ISSUE 73 G AUTUMN 2014

THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Advances Wales publishes news and features in the following areas THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY advances WALES MATERIALS AGRICULTURE Organisations featured in this issue ENVIRONMENT

BioMonde 26 ENERGY WALES Blizzard Protection Systems Ltd 20 FOOD

48 advances DecTek Ltd 22 Epitiro Ltd 23 ENGINEERING 24 iViTi Lighting Ltd MANUFACTURING Royal Mint Ltd 18 SPECIFIC (Sustainable Product Engineering Centre for Innovative 10 EARTH SCIENCES Sterling security Functional Industrial Coatings) and Swansea University ELECTRONICS ADVANCES WALES ADVANCES Government Welsh QED Centre Industrial Estate Treforest PONTYPRIDD BRITAIN GREAT CF37 5ZY New secure GB Pound designed and produced in Wales Cardiff Metropolitan University: COMMUNICATIONS Cardiff School of Health Sciences 17 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Cardiff University: OPTO-ELECTRONICS Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry 14 Cardiff Institute of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine 16 PHYSICS School of Physics and Astronomy 25 CHEMISTRY

MEDICINE The previous issue - Advances Wales 72 BIOTECHNOLOGY

Anglesey's standing stones take a leap into the digital age 4 Advances Wales contact BioWales 2014 puts Wales on international stage 3 To receive a regular free copy of Advances Wales, change contact Dezrez's desirable software 21 details or to obtain free back issues Digital thinking 10 please complete and return the Edukey key to success 20 reader reply card or contact Alyson Pasch, Welsh Government, QED, Main Exploring influences on the development of Alzheimer's 6 Avenue, Treforest Industrial Estate, RCT, Green Light for greener packaging 17 CF37 5YR, Wales, UK James Bond studio secures licence to thrill in Cardiff 7 Tel +44 (0)3000 61 6044 Email [email protected] Moneypenny calls on Penelope 22 Information regarding the international offices of the Welsh New genetic mutations shed light on schizophrenia 26 Government can be obtained by telephoning +44 (0)3000 6 03000 New solar cell technology taking off in North Wales 14 from the UK or online at www.expertisewales.com/advances OpenIQE initiative boosts regional supply chains 6 Advances Wales is also available online at: Operators set to get faster networks 25 www.wales.com/advances Paying it safe with myPinPad 18 Pioneering 3D printing reshapes patient's face in Wales 8 Sêr Cymru appoints new director 5 Swansea hosts EuroVis 2014 9 Swansea research findings may help the fight against cancer 27 Swansea research helping to fight the rise of the app attackers 3 Usable clinical data in a Clix 24 Welsh clean up for Indian water 5 Welsh fridge keeps its cool 16 Welsh research base punches above its weight 7 1414 DiscoveringDiscovering gold’sgold’s 2020GoldGold medallist medallist keeps keeps

IBRS/CCRI NUMBER: PHQ-D/11469/CF Wikimedia Foundation collaborates with Bangor 4 hiddenhidden valuevalue warmwarm in in Blizzard Blizzard NEWS advances advances NEWS THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Contents advances WALES & Editorial 3 News Special Feature 10 Buildings as power stations Chemistry 14 Scientists discover gold’s hidden value Medicine 16 White blood cell is key to protection Wales will be at the centre of the world stage this autumn when it hosts the 17 Welsh study serves up sweet solution largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in Britain for this year’s NATO summit. Manufacturing 18 Sterling security It is no stranger to publicity and has already taken to the podium this year- winning gold at the Commonwealth Games with the help of Blizzard Materials Protection Systems’ Reflexcell technology (page 20). Gold is proving to be a Blizzard keeps athletes warm 20 precious metal in more ways than one, as vital research at Cardiff University 22 Into outer colour space & beyond! has shown (page 14) and is not to be taken at face-value with the familiar £1 Information Technology coin receiving a facelift using the Royal Mint’s new technology to reduce the 23 Breakthrough for Wi-Fi services risk of counterfeit (page 18).

Electronics This issue’s Special Feature focuses on SPECIFIC (The Sustainable Product 24 Staying switched on with iViTi ON Engineering Centre for Innovative Functional Industrial Coatings) which is Biotechnology an Innovation Knowledge Centre at the forefront of emerging technologies 25 CARS drives new microscopy technique striving to channel natural energy, change the way we power our lives and 26 BioMonde has it in the bag effectively turn buildings into power stations (page 10). Truly inspiring! Once again, Advances provides a showcase for many of Wales’ companies and universities alike and great research has led to many new and 10 innovative technologies and ideas. A BioBag for ‘Larval Debridement Therapy (page 26) and the development of a life changing vaccine by Cardiff Buildings University’s School of Medicine (page 16) are just some of those featured. as power stations: Lucinda Dargavel, Changing the Editor way we power our lives

To subscribe or change your mailing details contact: Receive free copies of Advances Wales Alyson Pasch ([email protected]), visit www.expertisewales.com/advances or complete and return the reader reply card.

COVER IMAGE An artist’s impression of the new Advances Wales is a high-quality, quarterly ‘transfer of technology’ journal produced by Welsh Government to showcase new developments in science, engineering and technology GB Pound coin. Courtesy of the Royal Mint. from Wales. Devoted to concise reports and commentary, it provides a broad overview of the current technology research and development scene in Wales. PHOTOGRAPHY Sourced from organisations Advances raises the profile of the technologies and expertise available from Wales in order to facilitate collaborative relationships between organisations and individuals interested in featured, their representatives, Shutterstock and new technologies and innovation. istock. Commissioning Editor Alyson Pasch. Editorial Board: Lucas Brown, Jeremy Creasey, Claire Harvey, Simon Cooper, Gareth Browning, Marcia Jones, Clive Thomas, Lyndsey Davies, Richard Johnston, Jon Merrey. For information on how to contribute features contact the editor, Lucinda Dargavel (tel +44 (0)29 20473456, email [email protected]). 2 Advances Wales is designed and published on behalf of Welsh Government by Teamworks Design, 7 Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf Cardiff CF10 4DZ. Opinions expressed in this advances wales magazine are not necessarily those of Welsh Government or its employees. Welsh Government is not responsible for third-party sources cited such as web sites or reports. ISSN issue 73 / Autumn 2014 0968-7920. Printed in Wales by MWL Print Group, Pontypool. Crown Copyright. NEWS advances advances NEWS THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Contents advances WALES & Editorial £34m boost for ‘made in Wales’ anti-cancer medicines 3373) into the clinic later this year, with two 3 News further ProTides scheduled for 2015. NuCana Special Feature has exclusive worldwide rights to the pioneering ProTide technology in cancer. This technology 10 Buildings as power stations creates compounds that bypass key resistance Chemistry mechanisms associated with anti-cancer drugs. 14 Scientists discover gold’s hidden value “It is very exciting to watch a new medicine Medicine emerge, from a theoretical idea, through chemical White blood cell is key to protection Wales will be at the centre of the world stage this autumn when it hosts the synthesis in our laboratory here in Cardiff and 16 pathways that limit the efficacy of so many of The prospect of four new ‘made in now as a new treatment for patients with cancer,” 17 Welsh study serves up sweet solution largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in Britain for today’s anti-cancer drugs. Wales’ cancer medicines becoming according to Professor McGuigan, who developed this year’s NATO summit. a reality for patients has taken Manufacturing This represents the largest healthcare the ProTide technology. a huge step forward with the investment by a European private biotech Sterling security 18 It is no stranger to publicity and has already taken to the podium this year- announcement that Edinburgh company in over a year and the funds will Professor Chris McGuigan , winning gold at the Commonwealth Games with the help of Blizzard based biopharmaceutical company, be used to advance and expand the clinical Cardiff University School of Pharmacy Materials Protection Systems’ Reflexcell technology (page 20). Gold is proving to be a NuCana, has made a new £34m programme for NuCana’s lead product, Acelarin, Blizzard keeps athletes warm 20 precious metal in more ways than one, as vital research at Cardiff University investment to develop its portfolio which has shown exceptional results in patients 22 Into outer colour space & beyond! with a broad range of advanced and progressive “This £34m investment is extremely satisfying has shown (page 14) and is not to be taken at face-value with the familiar £1 of anti-cancer medicines based on ProTide technology. cancers that were resistant to all conventional and an endorsement of our work with NuCana. Information Technology coin receiving a facelift using the Royal Mint’s new technology to reduce the therapies. Over the last decade this represents the 14th ProTides is a platform developed by largest private biotech round globally and the 23 Breakthrough for Wi-Fi services risk of counterfeit (page 18). Acelarin will be developed initially for patients Professor Chris McGuigan and his team at largest ever in the UK,” he added. Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and with pancreatic, biliary, lung and ovarian Electronics This issue’s Special Feature focuses on SPECIFIC (The Sustainable Product cancers. In addition, the funding means the Staying switched on with iViTi ON Pharmaceutical Sciences and it is specifically www.cardiff.ac.uk/phrmy/ 24 Engineering Centre for Innovative Functional Industrial Coatings) which is designed to bypass key cancer cell resistance company plans to bring a second ProTide (NUC- Biotechnology an Innovation Knowledge Centre at the forefront of emerging technologies 25 CARS drives new microscopy technique striving to channel natural energy, change the way we power our lives and 26 BioMonde has it in the bag effectively turn buildings into power stations (page 10). Truly inspiring! Welsh unmanned air systems selected by MIT Once again, Advances provides a showcase for many of Wales’ companies Small remote-controlled unmanned they were originally developed to carry canisters this link opens up a raft of exciting potential and universities alike and great research has led to many new and air systems developed in Wales are to containing essential survival equipment that opportunities and I hope it marks the start of a 10 innovative technologies and ideas. A BioBag for ‘Larval Debridement be used in a research programme by could be dropped in the ocean to help survivors long term relationship with MIT.” Therapy (page 26) and the development of a life changing vaccine by Cardiff the world renowned Massachusetts of shipping disasters. Buildings University’s School of Medicine (page 16) are just some of those featured. Institute of Technology (MIT). BCB has had three systems developed “This is an excellent result and I am delighted to as power specifically for the SENSEable City Lab research hear that BCB International is forging links with one The remote controlled systems - developed by group which are now en route to Boston. of the world’s top technology institutions. stations: Lucinda Dargavel, Cardiff based BCB International can land on Changing the Editor water with a ‘fly and dip’ system - will be used in Barry Davies BEM, Robotics Director with “BCB is a highly innovative company whose way we power a research programme by MIT’s SENSEable City BCB International, said:” BCB prides itself expertise has been recognised by winning two our lives Lab to collect water samples for analysis. on its own R&D programme and continually Queen’s Awards for Enterprise as well as various reinvests profits into research and this is an technology and innovation awards. It’s great to hear The linkup between BCB and MIT came amazing opportunity to be involved with such a that technology developed in Wales is being used through Welsh Government’s membership prestigious institution. for research undertaken by MIT which certainly To subscribe or change your mailing details contact: of MIT’s International Liaison Programme as helps put Wales on the international map.” Receive free copies of Advances Wales Alyson Pasch ([email protected]), visit BCB was one of the businesses on the Welsh “The unmanned system we have designed and www.expertisewales.com/advances or complete and return the reader reply card. Government’s April mission to MIT. Discussions developed – which was built by a Formula 1 Edwina Hart AM were initiated with the SENSEable City Lab racing car manufacturer – is the only one we The Minister for Economy, Science which is developing new uses for unmanned know of that can land on water which was what and Transport, Welsh Government COVER IMAGE An artist’s impression of the new Advances Wales is a high-quality, quarterly ‘transfer of technology’ journal produced by Welsh Government to showcase new developments in science, engineering and technology systems. interested SENSEable City Lab. GB Pound coin. Courtesy of the Royal Mint. from Wales. Devoted to concise reports and commentary, it provides a broad overview of the current technology research and development scene in Wales. PHOTOGRAPHY Sourced from organisations Advances raises the profile of the technologies and expertise available from Wales in order to facilitate collaborative relationships between organisations and individuals interested in Measuring a metre across, The BCB systems “Our vision of the future is to design and featured, their representatives, Shutterstock and new technologies and innovation. are made from a superlight and super strong develop in Wales a range of unmanned systems istock. carbon fibre and weighing just 430 grammes, with the support of Welsh Government and www.bcbin.com Commissioning Editor Alyson Pasch. Editorial Board: Lucas Brown, Jeremy Creasey, Claire Harvey, Simon Cooper, Gareth Browning, Marcia Jones, Clive Thomas, Lyndsey Davies, Richard Johnston, Jon Merrey. For information on how to contribute features contact the editor, Lucinda Dargavel (tel +44 (0)29 20473456, email [email protected]). Advances Wales is designed and published on behalf of Welsh Government by Teamworks Design, 7 Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf Cardiff CF10 4DZ. Opinions expressed in this advances wales magazine are not necessarily those of Welsh Government or its employees. Welsh Government is not responsible for third-party sources cited such as web sites or reports. ISSN issue 73 / Autumn 2014 3 0968-7920. Printed in Wales by MWL Print Group, Pontypool. Crown Copyright. NEWS advances advances NEWS

