NIHRDataInsights/HRCSData huggingface dataset:
Title: Investigating the impact of food vouchers on diet composition and the prevention of childhood obesity
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: Childhood obesity in the UK is increasing, and children from deprived areas are twice as likely to be obese as those from more affluent areas. Poor diets are linked with both deprivation and increased risk of childhood obesity. Improving diet quality in deprived groups, particularly those at high risk, may reduce the risk of childhood obesity and reduce health inequalities. The UK government's Healthy Start scheme aims to improve diet quality among low-income families by providing vouchers to spend on milk, fruit and vegetables. However, the scheme has poor uptake and unknown benefit. This research aims to understand how a food voucher system can best operate to improve dietary quality and reduce inequalities, and to model potential scenarios for its application to achieve maximum effectiveness for the prevention of childhood obesity. The research has three planned phases: Phase one A systematic review of the impact of voucher based interventions on diet quality and obesity in pregnant women and young children. Phase two Food diaries and food purchasing information will be collected from 200 families, in an extended health visiting service for vulnerable families. Many of these families will be from disadvantaged groups, and may be at risk of childhood obesity. In-depth interviews will be carried out with 20 parents and focus groups with 15 health visitors, considering food purchasing, diet quality and barriers and enablers to Healthy Start. Phase three Data gathered in phases one and two and from the wider literature will be used to inform an Agent Based Modelling (ABM) model. This novel application of ABM will model changes in food purchasing behaviour and diet following changes to the Healthy Start scheme, such as increasing voucher value. This will provide evidence for a trial of changes to the scheme, and subsequently, national policy changes. Overall, this project will help support evidence based policy decisions for young families.


Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE
Title: Glasgow Molecular Pathology (GMP) Node
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Glasgow is ideally positioned to become a Molecular Pathology Node. Our existing clinical strengths in pathology and molecular diagnostics are delivered from the purpose-built Laboratory Medicine Building within our new £1billion South Glasgow University Hospital campus (SGUH), which provides services to 52% of the Scottish population. The University of Glasgow's successful restructure in 2010 created multidisciplinary Research Institutes within the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) which are perfectly positioned to make use of, and support, the GMP Node proposal. Our vision is to transform the management of cancer and chronic disease by accelerating biomedical research, high quality healthcare provision and economic growth. We will achieve this by working in partnership with discovery researchers from the College's Institutes for Cancer Sciences, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, and Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, and with industry, to create a multidisciplinary centre of excellence in research and development of molecular diagnostic tests. Our strategic focus and objectives are to enhance our capabilities in molecular pathology and informatics, through funding for staffing and high-quality training to further build capacity and expertise. This will enable greater delivery and development of clinical molecular pathology; and will underpin the parallel development of pipelines for molecular diagnostics from discovery through validation and implementation. Successful realisation of this vision will: * Maximise the impact of major recent infrastructure investment; * Create the next generation of leaders; * Deliver high impact innovation in molecular pathology and complex informatics for the benefit of NHS care, academic research and UK industry; and * Contribute a critical Node to this successful new UK network.


Research activity codes: 4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES;4.2 EVALUATION OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
Title: MICA: V-Engage - Using Virtual Reality exergaming to engage adolescents with physical activity
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: The benefits of performing sufficient physical activity (PA) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, diabetes, cognitive decline and mortality are well-established. Adolescence (13-19 years) is a key developmental stage for PA intervention. However, the majority of UK adolescents are insufficiently active and there is an urgent need for high quality trials of interventions to promote PA in adolescents. Much can be learned by industries that are extremely successful in engaging adolescents, like the computer gaming industry. The current virtual reality (VR) revolution offers a platform to create a highly novel gaming experience that engages the user far beyond a 2-dimensional image. Therefore the overarching aim of the v-Engage project is to empirically test a novel theory-driven VR 'exergame' designed to promote PA in adolescents. The game will include a dual-content wearable technology link up with PA performed in the 'real' world to facilitate long-term engagement with PA. The proposed project is a collaboration between researchers and commercial game designers, and will involve substantial user input throughout. We believe such a collaboration is essential if an exergame is to be high-quality and appealing enough to have public health impact. The current project is the formative development work required to build and test the game. This work includes assembling a Young People's Partnership Board who represent our target users, and a steering committee of experts (including academics, digital marketers, gamers and virtual blogger 'vlogger' ambassador) to guide the research. Using a mixed-methods multi-stage processes we will identifying the physical activity and technology preferences of our target group, explore in depth the social aspects of a VR public health intervention, identify which components are engaging in more traditional exergames, identify community PA partners to link with and develop a user testing version of the game.


Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;MENTAL HEALTH;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE
Title: Findings
Funder: Alcohol Change UK

Abstract: Drug and Alcohol Findings bridges the divide between UK-relevant research on the effectiveness of responses to drug and alcohol problems and the practitioners who provide those interventions. The project aims to encapsulate the studies’ findings, set them in context and explore implications for practice. From 1999 to 2006 its main output was the Findings magazine, since 2007 replaced by this free web-based service. Drug and Alcohol Findings logo is staffed by co-owners and co-editors Mike Ashton and Natalie Davies, supported by Alcohol Change UK and the Society for the Study of Addiction, and advised by the National Addiction Centre. ABSTRACT FOUND ONLINE https://findings.org.uk/


Research activity codes: 6.9 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (TREATMENT EVALUATION);7.4 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (DISEASE MANAGEMENT);8.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (HEALTH SERVICES)
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;MENTAL HEALTH;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE
Title: Scaling up the Primary Health Integrated Care Project for Chronic Conditions in Kenya: an implementation research project
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: Based on the learning form the AMPATH (Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care) HIV care model a partnership between AMPATH, the Ministry of Health (MOH), the World Bank (WB) and the Access Accelerated Initiative (AAI) has been established for the development and piloting of the Primary Health Integrated Care Project for Chronic Conditions (PIC4C). The PIC4C model includes (i) early case finding of people with hypertension, diabetes, cervical/ breast cancer at service level 1; (ii) structured referral to service providers at level 2 for confirmation of diagnosis and treatment initiation or referral to level 3 or 4 using structured protocols; (iii) initiation of treatment using structured treatment protocols and decision support tools at levels 2, 3 and 4; (iv) retention of patients in care supported by ongoing training of health workers at all care levels; (v) monitoring and evaluation supported by a health information system; and (vi) linking patients in care with a voluntary chronic care benefit package operated by the NHIF (National Hospital Insurance Fund) for sustainable health financing. From October 2018 (funded by the WB and AAI) the PIC4C model is being implemented in 2 counties in western Kenya. Working in partnership with the WB and MOH we aim to support scale up of the PIC4C model. Our specific objectives include: 1) to understand the implementation process; 2) to understand the experiences of patients; 3) to assess the health benefits (and potential unintended consequences), and 4) to evaluate the effectiveness of the NHIF chronic care benefit package. To achieve our objectives we will use mixed methods


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE
Title: A vision of healthy urban design for NCD prevention
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: This project uses state-of-the-art approaches to (i) generate evidence on the impacts of urban planning in NCD and health inequalities in UK and Australian cities, and (ii) provide stakeholders engaged in the urban planning and health sectors with tools for advocacy and informing decisions to achieve healthier cities for all. In WP 1, we will expand the evidence base on the relationship between urban design and NCD. First, we will sample local-level images of all UK and Australian cities with populations > 100,000 to obtain detailed information of urban characteristics of interest (e.g., road, cycling networks, greenspace). A combined process using convolutional neural networks and self-organising maps will identify cities and locations that can be grouped according to consistencies in urban design both between and within cities. The ecological association between city and area types and NCD risk factors and outcomes will be estimated. Second, we will apply Bayesian networks onto prospective health cohorts with objective built environment data to investigate, at the individual level, the causal pathway between built environment, lifestyle factors, and NCD incidence, and effect modification by socioeconomic position. In WP 2, we will estimate the health impacts of actionable changes, at different scales, in urban design. Using health impact assessment modelling, we will calculate the NCD burden that could be averted if cities were to adopt urban features of healthier counterparts. A similar approach will be applied on finer-grained scale within all case study cities, enabling assessment of health impacts of changes in individual locations. WP 3 will provide an interactive web-based toolkit to enable urban designers, planners, policymakers and the public to engage with our findings and inform the decision-making cycle, co-designed with the intended users through a usability study involving participatory workshops and user-testing of early versions of the toolkit.


