New research has found four genes with some of the largest known effects on the timing of menopause discovered to date, providing new insight into links between menopause timing and cancer risk. Genes come in pairs, and when women only have one working copy of the four new genes identified, they have menopause between two and five and a half years earlier than average. Published in ‘Nature’, the large-scale analysis was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Wellcome. The team first looked at variation in data from genetic sequencing of 106,973 post-menopausal female participants in the UK Biobank…
Author: UKRI
Further information Challenge area: supporting a just transition Smart Heat and Intelligent Energy in Low-income Districts (SHIELD) Lead network type: electricity Funding award: £5,401,332 SHIELD is a bold new initiative aimed at making the net zero transition accessible to low-income residents of social housing and other tenures who cannot afford low carbon technologies. Project partners: UK Power Networks (lead) Power Circle Projects Eastlight Community Homes Electricity North West Essex County Council Thermify UK Community Works UrbanChain Citizens Advice Essex Essex Community Energy Challenge area: accelerating decarbonisation of major energy demands Flexible railway energy hubs Lead network type: electricity Funding award:…
The Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (PPU) is a major research centre focusing on understanding how signals are transmitted within the body’s cells. Deciphering how disruption of these processes can cause many diseases, such as neurodegeneration, cancer, hypertension and immune disorders, aims to lead to the development of new treatments. The MRC PPU is based at the University of Dundee School of Life Sciences. Funding will support more than 200 scientific and support staff, and students at the unit to continue their research. Research by the unit has already contributed to breakthroughs, such as a drug…
The winning projects Ocean Ledger Geospatial software applied to coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows. The software measures and forecasts coastal risk and provides actionable insights for investors and organisations to: mitigate through targeted conservation and restoration align with market mechanisms monitor, report and verify impact Tierra Foods and the University of Huddersfield A machine learning-optimised project development platform for asset-management and food multinationals that leverages a novel monitoring, reporting and verification methodology. This will quantify inorganic carbon sequestration from natural oxalate inputs in soils. Auquan and University College London An artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool designed…
The projects are designed to stimulate exciting new interdisciplinary research. Treatment for bile duct cancer, degradation of toxic organic pollutants, historical accounts that inform marine ecosystem management, and techniques to protect children’s digital data are among the breakthrough projects being funded. Additionally, the second round of funding is launching today with a further £32.5 million available. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot scheme is supporting new and creative interdisciplinary ideas emerging from the research community. The scheme: unlocks new research, approaches and methods that would not be possible from established disciplinary thinking encourages…
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK have invested £15 million in the new National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). The centre will drive research and innovation, bolstering the alternative proteins sector in the UK. It will turn ideas into reality and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in this rapidly expanding global market. The NAPIC ambition is far-reaching. Spanning the entire alternative protein supply chain, the centre will foster innovation across a variety of protein sources, from plant-based proteins and lab-grown meats to protein-rich algae. A global challenge Animal…
The Cancer Therapeutics programme focuses on developing life-changing cancer treatments, including immunotherapies and vaccines. It also supports projects addressing unmet medical needs for treating childhood and young persons’ cancers. The investment from Innovate UK will drive both early and later stage innovations in cancer therapies, building on UK economic potential in this field. Industry-led research and development £11.3 million will be shared by 16 projects led by small and medium-sized enterprises at various stages right from feasibility through to regulatory approval. Targeting ancient mechanisms and interfering with proteins Stimulating the immune system to attack cancers has been a major breakthrough…
Since 2019, the IDC has supported industrial decarbonisation efforts across the UK’s key regional clusters. Collaboration with industry, funding partners and government has led to: the development of six credible cluster plans nine advanced deployment projects the development of a dedicated research centre The IDC has overseen 100 research projects, developing multidisciplinary decarbonisation solutions across industries. Laying the foundations The IDC, backed by £210 million public funding and matched by £261 million from industry, has catalysed the decarbonisation of the UK’s energy intensive industries. The challenge provided targeted support to six of the UK’s key industrial clusters: Teesside Humber Scotland…
Further information Industrial research projects Artificial intelligence-based, virtual reality application to provide data-driven, patient-centred treatment for people with eating disorders (Oasis) Project lead: SyncVR Medical UK Ltd Decreasing waitlists for young patients with eating disorders through an evidence-based VR treatment, developed in collaboration between SyncVR Medical and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Building psychological readiness for credit through XR games Project lead: Good With Ltd Good With’s FinIQ™, financial psycho-education simulation experience, gives learners a safe space to deal with personal finance situations, improving their metacognitive skills, financial knowledge and decision-making capabilities in the real-world. Dragons of Afterlands:…
Innovate UK will invest almost £900,000 in five successful projects following a Small Business Research Initiative, now referred to as Contracts for Innovation, competition for accessible solutions for disrupted journeys. It is well known that certain user groups face barriers when accessing and using our transport networks, which can often limit or prevent them from travelling. This can be heightened when something goes wrong with their journey. The competition asked applications to develop an accessible and inclusive solution, physical or digital, to support transport users when a journey is disrupted, enabling them to continue their journeys safely and comfortably. We…