Metformin helps diabetics to live longer than non-diabetics

A large-scale study involving over of these cohorts was also compared against also reduce pre-diabetics’ chances of developing 180,000 people has shown that non-diabetics who were matched based on the disease by a third. patients treated with a drug widely criteria that included age, gender, same general practice, smoking status and clinical status. This does not mean that people with type 2 prescribed for type 2 diabetes can “What we found was illuminating,” said lead diabetes get off Scott free. Their disease will live longer than people without the author Professor Craig Currie from Cardiff progress and they will be typically switched condition. University’s School of Medicine. to more aggressive treatments. People lose on average around eight years from their life Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 6% of The results showed that the patients treated expectancy after developing diabetes. The the UK population and the findings indicate with metformin had a small but statistically best way to avoid the condition altogether is that a drug known as metformin, used to significant improvement in survival compared by keeping moderately lean and taking some control glucose levels in the body and already with the cohort of non-diabetics, whereas those regular light exercise.” known to exhibit anticancer properties, could treated with sulphonylureas had a consistently offer prognostic and prophylactic benefits to reduced survival compared with non-diabetic In the next phase of the research, Professor people without diabetes. patients. Currie plans to investigate how patients prescribed with metformin as a first line therapy Published in a leading diabetes journal, “Surprisingly, the findings indicate that this can best be treated thereafter to ensure that Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism by scientists cheap and widely prescribed diabetic drug may their life expectancy can be brought closer in from Cardiff University, the study compared have beneficial effects not only on patients line with the national average. the survival of diabetes patients prescribed with diabetes but also for people without, and with metformin with patients prescribed interestingly, people with type 1 diabetes. with another common diabetes drug called Metformin has been shown to have anti-cancer www.medicine.cf.ac.uk sulphonylurea. Importantly, the life expectancy and anti-cardiovascular disease benefits. It can Cardiff leads new £16m dementia fight

The Medical Research Council’s different neurodegenerative conditions, such new UK Dementias Research as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease. Platform (UKDP) is to be headed by Dr John Gallacher from Cardiff Science Minister David Willetts said: “This new University’s School of Medicine. £16 million UK Dementia Platform will create the world’s largest ever study group for research into This £16 million public- private dementia, ensuring that data is freely available to partnership has been set up to support the work of international scientists in this speed up research into dementias very important area. and its new approach will explore “The collaborative approach demonstrated by not only what is going wrong in the the Medical Research Council and its business brain, but look at the brain in the partners through this platform is critical in helping context of the whole body. us to achieve our target of doubling dementia research funding and making the UK the best The UKDP brings together industry expertise and place in the world to do life sciences.” investigator teams from eight UK universities and teaming them with what will be the world’s largest group of participants in dementias ”By looking at the links between development research (more than two million people). of the disease and other factors – such as diet The Platform’s combination of skills and or illness – we hope to unearth targets for new resources, and its focus on looking at the whole drugs or new uses for existing drugs.” body in order to understand neurodegenerative disease, aims to unearth completely new Dr John Gallacher, approaches for intervention, including new Cardiff University School of Medicine and drug treatments. The Platform will investigate Director of the UKDP the causes of dementia across a range of

4 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 ”By looking at the links between development of the disease and other factors – such as diet or illness – we hope to unearth targets for new drugs or new uses for existing drugs.” NEWS advances advances NEWS

Aberystwyth technology captures invaluable data

An Aberystwyth University The aim was to create an autonomous UAV scientist has helped to capture that could fly 7 kilometres along a glacier front and a couple of kilometres from the launch images of Greenland glaciers that site. A typical mission would last about an hour will assist with building digital and would cover a distance of around 60km, elevation maps and gathering travelling at 55kph and carrying 700g worth of glaciology data for research. camera equipment. Dr Neal Snooke, a lecturer at the Department Called the Skywalker X8, the drone has a 2 of Computer Science, has been working on meter wingspan, weighs around than 2.5Kg, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, is constructed from expanded polypropylene commonly known as drones, for the past foam, making the frame quite robust and three years and in June, six of these new UAVs easy to repair. Improvements were made to were sent to Greenland. The drones were the UAVs which went to Greenland and these fully equipped with Sony Alpha 14 megapixel included electric brushless motors, software improvements and modifications to the cameras to capture high quality photographic “In the future, the UAV technology should allow airframes to reduce the potential for damage data of Store and Lille glacier, which flows into investigation of the effects of large calving the sea off Greenland. caused by the need to land on rough terrain or events, sub-glacial lake drainage or ice mélange ice. Dr Snooke explains, “The mission was a great breakup on the Store and Lille glacier.” success. We were able to capture thousands of Additional sensors such as a pyranometer are Dr Neal Snooke high quality digital images that can be processed now being integrated by Dr Snooke and his to produce high resolution 3D models of the Department of Computer Science, team to enhance the scientific value of the glacier. The images showed and monitored Aberystwyth University data capture and in the future, they will look to the movement and calving of the glacier on a increase mission endurance as this will provide frequent basis. a number of opportunities to routinely collect data from more inaccessible areas. “The idea came in the spring of 2013 when to use inexpensive UAV technology hardware to capture high quality digital images for research talking to Professor Alun Hubbard from the www.aber.ac.uk/en/cs Department of Geography and Earth Sciences purposes.”

HP and Swansea University build sustainable cities

Hewlett Packard (HP) has program’s strategic director. “This program operational by September 2015, the campus announced a three-year will have direct economic benefits for Wales in will eventually be used by around 5,000 terms of knowledge creation, innovation and students and up to 900 staff, with facilities for collaboration program with exploitation, as well as the development of a use by local subject matter experts and new Swansea University to explore the highly-skilled work force”. start-ups. development of sustainable next- generation cities, communities and The first phase of the project will address the Welsh Government’s objective of reducing campuses using HP technology. greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent “We have long held that the future of our cities Taking advantage of sensor data management before 2050. As part of this, a testbed will willwww.swansea.ac.uk/science require operating at the intersection of technology built at HPLabs and HP’s Smart be established to ultimately contribute to people, planet, profit and peta-data. This program the creation of a permanent environment for Grid Solutions for transforming utility demonstrates yet another step on our journey the development of next-generation digital infrastructure, the project will leverage towards city-scale resource management.” technology such as smart metering, intelligent economy products and services. cities, situational awareness, data analytics Chandrakant Patel The initial proof of concept at Swansea and security threat detection. University’s existing campus will be followed HP Senior Fellow and Chief Engineer “Working with global enterprises like HP by an expansion into the new 65 acre Bay HP Labs as well as academia and local small and Campus, a £500m project and one of the top medium businesses is a fundamental part five knowledge economy-based projects in of ensuring a sustainable community,” says Europe. Construction alone will generate Professor Javier Bonet, head of Swansea approximately 4,000 direct as well as indirect www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering University’s College of Engineering, and the jobs. With the first phase due to be fully

advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 5 NEWS advances advances NEWS

Medical testing Life science hub launched in Cardiff Bay and training centre for the Cynon Valley

