testing ground. You can simulate an earthquake in the lab but you have to reduce the model structures to such a scale they are not representative or it is extremely expensive. In any case, you would never be able to test the variety of structural systems and building techniques that exist. To see how

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 earthquake engineering 21

You get hit by the fact there are people there and this is their home not just a building. Dr Tiziana Rossetto

“The ethos behind Epicentre came directly from the field missions. You go there, you look at the damage in a clinical way and you report back. Then you get hit by the fact there are people there and this is their home not just a building. The effects on the community are much larger than the structural damage, it can affect the development of an entire country, have economic impacts and so forth,” says Dr Rossetto. “Social science has gone on its own, engineering has gone on its own and now I think Epicentre is bridging that gap. We can gain enormously from collaboration with other disciplines, for example we work with psychologists on pre-disaster mitigation. That’s the philosophy behind Epicentre.” She is convinced this approach will help accelerate the knowledge and techniques to combat the dangers posed by earthquakes. Dr Rossetto and her team, in collaboration with other groups, are also developing new tools and utilising new technologies to aid the investigation of earthquakes. The Virtual Disaster Viewer project, supported by EPSRC, will different structures perform, how different building codes perform, allow greater co-ordination of field missions between international we have to get out there.” research groups, global collaboration and interpretation of findings Earthquake engineering is a relatively young discipline in a and remote evidence gathering from inaccessible areas. scientific context but has progressed dramatically over the past 60 “What used to happen is we’d all go to a site, do a separate years. In Europe, the first building regulations specific to earthquake report and no-one really talked or discussed it in real time,” says risk were introduced in the 1970s and these are now referred to as Dr Rossetto. ‘old codes’. “What we thought was missing was a common data sharing and “Every earthquake has taught us more and the lessons learnt visualisation tool. The Virtual Disaster Viewer uses satellite imagery, are incorporated into the building codes,” says Dr Rossetto. overlaying before and after shots so we can systematically approach “For example, the engineering community thought steel buildings the research. We can target areas we know are damaged, not just were ductile and would have no problems resisting earthquakes. from media reports but from these GIS images. At the same time Then the Northridge earthquake happened in 1994 in the USA we can upload information onto the site from the field. In future, if and caused the failure of many steel buildings. we had a very large event we could partition areas to visit between “It was seen that the building system was not the problem but the various international teams and pull the information together. the welding procedure followed created brittle welds which fractured “In China we couldn’t access all the affected areas so we have in the earthquake. Subsequently provisions have been added to developed the tool to allow experts to interpret damage extent from building codes to prevent this happening. Every earthquake teaches before and after satellite images. We are still working on this aspect us something and every earthquake is different.” of the tool and seeing how interpretations compare with ground Back at UCL, Dr Rossetto is leading the Earthquake and People truth data.” Interaction Centre (Epicentre), supported by EPSRC. The centre One goal binds the research, both combing the rubble in the is pioneering a new approach to earthquake engineering and disaster zone itself and developing new tools to analyse the damage developing new tools that will help co-ordinate and improve the from space, to create a safer environment for those who live with amount of vital information gathered on the front line. the everyday threat of earthquakes. Earthquake engineering is multi-disciplinary by its nature, For more information contact: Dr Tiziana Rossetto, [email protected] combining the skills of structural engineers, geo-technical engineers For further information on EPSRC’s process, environment and and seismologists. But what is less often investigated is the social sustainability programme contact: Matthew Davis, and psychological factors that play out in areas hit by disaster. [email protected] e spray our antibody solution onto the item, let it bind, remove unbound particles and then shine a light on it. We can see exactly what body fluids are present and exactly “W where they are. That is just not possible with the techniques available at the moment,” says Dr Sue Jickells. It reads like a scene from a TV crime show – and until now that’s exactly what it was. But EPSRC-supported research teams, at the University of East Anglia and Kings College London, have turned crime fiction into crime reality. The Light It Up project has developed a technique that can quickly locate and identify minute specks of body fluid at a crime scene, such as saliva, blood and semen. A spray solution quite literally ‘lights up’ the evidence, giving each sample a fluorescent glow under a forensic light. The project has also adapted the technique to extract more information, known as ‘lifestyle intelligence’, from fingerprints – information such as whether the suspect is a smoker or a cocaine user or if they have handled explosives. The techniques offer huge advantages to investigators. Not only will they be able to gather more information from crime scenes, and from evidence sent to the laboratory for analysis, but they will be able to do it quickly and efficiently. As you would expect, the work has attracted considerable interest from the Forensic Science Service and police forces. See crime “Body fluids are important sources of DNA for DNA profiling so it’s key to try and locate these fluids at crime scenes. Identifying what type of body fluid is present, and where, can also provide vital scenes in evidence,” says Dr Jickells, who along with Dr Barbara Daniel, heads this aspect of the project. “At the moment for every body fluid type you have to carry out a whole a different test to get an indication if a particular body fluid is present. For the most commonly used tests, each test works by a different principle meaning that the operator has to be skilled in new light several tests and has to have equipment available for each. Some of the tests cannot be carried out at a crime scene for safety reasons Fingerprinting and DNA profiling are the and some tests don’t definitively identify the body fluids. These are cornerstones of crime detection. New considerable limitations,” says Dr Jickells. techniques pioneered by EPSRC-supported “Another problem is that some body fluids aren’t visible to the researchers are set to take these methods naked eye. If you can’t see it, how can you test for it? Some body fluids, semen in particular, show up under the types of light sources to a whole new level. used to examine crime scenes but some don’t. For example, saliva Words: Chris Buratta probably won’t show up so you have to make a best estimation of where it will be.” Dr Jickells adds: “An example would be where you have a cup at a murder scene and it’s got half a cup of coffee in it. Maybe the person who carried out the crime drank out of that cup and left their saliva, and hence their DNA, on the cup. The scene examiner will swab the cup and send the swab for DNA profiling. If they already have a suspect but they deny being at the scene, finding their DNA there can be very useful evidence.” Locating samples that are not visible is down to the experience of investigators, using prior knowledge to determine the likely location of possible samples. “But it might be that a stain from a body fluid has been deposited somewhere at a crime scene that wouldn’t be anticipated from examining the scene. If that stain isn’t visible to the eye and