Research activity codes: 2.2 FACTORS RELATING TO PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT;2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;3.2 INTERVENTIONS TO ALTER PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS;8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;NEUROLOGICAL
Title: Built Environments And Child Health in WalEs and AuStralia (BEACHES)
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: We will identify and understand how complex and interacting factors in the built environment (BE) influence modifiable risk factors (physical inactivity, sedentary time, unhealthy diet, overweight/obesity) for non-communicable dieases (NCD) across childhood. A better understanding of how the BE drives overweight/obesity by either promoting or inhibiting modifiable risk factors will inform evidence-based planning policy and practice strategies to prevent the rise in NCD's in future generations. Building on previous collaborative research between University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology, Monash and Swansea University, our programme of work will bring together five large cohort studies that have detailed anthropometric, physical activity, and contextual data on more than 1 million UK and Australian children. We will use highly resolved spatial data and cutting edge geospatial techniques to construct a harmonized set of metrics that characterise the BEs each child inhabits across their life course. Finally, we will use these components in a multi-level modelling framework to quantify the influence that different BE characteristics have had on the weight status of these children, and the respective roles of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and diet in this relationship. Harmonizing both child and BE indicators across five large-scale studies will enable us to conduct analyses across a broader set of age-ranges and leverage greater heterogeneity in BEs. This will provide a unique opportunity to identify impacts of the BE that are common across settings, but also explore how the contrasting physical, cultural and policy environments may act to mediate those effects. This research will inform evidence-based planning policy and practice strategies to prevent the rise in NCD's in future generations. We will develop a set of guidelines focused on principles of best practice for liveable, family-friendly BEs that promote healthy beginnings


Research activity codes: 2.2 FACTORS RELATING TO PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT;3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;NEUROLOGICAL
Title: Downsizing: using environmental prompts to understand healthy portion control and appropriate food servings in children, adolescents and caregivers
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Abstract: The portion size effect (PSE) is robust, reliable and observed across age groups. Larger amounts of foods are eaten when larger amounts are offered. It is assumed that without compensatory behaviours, increased portion size of energy dense foods contribute to the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. If children learn about portion sizes of high energy dense (HED) foods through experiences shaped by parents, by adolescence these habits influence weight status. The aim of the proposed research is to test the hypothesis that repeated exposure, visual cueing, nudging and packaging can be used to reduce intake of HED items and increase intake of fruits and vegetables in children, adolescents and families. Furthermore if HED items are replaced or reduced in favour of fruits and vegetables, it is predicted that there will be no compensatory behaviours. To achieve this aim, 5 workpackages (WP) have been developed. WP1 uses observational data to investigate typical portion sizes of key HED snacks in 24-36m old pre-school children; then families involved in the observational research will be invited to take part in an intervention to test the efficacy of replacement or reduction so that fruits and vegetables replace HED items or supplement smaller portions of HED items. WP2 develops these ideas further by testing a series of systematic manipulations of HED meal items and LED components using variety and palatability to offset the PSE in pre-schoolers. The objective of WP3 is to test the efficacy of nudging on serving size of target items using online social media techniques in adolescents. The objective of WP4 is to use design concepts and personas to produce evidence of the consumers who will respond to changes in packaging, and to suggest packaging improvements to industry to support consumer choice. WP5 will bring together evidence from all studies to provide recommendations for downsizing to benefit a variety of stakeholders including families.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE
Title: REDUCING SODIUM IN THE UK DIET THROUGH FOOD PROCESSING AND INGREDIENT DESIGN
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Abstract: This proposal will evaluate a number of new strategies to reduce sodium ions in our diet by directly enhancing the potency of salt whilst understanding how salt interacts with food materials during processing. The work will initially explain how sodium (salt) interacts with food structures and how this interaction changes during typical food production processes and oral processing (chewing). Building on this fundamental understanding, compounds designed to enhance the perception of sodium will be evaluated and findings will be validated in exemplars of three food systems (wet sauces, fried snacks and baked snacks). The tightness of association of sodium - biopolymer interactions in solution will be calculated through measurements of bound and free sodium using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers tuned to the sodium nucleus and high resolution 800Hz NMR. The impact on the wider physical and thermal properties will be evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, wide angle x-ray, DVS and DSC. Sodium delivery and perception will be evaluated using the University of Nottingham's state of the art sensory facilities. The resultant bolus structure after oral processing will be evaluated by XRAY-CT, and the mastication process evaluated by electromyography, electroglottography and video oral processing. The role of sodium on the structuring and functionality of the food exemplars will be developed in the Food Production Facility at the UoN, structure will be evaluated using by XRAY-CT, farinograph, rheology, texture analysers, image analysers, LC-UV. Flavour generation and availability will be evaluated using GC-MSMS and APCI-MSMS technologies uniquely available at UoN. Ultimately this will result in a new framework of understanding of sodium-biopolymer interaction, illustrated both statically and temporally across thermomechanical and oral processing in both model and real food systems.