A state-of-the-art centre bringing the design and testing of medical equipment and the training of tomorrow’s doctors together under one roof for the benefit of patients has been opened in South Wales. The Bill Mapleson Centre is a partnership between Cardiff University and the global medical products company Flexicare and will A new Life Science Hub for Wales has recently been opened in Cardiff help train doctors and dentists, acting as a focus Bay, South Wales. The nerve centre at No 3 Assembly Square will be at for undergraduate and post-graduate teaching the heart of all activity within the sector in Wales and is expected to and continuous professional development. inject £1bn into the economy by 2022. The Centre, in Mountain Ash, is named in Together with a £100m Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund, it is hoped that the hub honour of Professor William (‘Bill’) Mapleson, will boost the life sciences sector in Wales by at least £1bn by 2022. In Wales, this sector who has worked in academic anaesthesia at currently employs 10,000 people working for 350 companies, with a combined annual Cardiff University for over 60 years. The Health turnover in the region of £2bn a year. Minister Mark Drakeford was joined by Bill Mapleson to officially open the Centre earlier The hub, in Cardiff Bay, was officially unveiled by Economy Minister Edwina Hart, life this year and he said, “The new state of the sciences serial entrepreneur and investor Sir Chris Evans and Dragons’ Den star Theo art laboratory at The Bill Mapleson Centre at Paphitis. Flexicare will not only offer a cutting-edge focus The hub’s chairman Professor Chris McGuigan said it will act as a central resource for for equipment development and testing, but the whole of the sector in Wales, including academia, business, clinical and funding will also offer Cardiff University students the opportunity to develop and refresh their skills organisations. using simulators in a clinical environment. This Prof McGuigan, who at Cardiff University has overseen the development of pioneering forward-looking approach to innovation fits in drugs, said the hub was the ideal location. with Welsh Government’s aims of developing new ideas and innovation as specified in our Science for Wales strategy.” “The hub will connect and concentrate life sciences in Wales and it has been designed to ensure that Professor Judith Hall, from Cardiff University people collide into each other to fertilise good ideas. There really isn’t anything like this anywhere in School of Medicine, added “It will help the the world.” medical community and industry for years to come – a fitting tribute to the work of Bill Professor Chris McGuigan, Mapleson.” Chairman, Life Science Hub for Wales

Famous for writing a paper describing breathing systems in 1954, Professor Bill Mapleson said: “It’s really quite something to have a Centre As well as housing the team of Arthurian Life Sciences, which manages on a discretionary named after you. I’ve had a fine medal from the basis the £100m Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund, Prof McGuigan said the plan was Association of Anaesthetists for innovation, but for other investors to also have a presence in the hub, so allowing companies to pitch for to have a whole centre for innovation named finance in an environment which he described as being the “true Dragon’s Den.” after you is really quite extraordinary.” business.wales.gov.uk/lifescienceshubwales/home

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Research fellowships awarded to Swansea academics

Swansea University academics have received two of only seven prestigious fellowships awarded this year by The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science. Both the College of Science Professor Tavi calving process operates in Greenland which interest in magnetic resonance imaging Murray and Dr Sophie Schirmer have been isn’t included in models as yet. I’m particularly and spectroscopy. This is a field with many awarded Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior excited to be collaborating with oceanographers potential applications including in the Research Fellowships. for this project.” early detection of biomarkers for diseases from cancer to dementia, and I hope that The fellowships scheme allows scientists to In response to receiving the Fellowship, Dr this fellowship will enable myself and our make major progress in their area of study Schirmer said, “I’m very excited to be able to medical imaging team to make a significant by undertaking full-time research. Professor devote myself fully to applying my expertise contribution to this field.” Murray received her fellowship to research in quantum control to my recently acquired the interactions between ice and ocean at the margins of glaciers in southeast Greenland and Dr Schirmer is researching new paradigms for magnetic resonance molecular imaging via , quantum control. Professor Murray said, “I am really excited to be able to concentrate on research for the coming year: I’m going to be working on iceberg calving especially in south-east Greenland. Glaciers that calve icebergs are a primary control on how much water the Greenland ice sheet contributes to global sea level rise. It is a key time to work on this area - our group has just shown a new

Bangor University collaborates in world-wide ocean health check

Scientists at Bangor University smooth functioning of global elements’ set in the world which can be used by have joined forces with marine cycles, however less than 1% of them are generations to follow. known. scientists across the world to Samples will also be sent to the world take part in an ambitious global famous Smithsonian’s Institution research project – Ocean Natural History Museum in Washington “The research findings will help us to better Sampling Day. DC, USA which will keep up to 10,000 understand the sea at the microbial level, samples, collected every 21st June, in a On 21 June, scientists from over 150 to determine the composition of microbial time-capsule so that they can be used as research organisations across the globe communities, their diversity and their a clear indicator of change. took samples of seawater on mid- contribution in maintaining marine environment As part of a large pan-European project summer’s day to form the biggest marine health.” “MicroB3” Bangor University’s research research initiative ever to take place on a team will also be using these samples to single day and Professor Peter Golyshin’s Professor Peter Golyshin analyse the DNA contained within the team at the School of Biological Sciences School of Biological Sciences microbes to demonstrate the microbial sampled the Menai Strait in North Wales. Bangor University biodiversity of the oceans and therefore The precious data bank gathered from their potential for biotechnology. Bangor the collection of samples will allow University’s role is to reveal those genes future generations of marine scientists to The sample taken from the Menai Strait in microbial communities which could understand and benchmark changes in the will, along with all other samples, be sent be developed into novel enzymes which marine environment. to the lead research partner Professor may be of industrial importance. Frank Oliver Gloeckner at the Jacobs 80% of all life on Earth comes from University in Bremen (Germany). Bulk the World Ocean which covers more microbial DNA will be extracted from all than 70% of the Earth surface. Marine samples, sequenced and analysed, forming www.bangor.ac.uk/biology microorganisms are responsible for a the biggest standardised reference data

advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 7 NEWS advances advances NEWS

Ultravision is the People’s Choice

A ground-breaking invention, as used in industrial applications to remove airborne particles from waste gases. It featured in Advances 71, which clears “We are delighted Ultravision has been recognised silently and unobtrusively clears the visual smoke created during keyhole surgery as an excellent example of collaborative field of surgical smoke and prevents its won the inaugural ‘People’s Choice’ commercialisation. The University instantly release in to the operating theatre during Award at this year’s Cardiff University recognised the potential value of Ultravision laparoscopic (or keyhole) surgery. Innovation and Impact Awards. and provided translational funding to create Dominic Griffiths, Managing Director Voted for by the public, the win makes prototypes. The commercialisation team then of Asalus, said, “We are honoured that up a hat trick of honours for Ultravision secured funding to create a spinout company. Ultravision has won the New Ventures in 2014, including the Royal College of Four years later we have a launched product and Award at a time when we’re bringing Surgeons Cutlers’ Surgical Prize and a are attracting distribution partners worldwide.” Ultravision to market. The overwhelming Business Impact (Aspiring) award from interest we are receiving from the surgical PraxisUnico – a UK network that drives the Dr Neil Warren community and global distributors makes it commercialisation of academic and public Chief Technology Officer all worthwhile. There are around six million sector research. Asalus Medical Instruments laparoscopic procedures performed each year globally. Smoke is an issue in the vast Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Economy, majority of these procedures and so we are Science and Transport, presented the confident that we have developed a totally People’s Choice Award to Dr Neil Warren, The product, conceived by Dr Warren, also unique product in a huge market.” Chief Technology Officer at Asalus Medical picked up the University’s New Ventures Instruments – the spin-out company behind Award. The device is based around Ultravision. ‘electrostatic precipitation’, technology www.asalus.com

Canadian tech firm to set up Egypt Centre meets computer science The Egypt Centre, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities at Swansea University has been working Caerphilly base with Dr Rita Borgo and her student Lewis Hancock from the University’s Computer Science Up to 25 jobs are set to be created in Caerphilly after a Department on a project to enhance visitor experience. Canadian mobile technology company announced it is to The aim was to devise a fun, but educational, application which could enhance interaction IN BRIEF invest £2.6m in a new research and development centre. with the collection. The application developed allows users to interact with a 3D image of the Vancouver-headquartered Appnovation Technologies, object using a hand held tablet programmed to read the QR codes placed next to the cases understood to be one of Canada’s fastest growing where the physical objects are displayed. businesses, announced the move during a meeting between its president and chief executive Arnold Leung and First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones. EKF Diagnostics wins distribution contract in China Leung also outlined plans to make Caerphilly Appnovation’s With headquarters in Penarth, the point-of-care equipment manufacturer has announced that it European headquarters, with ambitions to create up to 100 has signed a distribution contract for its glucose and lactate analyser Biosen C-Line with Tianjin high-quality jobs and said, “With Wales’ close proximity to Multiclone Trading Company. Europe and vast business resources, it was an easy decision to move forward.” The initial contract for 1,900 analysers is expected to be worth €4m (£3.2m) over two-and-a- half years. Tianjin will also need to purchase consumables for the analysers, which is predicted to generate a further £1.6m of revenues over the same timeframe. EKF has also revealed that its German partner has received regulatory approval in China and Japan for its CompoLab Diurnal boosted with £6m haemoglobin instrument. Pioneering Cardiff drug development firm, Diurnal, has been boosted with a £6m funding round led by IP Group providing finance to take its products to commercialisation. Plan for North Wales-Liverpool airport hovercraft route Its lead product Chronocort was recently the subject of Plans for a hovercraft service between North Wales and Liverpool John Lennon Airport have been a positive phase 2 trial in the treatment of congenital revealed – and could be running as early as spring 2015. Up to 85 passengers per trip could be adrenal hyperplasia. It is now due to enter pivotal phase 3 transported from North Wales to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool for just £15. studies in the first half of 2015. Wirral-based firm Hoverlink Ltd wants to make the route the world’s only existing airport hovercraft IP Group has committed up to £4.1m of the £6m and link and director Simon Clitheroe said, “Our services would run a community link where you can hop Finance Wales has invested £1.76m in the latest round. on and off like a bus schedule.”

