Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MEDIPOL (Molecular Design of Polymers for Biomedical Applications)
Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31
Report period is Jan 2020-31st dec 2022
Summary of outputs to date.
Deliverables completed and submitted:
• WP5: Project Management D10: Project Management Plan (Version 1 31st January 2020)
• WP5 Project Management D11 established web-based project management board with balanced and distributed workload January 2020)
• WP5: Project Management EPQ Requirement D15: Authorisation of Operation of Relevant Facilities (March 2020)
• WP 6 D6.1 Outreach Activity Plan Dissemination and Outreach Plan (DOP) (April 2020)
• WP2: Research and Innovation Dermal Wounds D2: Wound-healing biomarkers and develop assay methods for group workshop discussion established (June 2020)
• WP8: Ethics D14 - NEC Requirement No 4 (June 2020)
• WP2: Research and Innovation Dermal Wounds D2.2: Formulations and samples of glycosaminoglycan analogue multi-functional macromers developed.
WP7 Cross Science Lectures Deliverable 13
• Delivered 12 cross science lectures (10 online) with an average MEDIPOL team attendance of sixty participants.
• Further monthly online/hybrid lectures planned to maximise participation/interaction for the duration of the project. The use of hybrid delivery has expanded the reach of the attendances of lectures, workshops, and summer schools.
Workshops
Four workshops delivered to date.
• MEDIPOL Workshop 1 delivered (face to face) Seminar by Dr Aisling Mann entitled “Anterior Eye”. Introducing all the general terms and concepts to an audience (Chiang Mai University, Mae Fah LuangUniversity and Naresuan University teams) slightly unfamiliar with this area of scientific research. Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai Thailand January 2020.
• WP2 Aston University (AU) Naresuan University (NU) Workshop - Dermal Wounds July 2020
• Research Publications – all MEDIPOL Team members July 2021
• How to give oral presentations Dr V Najdanovic, May 2022.
4 Scientific publications to date.
The science behind MEDIPOL encompasses the three R&I work packages which are focussed on the overarching basis of materials, processing technology and biotechnologies. Each of the R&I work packages have been structured to include three common elements, which logically take a polymer from design and creation to application in the body; (i) materials science (including chemistry/synthesis); (ii) processing (including electrospinning); and (iii) biotechnologies (including application at the target sites).
• Participating secondees completed training records, trainings and evaluation forms for each secondment undertaken (see WP 7). These records have shown positive impact of participation in MEDIPOL especially for the ESRs with improved technical and research skills, knowledge transfer and the added benefit of cultural and social interactions creating strong networks both within and outside the MEDIPOL team which will continue beyond the lifetime of the project.
• Online/demand training via Aston’s virtual learning platform Blackboard and also face to face training during secondments.
• Improving ESRs skills identified to date during the project: ✓ IP (summer School and expert lectures) ✓ Project management (Summer Schools, expert lectures and on demand training) ✓ Techniques and procedures (WPs 1 and 7) ✓ Career development skills (WP 1) All training is ongoing until the end of the project (WP 1 and 7)
Project benefits to date
i+MED: i+Med R&D Department grown from January 2020 to 22 in October2022→ 24 R+D researchers.
Encouraging cooperation between different disciplines and sectors • Promoting other areas of research related to the project • Incorporating new techniques and processes • Improving the professional training of researchers • Gaining new knowledge and new skills from host Institutions
TUL: • New challenges in the importance of new polymers for nanofibers, incorporation of new biomolecules • New contacts bringing different perspectives to the issue • New technologies for the preparation of nanofibers from other biomolecules, completely new perspectives on the subject • Joint publications, exchange of knowledge • Joint work on Ph.D. theses of individual students
Chiang Mai University (CMU): ▪ Student / Researcher Training Unique opportunities through secondments Academic / social / cultural interactions ▪ Research Collaboration Between staff members with common interests Access to techniques not available in Chiang Mai University ▪ Research Publications Since 2020, 16 papers (published or in preparation) All in Q1 or Q2 journals 8 of these are joint papers with Aston ▪ Research Grants Obtained Frontier Global Partnership Grant 2020-2021 Aided by involvement in MEDIPOL
Mae Fah LuangUniversity (MFU): ▪ Career development workshops: ▪ Scientific writing and presentation at Naresuan University Summer School. ▪ Time management and drafting manuscript by the Aston team. ▪ Electrospinning workshop by the TUL team ▪ Social networking throughout MEDIPOL teams. ▪ Initiate new collaborative networks within/outside Thailand. ▪ Knowledge transferred by experienced scientists/researchers. ▪ Controlled polymer synthesis and characterization. ▪ AC Electrospinning devices.
Naresuan University (NU): ▪ Career development workshops ▪ Scientific writing and presentation at NU Summer School ▪ Time management and drafting manuscript by the Aston team ▪Social networking and online workshops from MEDIPOL team ▪ Initiate new collaborative networks within/outside Thailand ▪ Knowledge transferred by experienced scientists/researchers ▪ EPS Introduction to Health and Safety and specialised research equipment training ▪ Summer schools: All activities of summer school give researcher’s connection and key important point of research. Student section, new generation of researchers can communicate and manage our activities by ourselves ▪ Unique opportunities through secondments Academic / social / cultural interactions.
Continuation programme Discussions are already underway and initial funding applications ensure ongoing and continued longevity of the project team are being prepared and Chiang Mai University has obtained a research grant (2020-2021) aided by their involvement in MEDIPOL.