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 DNA evidence 23

Fingerprints and DNA: the cornerstones of detection Ancient clay tablets from Babylon and China reveal thumb marks were used to confirm business transactions more than 4,000 years ago.

Above: A fingerprint treated with the new solution is able to In the 19th century, Sir William Herschel developed the detect direct cannabis use theory that fingerprints were unique to individuals and remained unchanged throughout life.

Another Englishman, Sir Edward Henry, developed this further by establishing a Classification System which is still used today. isn’t detected by the light sources, it will probably be missed because you simply can’t test all surfaces at a scene. I suspect there are a lot In 1901, the first Fingerprint Bureau was established at of body fluids that don’t get detected because of the limitations of Scotland Yard and in 1902 the first person was convicted the current technology.” on fingerprint evidence. With the Light It Up solution, investigators will be able to search The first computerised automatic fingerprint recognition for these hidden clues using a far more scientific approach. “It will system was installed in Scotland Yard in 1984, replacing make it much more efficient because you only have to carry out one the need for manual searches. procedure. You will see exactly where a body fluid is present and we think it will offer sensitivity advantages in that it will be able to DNA profile fingerprinting was invented in 1984 at the detect very small body fluid stains,” says Dr Jickells. University of Leicester by geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys. Its first use in criminology was in a 1986 murder investigation The solution uses metal micro-particles coated with antibodies in Leicester. Within a year, DNA profiling was being used by that will target and bind to specific fluids – blood, saliva or semen. police forces around the world. Each particle is also ‘tagged’ so it will fluoresce or ‘light up’ under a forensic light source. The solution is sprayed onto the area under investigation and the excess is removed with a magnet. What The team began by detecting the major metabolite of nicotine, remains has bound to the ‘target’ fluid and will show up under the cotinine. Now they can detect the metabolites of other drugs of light. By tagging each antibody with a different colour, each body abuse such as cannabis and cocaine. Researchers are also extending fluid will show up as a different colour. the technique to other substances such as explosives. The work on fingerprinting, led by Professor David Russell, works Both aspects of the Light It Up project have been carried out in in a similar way. collaboration with the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, The team use antibodies to target particular substances present in the Forensic Explosives Laboratory (DTSL), the Forensic Science the sweat residue that forms the fingerprint. Using the technique, Service and Foster and Freeman Ltd, a manufacturer of forensic not only can they locate and capture the fingerprint pattern itself, light sources. giving the identification information, but also gain vital lifestyle “They have all been very supportive,” says Professor Russell. intelligence such as whether the fingerprint belongs to a drug user “These projects would not have moved on so fast without them.” or a smoker. The fingerprinting work is due to be trialled in the field over “Fingerprints are still the primary source of evidence. It is the the coming months and Professor Russell is confident that it can cornerstone of policing. But a fingerprint is only useful when it is progress from the lab to crime scenes. matched to one on a database. If someone has never committed a He adds: “We have the right people working with us. The Home crime or never been caught before they won’t have had their prints Office Scientific Development Branch are the people who approve taken. Without that match you have a dead end,” says Professor all the technology for our police forces so if they approve it, it could Russell. be implemented. A number of police forces have come to the labs “What we decided to do was try to get more information, more and talked to us about using it. It’s really difficult to put a time chemical information, from a fingerprint to help police narrow frame on it but I am optimistic we could do it within 12 months.” down the list of suspects.” “A lot of people say that all bank notes have drug residue on For more information contact: Dr Sue Jickells, [email protected] them. So what about the chance of accidental contact, could that Professor David Russell, [email protected] be picked up? By detecting the drug metabolite (the substance For further information about EPSRC-funded research on crime, produced by metabolism) we can say that person has ingested that terrorism and security contact: Anita Howman, drug, that they have used that drug.” [email protected] or Alex Hulkes, [email protected] Forging a heartbeat A sensor device designed to protect workers in the harsh environments of a metal foundry could help save the most fragile lives on earth. Words: Maria Burke