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Celebrating the impact of great research

The impact made by outstanding and varied research carried out at Swansea University Some of the 2014 Swansea University Impact Award winning was celebrated on 19 June. Guests from projects are: academia, industry and the public sector attended the first Swansea University Impact The TATA Steel Award for Outstanding Impact in Commerce and Industry Awards. Winner: Improved Aerodynamic Design Process for the Aerospace Industry Six awards were given to projects as varied as the through the Application of Unstructured Mesh Technology Research as Art initiative which has reached more than 50 million people and looked at innovative ways to use satellite data to improve weather forecasts. The GE Healthcare Award for Outstanding Impact in Health and Wellbeing Professor Ian Cluckie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science Winner: Contribution to Improvements in Patient Safety through Computer- and Engineering), said, “Our research delivers Human Interaction for Medical Devices academic impact through papers and publications but also in countless other ways ‑ from innovation and commercialisation, to informing public policy The BLOODHOUND SSC Award for Outstanding Breakthrough in Research and improving health and wellbeing; from enriching Winner: Using land-surface satellite data to improve weather forecasts and cultures and sustaining environments to educating and inspiring future generations.” climate predictions “These inaugural Impact Awards give us the ideal opportunity to celebrate some of the people and projects making an incalculable difference to our society.”

IDEOBA creates 100 hi-tech jobs Space port for North Wales A hi-tech firm is creating 100 new jobs in Bridgend developing specialist web services for the financial sector. Confirmation that an airfield in North Wales is a potential Using data mining and profiling technologies, the powerful search engine will have the capacity to map the location for the UK’s first space port has been welcomed total global knowledge base of an estimated 300 million professionals. Ideoba is run by former Plaid Cymru by Welsh Government. Llanbedr Airport, located within MP Adam Price and American financial expert Andrew Auerbach, who met at Harvard university in the USA. Snowdonia Enterprise Zone, is one of eight sites under Support comes from Harvard professor Harry Lewis, who taught billionaires Bill Gates of Microsoft and consideration by the UK Government. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg. Mr Price said Wales was “moving from coal mining to data mining.” UK Government ministers want to establish a UK space sport by 2018, which will serve as a facility to enable satellite launches. All sites will have to meet strict criteria, including being a safe distance from densely populated areas and a Port Talbot company acquired as part of a $100m deal runway that can be extended to more than 3,000m (9,842ft). Environmental consultancy Resource & Environmental Consultants Limited has been acquired as part a The aim is to use the spaceport to launch tourists into $100m deal. The firm, which has an operation in Port Talbot, is one of three businesses acquired by Concept space as well as commercial satellites from 2018. Life Sciences, a newly formed international scientific laboratory and consultancy business, in a swoop with a combined enterprise value approaching $100m, following backing from Equistone Partners Europe. This investment is the 21st from Equistone’s £1.5bn Fund IV, which sees the mid-market private equity firm secure a majority stake in the newly formed business. Glyndŵr University signs major international deals The Welsh university and MBDA – Europe’s largest missile Trojan to almost double workforce with £2m investment company – have agreed to develop a series of technology and Trojan Electronics has revealed plans to almost double its workforce in Swansea as part of an investment management programmes to train the next generation of worth more than £2m. world-class engineers with the cooperation of the Malaysian government agency Majlis Amanh Rakyat, known as MARA. Welsh Government is providing a property development grant for the refurbishment of an un-used building and business finance towards the fitting out of a new headquarters within the property. Trojan Glyndwˆr University Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Scott, provides a repair and refurbishment service for products returned under warranty to major retailers. It explained that the union with MBDA and MARA will launch a said the investment would create 138 jobs. “We look forward to reuniting all our operations and staff into new era for engineering at the Wrexham institution and that the one location and gearing up to meet the growing demand for our services in the UK and Europe,” said University is “absolutely thrilled to be working alongside MBDA Trojan’s finance director Malcolm Rash. and MARA, two giants of defence, education and engineering.” advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 9 special FEATURE advances advances special FEATURE generate store release

generate Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Thin film photovoltaics are factory applied to the roof sheeting, offering a robust and flexible solution

generate

STORE generate release Solar Air Collector Water purification Solar Air Collector on south facing walls draws warm air Rainfall on the roof passes into the building, providing over a photoactive titanium space heating either directly dioxide coated metal roof RELEASE or to be stored for later use. sheeting, which chemically breaks down organic contaminants. The water is collected, passed through a filter and stored for use in the building. generate

STORE

release store Heating Warm air from the Solar Air Collector is stored in a Large area heating is tank supplying the heating provided by a coating system. applied to floor tiles, walls or other surfaces. It can release Electricity generated by the also provide controlled Energy generated by the building photovoltaics is stored in batteries localised heating, envelope is released throughout via maximising efficiency and heating, lighting, electrical equipment generating cost savings. and water use.

10 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 advances wales special generate store release store generate FEATURE STORE

STORE generate RELEASE generate advances advances means that there isaconstant buzzat development andrelease of new technology sectormanufacturing aswell asthestaged and thecreation of wealth inthegreen The generation of hightechnology jobs steel andglassallplastic, underoneroof.” in theworld where you cancoat sheet,coil, energy targets. “There isn’tanother place tomake renewable amajorcontribution revolutionise building and construction production facility. Thesecoatings will through industry its pilot construction coatings the within generating, industrial commercialisation of innovative, energy The centre isworking to speedupthe Tata Steel, BASF, andNSGPilkington. Universities, andmulti-nationals including Bangor, Cardiff, Glyndwr, Bath andSheffield College includingpartners, Imperial London, Welsh and UK basedacademic andindustrial University incollaboration anumberof with SPECIFIC isledsupport. bySwansea Strategy Board, Welsh with Government (EPSRC)Council andthe Technology andPhysicalEngineering Research Sciences (IKCs) intheUK, backed byfunding from the seven Innovation andKnowledge Centres Coatings (SPECIFIC) isoneof Industrial CentreEngineering for Innovative Functional Set upin2011,theSustainable Product SPECIFIC power stations Buildings as and retrofit buildings. technologies to capture, store and release solar energy atthe point of use,for bothnew the industrial scale upof academic concepts to develop practical, economic coating effectively turnbuildings into power stations. Thiswillbeachieved by accelerating SPECIFIC ischannelling naturalenergy, to change the way we power ourlives and and where it begins to make its mark. world; where trueinnovation isinspired, from thescientist’s notebook to thereal Here iswhere concepts are transferred ideas through. for discovery andthecommitment to carry something new onthecards, anappetite the innovation centre. There isalways www.specific.eu.com Construction andarangeofAdvanced ManufacturingandMaterialssegments. routes contributingtoeconomic growth insectorssuchasEnergyandEnvironment, Project SUPERwillbecommercially developedthrougharangeofexploitation The benefitsfromtheadditional capability andindustryengagementresultingfrom valuable IP. create newproductsandservicestobenefitsupplychainsin Wales andgenerate This enhancedfacilityissettodelivermanufacturablesolutions industry partners, broaden theindustrialengagementneededtodevelopcommercialisation outputs. materials upto300mmwideand2kmlong,anopeninnovation spacethat helpsto technical laboratory, are-engineeredreeltoline,which canprocessflexiblesteel dedicated todemonstratingandimprovingmanufacturingtechniques. Itincorporatesa the scaleupoffunctionalcoatingsbycreatinganewengineering resourcethatis As partofSPECIFIC’s uniquepilotproductionfacility, Project SUPERseekstoaccelerate Project SUPER

special issue 73 / Autumn 2014 FEATURE tackle that.” out before we oil and coalrun have to waittil I hope wedon’t energy ... sun and solar money onthe “I’d put my Thomas A.Edison

11 For more information please circle 7301 on the reader reply card special FEATURE advances advances special FEATURE

Smart coatings for a sustainable future CASE STUDY Every day we get enough energy from the sun to power our planet Large-scale adoption of the for 27 years. Yet nearly all of that energy goes to waste. technologies being developed at SPECIFIC is expected to begin in the next 10 to 15 years. In the meantime, the Imagine if the buildings in every town and city, in team is busy mixing and matching its every country across the World, could capture that deliverables, producing smaller-scale solar energy for us to use in our daily lives. advancements which deliver value The commercial exploitation of innovation to its industrial partners as well as and knowledge is a key enabler for sustained “As a market leader in premium pre-painted economic growth and wealth creation and to steel products that go on the roofs and walls of progressing the longer-term projects. make that vision a reality, SPECIFIC is developing buildings, tata is interested in extending that SPECIFIC’s first spinout company, ground-breaking coatings for building materials position by incorporating smart coated products BIPVCo, has just launched with a range that can be manufactured on an industrial scale into smart building components. of integrated photovoltaic roof panels in the UK. Once developed, these glass and steel- Mr Mark Collinson based products will be fitted to the roofs, walls and the commercialisation of other Former Head of Strategy Building Envelope and windows of new and existing buildings to SPECIFIC products will follow. Sector, Tata Steel Europe generate, store and release safe, clean, renewable www.specific.eu.com energy. The concept is simple. When sunlight interacts designers, developers, building owners and with a coated roof or window, energy is generated occupiers to ensure that they meet the specific and that energy can then be transferred to the low-carbon energy requirements. National Grid or stored within the building as The speed of this transfer is especially important electricity or heat. It is an ambitious vision, but the partners in this unique collaboration are committed to making in the area of photovoltaics and the centre There are over 4 billion square metres of roofs ‘buildings as power stations’ a commercial works with the most promising photovoltaic and facades in the UK alone and transforming reality by developing the next generation of technologies to find ways to manufacture buildings into power stations could create a new cost-effective renewable energy products them at scale. These include Perovskites, one-billion pound industry by 2020 – one which and creating this new one-billion pound CZTS (Copper, Zinc, Tin, Sulphur), Organic could generate thousands of jobs, cut greenhouse industry that will generate jobs, cut carbon Photovoltaics and Dye Sensitised Solar Cells. gas emissions, and contribute towards a diverse and contribute towards the security of the UK’s energy mix to help achieve energy security which energy supply. can be released as required, for heating, lighting or cooling. SPECIFIC is an exemplar of how co-location, collaboration and A range of applications are in development and From lab bench to factory floor SPECIFIC’s partners are working with architects, open innovation allow universities At SPECIFIC, innovative ideas are taken from to work with industry to develop the lab bench to the factory floor and from the factory floor to the built environment. and commercialise pioneering research into emerging At the centre, this has been achieved with technologies. investment in state-of-the-art equipment and the co-location of a collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-functional team. Key to SPECIFIC’s success is the identification Learning by doing of emerging and applied technologies and the sourcing of non-toxic earth- abundant materials SPECIFIC’s ethos is one of ‘learning by doing’. which can be manufactured cost-effectively at For example, the centre’s scientists and industrial scale. technologists use tailor-made equipment designed ‘in-house’ to assess product concept, “a discovery is said to be performance, marketability and scale. Similarly, an accident meeting a if new technologies are required, they are prepared mind.” developed and assessed in the laboratories, then tested further using the modular pilot Albert Szent-Györgyi manufacturing line.

