Kent Health News and Events

A case study of asthma care in school age children using nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary collaborative practices, new publication co-authored by Professor Patricia Wilson, Professor of Primary and Community Care, CHSS.

This is the third paper published  from the NIHR funded national evaluation of the nursing contribution to chronic disease management. Professor Patricia Wilson was co-applicant and project manager on the PEARLE project.

A case study of asthma care in school age children using nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary collaborative practices is now available on line. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2015:8 pages 181-188.

The nursing contribution to chronic disease management: a whole systems approach – the full report from August 2010 is available on line – pdf

Who is involved?
Professor Patricia Wilson

Development of a reliable, valid measure to assess parents’ and teachers’ understanding of postural care for children with physical disabilities.

A new measure to assess parents and teachers understanding, knowledge and confidence in providing postural care to children with physical disabilities has recently been published in Child: Care, Health and Development. The research, co-authored by Dr Sarah Hotham and Dr Kate Hamilton-West, in collaboration with Dr Eve Hutton (Head Paediatric OT at EKHUFT), discusses the development and testing of the new scale, which has been used to evaluate the A-Z postural training programme.

This is the first paper published from an NIHR funded collaboration between the University of Kent, East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Canterbury Christchurch University.

A copy of the measure, and more information about the programme of research using the A-Z of Postural Care, is now available.

Development of a reliable, valid measure to assess parents’ and teachers’ understanding of postural care for children with physical disabilities: The (UKC-PostCarD) questionnaire – now available on line. Child: Care, Health and Development . ISSN 0305-1862

Who is involved?
Dr Sarah Hotham
Dr Kate Hamilton-West

The current method, which involves the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for monogenic disorders (resulting from a single defective gene) has long been recognised as expensive, time-consuming and requires the tailoring of a specific test for each couple and/or disorder.

The research, led by Professor Darren Griffin of the University’s School of Biosciences, in collaboration with researchers at Illumina, Inc. Cambridge, showed that karyomapping could be used, simultaneously, as a new approach to PGD for monogenic disorders with the potential for the detection of chromosomal disorders.

The new research is described in a paper published in December 2014, titled Karyomapping – a comprehensive means of simultaneous monogenic and cytogenetic PGD: Comparison with standard approaches in real time for Marfan syndrome, published by the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics in December 2014.

The paper also describes how in one clinical case study, a male partner was affected with Marfan syndrome, an autosomal dominant disease affecting the connective tissue which can lead to heart (aorta) and/or visual (retina) problems. Single cells from IVF embryos were biopsied and analysed using standard PGD approaches including minisequencing for the Marfan mutation and analysis of three informative linked markers (work performed by the Dagan Wells laboratory at the University of Oxford and Reprogenetics UK).

Karyomapping was used to confirm the diagnosis utilizing a rapid 24-hour protocol enabling the researchers to perform karyomapping in a clinically applicable setting.

In a second clinical study, published earlier in 2014, karyomapping was used to confirm a PGD case detecting both chromosomal count (euploidy/aneuploidy) as well as a monogenic disorder (Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome) simultaneously. In this study, the family underwent PGD with simultaneous diagnosis of both SLO status and chromosome constitution using standard approaches. Again, the diagnosis was confirmed simultaneously by karyomapping. (Live birth after PGD with confirmation by a comprehensive approach (karyomapping) for simultaneous detection of monogenic and chromosomal disorders. Natesan et al, 2014).

Both clinical cases led to the birth of a healthy child, unaffected by Marfan syndrome and SLO respectively.

The paper Karyomapping – a comprehensive means of simultaneous monogenic and cytogenetic PGD: Comparison with standard approaches in real time for Marfan syndrome, is available here.

Such cells are key to driving forward the UK’s knowledge-based bioeconomy (KBBE) through a combination of basic and strategic research aimed at improving cellular productivity and the synthesis of fine chemicals and biotherapeutics.

The research, led by Professor Martin Warren and his team at the University’s School of Biosciences, is one of five projects to be recognised by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) as part of its Strategic Longer and Larger Grants (sLoLaS) scheme.