round 70,000 babies receive resuscitation at birth each year company Rio Tinto. His work centred on a novel optical sensor in the UK to ensure their tiny hearts are beating fast with wireless electronics that monitored the pulse and breathing enough to supply oxygen to their brain and vital organs. rate of the wearer. Typically, doctors use stethoscopes to measure the The sensor deploys a low power light source that illuminates A babies’ heart rates. But this cannot continually the skin. A corresponding detector measures how much light is monitor a baby’s condition and resuscitation has to be suspended absorbed and reflected back. The amount of light absorbed varies momentarily while doctors mentally count the beats. Other with the changing volume of blood under the skin as the heart procedures, such as ECG electrodes, cannot be used to monitor beats. The sensor sends signals back to a small computer that the heart because the skin of a newborn baby is extremely delicate, continuously monitors both the heart and breathing rates. often wet and inaccessible as they are placed in insulating bags “The clever stuff is the signal detector and signal processing to prevent heat loss. electronics that allows the device to analyse only the light that A new core technology, originally developed by an EPSRC- penetrates the body and comes out again,” explains Barrie Hayes- supported student to monitor the health of workers in metal Gill, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and foundries, could help protect and save these fragile lives. Electronic Engineering at the University of Nottingham and The device allows clinicians to continue with resuscitation Grubb’s PhD supervisor. “Remember we are dealing with without interruption and so save valuable seconds in the important very, very small amounts of light and an even smaller change first stages of life. The device will give clinicians an early warning in light intensity.” of any unexpected or rapid change in a baby’s condition so they He continues: “The trick is to label the light from the light can intervene more rapidly. source with a unique signature. The detector is programmed to In 2003, University of Nottingham student Mark Grubb was pick up only light with this signature.” researching ways of monitoring the health of workers in metal A prototype hard hat incorporating the sensor produced good foundries as part of his PhD. He was supported by an EPSRC results and a patent on the optical sensor and signal processing CASE award (studentship funding in collaboration with an technique was filed in 2006. industrial sponsor) attracting sponsorship from the mining After he finished his PhD studies, Mark Grubb continued to

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 heart sensor 25 work on the commercialisation potential of his patented work. on a baby’s forehead to measure heart rate on a continuous basis. A chance meeting between Professor Hayes-Gill’s colleague and A three phase clinical study started in December 2008, and the joint PhD supervisor John Crowe and two medical colleagues team have undertaken recordings from stable newborn babies in opened up the potential of the technology in a completely new the intensive care unit of Nottingham Queen’s Medical Centre. direction. These medical colleagues were a university lecturer in These readings have now been successfully validated by comparison child health, Don Sharkey, and Professor Neil Marlow initially based with ECG traces. at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and more recently at Once the team have readings from 60 newborn babies, they will University College London. Together they recognised the potential progress onto phase two, which will validate the sensor on newborn use of the sensor to measure the pulse, and potentially the breathing babies delivered by elective caesarean. “This will illustrate how well rate, of premature babies. the device works on babies with different skin colours whilst covered With funding from the charity, Action Medical Research, the with fluids, and when their physiology may be changing,” explains team has modified the sensor to make it small enough to be placed Professor Hayes-Gill.

From metal foundry to delivery room 2003: University of Nottingham PhD use on babies. The sensor was modified student Mark Grubb, funded by an to make it small enough to be placed on EPSRC CASE award studentship, a baby’s forehead to measure heart rate researches ways of monitoring the on a continuous basis. health of workers in metal foundries, 2008: Phase one patient trials begin with industrial sponsorship from the using stable newborn babies in the mining company Rio Tinto. intensive care unit of Nottingham Queen’s 2006: A prototype hard hat incorporating Medical Centre. Phase two will trial the the sensor produced exciting results. sensor on newborn babies delivered by A subsequent patent was filed on the elective caesarean. corresponding optical sensor and signal 2010: Phase three trials due to be processing technique. completed. This final phase will focus 2007: The team received an Action Medical on premature babies in the delivery Research grant to develop the sensor for room immediately after birth.

