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Boost for early career researchers

MMU offers 'accelerator' grants

RESEARCH to help fight hospital bugs, rehabilitate people after injury using computer games and break down language barriers for young people is being backed by a new funding scheme at MMU.

The Research Accelerator Grant Scheme is targeted at staff at the beginning of their research careers and is designed to cover costs for early career researchers and help them to develop the skills and confidence to apply for external funding.

The Research Office, led by new director Professor Dave Raper, selected 14 researchers for a total of £62, 719 in grants which can be used for small pieces of exploratory research, travel or equipment.

Dr Andy Weightman, a lecturer in Engineering Design, is one of the recipients of the Accelerator Grant. His research looks at the way people move their arms in playing computer games, with the aim of rehabilitating arm function in children with cerebral palsy, or after stroke or injury.

Andy’s work is part of a project between the Schools of Engineering, Computing, Maths and Digital Technology and Healthcare Sciences, and the grant will provide vital funding to employing an undergraduate student assistant.

Broken bones

Dr Kathryn Whitehead, a research fellow in microbiology, has begun a project with Professor Peter Kelly  to develop a solution to severe hospital-acquired infections associated with fixation pins which are used to hold bones together after fractures and breaks.

She said: “We’re aiming to establish data about the antimicrobial activity of the metal ions, nanoparticles and salts against known infection pathogens, and to find out if the antimicrobial activity is altered by combining metals with different nobilities in the galvanic series.

“This grant has allowed me to employ someone to do the microbiological screening and laboratory work and to also buy the consumables needed for this project.”

The other researchers selected are:

Tamara McNeill – Exploring the pathway from student to entrepreneur

Rob Drummond –  Understanding multicultural Manchester English: breaking down barriers for young people in Manchester

Jiling Feng - Mechanisms of Blunt Traumatic Aortic Rupture during Car Accident

Glen Cooper - Creating a finite element model to understanding loading in the diabetic foot

Adam O'Riordan - Willow Pattern Bridge

Faye Simpson - Community Heritage and Wellbeing

Moi Hoon Yap - A prediction of health states through quantification of facial signals

Rebecca Kennedy - Imaging the DMZ

Michael Carroll - investigating the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGE) on the function and integrity gametes

Steven Lind -The efficient computation of biological and environmental bubbly flows using high-order particle-grid method

Chris Murgatroyd - Epigenetic Regulation of Oxytocin in Postpartum Depression

Carly Jim - The NF file: a child-centred information sharing resource for children with Neurofibromatosis 1.

For more information about the Research Office's accelerator grant, go to http://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/fundingopportunities/researcher-accelerator.php

Published Monday, 20th August 2012