Grant winners - 12 December 2013

National Institute for Health Research

Public Health Research programme

• Award winner: Frances Gardner
• Institution: University of Oxford
• Value: £337,265

How far could widespread dissemination of parenting programmes improve child antisocial behaviour and reduce social inequalities? Combining datasets from trials in different communities to establish for whom programmes are effective

• Award winner: Lucy Platt
• Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Value: £286,522

Assessing the impact and cost-effectiveness of needle/syringe provision on hepatitis C transmission among people who inject drugs: an analysis of pooled datasets and economic modelling

Royal Society

Wolfson Research Merit Awards

Awards are worth £10,000-£30,000 a year, which is a salary enhancement

• Award winner: John Schwabe
• Institution: University of Leicester

Regulation of transcription by HDAC co-repressor complexes

• Award winner: Rodolphe Sepulchre
• Institution: University of Cambridge

Orchestron: from neuronal rhythms to rhythmic brain function

• Award winner: Peter Walker
• Institution: University of Bath

Improved indoor air quality using hygroscopic and photocatalytic materials

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Research Grants

• Award winner: David Jane
• Institution: University of Bristol
• Value: £637,120

Identifying the role of NMDA receptors in STP through investigation of synaptic plasticity and discovery of novel subtype-specific antagonists

• Award winners: Janice Kiely and Richard Luxton
• Institution: University of the West of England
• Value: £293,339

Development of magnetometer immunoassay technology for the rapid and cost-effective detection of endemic animal diseases and pathogens (zoonoses)

• Award winner: Jonathan Cooper and Julien Reboud
• Institution: University of Glasgow
• Value: £243,768

Development of a point-of-need diagnostic test for infectious disease in milk

• Award winner: Damer Blake and Fiona Tomley
• Institution: Royal Veterinary College
• Value: £340,604

Understanding resistance and differential vaccine responses to Eimeria in the chicken – novel biomarkers and genetic control

Action Medical Research

• Award winner: Brian Bigger
• Institution: University of Manchester
• Value: £181,633

Sanfilippo IIIB: developing a new gene therapy treatment for this rare and devastating disease

In detail

Award winner: Anna David
Institution: University College London
Value: £199,962

Fetal growth restriction: investigating gene therapy

Up to 8 per cent of pregnancies develop fetal growth restriction – a serious complication that can be fatal for the unborn and cause severe complications for the survivors: the babies who make it are at higher risk of developing disabilities such as cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. This project aims to develop a treatment to tackle the complication. The research will provide important information to help in the design of large-scale tests of the treatment – planned for 2016 – for pregnant women whose babies have stopped growing properly in the womb.