Phase three will focus on premature babies in the delivery room The device allows immediately after birth, the real target of the work. When the trials are completed by March 2010, the sensor will have been used to clinicians to continue record the heart rate of over 120 newborn babies. If the work is successful the team expect to commercialise the device and estimate the annual EU and US market could be resuscitation without £18m. Professor Hayes-Gill has considerable experience in spin-out creation, having formed Monica Healthcare Ltd in May 2005, interruption and save where he is currently the research director. This spin out company owes its origin to technology that detects the tiny fetal ECG on a valuable seconds. pregnant mother’s abdomen that was previously funded by another EPSRC PhD CASE studentship (also in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Nottingham) back in 1996. “A considerable volume of work has been generated from a simple and basic EPSRC PhD CASE award. Certainly without the correct personnel this project would not have generated this level of output but the importance of EPSRC in providing these highly important PhD CASE awards must never be underestimated,” says Professor Hayes-Gill. For more information contact: Professor Barrie Hayes-Gill, [email protected] For further information on EPSRC’s CASE awards and opportunities for involvement contact: Anita Howman, [email protected] The carbon clock is ticking Fifteen per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Slash CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. The targets are clear. But are they realistic? And how are we going to reach them? Words: Chris Buratta

n 2006, Gordon Brown announced the formation of the “The ETI is a partnership of skills, market access and deployable Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) – a major new partnership routes into that market. between the public and private sector – to help cut the UK’s “We have to be rational. Most demonstration projects are just carbon emissions. too big for any one company to take on by themselves. I don’t mean I The ETI’s goal was clear, accelerate the development and that from a financial point of view but in terms of the breadth of deployment of energy technologies that will help achieve this skills and technologies you need to successfully address all the issues. carbon reduction – from wind and marine power to carbon “So the collaborative element is absolutely key. We need the right capture and storage, and energy from waste. But hitting the UK’s skills, the right deployment routes and the right innovation. Putting energy targets will be a formidable task, and ETI chief executive the right partnerships together is at the heart of the job we have to David Clarke harbours no illusions. do here at the ETI.” “It is a huge challenge, no two ways about it. Will we meet EPSRC’s role is pivotal to ETI’s success, says Clarke. “EPSRC the targets? By operating in a collaborative way, both in technical brings the access routes for ETI projects into the university and development and also internationally in learning from each other, academic base in the UK and potentially elsewhere in the world.” I think the answer can be yes.” He adds: “Clearly we have to involve a very broad range of He adds: “If we learn from the best, learn quickly, then we have industrial groups who can address these technologies from a a real opportunity to succeed.” deployment point of view, but we need collaborations with the Based in Loughborough, the ETI is a partnership between the innovation base to enable us to pull forward brand new ideas and UK Government, including EPSRC, the Technology Strategy new thinking. That’s one of the critical roles for EPSRC, to help Board, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, us identify who we should be talking to.” the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and global Since its inception, the ETI has been developing a UK energy energy developers, BP, Shell, E.ON, EDF Energy, Caterpillar and model that will help direct efforts at key technologies and identify Rolls-Royce. stumbling blocks within those areas. This £1bn private-public partnership aims to reduce the risk This ‘techno-economic’ model has opened up an informed in developing and deploying fledgling technologies. It will identify debate about the UK’s future energy landscape, but Clarke is quick and fund projects that will demonstrate the commercial viability to stress that it cannot conjure up the answer to all our energy woes. of new technologies, sharing the risks involved and accelerating “It’s a fabulous tool for getting all the issues on the table,” he take up by the wider market. says. “For instance, it enables us to identify that there might be But Clarke stresses the risks are more than simply financial: opportunities for a greatly reduced cost solar PV cell system.

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009 cutting carbon 27

networks (generating power and heat closer to the end user); transport; and buildings. In January, the ETI announced £20m funding for its first four projects. Three focus on cutting edge offshore wind turbine design and the fourth will demonstrate a new commercial scale tidal turbine. It expects to launch a further ten to fifteen projects in 2009 alone. But all these efforts, models and strategies are framed by two targets; cutting CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and, looming large on the horizon, generating 15 per cent of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020. This is reinforced by the new 2020 target announced in the budget to cut emissions by 34 per cent. Clarke says many of the decisions about 2020 are already locked down. But he adds the ETI will tackle some key areas such as reducing the cost of low carbon energy, starting with offshore wind

Left: The ETI supported NOVA project will demonstrate the feasibility of offshore vertical axis wind turbines

energy, by improving reliability and reducing the installation costs. It will also focus on the UK’s tidal and wave energy resources, The Energy Technologies some of the best in the world, and aims to develop low cost reliable devices to harvest that energy. Hitting the 2050 target will force the Institute and EPSRC ETI to tackle more fundamental questions. “In the medium to long term the question is ‘how are we going to deliver low carbon energy • THE ETI is a partnership between the UK Government, efficiently, both in cost and technology, to the consumer in the including EPSRC, and global energy developers, BP, Shell, E.ON, EDF Energy, Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce. middle part of this century’,” says Clarke. “It probably won’t be the way we do it today. It will be a • This £1bn partnership funds projects to demonstrate ‘portfolio future’ involving fossil fuels and CCS, true renewables commercial viability of fledgling technologies, sharing the risks involved and accelerating commercial take up. such as wind, nuclear and by 2050 potentially hydrogen. These types of solutions start to come up from 2020 onwards.” • EPSRC chief executive Professor David Delpy is a member He adds: “By demonstrating new technologies at full-scale we will of the ETI board. He said: “The projects funded by the ETI will involve and build upon significant expertise within UK uncover new research challenges that we really need to address and universities. Academic research groups will be part of ETI we will feed those back into the academic base through EPSRC.” projects and research teams will be needed to tackle new Clarke says major new technologies may only have two challenges uncovered as the projects progress.” ‘deployments’ over the next 40 years due to the development timescales involved. Therefore there will only be two opportunities to iron out any issues, only two opportunities to get it right. “We can start to say ‘what would be the real benefits on the UK So this feedback loop – the ETI progressing technologies and energy system if you could cut the cost of solar PV cells by 80 per feeding back new research issues to EPSRC as they arise – will lie cent or improve CCS separation efficiency by 30 per cent. at the heart of meeting the 2050 CO2 reduction targets. “We can then go back to the research base and say what would Whichever perspective you take, technological, political or you have to do to make these kinds of cost savings or these kinds of environmental, only one thing is certain: The CO2 clock keeps manufacturing volumes possible. So it helps us set the challenges.” ticking and it will not stop. For the ETI, together with EPSRC The model has also helped to shape the ETI’s three-year and other partners, it is a constant reminder of what is at stake technology strategy that will focus efforts on seven key areas: wind; and the scale of the job in hand. marine; carbon capture and storage (CCS); distributed energy, For more information: www.energytechnologies.co.uk r e y e M k c i n n a J : e g a m I

zero SizeGraphene is the thinnest material in the universe materials could be,” Professor Geim recalls. “At the time, and its discovery re-wrote the text books. But it was presumed that materials one atom thick couldn’t exist. what can we actually use it for? New research But eventually we produced graphene and proved this supposition wasn’t correct.” supported by EPSRC will unlock the potential. Experiments quickly confirmed graphene’s extraordinary Words: Barry Hague properties. It became clear that not only had Professor Geim and his colleagues discovered a brand new material – they had found heoretically, some said, it shouldn’t exist. But since a whole new class of material. In particular, graphene’s amazing its discovery in 2004, graphene has stirred plenty of electronic properties soon stimulated a real buzz among scientists excitement in the world of science. At just one atom worldwide. “In graphene, electrons don’t behave as they do in thick, there cannot be a thinner material in the universe. other materials,” says Professor Geim. “For instance, the free TIt is also the strongest material ever measured, particles that carry electrical charges through graphene have zero astonishingly stiff yet flexible, and a phenomenal conductor of mass and can travel further at room temperature than those in any heat and electricity. Of course, identifying potential is one thing. other substance.” Exploiting it is another. Now, with EPSRC funding, two university There seems no shortage of potential applications. For example, partnerships aim to unleash the possibilities that graphene offers. graphene’s unprecedented thinness and remarkable conductivity Graphene consists of a sheet of carbon atoms connected in a open up the prospect of graphene-based integrated circuits honeycomb-like structure. Led by Professor Andre Geim, a team becoming available within 10-20 years, aiding further miniaturisation of physicists at the University of Manchester first created it five of electronics. The ability to pack more electronics into smaller years ago, with EPSRC support. Starting with bulk graphite, they spaces would have obvious benefits in reducing the size and/or successfully extracted individual sheets of carbon atoms from the increasing the sophistication of computers, mobile phones and other graphite crystals. “Our objective was simply to see how thin appliances. Intel is one company funding work in this direction.

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in EPSRC grants. Building on previous collaborations, they aim to investigate the fundamental properties of graphene and pave We’re certainly enjoying the way to a broad range of applications. Their interdisciplinary approach will mobilise complementary expertise in physics, our encounter with this engineering and biosciences (Exeter) and physics, chemistry, pharmacy and pharmacology (Bath). extraordinary material. The EPSRC funding is helping the two universities create Professor Andre Geim a Centre for Graphene Science which will include a worldwide network of experts in this field. Professor Alex Savchenko of Exeter University explains: “The centre will focus on three main areas: methods of producing graphene nanostructures, theoretical and experimental studies of graphene-based systems, and development of new electronic devices and chemical and biological sensors.” Another priority is to look into using graphene as a

In the shorter term, ultra-high-frequency graphene-based Graphene facts: transistors will almost certainly reach the market, according to IBM Discovered five years ago, graphene is the world’s thinnest and Samsung. Transistors amplify electronic signals in all kinds of material. One atom thick, it’s the strongest material ever communications devices. Making them from graphene, rather than measured, incredibly stiff yet flexible, and a phenomenal silicon or gallium arsenide, could deliver huge benefits by plugging conductor of heat and electricity. Electrons travel further the so-called ‘terahertz gap’. Much of the electromagnetic spectrum in graphene than in any other material, opening up a range is already exploited by today’s communications technologies. of potential electronic applications. However, many frequency ranges are now over-cluttered. But it • Graphene-based integrated circuits could reduce the size hasn’t yet been possible to use the terahertz part of the spectrum and increase the sophistication of devices such as between microwaves and infra-red radiation. Graphene-based computers and mobile phones. transistors would change all that. Moreover, because solid bodies are transparent to – but remain unharmed by – terahertz radiation, • Graphene-based transistors could help communications technologies exploit the terahertz part of the electromagnetic such transistors may also find applications in airport security spectrum. scanners, for example. In partnership with Lancaster University, Manchester University • Other potential uses include a new generation of toxin and has received a £5m EPSRC award to boost development of real-life pollution sensors that are much more sensitive than those uses of graphene. “This award enables us to extend our pool of currently available. expertise and manpower and explore graphene’s uses from the perspective of materials science, chemistry, engineering and computer science,” says Professor Geim. template to create additional new materials with specific properties, One area of particular interest is the role graphene could play in by bonding elements to graphene’s surface and edges. “We aim nanoelectromechanical systems – micro-machines which measure to maintain a truly collaborative relationship with the Universities tiny forces and movements, down to molecular scale. For example, of Manchester and Lancaster,” says Professor Savchenko. many wristwatches keep time by using oscillators equipped with a “Together, we can help establish the UK as a global leader in crystal of vibrating quartz. Replacing quartz with graphene could graphene research.” achieve even greater accuracy of time measurement and reduce the Graphene, then, seems certain to touch many lives in the space needed to accommodate the crystal. years ahead. “We could be at the dawn of a very big era for Graphene’s discovery has also created the possibility of what is, without doubt, a quite remarkable material,” concludes incorporating simpler, much more powerful sensors in pollution or Professor Savchenko. toxin detection equipment within a decade. Graphene-based sensors have the potential to identify a single atom of an element, whereas For more information contact: Professor Andre Geim, current sensors can’t detect traces consisting of less than around [email protected] or Professor Alex Savchenko, 100 atoms. “We’re certainly enjoying our encounter with this [email protected] extraordinary material,” concludes Professor Geim. For more information about EPSRC’s physical sciences Exeter and Bath Universities have also received around £5m programme contact: Natalie Stear, [email protected] The barge showcasing zero-carbon technology As the Ross Barlow glides serenely along Birmingham’s canal network, it looks to all the world like a relic of a bygone landscape – but could this barge contain the key to a greener industrial future? Words: David Bradley

hydrogen-powered canal barge, the Ross Barlow, is proving there will be life after oil. Its technology, developed in association with EPSRC’s Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium, It is vital to show that A could pave the way for zero-carbon transport and even breathe new life into Britain’s inland waterway network. there is ‘life after oil’ Named after a young researcher in the group who died tragically in 2005, it combines hydrogen fuel cell and storage technologies and that hydrogen with a highly efficient electric motor. A conventional battery stack provides additional power and is recharged by the fuel cell during the journey. offers a safe and viable The barge stores the hydrogen fuel in the form of a solid state metal hydride, a technique that is both safe and overcomes one of alternative. the major issues with using hydrogen powered vehicles – the volume Professor Rex Harris of gas needed for longer trips. The idea was originally conceived by Professor Rex Harris, of the University of Birmingham, who has been working on hydrogen storage materials and rare earth magnets – used in the electric motor – for four decades. Back in 1979, Professor Harris developed a hydrogen-propelled moped. technology and for the use of high-energy NdFeB magnets in “The barge and its successors have great potential with regard to efficient electric motors,” he enthuses. “There is an elegant link water-based transportation,” says Professor Harris. “Hydrogen will between these two areas since the hydrogen-based manufacturing provide a zero-carbon fuel provided that ‘green’ electricity is process for the magnets was pioneered by my research group as employed to produce the hydrogen and to charge the batteries,” part of an EPSRC-funded collaboration with Philips in the 1980s.” he explains. The hydrogen barge has other advantages over conventional “We believe the project provides a very attractive link with the technology in that there is no diesel fuel pollution, which is general public. It is vital to show that there is ‘life after oil’ and particularly important in urban areas or within the confines of a that hydrogen offers a safe and viable alternative. lock. Hot water is the only fuel cell by-product, and that can be “The barge provides a very attractive showcase for hydrogen used onboard, and the system is silent, which means no noise

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developments,” says Professor Harris. The barge has been developed in parallel with other leading hydrogen fuel cell research at Birmingham University. A team led by David Book are working on novel hydrogen storage materials with Kevin Kendall and his team who are working on a fleet of fuel cell micro-cabs for university campus transport. Kendall will also head a new EPSRC-funded doctoral training Above top: Professor Rex Harris centre focusing on hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Above: The Ross Barlow before and after “Our hope is that all these activities will help to lay the foundation for a hydrogen economy within the UK,” says Professor Harris “and that the various hubs will eventually join up to form a nationwide network. “It’s been a long and sometimes bumpy journey from the hydrogen moped to the Ross Barlow,” Professor Harris says “but it pollution to affect wildlife or people using the waterways. is now possible to see that hydrogen will become a global fuel for “The hydrogen storage developments are part of an Anglo-Swiss the future. If it is to prevent the full ravages of climate change project with EMPA Zurich and Andreas Zuttel’s team,” adds Harris. and of oil depletion, it must happen sooner rather than later.” Other partners include British Waterways, Advantage West Midlands, BT, Less Common Metals, the Universities of Sheffield For more information about the Ross Barlow or hydrogen and Coventry, and TRW. technology research at Birmingham University: Now that the ‘Ross Barlow’ has proved itself, the next stage www.hydrogen.bham.ac.uk will be to create the necessary hydrogen generation and refuelling For more information about the Research Councils’ energy infrastructure throughout the waterways network and to develop programme contact: Jason Green, [email protected] bigger vessels. “British Waterways is clearly a vital partner in these or Rachel Bishop, [email protected] viewpoint Innovation in manufacturing has been a key driver of economic growth since the early days of industrialisation. Professor David Gann, head of the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre at Imperial College London, supported by EPSRC, says developing next generation innovation processes in manufacturing has a vital role in protecting the future health of the UK economy, with significant benefits for the service sector. Manufacturing ideas to create value for innovative business