Research activity codes: 3.3 NUTRITION AND CHEMOPREVENTION
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE
Title: The Mouth - Gut - Brain Model
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Abstract: There is emerging evidence that reduced energy foods with a high sensory quality have limited effectiveness at reducing long term energy intake and weight management. This is thought to be due to the disparity between the sensory expectation of energy content / satiety and the actual physiological nutrient / energy uptake. This disparity in mouth-gut-brain signalling has been shown to result in rebound hunger and overcompensation of energy intake at subsequent meals. This study aims to combine sensory science, food structure and materials, consumer psychology and behaviour to determine the mechanisms that underpin this disparity and to determine the level by which the organoleptic properties and nutrient content can be altered to avoid rebound hunger and overcompensation of energy intake. Initial experiments will measure the tolerance for fat reduction in a model food between sensory attributes and expected satiety; and determine the mouth-gut discordance by measuring subsequent appetite response. These results will inform the rational design of realistic foods, using the interfacial and colloidal properties of the emulsions and biopolymer microgels to closely match physical and sensory properties but with reduced fat content. The in vitro release and digestion of fat from the matrix will be used to finely control the difference between sensory expectation and actual nutrient delivery. Further human studies will determine the impact of controlled fat reduction on rebound hunger and overcompensation; both in individuals who are hypo- and hyper-sensitive to fat perception. The outputs will inform the design of future projects to unravel the role of gut hormone signalling, as well as phenotypic /genotypic effects in consumer behaviour toward low energy foods. This will provide nutritionists, academics and the food industry with tools to develop effective dietary and weight management strategies to help combat of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.


Research activity codes: 1.1 NORMAL BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING;1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE
Title: DERIVE:Dev. of Riboflavin biomarkers to relate dietary sources with status, gene-nutrient interactions and validated health effects in adult cohorts
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is essential for oxidation-reduction reactions, but biomarker status is rarely measured. The UK and Ireland are the only countries worldwide to have included a riboflavin biomarker in national dietary surveys. Some concern exists in both countries regarding the large proportion of adults showing low riboflavin status, measured using erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRac) (the gold-standard marker), but the functional significance of such findings is unclear since in general, with the exception of younger women, dietary intakes of British and Irish adults are within dietary reference ranges. Elsewhere in the world (including Canada and US), riboflavin biomarkers are not measured in nutrition surveys because the existing biomarker EGRac requires very specific pre-analysis processing, unfeasible in most settings. DERIVE will develop accessible riboflavin biomarkers in plasma (FMN, FAD, riboflavin) and identify which most sensitively reflect dietary intakes and food sources of riboflavin in biobanked population based cohorts from Ireland (n=1136) and Canada (n=1200), and are in best agreement with EGRac. The functional significance of riboflavin will be evaluated using samples from previous placebo-controlled riboflavin interventions (n=537; UK cohorts) to test whether correcting low status is associated with a functional response related to a known metabolic role of riboflavin, the FMN-dependent generation of active vitamin B6 (i.e. PLP) in tissues. Finally we will demonstrate an important health effect of riboflavin by investigating its role in modulating blood pressure via a novel gene-nutrient interactive effect mediated through the FAD-dependent folate metabolising enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR).


Research activity codes: 3.3 NUTRITION AND CHEMOPREVENTION
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE;ORAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL;STROKE