12 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 advances wales special FEATURE advances advances Heated Coating Heated Coating these isof SPECIFIC’s heated coating function. ways inwhichideascandeliver value. Oneof conversations people with around themany stage intheresearch. Thesehelpto stimulate ‘proof-of-concept’ demonstrators at anearly The centre alsodesignsandbuilds small-scale wall components. floor tile,afootwarmerandheated on thistechnologyincludeaheated vary andtherangeofproductsbased individuals’ idealroomtemperatures for sharedofficespaceswhere temperature controlwhichisperfect One ofitsmanyapplicationsiszoned AC supply. it canalsobepoweredbyastandard such asthatfromphotovoltaics,but of thefuture,poweredbyaDCsupply been designedforthesmartbuildings is convertedintoheatenergy. Ithas heating, inwhichelectricalenergy principle ofresistiveelectrical according tothelong-established SPECIFIC’s heatedcoatingfunctions BASF Coatings BASF Coatings Commercial Director Dr NickBrown construction sector. of sustainablecoated productsfor the under oneroof, onthedevelopment opportunity to work collaboratively, University and Tata andwelcomes the relationships withbothSwansea company, haslongestablished “BASF, astheworlds’ largestchemical

2020s. 2020s. renewable energy requirement bytheendof the will generate more thanonethird of theUK’s adopted byanumberof energy usersand renewable technologies, whichcanbeeasily of affordable products, based onintegrated SPECIFIC iscurrently building aportfolio andaffordableRevolutionary competitive edge. collaboration whichgives partners, SPECIFIC a of thecommercial the with expertise It isthisend-to-end R&Dcapability, combined scaleat conditions. inatmospheric industrial that allensuring products canbemanufactured development of processes andrefining aswell as to thesuccess of SPECIFIC. Itallows for the environmentThis experimental iscrucial could impact ontheappliedtechnologies. to determine thedegree to whichpollutants controlled ‘filtered air’room. Thisallows theteam andtechnologists scientists work a within Throughout thepilot production process, to buildings. then made into product prototypes andretrofitted functionally-coated sheetsorpanels.Theseare demonstrators canbequickly converted into commercialisation of each concept, these Additionally, to enable therapid market. by businessesinthisdynamicand growing understanding of themany challenges faced accelerate progress bygainingadeeper research anddevelopment centres, to further for andCoating (WCPC), Printing andother Swanseawith University’s Welsh Centre byworking amountof time, short closely commercially-viable products a within these areas, thecentre isable to develop Through collective strengths ineach of processes. development of low-cost manufacturing combined for product and the optimisation andcoating techniquesPrinting are – to develop its innovative product concepts. including polymers glass,steel andplastic The centre works multiple with substrates – of new pioneering production methods. and tested methodologies aswell asthe SPECIFIC ensures of theadoption tried including electronics, plastic industries, inboth traditional expertise andemerging By drawing and oncombined experience predominate thestructure. corporate –where metalandglass offices – including retail outlets, warehouses and suitable for both new buildings andexisting These revolutionary products will be special issue 73 / Autumn 2014 FEATURE 13 For more information please circle 7301 on the reader reply card CHEMISTRY advances advances CHEMISTRY Scientists discover gold’s hidden value Gold as a catalyst with great potential

cientists from Cardiff its long lifetime, unusually high reactivity are discovering new and and high specificity to the desired product. S unexpected uses for gold – Catalysis is an enabling technology that a noble metal traditionally underpins an estimated 80-90% of all regarded as being manufactured goods. The phenomenon chemically uninteresting involves a material, which is not one due to its poor ability to of the reactants, speeding up a desired chemical reaction without the need for an react with other substances. to be removed from the air - but also increase in temperature. Commonly used in domestic settings where people live catalysts such as those containing mercury alongside equipment that has a risk of CO Researchers at the School of Chemistry have proven wasteful, environmentally production from incomplete combustion are pioneering new ways to exploit hazardous and even harmful to human e.g. gas heaters, cookers, petrol engines.” the revolutionary potential of gold health. Gold, scientists have discovered, Catalysts are under continual development to accelerate and optimise chemical is not only a viable alternative catalyst but to achieve new levels of activity and processes in a range of industries from sometimes, the best possible catalyst. producing the plastics that modern life selectivity to society’s desired chemical Professor Hutchings believes that gold has depends on to environmentally friendly products. Using gold in catalysis could the potential to save lives, improve human energy production. Studies show that the enable society to make better use of health and clean up the environment: “Too main advantages of gold as a catalyst are precious raw materials and to exploit many processes create too much waste new, greener sources by generating and not enough product. By introducing a fuels, plastics and other chemicals gold catalyst we can reduce the amount from renewables such as corn starch, of waste and increase the productivity for glycerol and recycled waste. Smarter the benefit of a number of processes. The use of catalysis will also lower our “Gold has been a subject of human fascination more we learn about this precious metal, energy consumption and help in the for millennia, largely because of its resistance the more I feel that society is ascribing the decentralisation of activities such as water to corrosion and its resulting sustained beauty. wrong kind of value to gold.” purification and small scale electrical However, when broken down into nanoparticles, He adds: “One of the initial discoveries power generation. which contain just a few hundred atoms, it not we made is that gold is the best catalyst Research at Cardiff Catalysis Institute only changes colour; it also becomes incredibly for the formation of vinyl chloride, the (CCI) is currently exploring the possibility reactive, so contrary to the old adage; not main ingredient for the production of of using gold as a “cold start” catalyst even all that is gold glitters. Our research into PVC and has the potential to replace an the effect of gold nanoparticles on chemical in car exhaust systems to reduce carbon environmentally harmful mercury catalyst, and biological processes shows that in its emissions. The current catalysts depend on nanoparticle form, gold’s reactions are faster, this would be a major benefit to society. the heat of the exhaust to become active. easier and energetically more efficient than Gold is also used as a catalyst to oxidise This means that the first few minutes of many other catalysts.” carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. any journey produce the most emissions This has potential to be used in natural Professor Graham Hutchings of CO and NOx (nitrogen oxide). As gold FRS Director of the Cardiff Catalysis disasters where people are trapped in an can work at lower temperatures than Institute (CCI) enclosed space, such as mine shafts, and conventional catalysts, it could be used in poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) needs this early stage.

14 advances wales issue 73/ Autumn2014 advances wales CHEMISTRY advances advances W: www.cardiff.ac.uk/cci/ E: [email protected] T: +44(0)292087 4059 Park Place, Cardiff CF103AT. UK School of Chemistry, Cardiff University Institute Director of theCardiff Catalysis Prof GrahamHutchings Contact Catalyst Applications Gold Product Profile Profile

issue 73/ Autumn2014 CHEMISTRY 15 For more information please circle 7302 on the reader reply card MEDICINE advances advances MEDICINE White blood cell is key to protection New vaccine hope for leading viral cause of birth defects

xperts in infection and secretions such as urine, saliva immunity at Cardiff University, and breast milk, scientists at South Wales, have made a path- Cardiff sought to understand how E finding discovery that could to protect mucosal sites from infection, and how to prevent lead to the development of a the virus taking its grip in other vaccine for a health-ravaging important organs such as the liver. virus that affects around 50% The virus is also a major reason of adults in the UK. behind life-threatening diseases in bone marrow and organ transplant Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading viral recipients and is known to have cause of congenital birth defects, with 1 in 750 a major impact on the immune babies in the UK being born with permanent system of even the healthiest of disabilities - these include blindness, deafness adults. and brain damage - as a result of infection Illustration of a white blood cell within the womb. The research was conducted as part of a collaboration between These Cardiff scientists have uncovered a Cardiff University, The Wellcome novel defence mechanism to control this Trust, Sanger Institute (Cambridge), disease, using the most common form of white the University of Oxford and La blood cell – neutrophils. Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology in California. Although it has long been known that neutrophils are important in killing bacterial The paper was recently published infections, it was largely thought that they in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. were specifically designed for this cause; the fact that they can also fight a viral attack is a major breakthrough according to Dr Ian Humphreys from the University’s School of Medicine:

“Our study shows that neutrophils protect our organs from CMV by producing a protein called Profile TRAIL that can directly kill virus-infected cells. “Neutrophils are the rapid-response

on the reader reply card on the reader reply Our body attracts the neutrophils to where the arm of the immune system’s war against Cytomegalovirus (CMV) virion virus is replicating by producing the protein infection. The discovery of a new IL-22, which acts as a homing signal. molecular mechanism for neutrophil Profile 7303 mobilization and execution in the “Disease may actually be prevented if we fight against CMV is very exciting, and can teach the immune system to quickly Product provides key insights for developing Disease defence mechanism send antiviral neutrophils to the first site of more effective vaccines and therapies Applications infection. We are now developing a vaccine to combat this little-known viral Prevention of CMV that may protect the body against CMV. Our pathogen.” Contact findings may also have implications for other Dr Ian Humphreys destructive viruses such as flu, hepatitis and Dr Chris Benedict Cardiff Institute of Infection even HIV.” La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology & Immunity, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN (San Diego, California) Currently there is no known treatment for T: +44 (0)29 2068 7018 E: [email protected] CMV. Given that the virus spreads via bodily W: www.medicine.cf.ac.uk/infect-immun For more information please circle For more information