nnovation is the process by which ideas are created and turned into commercially viable opportunities as new or enhanced products, processes and services. Knowledge production is a global business fuelled by public and private sector investments In today’s business Iof $1 trillion a year. Innovating to create wealth, and improve environment, innovation quality of life using this knowledge, has become an ever more complex process. That is why we need research on how to innovate more efficiently means survival. Professor David Gann and effectively – creating and extracting value from ideas more quickly and accurately than before. Detailed studies of innovation in engineering and science-based companies have been supported by EPSRC at Imperial College’s Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) since 2003. The IMRC provided the fly-wheel that created Imperial College’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Group innovate comes from manufacturing, with its long history of growing from seven researchers to a position of international new product development. Innovation includes the obvious leadership in innovation research, linking business economics with commercialisation of a scientifically derived material, like engineering management. Kevlar or Teflon. But it is equally important in complex The Group currently has more than 40 staff and works with engineering systems such as in energy supply or in healthcare companies like GSK and P&G, and has strategic relationships with systems within the NHS. Arup, Atkins, BP, IBM, Laing O’Rourke and QinetiQ. It includes Today, innovation processes include the development of novel the Entrepreneurship Hub, working with technology start-ups and business models, enabling firms to capture value from new Design London, integrating design methods into the development approaches to organisation, logistics and customer experiences. of new systems and services with the Royal College of Art. The development of services by Google or Amazon – relying upon Successful business deep mathematical modelling capabilities – is as much an innovation as any physical product such as a stronger, cheaper Results show that innovative firms have greater rates of widget crafted by a team of skilled engineers. survivability in recessions and enhanced profitability during periods of economic growth. This work is published in the top A rapidly changing environment management journals and developed into valuable frameworks So why do we need to continue research on innovation? for management and tools for R&D – processes that can be It will provide tools, techniques and management approaches to adopted by innovative firms. Most knowledge about how to enable UK firms to capture the benefits of successful knowledge

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application. With the financial sector in a spin, it might be just the right time to reassert the UK’s quality of work in innovation, entrepreneurship and design. Combining excellence in David Gann David Gann is head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at manufacturing to transform performance in global markets for Imperial College London. He holds the Chair in Technology health, energy, environmental and digital services can provide and Innovation Management – a joint appointment between the platform for sustained prosperity in future. Imperial College Business School and the Department of Civil In addition, the processes by which new ideas are created, and Environmental Engineering. He is responsible for a large developed and implemented are themselves changing rapidly. portfolio of EPSRC funded research in collaboration with firms In today’s business environment, innovation means survival. in design, manufacturing, engineering, construction, ICT Firms need to know how to make best use of scarce talent and services and healthcare industries. He is group innovation resources for R&D, engineering and design, in order to create executive at Laing O’Rourke plc and chairman of Think Play and sustain market share. Do Group Ltd. To compete, firms have to be good at managing and applying new ideas taking advantage of opportunities in science, technology and the marketplace. Our Group’s work takes a systems perspective, engineering, rapid and virtual prototyping are using empirical evidence and quantitative analysis to develop new derived directly from experience of innovation models, tools and techniques for management. This places much in manufacturing. Analysis and development of its work within the engineering systems and management of this infrastructure derives directly from the science fields. EPSRC-supported IMRC, initially through Firms have to be market-facing in order to sense when and publication of the book ‘Think, Play, Do’, the where to develop new products and services. Generating and launch of the Think Play Do Group and most acquiring new ideas has become an international activity – firms recently in the development of a Virtual Worlds have to scan global horizons. Innovation processes are also environment for innovation management with becoming more distributed, taking place in networks of engineers, IBM. It is the use of these digital systems combined with new scientists, marketing experts, financiers and lead-users. And working business models that enable firms to tune and capture specific with innovative users often provides significant advantage in honing market opportunities, providing them competitive edge. And the applications and functions. Intellectual property regimes are real impact of this approach is only just coming into view. evermore important and complex. Large firms and small firms need Innovation for the service sector each other to develop, trade and commercialise new technologies, and often collaborate in eco-systems with universities. Our economy is increasingly oriented towards a high-value, service-led model. The number of UK jobs in manufacturing is Digital innovation technology declining, at the same time nearly 80 per cent of GDP is generated To support them in managing these processes, successful by the service sector. But hitherto, innovation in services has been a innovators – like IBM and P&G – are using a new digital hit-and-miss experience, because it has been difficult to prototype infrastructure we call ‘Innovation Technology’ (IvT). This includes new services off-line from their consumption by users. The use of the use of modelling and simulation for rapid and virtual Innovation Technology changes this. It is now possible to use virtual prototyping linked to Web 2.0 social networking technologies environments to test new services and the systems that will deliver and eScience, or the Grid. Many of these capabilities in design, them before they are launched in the market. This has profound consequences for the organisation and management of innovation and the possibility of revolutionising EPSRC’s Innovative productivity in the development of new services in a way comparable to that in manufacturing through the introduction of Manufacturing Research Centres machine tools in the 1850s, or lean production processes in the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres provide world- 1980s. This mix of old and new knowledge from manufacturing, leading knowledge and support to the UK manufacturing IT and the service sector is blurring traditional boundaries sector. They provide the UK’s leading manufacturing between products and services, such that firms are able to find researchers with a base of stable yet flexible funding, allowing new approaches to integrating solutions for their customers. them to be responsive to the needs of UK industry and tackle EPSRC’s investment in Imperial’s IMRC demonstrates how strategic research themes. IMRCs cover a broad spectrum of UK universities can create the critical mass of high quality talent research topics from business strategy and construction to be world leaders in research, development and management of management to free-form fabrication processes and bio- innovation processes themselves, providing opportunities to leverage processing. Individual IMRCs vary in remit from those with a these capabilities in design, engineering, consulting and business narrow focus on a single topic, such as e-business, to those advice, selling our knowledge to the rest of the world. covering the full range of manufacturing research. For more information: www.epsrc.ac.uk profile 34

