NIHRDataInsights/HRCSData huggingface dataset:
Title: Versatile and Dexterous Adaptive Control of Dual-Arm Robots for Personalized Assistance
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: In the near future, robots are expected to co-habit with human beings and work closely with us in the fields of manufacturing and medicine as well as in other aspects of our daily lives. Unfortunately, most of the current robot control technologies are designed for industrial robots which operate behind safeguarding and for predefined tasks, and thus are not able to cope with the varying tasks in unknown dynamic environments. This project will develop human-like adaptive control techniques to provide versatile and dexterous assistance to humans . In particular, the proposed new control techniques will enable robots to offer personalized assistance to different human users according to their motion patterns. For example, when the robot is interacting with an elderly person, it will automatically slow down; while it would speed up when working with a young man. To achieve these goals, this project will perform physiological studies on human control in the following two aspects: i) apply advanced control theory to analyze bimanually coordinated control strategies of human-beings in various scenarios; ii) investigate how human users develop efficient cooperation with a robot from a machine learning point of view . The establishment of human control models can help us in at least two aspects: developing human-like adaptive controllers with high versatility and dexterity; and personalizing robot control to suit a specific human user. Based on this understanding on human bimanual control and human-human cooperation, this project will: (1) enable the robot to cope with different objects by bimanual haptic exploration; (2) enhance the robustness of robot control in interacting with different human users and in handling various objects; (3) improve robot manipulative dexterity at human-robot interaction scenarios and under geometric constraints/limitations caused by hardware and safety issues; (4) detect motion intention of human user and enhance dexterity with robot joint compliance; (5) introduce a measurement of user experience to quantify how human users are satisfied with the assistance offered by robots; and (6) enable the robot to identify and adapt to motor behavior patterns of a specific human user. In the short term, this project will provide new control technologies for robotics researchers and builders to achieve better manipulation performance in terms of dexterity, versatility, and personalization. In the long run, it will benefit socially and economically to the UK by helping to boost the personal robot industry. It will further make contributions to UK by advancing its technology in the field of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, which is identified by the UK government as one of eight great British Technologies propelling the UK towards future growth.


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: From nature to nano: structure, dynamics and reactivity of DNA three-way junctions
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: The double helix is the iconic structure of DNA, but this unbranched form is not the active one in vivo. Considering that the structure and dynamics of duplex DNA still preoccupies experimentalists and theoreticians around the world, sixty years after the structure was announced by Watson and Crick, it is clear that the study of branched DNA is in its infancy. The aim of this proposal is to use cutting-edge single-molecule tools to understand the structure and dynamics of an important branched DNA molecule, the three-way junction, at the nanoscale. These branched species are present in vivo, they are implicated in neurological diseases, and they are used as building blocks in DNA-based nanoscience. The project will give otherwise inaccessible information on key biological processes, and could lead to potential drug targets, to new design strategies for synthetic biology and to the development of the next generation of programmable DNA nanoscale machines.


Research activity codes: 1.1 NORMAL BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Strategic Package: Centre for Predictive Modelling in Science and Engineering
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Predictive modelling and uncertainty quantification are more than just another research direction relevant to science and engineering. They constitute a different way of thinking that impacts practically all aspects of scientific and engineering analysis and design. Rather than deriving deterministic answers to complex problems, distributions (error-bars) are obtained that account for our incomplete and often inaccurate information about the problems of interest. Modelling of uncertain physical and geometric properties in the large scales, intrinsic randomness in the small scales or incorporation of stochastic closures necessitate the use of stochastic simulations in many multiscale problems, heavily taxing computational resources. The emerging exascale computers will allow stochastic simulations of realistic systems but analysing petabyte data bases with existing methods can be too inefficient, and full-scale models cannot be used in optimisation, design or real-time control. To this end, the University of Warwick proposes to establish a new centre focused on Predictive Modelling and uncertainty quantification with the mission to develop computational, mathematical and statistical methodologies for uncertainty quantification (UQ) and predictive modelling applied to a broad range of applications. The new centre will emphasises a dynamic integration of several fundamental research areas including the following: 1) Formulation, analysis and numerical solution of stochastic multiscale/multiphysics systems exploring synergies between mathematical, statistical and machine learning approaches. 2) Data-driven development of certified stochastic reduced-order models. 3) Development of a probabilistic approach to systems synthesis, design, optimisation and control under uncertainty. This proposed work will develop methods for quantifying uncertainty in multiscale simulations driven by experimental data collected at different scales. In order to account for the high-dimensional nature of the input uncertainties and resulting stochastic outputs, it is proposed to develop reduced-order surrogate models both for the input uncertainties and for the output of multiscale systems Topics (1)-(3) are unifying themes that are common to many disciplines. Bringing together existent strengths within the University of Warwick to address these problems would allow simultaneously to impact multiple applications and move forward the problem of resolving bottlenecks in uncertainty quantification (e.g. high-dimensionality, limited data, long term time integration, rare events).