16 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 MEDICINE advances advances MEDICINE White blood cell is key to protection Welsh study serves up sweet solution Bees set to help combat hospital superbugs

major piece of research led burns, sloughy growth and its syrupy texture acted as a seal wounds, and against outside infection of wounds and by Professor Rose Cooper, pressure ulcers. provided a natural barrier to bacteria. A Professor of Microbiology Professor Cooper, at Cardiff School of Health This discovery would not have been news to who was the first in the UK the ancient Greeks and Romans, who were Sciences (CSHS) based to work with manuka honey, said: “The aware of honey’s health-giving properties at Cardiff Metropolitan majority of chronic wounds have bacteria however, with the emergence of antibiotics in a biofilm, which makes them much less in the 1950s as a means of killing off University in South Wales susceptible to antibiotics, and therefore, infection, centuries of knowledge were has demonstrated that much more difficult to treat. Manuka honey overridden by the need for modern drugs to honey can be used as a can inhibit the growth of these biofilms tackle infections. in the laboratory, giving it the potential natural remedy to hospital to control superbug infections such as infection “superbugs” MRSA. It will inhibit MRSA by stopping which are resistant to cells from dividing, which makes it such an interesting product to work with.” Her strong antibiotics. research, which investigated the effects of In its undiluted form, honey has the honey on gene expression in MRSA and its effect of killing off bacteria, which Medical grade honey became licensed on effects on other bacteria that cause wound researchers believe could be linked prescription in the UK in 2004 and approved infection, won the Infection and Biofilm to enzymes in the bees themselves or in Canada and the USA since 2007. It is Award at the prestigious Journal of Wound present in pollen. available in many forms, including tubes Care (JWC) Awards 2014. and as medicinal dressings or in ribbons, Over two years, tests were conducted on which are useful for inserting into a wound. bacteria gathered from infected patients In recent years, the medical profession Manuka honey, which is predominantly and from hospitals, which proved highly has become alarmed at the resistance produced in New Zealand and Australia, resistant to antibiotics. Working with the of bugs to even the strongest antibiotics has the benefits of being antimicrobial, University of Waikato in New Zealand, the and the results of this research will have a deodorising, anti-inflammatory and an research team from Cardiff Metropolitan major impact on the way hospitals tackle antioxidant and is effective in treating University discovered that honey’s high outbreaks of bugs, such as MRSA, which traumatic wounds, surgical incision sites, sugar content actually slowed bacterial haveProfile infected 3,000 patients so far this year.

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Manuka Honey 7304 Applications Natural remedy to hospital infection Contact Professor Rose Cooper Professor of Microbiology Centre for Biomedical Sciences Cardiff Metropolitan University Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue Cardiff CF5 2YB. UK T: +44 (0)29 2041 6845 E: [email protected] The effect of manuka honey on bacterial growth W: www3.uwic.ac.uk For more information please circle For more information advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 17 MANUFACTURING advances advances MANUFACTURING Sterling security Welsh created GB Pound gives counterfeiters the slip

he Royal Mint, in Llantrisant, world each year – is working closely with key South Wales, has developed industry stakeholders in order to understand the potential impact, whilst a public world-leading, anti- consultation will be completed before a final T counterfeiting technology decision is made on the precise specification After thirty years loyal service, the time which will enable Her Majesty’s of the new coin. A public design competition is right to retire the current £1 coin, and Treasury to modernise the will produce the design for the reverse, or replace it with the most secure coin in ‘tails’, of the coin which will be introduced in United Kingdom’s circulating the world. With advances in technology 2017 the design of which will be ‘distinctly currency with the production of making high value coins like the £1 ever British’. a brand new £1 coin. more vulnerable to counterfeiters, it’s vital The new £1 coin will have a twelve-sided that we keep several paces ahead of the George Osborne, the Chancellor of the shape which evokes memories of the pre- criminals to maintain the integrity of our Exchequer, revealed that HM Treasury decimalisation threepenny bit. It will be currency. I am particularly pleased that the believes there is a strong case for introducing constructed from two different coloured coin will take a giant leap into the future, a new £1 coin to help reduce counterfeiting metals and contain a special security feature using cutting edge British technology and ensure the integrity of the UK’s currency. – a revolutionary new high security coinage while at the same time, paying tribute currency system developed by The Royal to the past in the 12-sided design of the The Royal Mint’s prototype coin utilises Mint – which will not wear off over time and iconic threepenny bit.” multiple layers of cutting-edge technology will generate lifetime cost savings through and will allow the UK to reduce the rate George Osborne unmatched durability, lasting up to 30 times Chancellor of the Exchequer of counterfeit coins entering general longer than an equivalent value banknote. circulation, making it the most secure coin in the world, whilst costs will be reduced by Known as ‘Integrated Secure Identification replacing homogeneous metal with a more Systems’, it enables not just coins but affordable full-plated option. the whole cash cycle to be more secure, This innovative technology will be made protecting the public, vending machine available around the world and will operators, retailers, and the wider banking has been successfully revolutionise global coin security, whilst system. embedded into coins, reducing costs for Governments and Central bringing with it forensic Banks. This project is the work of The Royal Mint’s in-house technical team and involves the level security. The The Royal Mint – which delivers more than application of an existing security technology incorporation of the two billion coins and blanks, tooling and that has been proven over decades in feature throughout The other services to 50-60 countries around the banknotes. It is the first time that this feature Royal Mint’s industry leading aRMour® plating process ensures no loss of validity throughout the lifetime of the coin, making it as secure after 25 years as it was on release. The Royal Mint has also worked with key partners to develop high speed, sophisticated optical detectors for the feature which enables it to be detected at industry standard speeds of up to 4,000 coins per minute. This detection capability ensures all levels of the cash cycle can be secured with no loss in performance.

18 advances wales issue 73/ Autumn2014 advances wales MANUFACTURING advances advances circulating coins.” intheUK’sto boostpublicconfidence for helping counterfeiting, the opportunities new coinpioneering whichhelpsto reduce in thefuture. Itisouraimto produce a could changetheway that coins are made Treasury onsuchan exciting project, which tothe opportunity work HerMajesty’s with Royal Mintsaid,“We are thrilled to have Adam Lawrence, ChiefExecutive of The said, “Thedevelopment of our Director of Circulating Coin, Andrew Mills, TheRoyal Mint’s technology”.minting of expanding theboundaries as leaders ourindustry, within ourplacebut thisnew system confirms already theworld’s leading mint, export onaninternationalsolutions scale. We are nationally interms of providing innovative “We are proud very to berecognised Product W: www.royalmint.com E: [email protected] T: +44(0)1443222111 Pontyclun CF728YT. UK Llantrisant Royal MintLtd., Head of Marketing-Circulation Paul Benning Contact Currency Applications Anti-counterfeit technology Profile Profile technology iscommercialised. amount more plannedasthe £2m to date, asignificant with seen aninvestment of more than Royal Mint’s in-houseteam. Ithas research anddevelopment byThe ofculmination of intense aperiod Wales Quality Centre andisthe Innovation Award from The This project received the2013 banking.” from vending, parking, retail, and throughoutsecurity thecashcycle, built in.Itwill enable enhanced levels of banknote-strength security security, plated coin multiple with a new generation of low cost, high project hasenabled usto develop

MANUFACTURING issue 73/ Autumn2014 19 For more information please circle 7305 on the reader reply card MATERIALS advances advances MATERIALS Blizzard keeps athletes warm Special jackets made in Wales helped keep Welsh athletes stay warm when the competition heated up in Glasgow recently

elsh-based company As part of WEPSIN, and with Welsh and it has developed over the years to be widely Blizzard Protection Government funding, a research study was used by the US and British military for the carried out by Dr Liam Kilduff of Swansea treatment of hypothermia in trauma casualties. Systems Ltd has teamed University and Professor Christian Cook of It is now used extensively by the emergency W up with Sport Wales Bangor University, which has demonstrated the services, including fire and rescue, ambulance, and the Welsh Elite effectiveness of the jacket in improving athlete search and rescue and air ambulances. Performance Sport performance. Innovation Network “The rationale for the use of this (WEPSIN) to provide product is that Welsh athletes with there are significant new hi-tech Blizzard periods of time, jackets, which have been between when the designed to keep their athletes complete their warm-up muscles and body at the and the beginning of optimum temperature competition, when an for competition. athlete can lose muscle temperature,” says Professor While a warm-up is a staple part of an athlete’s Kilduff. routine, the time before an event starts can see Sports such as swimming, a significant loss of heat and Blizzard’s jacket athletics and shooting is the solution to that problem. The hi-tech will use the jackets at the material was originally designed by Derek Commonwealth Games Ryden, who was a keen mountaineer, as he and Jackie Webb, Business wanted something that was light weight but Development Manager, also highly effective for use as an emergency commented, “We have made bag. Blizzard’s unique material, ReflexcellTM many bespoke products for reflects radiated heat and the cells create the athletes to meet their insulation which trap the warm air. Its outer individual requirements and later is 100% windproof and waterproof and the sports. material used by Sports Wales has a Tog rating TM of approximately 8. “The Reflexcell material in the product for the Welsh athletes was originally designed and used as survival bags by climbers and walkers,

“We know a high muscle temperature is vital to allow the athlete to produce high levels of power. In addition, a high muscle temperature helps minimise the risk of injury. This product allows the athletes to maintain muscle temperature during these potential heat loss windows.” Dr Liam Kilduff Swansea University

20 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 MATERIALS advances advances MATERIALS

“Recently, our jackets and trousers were used Blizzard keeps athletes warm by Amy Williams and Lizzie Yarnold when they won their gold medals in the skeleton.” “The physiological benefits of heat The technology and use of the jackets was a maintenance are now well reported significant addition to preparation in Glasgow and, as we are always looking for the for some of our sporting stars. Athletics said; additional one percent advantage in our Scott Simpson, national performance coach for Welsh “Theown physiological performance benefits over our of opposition,heat maintenance the are nowuse ofwell the reported Blizzard and, garments as we arewas always a no lookingbrainer. for the additional one percent advantage in our own performance over our opposition, the use of“Athletes the Blizzard using garments the garments was ain no both brainer. training and competition have noticed “Athletesa significant using the performance garments in gain.both Intraining and competition havethere noticedis also thea significant added Jazz Carlin wearing a Blizzard performancebenefit gain.of the Inpsychological competition edgethere is also the jacket before her victory in the 800m addedgained benefit by havingof the somethingpsychological that edge assists gained by swimming event at the Glasgow havingperformance something that that the assists opposition performance do not. that the opposition do not. Commonwealth Games (above) and “All in all it has been a great partnership after receiving her gold medal (right). “All inand all one it has that been we aare great keen partnership to continue and one @JazzCarlin that movingwe are keenforward.” to continue moving forward.” Scott Simpson National performance coach for Welsh Athletics

