Storage of Volatiles in the Mantle Lithosphere: Time-scales, sources and processes. Fragments of the Earth's mantle (xenoliths), transported to surface by deep-seated volcanics, record the injection of fluids through formation of volatile-bearing minerals (mantle metasomatism). This project will 1) test the hypothesis that timescales of mantle volatile storage can be determined using noble gas (laser probe) dating techniques, and 2) determine the sources and processes involved in volatile stor ....Storage of Volatiles in the Mantle Lithosphere: Time-scales, sources and processes. Fragments of the Earth's mantle (xenoliths), transported to surface by deep-seated volcanics, record the injection of fluids through formation of volatile-bearing minerals (mantle metasomatism). This project will 1) test the hypothesis that timescales of mantle volatile storage can be determined using noble gas (laser probe) dating techniques, and 2) determine the sources and processes involved in volatile storage, using halogen and noble gas geochemistry. A successful outcome will establish unique methods for dating mantle metasomatic events and determine the relationship between mantle and crust melting episodes, thus providing critical constraints on mantle evolution and Earth degassing models. Read moreRead less
Investigating Wnt signaling during human nephron commitment and patterning. Aims: To use gene edited stem cell lines that display cell location, identity and cell state to map human kidney tissue formation in the laboratory. By monitoring how each cell responds to those around it across time and space, we will for the first time map the formation of kidney tissue in the dish.
Significance: Understanding how stem cells form a tissue will help us to improve and control the process. This is key to ....Investigating Wnt signaling during human nephron commitment and patterning. Aims: To use gene edited stem cell lines that display cell location, identity and cell state to map human kidney tissue formation in the laboratory. By monitoring how each cell responds to those around it across time and space, we will for the first time map the formation of kidney tissue in the dish.
Significance: Understanding how stem cells form a tissue will help us to improve and control the process. This is key to advancing tissue engineering.
Expected outcomes: The proposal will pioneer state-of-the-art imaging, gene editing and machine learning approaches, generating models of human development that are currently unavailable.
Benefits: This understanding will guide the development of novel approaches to tissue engineering.
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Synthesis of Bioactive Metabolites from Myxobacteria. The crocacins and apicularens are two diverse groups of biologically active molecules isolated from myxobacteria. Crocacins A-D are dipeptides which show antifungal activity and are highly cytostatic in mammalian cell cultures. The novel macrolide apicularen A is highly active against a number of human tumour cell lines and shows promise as a new type of anticancer compound. The aim of this project is develop a methodology to synthesise these ....Synthesis of Bioactive Metabolites from Myxobacteria. The crocacins and apicularens are two diverse groups of biologically active molecules isolated from myxobacteria. Crocacins A-D are dipeptides which show antifungal activity and are highly cytostatic in mammalian cell cultures. The novel macrolide apicularen A is highly active against a number of human tumour cell lines and shows promise as a new type of anticancer compound. The aim of this project is develop a methodology to synthesise these novel compounds.Read moreRead less