Research activity codes: 1.4 METHODOLOGIES AND MEASUREMENTS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Interaction-based Human Motion Analysis
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: In this project, we propose a new method to analyze human motion based on the interaction with the surrounding environment, which provides a better understanding about the nature of the performed motion and enhances the performance of modern motion-related applications. Understanding human movement is a central problem for motion-related applications such as behaviour monitoring for smart homes and movement evaluation for physical therapy. Most traditional 3D motion analysis algorithms are human-centered, meaning that they only consider features of the human body but not the interaction with the surrounding environment. Imagine the movement of an older person standing on the floor while doing some arm-stretching exercises, and another standing on a chair to fix a light bulb, which is considered to be dangerous. The two motions have completely different contextual meanings, but are surprisingly similar in terms of human body posture. Traditional computer-based motion analysis methods disregard the relationship between the human and the environment, and thus cannot accurately tell the difference between the two motions. We observe that real humans usually comprehend the context of a motion based on its interaction with the surrounding environment, such as sitting on a sofa, watching the television, riding a bicycle, etc. We believe that by considering these types of interactions, higher quality motion analysis can be improved as a result of better understanding on the context of the motion. Therefore, we propose a new algorithm to analyze human motion based on the interaction between the human and the surrounding environment, which will enhance the accuracy of motion identification and the performance of movement evaluation. Our algorithm evaluates detailed 3D movement features with respect to the environment, such as analyzing the subtle movement of the feet of a Parkinson's disease patient with respect to the position of the stairs during a stair climbing motion. It can therefore (1) analyze movement features from the interaction point of view, and (2) identify what kind of motion the user is performing based on the interaction context. The system proposed in this research could be used to enhance the quality of life of older people to enable greater independence and reduce the burden on emergency and care services caused by a rising ageing population. Our algorithm accurately identifies human motion, which is an important step towards a smart home system that takes care of older people autonomously. It also aims to evaluate human movement, which can significantly reduce the labour cost of rehabilitation and coaching for older people, as well as early stage motion-related disease (such as the Parkinson's disease) diagnosis.


Research activity codes: 8.4 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGIES (HEALTH SERVICES)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Tailoring the atomic structure of advanced sol-gel materials for regenerative medicine through simulation
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Increasing life expectancy is resulting in a growing number of surgical procedures to repair weakened or damaged tissues, such as bone and cartilage, with an increasing use of synthetic biomaterials. Current biomaterials used to replace living tissues are


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Efficient computational tools for inverse imaging problems
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: A photograph taken with current state-of-the-art digital cameras has between 10 to 20 million pixels. Some cameras have up to 41 million sensor pixels. Despite advances in sensor and optical technology, technically perfect photographs are still elusive in demanding conditions. In low light even the best cameras produce noisy images. Casual photographers cannot always hold the camera steady, and the photograph becomes blurry despite advanced shake reduction technologies. We are thus presented with the challenge of improving the photographs in post-processing. This would desirably be an automated process, based on mathematically well understood models that can be relied upon. The difficulty with real photographs of tens of millions of pixels is that the resulting optimisation problems -- the task of finding the best enhanced image according to a model -- are huge, and computationally very intensive. Moreover, imaging problems generally computationally very intensive. State-of-the-art image processing techniques based on mathematical principles are only up to processing small images in real time. Further, choosing the right parameters for the models can be difficult. Parameter choice can be facilitated, but again in computationally very intensive ways. The question now is, can we design faster optimisation algorithms that would make this and other image processing tasks tractable for real high-resolution photographs? The objective of the proposed project is to develop optimisation algorithms that are up to this task. The focus of the project is on general methods that will be applicable to a wide variety of image processing tasks and general big data problems Besides photography, we will apply the developed tools to problems from biology and medicine, involving magnetic resonance imaging and microscopy.