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Product

Insulating material 7306 Applications Clothing for elite athletes Contact Jackie Webb Business Development Manager Blizzard Protection Systems Ltd Unit 2, Coed-y-Parc Industrial Estate Bethesda, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 4YY. UK T: + 44(0)1248 600666 E: [email protected] W: www.blizzardsurvival.com For more information please circle For more information advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 21 MATERIALS advances advances MATERIALS Into outer colour space & beyond! Makeover for South Wales print company

company from South LAB Colour mode is an alternative colour Wales which manufactures space which allows for the manipulation of luminosity and colour far more flexibly A polyurethane coated vinyl than working in RGB (Red-Green-Blue) or labels has developed a CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black) and “Using our internally developed system of bespoke colour matching allows for exact and pinpointed colour colour matching, we are not only able to match exactly but also very quickly turning enquiries system for the cosmetic matching. This is a vehicle hardly used within the print industry because of the into orders immediately and with a greater industry which will allow lack of understanding of three dimensional degree of colour accuracy and consistency, this charts and products to modelling and subsequent print output. is absolutely vital when dealing with large worldwide contracts”. identically match each other. LAB colours cover all perceivable colours Dave Beese by the human eye and they are absolute Marketing Director Having started out by supplying products which means that ironically, although into the trophy and awards industry and not purposely used for printing, images now specialising in applying resin to printed converted from RGB to CMYK or back again, vinyl branding products, DecTek, based in will pass through LAB in the process. Pontypridd, has addressed complex issues To help put the breakthrough into some in the industry through its own research kind of context, Mike adds “Using Pantone, and development. Its new bespoke LAB RGB or CMYK colour helps you define the based colour matching system places the geographical landscape - LAB gives the Post company at the forefront of colour matching Code.” techniques. Driven by demand from the cosmetics industry, DecTek’s new system enables cosmetic companies, to exactly match printed domed colour guides, for point-of- sale purposes, with actual product colour for the huge colour array surrounding the ever- changing cosmetic ranges used by women. on the reader reply card on the reader reply

Profile

7307 Profile

Product Colour matching system Applications Cosmetics industry colour guides Contact Dave Beese General manager DecTek Ltd, Unit D8.1 Forest Court, Main Avenue, Treforest Ind. Est., Pontypridd CF37 5UR. UK T: +44 (0)1443 841840 E: [email protected] W: www.dectek.co.uk For more information please circle For more information

22 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 advances wales INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY advances advances C Breakthrough for Wi-Fi services include throughput, latency, local RF Spotify, Twitter andothers. Network metrics appssuchasYouTube,testing Facebook, and/or captive splashscreen portal and consumers, logging WPA/WAP2 onvia Streetwise 4150probes behave justlike systems are infact working to specification.” reduces when truckroll byconfirming and,more significantly, confidence subscriber automatically issuesthat reporting erode clearis very –it saves andmoney time by ROI (Return onInvestment) for Streetwise resources.” saidJonCurley, CEO, Epitiro. “The to meetqualitywasting expectations without “The challenge providers for Wi-Fiservice is results online. will beable to view theirownparticipant test centre for cumulative analysis while each test results will beforwarded to Epitiro’s data of broadbandexperience All of services. the technical measurements that affect consumer independently test speedsandthe other download Epitiro’s software whichwill then managed centrally. Consumers only needto cannowapp performance bemonitored and accessibility,service local interference and Issues that quality, affect subscriber like reduces ‘truckroll.’ vehicles ontheroad andspecialists i.e.it reduces also significantly thenumberof stakeholders. Thisremote system monitoring cloud-hosted, real-time to analytics quality bydelivering actual experience subscriber network management information and thegapbetween bridges centralised user’s own access point.Itsuccessfully probes to beyond measure service the whichusesdiscreet,Solution on-site test Assurance Streetwise isaWi-FiService Welsh developed Streetwise Streetwise launched its world-leading measurement has solutions, inwireless quality specialises ardiff-based Epitiro, which (QoE). (QoE). user’s of experience quality andimproves performance a of Wi-Finetwork monitoring which allows for theremote TM TM software software that they canbeupandrunninginminutes. technical so personnel andauto-configure These probes are easily installed bynon- probes for regional ornational deployments. scalessolution commercially to thousandsof Assurance The Streetwise Wi-FiService concerts and sporting events. andsporting concerts and wherever crowds gather –airports, ontrainsfrom andairplanes, smartphones the core software testing whichenables field Epitiro hasalsolaunchedanappversion of To make thesystem even more accessible, QoE insight. comprehensive (QoS)and quality of service quality andchannelinterference to provide Welsh talent.” proud that it hasbeenfully developed with designed iscertainly world-leading andwe’re John Curley, we’ve said,“Thesolution Co-founder andchiefexecutive of Epitiro, TM Their solution featuresTheir solution include: l l l l gives remote view of Wi-Fi quality CEO, Epitiro Jon Curley trucks anddrivequality.” issues. Now service providers canpark the conflict andothersubscriber-affecting registration, configuration andchannel operators instantly discover coverage, going beyond the AP we’re helping Wi-Fi it’s“Whether Wi-Fi offload orhotspots, by

and deployment Cloud-hosted modelforfasttrials Low cost,easy-to-installdataprobes Performance QoE metrics:App,Access,Network Wi-Fi analytics Remote, on-lineviewsofreal-time

but thinkglobally.” ourstrategy with continue to recruit locally “As theexpected demandgrows we’ll uniquely developed. Epitirotechnology has andexpertise around theglobe require theanalysis Mr Curley said:“Government regulators coverage across theUK. partnered Epitiro with to map3Gmobile and other TheBBCpreviously countries. Singapore, New Zealand, Tunisia, Bahrain and telecoms regulators inIreland, Epitiro hasundertaken projects for Ofcom W: www.epitiro.com E: [email protected] T: +44(0)2920488226 Cardiff CF104LN. UK 10/11 Raleigh Walk, Waterfront 2000 Epitiro Ltd, EpitiroHouse, Company Director Iain Wood Contact Remote monitoring Applications Wi-Fi solution Product Profile Profile

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

issue 73 / Autumn 2014

23 For more information please circle 7308 on the reader reply card ELECTRONICS advances advances ELECTRONICS Staying switched on with iViTi ON Innovative Welsh lighting company develops safety product

ViTi Lighting from South Wales the iViTi ON technology will be introduced has incorporated technology into a domestic GLS lamp, which is fully developed by a Mid Wales interchangeable. i company (Litonics Ltd) to create The patented iViTi ON Automatic three new ground-breaking Switching Safety Lamp operates like products. Set to revolutionise the any standard LED GLS (General lighting industry, the first of Lighting Service) lamp these new products until the lamp detects that the power has to be launched is been cut. When this called iViTi ON. occurs, instantly, and undetectably, the lamp Resulting from a will switch to battery collaboration between operation. This safety design partners One lamp can differentiate Nine Design, and between a break in its manufacturing partners power supply caused by Samsung and The Sony manual switching and UK Technology Centre, being extinguished due to in South Wales, iViTi ON a power cut. Samsung and The Sony UK Technology represents the very highest Centre at Pencoed within the semiconductor, standards of design, quality Whilst operating under battery LED and battery sectors, give us complete and practicality. power the lamp functions as a confidence in the technology and integrity normal GLS and can be switched of the product range. Placing this product The product’s automatic on and off as required and when within the most vulnerable locations within switching ensures that users fully charged, the battery supplies the home provides security, safety and could are not left in the dark should enough power to keep the light on for save lives. The added benefits of this lamp the electricity supply fail and initially up to 3 hours. As soon as the electricity are that being LED, it is far cheaper to run as supply is reconnected, the lamp returns well as being environmentally friendly.” to ‘normal’ operation and the battery is re- charged. Profile

The uniquely designed 9.5w Automatic Profile on the reader reply card on the reader reply Switching iViTi ON GLS LED Lamp will deliver 850 lumens; with 2700k warm white colour “iViTi Lighting Limited has taken a highly Product temperature designed for the home and 7309 responsible approach to entry into the LED Safety lighting market by fully testing all their products in hospitality markets. This innovative new Applications our accredited test laboratory before placing product is set to take its place among other Emergency lighting them on the market. The introduction of ‘standard’ safety products within the home Contact such as smoke detectors, CO detectors and Bill Welch their new iViTi ON range is a hugely exciting Managing Director development and we have been working intruder alarms. iViTi Lighting Ltd. closely with Litonics and iViTi over the past Floor 4, 10 The Crescent Bill Welch, Managing Director of iViTi Conway Road, 2 years on the project. Lighting said, “We are very excited about the Cardiff CF11 9QL. UK Peter Hunt massive opportunities offered by the iViTi T: +44 (0)1952 586597 E: [email protected] Chief Operating Officer, ON technology and are delighted to partner W: www.iviti.co.uk Lighting Industry Association Litonics in its development. In addition, the experience and technical expertise of For more information please circle For more information

24 advances wales Issue 73 / Autumn 2014 advances wales BIOTECHNOLOGY advances advances the scattered light,Cardiff researchers have of thematerial inaquantitative way from In order to determine thechemicalcomposition living cells canbetaken inamatter of seconds. more rapidly whichmeansthat animage of muchfaster,the vibrations and it create images This technique allows theresearchers to “hear” snowflakes andthat of asingle large hailstone. effect of theprecipitation of many random toThis issimilar thedifference between the because themolecules are not synchronised. the resulting lightscattering ismuchweaker due to thermalexcitation whichmeansthat Without thispush,molecules vibrate only vibration. tosimilar of thedecay themolecular time lightpulses are aduration used with short up-shifted To bythevibration. dothis,very in colour towards theblue- having afrequency the resulting lightscattering whichchanges frequency, andtheresearchers thenlisten to lightwhichismodulatedusing at thevibration To hearthissound,themolecules are ‘pushed’ them. and canbeusedto identify the molecules reflects theirchemicalstructure, vibrates muchfaster. Theresulting ‘sound’ of lighter thanacarbonatom, 12 times andsoit bond. Ahydrogen atom for example isabout theincreasingwith strength of themolecular the decreasing massof theatoms, andalso each other, afrequency increasing with with atoms inthemolecules against swinging consist ofsound. Thevibrations theindividual one hundred faster billion thanaudible times of about10femtoseconds period whichis haveup thematerial. Thesevibrations a offrequency vibrations themolecules making scattering (CARS),whichusesthehigh- effect of coherentoptical anti-Stokes Raman The technique isbasedonthenonlinear Figure 1 and implemented the method said “The and implemented themethod said“The who acquired thedata andco-developed -DrFrancesco Chemistry Analytical Masia The results were recently publishedin chemical synthesis.” for influids microfluidickinetics important for research, obesity important andreaction forsciences, example lipid metabolism understand processes inbiology andmaterial by themethodcanbeusedto modeland quantitative nature of theimaging afforded in theapplicability of CARSmicroscopy. The research said“Thisdevelopment isamilestone Prof Wolfgang Langbeinwhoheaded the andnucleus. cytosol components of water, lipiddroplets, aswell as thedifferentshown inFig.2, clearly identifying and anexample of suchananalysis oncells is The workflow of themethodisgiven inFig.1 ‘sound’ andtheirabsolute concentration. thechemicalcomponents, their frequencies, these images taken for many different vibration values of theconcentrations. Itextracts from how it oscillates after it ishit) andthepositive the causality of response thevibration (i.e. analysisdeveloped both using anunsupervised microscopy technique CARS drives new C quantitative chemicalstructure of cells Welsh anew researchers way to capture find the living cells very quickly. cellsliving very This breakthrough enable will researchers to create animage from stem cellstudying andrelated differentiation imaging techniques. of Physics andAstronomy, andMedicine Dentistry Biosciences, team including researchersan interdisciplinary theSchools from millionth of ametre) resolution. Thedevelopment was delivered by such ascells three-dimensional sub-micron with (less thanone to of transparent image thechemicalcomposition structures ardiff researchers have developed anew microscopy technique not berevealed bylooking at theraw data.” different subcellular structures, whichcould differences of inthechemicalcomposition method was able to even distinguish subtle it. Iwas worth impressed definitely how the tookalgorithm afew monthsbutit was development andimplementation of the W: www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/ E: [email protected] T: +44(0)292087 0172 The Parade, Cardiff CF243AA. UK Astronomy, Cardiff University School of Physicsand Professor WolfgangLangbein Contact Cell imagingthrough vibration Applications Microscopy technique Product Profile Profile

Figure 2

BIOTECHNOLOGY issue 73 / Autumn 2014

25 For more information please circle 7310 on the reader reply card BIOTECHNOLOGY advances advances BIOTECHNOLOGY BioMonde has it in the bag BioMonde’s BioBag carries maggots for Larval Debridement Therapy

nitially formed as a spin out addition, maggots feed on the bacteria that company from the NHS in cause wound infection and, as they are photophobic, they naturally migrate to the I 2005, BioMonde in South dark depths of a wound, the area that is Wales specialises in ‘Larval most difficult for surgeons to reach. It Debridement Therapy’ (LDT) is this ‘double whammy’ of beneficial and has developed and effects that accounts for the speed and effectiveness of maggot therapy. patented BioBag. Effective debridement is a key step in the wound healing process and The term ‘Larval Debridement Therapy’ because of its selectivity for dead (LDT) describes the use of maggots, tissue, it is also known as biosurgery. precisely the larvae of the green bottle blowfly Lucilia sericata, for the removal Larval debridement therapy is shown of dead tissue and slough from the wound to have a direct effect on at least three surface (debridement). elements of the wound healing process: it removes non-viable tissue effectively, it The maggots inject salivary enzymes onto helps combat infection by reducing the bio- rotting tissue to break it down and then burden, and it helps normalise the wound suck it back up in a piston-like action. In closure by facilitating the remodelling Debridement is achieved by the action process. An indirect effect of LDT is that of proteolytic enzymes, which are moisture balance may also be normalised. secreted by larvae. These enzymes liquefy Too much or the “wrong” wound fluid is proteinaceous material on the wound often caused by infection, slough and surface, which is subsequently ingested by dead tissue on the wound surface, and the larvae as nutrition. The action of larval inflammation. enzymes is restricted to dead tissue and Larvae of this species have been used since ancient times, and more recently during the 1920’s to clean chronic, non-healing wounds in an attempt to start the healing process. Today, LDT is increasingly used in response to the rising challenges posed by multi-resistant bacteria, which may be present in chronic wounds which are a significant drain on the resources of healthcare systems.

26 advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 BIOTECHNOLOGY advances advances BIOTECHNOLOGY

living tissue in the wound bed, including and bagged larvae are equally efficacious larvae in Europe and BioMonde LDT granulation tissue, is left unaffected. in terms of debriding the wound. BioBag products have been used to treat over This selective process is one of the major is available as BB50, BB100, BB200 & 18,000 patients across Europe, primarily advantages of LDT as it spares the healthy BB300. The number denotes the minimum in the UK and Germany. Following recent tissue necessary for healing. number of larvae per bag at a dose rate 5-7 approval in the US, the company is in the larvae per sq. cm found to be the optimum. process of establishing a manufacturing The bacteria contained in this material Frequently, only one or two treatments, and distribution base in Gainesville Florida are taken up at the same time by larvae, each lasting 2–3 days, are required. and will begin supplying the therapy to meaning the bio-burden is reduced and customers in the US later this year. the antibacterial effect of LDT is further In contrast, with conventional treatments, enhanced by the secretion of bactericidal it can take months to achieve a successful factors, which consist of small, heat-stable outcome. This makes maggots a very peptides. In addition, larval secretions cost-effective alternative to conventional can prevent the formation of and reduce therapies, substantially preformed biofilms which can be another barrier to effective wound healing.

The unique patented

technology of BioBag uses larvae reducing hospitalisation costs. Often, Profile contained in a pouch-like device for ease maggot therapy is the only alternative to on the reader reply card on the reader reply of application and removal of the larvae continuing pain, disfigurement, repeated by the clinician and acceptability to the surgery or even amputation. Profile patient. Larvae are placed in BioBags A number of clinical trials have already 7311 of different sizes, which consist of a Product been completed and BioMonde has active polyester net and a cube of PVA (Polyvinyl BioBag- bagged larvae scientific research partnerships with both Alcohol) foam that acts as a spacer. Larval Applications Swansea University and the University of Larval debridement therapy secretions penetrate through the net Nottingham. A recent report commissioned Contact and liquefied, proteinaceous material from Swansea University’s department of Bernd Baum, is taken back by the larvae. BioBags are Vice President, Business Health economics found that LDT was the Relationships, Biomonde placed on the wound areas that need to be most cost effective debridement method Units 2-4 Dunraven Business Park debrided and covered with an appropriate Coychurch Road, Bridgend, CF31 3BG, UK in terms of being both less expensive and secondary dressing. These BioBags can be T: +44 (0)845 230 1810 more clinically effective to achieve the E: [email protected] left on the wound for up to four days and outcome of a successful debridement. W: www.biomonde.com investigations have demonstrated that free BioMonde is the only provider of bagged For more information please circle For more information

advances wales issue 73 / Autumn 2014 27 ISSUE 73 G AUTUMN 2014

THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Advances Wales publishes news and features in the following areas THE JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY advances WALES MATERIALS AGRICULTURE Organisations featured in this issue ENVIRONMENT

BioMonde 26 ENERGY WALES Blizzard Protection Systems Ltd 20 FOOD

48 advances DecTek Ltd 22 Epitiro Ltd 23 ENGINEERING 24 iViTi Lighting Ltd MANUFACTURING Royal Mint Ltd 18 SPECIFIC (Sustainable Product Engineering Centre for Innovative 10 EARTH SCIENCES Sterling security Functional Industrial Coatings) and Swansea University ELECTRONICS ADVANCES WALES ADVANCES Government Welsh QED Centre Industrial Estate Treforest PONTYPRIDD BRITAIN GREAT CF37 5ZY New secure GB Pound designed and produced in Wales Cardiff Metropolitan University: COMMUNICATIONS Cardiff School of Health Sciences 17 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Cardiff University: OPTO-ELECTRONICS Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry 14 Cardiff Institute of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine 16 PHYSICS School of Physics and Astronomy 25 CHEMISTRY

MEDICINE The previous issue - Advances Wales 72 BIOTECHNOLOGY

Anglesey's standing stones take a leap into the digital age 4 Advances Wales contact BioWales 2014 puts Wales on international stage 3 To receive a regular free copy of Advances Wales, change contact Dezrez's desirable software 21 details or to obtain free back issues Digital thinking 10 please complete and return the Edukey key to success 20 reader reply card or contact Alyson Pasch, Welsh Government, QED, Main Exploring influences on the development of Alzheimer's 6 Avenue, Treforest Industrial Estate, RCT, Green Light for greener packaging 17 CF37 5YR, Wales, UK James Bond studio secures licence to thrill in Cardiff 7 Tel +44 (0)3000 61 6044 Email [email protected] Moneypenny calls on Penelope 22 Information regarding the international offices of the Welsh New genetic mutations shed light on schizophrenia 26 Government can be obtained by telephoning +44 (0)3000 6 03000 New solar cell technology taking off in North Wales 14 from the UK or online at www.expertisewales.com/advances OpenIQE initiative boosts regional supply chains 6 Advances Wales is also available online at: Operators set to get faster networks 25 www.wales.com/advances Paying it safe with myPinPad 18 Pioneering 3D printing reshapes patient's face in Wales 8 Sêr Cymru appoints new director 5 Swansea hosts EuroVis 2014 9 Swansea research findings may help the fight against cancer 27 Swansea research helping to fight the rise of the app attackers 3 Usable clinical data in a Clix 24 Welsh clean up for Indian water 5 Welsh fridge keeps its cool 16 Welsh research base punches above its weight 7

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