World-leading and impactful research
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience: receiving the royal seal of approval
The University was proud to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to open the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) in November 2010. Among the excited guests at the event were supporters of the Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease (SIFMND), whose remarkable fundraising campaign has resulted over £11 million to date for the establishment of the centre and for research, scholarships and services for students.
SITraN represents an enormous leap forward in understanding motor neurone disease (MND), which has been a neglected condition in terms of research funding. There are 40,000 patients who suffer from MND in Europe, including 6,000 in the UK alone. To date no single institution anywhere in the world has developed the necessary critical mass and facilities to focus on this devastating illness and other degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy. SITraN now offers the opportunity for a coordinated approach to the development and clinical trialling of new therapies based on rational targets of proven pre-clinical effectiveness.
Biofuels from algae: investigating the potential of economical and energy-efficient alternative fuel
The US-based Grantham Foundation has reinvested in the research expertise at Sheffield with an award of $50,000 for a project in the Departments of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Physics and Astronomy, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. A novel method for illuminating photobioreactors to produce algae biomass for biofuel production is being coordinated by Dr Jim Gilmour. The team is currently investigating whether the provision of useful light energy can be increased to stimulate algal growth.
“We were very grateful to receive the Grantham Foundation grant. There is real potential in using microalgae as a source of biofuels and our research is already showing positive results.” Dr Jim Gilmour, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
A boost for cancer research: leaving a lasting legacy to Sheffield
Through her generous legacy, Jean Smith – a popular member of staff in the Department of Finance for over 30 years from 1952 – has ensured that new cancer treatments are developed more effectively at the University. She bequeathed 50 per cent of her estate – over £112,000 – specifically to aid cancer research. £25,000 of the legacy will be used to purchase an IVIS Lumina II imaging system. This is highly sensitive and can be used by our researchers to accurately monitor the key events in tumour growth and spread, as well as the effects of new anticancer drugs being developed at the University. It has the advantage of being non-invasive and can detect even tiny primary and metastatic tumours.
The remainder of Jean’s legacy has been used to set up the Jean Smith Cancer Research Fellowships. These will provide an extremely valuable source of funding for students spending a year of research in oncology. It is intended that the recipients will be taking a BMedSci degree or the MMedSci degree in Human Nutrition.