Professor Warren’s five-year research programme will engineer new ways of reorganising the internal metabolic machinery of cells.

The team hopes to build ‘micro-factories’ inside cells that will be able to produce useful and valuable molecules, such as pharmaceuticals, without intoxicating the cells. The overall aim of the project is to increase bacterial metabolic efficiency through the ergonomic design of specific intracellular compartments. This involves the use of cutting-edge technology in synthetic biology to tackle the redesign of the bacterial cytoplasm to accommodate the inclusion of bespoke self-contained mini-bioreactors.

This research will provide an important edge for UK biotechnology companies, existing and new, through the provision of greater productivity and new molecules, peptides and proteins for a number of purposes, including the development of fine chemical and protein-based drugs.

Professor Warren, who is receiving the largest grant (£3.484 million) among the five university beneficiaries, said that support for his research was ‘exciting’ and would help keep the University of Kent at the forefront of synthetic biology, resulting in strong interaction with industry.

Other beneficiaries of the total BBSRC £15.8 million funding include the universities of Oxford (£3.041 million), Manchester (£2.990 million) and Glasgow (£2.922 million). The BBSRC awards the grants to give ‘world-leading teams the time and resources to address major challenges’.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition that one in 500 people carry and is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. The footballer Fabrice Muamba famously collapsed during a match when his heart suddenly stopped. Although he was eventually resuscitated, he is now unable to play football competitively and has a chest implant to restart his heart.

Now a team led by Dr Neil Kad, Lecturer in Molecular Biophysics at the School of Biosciences, has managed to identify for the first time at the single molecule level how heart muscle is turned on and off by calcium.

By understanding how the heart is regulated by calcium, the research team has set the ground for greater insight into how the heart is affected when specific components are mutated during disease.

Using this new approach, the researchers were able to identify how the motors (myosins) within muscle talk to each other along the long protein tracks (thin filaments). They found that two motor heads are required to turn on a thin filament segment as regulatory unit. Once activated, this regulatory unit was found to be capable of accommodating 11 further myosin motors.

To date, all treatments for sudden cardiac arrest target the symptoms of this disease. The findings from this study are expected to provide new tools for research into treating the causes of the condition, rather than only the symptoms.

The research, titled Using Fluorescent Myosin to Directly Visualize Cooperative Activation of Thin Filaments (Dr Neil Kad, Professor Michael Geeves, University of Kent; and Rama Desai, Imperial College London) will be published in the 23 January issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry , where it has been selected as paper of the week. For paper click here .

Michelle Garrett, Professor of Cancer Therapeutics, who joined the University in the autumn of 2014, says World Cancer Day (4 February) marks a period when rapid advances in drug treatments are changing the face of cancer treatment. Professor Garrett has been involved in the development of two molecular targeted drugs now in clinical trial.

Professor Garrett commented: ‘Cancer is not a new disease. There are descriptions dating back to Egyptian times in 1700 BC of tumours being removed, as discovered in the Edwin Smith Papyrus. In contrast to Egyptian times however, we now know that cancer is caused by faults in the DNA of a cell, leading to division of that cell running out of control.

‘Now that scientists have a clearer idea of the way in which cells are constructed and how cell division is controlled, the development of new drug treatments for cancer are focusing much more on targeted small molecule and biological therapies rather than chemotherapy.

‘Much research, including mine here at the University, is focussing on ways to identify those patients who will benefit from these new cancer drugs – and on what mechanisms of drug resistance may occur, before they arise in the clinic.’

Professor Garrett has been involved in the discovery of a number of new molecular targeted cancer drugs, including AT13148 and AZD5363, which are both currently in clinical trial.

Professor Garrett joined the University’s School of Biosciences from the Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. Her research has specialised in the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. See more on Professor Garrett’s research at:http://www.kent.ac.uk/bio/profiles/staff/garrett.html.

Darren Griffin and Alan Handyside’s research has been used to develop new techniques that are being used in IVF clinics around the world. Applied to families where there is a high risk of genetic disorders, the process – known as ‘karyomapping’ – has helped to ensure births of unaffected children.

The impact of this research by the School of Biosciences has also been extended beyond clinical applications. Adaptations are being translated for use in livestock breeding regimes, to improve meat yields and reduce environmental concerns.

The Research Excellence Framework 2014 showed that Kent ranks 17th in the UK for research intensity, has world-leading research in all subjects and that 97% of our research is deemed to be of international quality.

Contributing to the University’s REF success were the number of our world class publications, the number of research active staff and the demonstrable impact our research has made to the sciences and to economic, social and cultural understanding.

The nine students, all studying at the Medway campus, handed out Easter eggs, toys and personalised cards to children on the ward. There was also a surprise visit by the Kent bunny (alias student Amy Burgess).

The visit on 2 April was organised by David Coldwell, Kent Union Volunteer Co-ordinator. On arrival at Dolphin Ward, the students were met by a nurse, known as ‘Auntie Annie’, who showed them around and introduced them to children patients and their parents

The Kent students involved were Rachel Johnston, Rabya Hasan, Tanvi Mahajan, Lima Calderia. Liam Barber, Gilbert Radulescu, Amy Burgess, Hazel Chan and Anastasia Borodina from Kent Business School, the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, and School of Sport and Exercises Sciences.

David Coldwell said afterwards: ‘My overriding image was that of joy, the beaming faces of our students and the response, although sometimes apprehensive, of the children on seeing the bunny. Most of the students had volunteered for me over the past year so I felt this visit was a kind of reward.’

Anastasia Borodina, who is studying Business & Management with a Year in Industry at Medway campus, said: ‘I really enjoyed bringing smile to kids’ faces, seeing little kids receiving Easter eggs and giving them out myself! The best part was when one little girl started following the Easter bunny and laughing out loud.’

To find out more about student volunteering opportunities at Kent, see: the GK Unions website (for Medway students)  and Kent Union webpages (for Canterbury students).

The Schools of Biosciences, Computing, Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA), Pharmacy (MSOP) and Physical Sciences (SPS) have all achieved Athena SWAN Bronze Awards.

The awards recognise the schools’ commitment to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in science in higher education.

A successful application requires a comprehensive and exhaustive review of current practices, coupled with plans for positive change.

The schools have all had to prove that they are serious about making their school a place where everyone is valued and all staff can enjoy similar opportunities.

All the schools have great examples of good practice:

• Biosciences have a Researcher Committee and are instigating mentoring
• In Computing staff are being supported to work flexibly and the School holds cake Tuesdays/Wednesdays
• EDA’s outreach event for young women ‘WiRED’ featured in the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s newsletter and EDA also run a wide array of inclusive School social events
• MSOP have termly Athena SWAN lunches, and seminar and engagement events are all held in core hours to allow all staff to attend and network
• SPS held ‘Unconscious Bias’ training and are developing in-house training sessions for early career researchers

All are excellent examples of activities which Athena SWAN promotes.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, responded to the news:

‘I congratulate the schools on their awards. This represents many years of working to improve the recruitment, retention and progression of women in the Faculty of Science. Each school is able to showcase a range of positive actions and good practice.’

The Dean of Sciences, Professor Mark Burchell, who chairs the Athena SWAN Working Group, added his congratulations:

‘In November 2013 the University achieved an institutional Bronze Award. The institutional award, the Bronze Award achieved by School of Mathematics, Statistics & Actuarial Science in 2014, and these five new awards show how our faculty-wide ambition for real change is being realised. The school awards attest to the excellent work that the schools have been doing over the past few years, ably supported by our central HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity teams. Schools have examined their practices and have started to make real changes that are benefiting staff.’

The Athena SWAN Working Group first met in 2010. Since then, the membership has grown, awareness days have promoted the initiative across the University and the University has now been awarded seven Athena SWAN Bronze Awards.

The Athena SWAN Awareness Event at Medway is being held on 7 May. Find out more on HR’s webpages.