Tag: NIBB

Do you want to learn a new skill or technique? Secondment grants up to £3000 available

If you are a researcher interested in learning a new skill or technique, we have funds available to help you. We can provide secondment grants of up to £2000 (UK) or £3000 (overseas), enabling you to visit another academic institution or organisation and learn those skills that are vital to your research. Contact us now for more information.

Updates from all the NIBB Networks

All the activities from all the BBSRC Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) have now been collated. This information includes all the Business Interaction Vouchers and Proof of Concept grants awarded by all the Networks thus far, as well as a number of interesting statistics. Download this information at the BBSRC NIBB website here.

Metals, Synthetic Biology & C1 Gas Scoping Workshop – 12-13 Nov 15 – Canterbury

The cellular ‘circuitry’ that supplies metals to enzymes is a target for Synthetic Biology. Nearly a half of the enzymes in the protein databank contain metals at their active sites.  Most of these enzymes will bind wrong metals more tightly than the ones needed for activity.  Cell have ‘circuits’ (metallochaperones, metal-importers, -exporters, -sensors, storage proteins, cofactor-assembly pathways) to assist enzyme metalation. There is opportunity to manipulate these circuits to optimise the activities of enzymes in industrial biotechnology and to design novel bio-metallic cofactors. Key enzymes required for the utilisation of C1-gases have especially diverse (exotic) metal demands: The Ni-containing tetrapyrrole F430 in methyl CoM reductase, Cu or Fe in different methane monoxygenases, Co in vitamin B12 associated with various methyl donors enzymes, Fe and Ni hydrogenases, as just a few exemplars. This joint event has been organised by the Metals in Biology and C1net BBSRC NIBB to explore synergy and the scope for joint research.

Registration If you would like to attend this event please get in touch with Charlotte Harrison (email below) ASAP as there are a limited number of places which includes overnight accommodation: C.Harrison-560@kent.ac.uk

Further information is on the on this flyer: Synthetic Biology Event

This is a joint event between Metals in Biology and C1 Net.

Metals related Antimicrobials event – 26-27 November 15 – Durham

Among the candidates for new antimicrobials are metals (see Nature “Bacterial arms race revs up” 402-403, May 2015), chelants, ionophores and agents that interfere with the metal-handling systems of microbes and hosts. This event will highlight advances in understanding the metal-handling systems of microbes, nutritional immunity and why metals are a microbial “Achilles heel”.  Examples of ongoing research involving Academia and Industry will be presented but the purpose of the event is to identify new opportunities for Innovation, to initiate collaborations and to understand potential implications of policy regulations. See the flyer: Metal-related antimicrobials event

Registration If you would like to attend this event, please get in touch (email below) ASAP – especially if you want to attend the second day as there are a limited number of places which includes overnight accommodation: metals.bbsrcnibb@durham.ac.uk

Industrial Applications of Metal-Microbe Interactions – 26-27 Nov 15 – University of Durham

This SGM focused meeting will bring together academics and industrialists to build collaborations in the areas of: biomining; biorecovery and bioprocessing; bioremediation; and biofabrication of higher value products.
Registration If you would like to attend this event contact: conferences@sgm.ac.uk

 

Characterising and Utilising Rhodococcus Workshop – York – 2 Nov 15

Discussion topics include challenges in delivering Rhodococcus biocatalysts to industry; metal‐dependent oxygenases; new enzyme discovery/substrate re‐tuning; molecular biology toolkit for working in Rhodococcus; the academia–industry interface (presentation by the CPI). Attendance at this collaboration-building meeting will allow you to engage with an innovative community, interact with key opinion leaders and enable you to work on & gain help with industry‐relevant scientific challenges. Further information is on the Rhodococcus flyer

Registration If you would like to attend this event, contact Charlotte Harrison ASAP, as there are a  limited number of places: C.Harrison-560@kent.ac.uk

Permastore Tanks and University of Southampton complete first BIV

The Environmental Labs at the University of Southampton have just completed our first Business Interaction Voucher (BIV) project in conjunction with Permastore Ltd. The work involved development of a test procedure for materials to be used in advanced anaerobic digestion applications, including at thermophilic temperatures and in harsh conditions where the process may become unstable or fail. Testing was based on continuous simulation in 35-litre anaerobic digesters, and has provided comprehensive data that would not be available from simple batch tests. An innovative side-stream ammonia stripping system was used to control digestion parameters and provide a wide range of reactor conditions. This BIV was funded by BBSRC through the Anaerobic Digestion Network.

Information on all the work done in the Environmental Labs can be found on their Facebook page.

You too can benefit from such funding for academic help: see www.anaerobicdigestionnet.com/funding for more information.

Synthetic Biology for Biotechnology and Bioenergy Workshop – University of Surrey – 7/8 Sep 15

Our VFA Factory Working Group Chair, Dr Claudio Avignone-Rossa from the University of Surrey, along with Prof Hugo Gramajo of Aregentina’s National University of Rosario  is holding a Synthetic Biology for Biotechnology and Bioenergy Workshop on 7-8 September at the University of Surrey. This Workshop is part of the activities of a BBSRC Continue reading “Synthetic Biology for Biotechnology and Bioenergy Workshop – University of Surrey – 7/8 Sep 15”