• Geoff Tansley of the School of Engineering and Applied Science has received a UK/India Education and Research Initiative grant of £81,000 for research on a total artificial heart.
• Roslyn Bill, of the department of pharmacy and biology, has just signed a Framework Programme Seven contract under the EDICT scheme. The Aston contribution is €308,551 and will support a postdoctoral appointment for three years.
• Bernard Gilmartin, professor of optometry, has been appointed the UK representative on the International Organising Committee of the 12th International Myopia Conference to be held in Australia in July 2008.
• Paul Furlong, professor of psychology, was invited to address the European Parliament in Brussels on 13 February as part of a programme of presentations by experts on the topic “Progress without pain – alternatives to animal experiments”.