Research activity codes: 1.4 METHODOLOGIES AND MEASUREMENTS;4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Si Fin Optical Modulator for Low Power Interconnection
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Si photonics is achieving a drastic innovation for optical networks in terms of low power, low cost, high bandwidth, and large-scale integration capabilities with smart electronics fabricated in ubiquitous infrastructures of Complementary-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) foundries. Optical networks have been already introduced by using III-V compound semiconductors for long-hall communications, which require higher performance over the cost. Si photonics should not compete in this field, since the industries will not grow just by replacing these markets with Si photonics. Si Photonics is more promising in short-reach optical interconnections, which requires lower power consumption and lower fabrication costs. CMOS technologies are ideal in mass production to provide significant numbers of optical components required for short-reach communications such as backplane board-to-board, intra-board chip-to-chip, and intra-chip optical interconnections. Si optical modulators, which convert the electrical signals to the optical signals on a chip, are the most important building blocks for Si photonics. Here, we will develop the world's best low power Si modulators, which can be driven by the CMOS front-end driver circuitry. We will introduce the atomically flat Si fin technologies for the first time in optical modulators to develop the MOS-type Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) with a slot waveguide and the SiGe fin based Electro-Absorption (EA) modulators for short-reach interconnections and chip-to-chip applications, respectively. We anticipate that these devices will be widely used in data centres for cloud computing and network routing, contributing to reduce the power consumptions substantially, while increasing bandwidths. Our first target of Si fin MZI optical modulators is aiming for the near term application to C form-factor pluggable 100-Gigabit-ethernet (CFP100GE) in multi-source agreement (MSA) at the 1310-nm wavelength region. We think that this is a natural choice of technology, since we have no MSA at the wavelength of 1550-nm, and a MZI has a better technological-readiness-level over an EA modulator. For the longer term, however, a EA modulator can exceed its performance over MZI. Therefore, the other target for our SiGe fin EA modulator is the energy demanding chip-to-chip interconnection application by using the 1550-nm wavelength range, where no standardization exists at this moment. We will realize truly low power performance including a CMOS driver and laser diodes. Therefore, our project will cover both 1310-nm and 1550-nm wavelength ranges for near-term businesses and leading future technology trends.


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: RCaH Impact Acceleration Fellowships and Workshops
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Four multidisciplinary research groups have been funded by an open EPSRC call to undertake "cutting-edge" research, and to facilitate this the groups have been housed in the purpose built Research Complex on the Harwell Science and Technology site, at the


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: 3D Stem Cell Printing for Animal-Free drug Development
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: Printing tissues and mini-organs have recently been achieved by using modified ink-jet printer technology enabling the field_x000D_ of biofabrication. The novel method of direct printing live cells opens up new paradigm in tissue science and engineering for_x000D_ drug discovery and therapeutic applications. We have pioneered the world first valve based bioprinter that is capable of_x000D_ printing human embryonic stem cells without damaging the cells while maintaining their biological functions. This project_x000D_ aims to develop the first commercial stem cell bioprinter baed on the valve-based printing technology, working in a_x000D_ consortium led by the global player in robotic control (Renishaw Ltd) and a SME (ClydeBiosciences Ltd) specialised in_x000D_ developing human heart muscle cells from stem cells for drug testing. We will develop a new type of stem cell printer by_x000D_ integrating IP protected 3d printing platform from Renishaw with existing valve based cell printing technology. The new_x000D_ platform will then be validated for producing human heart and liver tissues using human stem cells from leading stem cell_x000D_ company Roslin Cellab Ltd) and testing their responses to drugs. The new tool will not only allow us to produce high quality_x000D_ human tissue for potentially more reliable animal free drug testing, but also enable a range of high throughput applications_x000D_ for pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies and stem cell biologists.