What is the most important question EPSRC Pioneer facing science? There are so many it depends on your perspective. You could say something relating to saving our planet like climate change, or medical research or the problem Marcus du Sautoy of understanding the brain. For me, you should not ignore the blue sky stuff that Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy doesn’t always look like it has an immediate is an EPSRC senior media fellow application – things like the Riemann and was recently appointed Oxford hypothesis. It’s work on these types of University’s Simonyi professor for problems that give us the tools to solve the public understanding of science others. – succeeding Professor Richard Dawkins. What frustrates you? He recently wrote and presented BBC4’s People who are illogical. When you give The Story of Maths, presented quiz show an argument and people make illogical Mindgames and is a regular contributor to steps, that drives me crazy. It goes against newspapers, including a weekly column, my whole being. That’s why I chose maths Sexy Maths, for The Times. I guess. His books include The Music of the Who do you most admire? Primes and Finding Moonshine. Career accolades range from the Dr One of my heroes is Sir Christopher Johnson Prize for his D.Phil thesis in 1989 Zeeman. He’s a first rate mathematician and the Berwick Prize of the London but he is also a great communicator. I went Mathematical Society in 2001 to being to see the Christmas Lecture he gave in listed as one of Esquire Magazine’s 100 1978 when I was 13 years old. It was the most influential men under 40, in 2004. first one on maths and I came away saying He lives in London with his wife and ‘I want to be him when I grow up’. three children. He plays the trumpet and Maths gives you a Who or what has been your piano and supports Arsenal FC. chance of immortality. greatest influence? What makes maths so fascinating? The power of proof The teacher at school who turned me on Maths is a way of understanding the way means your discovery to maths is certainly one – Mr Bailson. the world works. It’s about seeing where It was a normal comprehensive school. you are coming from and, more excitingly, will last forever. He recommended a couple of books which predicting what happens next. It is the Marcus du Sautoy brought the subject alive and unlocked a language of nature and it is a way of door into a secret world. unlocking the secrets of the universe. What are your main interests Is it still as exciting as when you outside science? started? on my gravestone I am so proud of it. I love music. I play the trumpet and I’m a Yes. It’s a case of the more you know, It’s quite long and you have to pay per very bad piano player. Football – I play for the more you realise you don’t know. character so my family will have to start a Sunday League side in East London and As you answer one question even more saving now. I have also been called up for the England exciting questions appear behind it. writers’ team. I also love theatre and Is following in the footsteps of recently worked with theatre company What do you consider your greatest Richard Dawkins a daunting Complicite on a play at the Barbican called achievement… and why? prospect? A Disappearing Number. Maths gives you a chance of immortality. Not at all. My science is very different The power of proof, which is unique to to his and I am very different from him. In another life what would you be? maths, means your discovery will last I will do my own things and in some I would probably go into the theatre. forever. My most exciting discovery was ways it’s a continuation of what I have When maths is going badly my fantasy finding a new symmetrical object. I want been doing for 15 years, doing science is always to run away and be part of the equation that defines this object carved then communicating it. the theatre.

PIONEER 03 Summer 2009

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