British scientists are using a successful science scheme to address real-world problems, with impacts ranging from catching early signs of cancerous moles to potentially saving lives in future natural disasters.
These projects have been funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) scheme. The scheme was first introduced in 2014 to promote impact and develop opportunities originating from the STFC research and technology programme.
One of the projects that has gone from strength to strength is a University of Southampton study, which uses technology that takes surveys of the night sky to detect early signs of cancerous moles.
Project investigator Dr Mathew Smith explained:
Based on an idea generated at an STFC workshop, STFC IAA funding has kickstarted the Mole-Gazer project. Having shown that our idea can work, we’ve moved on to the next stage: a fully funded medical study to test the feasibility of detecting melanoma in real-time, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and improving survival rates.
Astronomical sky surveys routinely observe the sky every night, comparing each new image with a historical baseline to detect new cosmic explosions.
It is impossible for humans to analyse the tens of thousands of images taken and spot the subtle changes. Researchers use artificial intelligence algorithms to track the changes in the images.
Coincidentally, as part of routine care in the NHS, images covering the entire body are regularly taken of patients with a high risk of developing melanoma. The images are used to provide a reference point for clinicians who then visually inspect moles to check if they have evolved into melanoma.
With similar challenges facing both astronomers and dermatologists, the STFC-funded researchers used IAA funding to set up the project ‘MoleGazer’.
Partnering with the Oxford University NHS Trust the team were able to successfully show that astronomical techniques can be used to detect, classify and track the evolution moles from routine NHS imaging using astronomical techniques.
The project has been awarded an ERC Proof-of-Concept grant to routinely image 50 patients. Each has a high risk of developing melanoma, and will be imaged every three months over a 24-month period, to characterise and predict how moles and skin lesions evolve into melanoma.
STFC’s Director of Programmes, Professor Grahame Blair, said:
The array of projects funded under this programme just goes to show the huge range of science expertise in the STFC community. This fund allows researchers to harness capabilities arising from the STFC core programme and apply them to address some real-world problems.
Not only does this help to find innovative solutions for key societal and industrial challenges but in so doing it provides a boost for the economy.
A report shows in 2019 the IAA scheme saw four spin out companies, 49 publications, seven patents, 14 new products and 80 follow-on grants applied for.
Dr Tony Soteriou, Director for Commercialisation of Research at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) added:
STFC’s funding and support for blue-sky research helps to improve our understanding of the universe.
The STFC IAA funding and case studies highlighted in this report show how the skills, techniques and infrastructure are applied to address real-world challenges through transferrable knowledge and expertise.
Other projects that have been supported by IAA funding include:
From astronomy to security
Cardiff University researchers used state of the art technology originally developed for astronomy instrumentation to identify potentially dangerous objects or contraband.
Supernova detectors for emergency relief
Researcher at Lancaster University accelerated the development of the ‘Planetary Response Network,’ that provides change detection in Earth satellite imagery before, during and after humanitarian crises.
Planetary science for improved terrestrial air quality
Researchers at the University of Leeds used their understanding of the formation of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds in solar system science and have developed new low-cost catalytic materials for reducing the toxic emissions.
IAA funding will continue into 2021/22, funding similar projects across the STFC core science portfolio.
Find out more on the STFC IAA’s impacts here.
Source: UK Research and Innovation.
Launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). They bring together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. For more details go to: https://www.ukri.org/