Research activity codes: 5.1 PHARMACEUTICALS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Automation of 3D cell model assembly by additive printing
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Abstract: This project shall test the feasibility of automating the manufacture of advanced cell-based analysis platforms by additive_x000D_ printing of platform components. The analytical platforms shall be 3D cell cultures which enhance the function of resident_x000D_ cells. Additive printing shall deposit biocompatible materials consistently and efficiently in 3D architectures within multiwell_x000D_ culture plates compatible with medium-throughput analysis. 3D-printed structures designed to mimic tissue architecture_x000D_ shall be populated with stem cell-derived populations with tissue-specific functionality selected to match the printed_x000D_ architecture; the feasibility of printing cells directly into these structures shall be studied. For demonstration purposes, the_x000D_ potential of automated additive printing shall be evaluated using hepatocytes derived from iPS progenitor cells and_x000D_ deposited in liver-relevant 3D patterns, with model functionality being compared against competing systems and animal_x000D_ models based on drug-metabolising enzyme levels. The outcome shall be a pre-industrial demonstration of the potential to_x000D_ apply additive printing in the assembly of 3D cell-based assays used in drug discovery and other industrial processes. This_x000D_ demonstration will create a springboard for further research and development aimed at automation of advanced cell-based_x000D_ model assembly to industrial quality standards.


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Development and validation of a dynamic drug screening platform for ADME testing
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Abstract: The Caco-2 cell line is the gold standard for the prediction of drug absorption and permeability in vitro by mimicking the_x000D_ small intestine. However, this model lacks the dynamic motion which represents one of the physiological functions of the_x000D_ small intestine (peristalsis). In our research, we investigate the possible similarity between the static Caco-2 cell model and_x000D_ the dynamic intestine by creating a dynamic in vitro environment using MICA technology. In order to obtain the dynamic_x000D_ cells environment, MICA Biosystems' technology was applied to the Caco-2 cell line. With this technology it is possible to_x000D_ interact, by the application of an external magnetic field, with the magnetic core nanoparticles specifically attached on the_x000D_ cells membrane, and produce deformations on the membrane which mimic a dynamic cell in vivo environment e.g. in the_x000D_ case of the gut similar to peristaltic contractions. Our results to date have shown that MICA' technology improves the_x000D_ absorption of the selected drugs, and their permeability is more similar to that found in the human intestine. Our data_x000D_ suggests that MICA' technology applied to Caco-2 drug permeability assay could be used to better predict, using in vitro_x000D_ assays, the in vivo human drug absorption rates. This feasibility study will enable us to test rigorously against the gold_x000D_ standards and generate a new assay for the pharmaceutical market.


Research activity codes: 5.1 PHARMACEUTICALS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (Innogen)
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Genomics-related science and technology is an area of very rapid change in the creation of knowledge and its application in new products and processes, and the ESRC investment in the Genomics Network is enabling the social sciences to respond equally rapidly to new research challenges. In contributing to the work of the EGN, the Innogen Centre is proposing an evolutionary development of its current research programme, with some changes of emphasis, highlighting specific areas, and simplifying and focusing our overall structure and programme. We will also develop further and codify our approach to interdisciplinary research and integration, and disseminate it widely in academic and practitioner communities. In framing a future research agenda for the Innogen Centre, we have drawn on our reinforced understanding of life science related issues, building on Innogen's Phase 1 Research Programme and also the research programmes developed by Egenis and Cesagen. We will also continue, both directly and through the EGN, to engage widely with stakeholders in industry, policy communities and public groups. Innogen's research programme for 2007-12 will focus on two primary research themes: Evolution of the New Life-Science Economy; and Governance of Innovation in Life Sciences, responding flexibly to new developments as they arise. Through the Genomics Network we will extend existing collaborative research related to each them These themes will build on our record, since the 1980s, of interdisciplinary, collaborative research on the life sciences. Research of this kind is necessary to grasp the complexities and contingencies of life-science-based innovation, but adequately interdisciplinary and collaborative work is still insufficiently practised in the social sciences that bear upon innovation. We will also continue to develop our distinctive focus on globalisation as an overarching theme, and our particular expertise in empirical research on life-science-based innovation in Africa, India and China. Our research will link issues related to innovation and governance in developed and developing worlds as the boundaries between innovation and governance, and between developed and developing regions of the world, become increasingly blurred and interactions across these boundaries become increasingly varied in form and scope.


Research activity codes: 8.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (HEALTH SERVICES);8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE