Fifth Scientific Laboratory Show and Conference Declared Great Success


On Wednesday 23rd May 2018, over 1200 scientists, technicians, speakers and exhibitors descended on the East Midlands Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham for the fifth Scientific Laboratory Show and Conference. Organised by Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS), the day brought together delegates from across the community, offering opportunities to meet like-minded people, learn new things and discover the very best scientific technology and equipment for the laboratory.


Over 60 exhibitors attended the show, with a number choosing to launch new products. The hall layout and timing of the day ensured that there was plenty of time for visitors to browse products and view demonstrations alongside attending seminars. A popular feature of this biannual event is the high calibre keynote speakers, and this year’s line-up lived up to expectations. The main theatre hosted a packed schedule with presentations from Professor Sir Bill Wakeham, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan and Dallas Campbell of the BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory fame.


Hosting in partnership with the Science Council has allowed


SLS to broaden the scope of the event this year, addressing not only laboratory product needs, but also scientists and their careers. Many attendees benefitted from the Science Council’s Professional Development Zone and the masterclasses that ran throughout the day, as well as seminars from show partners Eppendorf and Corning.


The show is one of SLS’s key events for engaging its broad range of customers and exhibitors, and is central to supplying the highest quality, best value products and brands. Joshua Chapman, Marketing Director at SLS, said: “I couldn’t have asked for more. The combination of seminars, exhibitors and masterclasses makes it a truly special event, and it’s been encouraging to hear all the positive feedback from both attendees and exhibitors. This year has been a great success and provides all the motivation we need to work hard on preparing for the next show in 2020.”


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The show was one of the busiest yet, attracting a diverse range of scientists and technicians from across the community.


Project Provides Blackgrass Resistance Diagnostic


on the pioneering work over the last 20 years on the chemical control of this weed carried out by Professor Rob Edwards’ research group at the university.


Mitch Brooker


Scientists at Newcastle University and Mologic Ltd have created an on-farm blackgrass resistance diagnostic (BReD), leading to the development of a one-step, rapid lateral flow product for detecting glutathione transferase (AmGSTF1) concentrations in blackgrass, based


“Mologic has a proud history in forming lasting partnerships with both academic and commercial organisations. We are excited to bring BReD to the field as this is the first non- IVD product to be taken from development through to manufacture and commercialisation by our team. Mologic plans to advance towards extending its portfolio of innovative agricultural diagnostic devices,” said General Manager Mitch Brooker.


“Working with Professor Edwards and his colleagues at Newcastle University has provided access to pioneering research, which when combined with our innovative lateral flow technology has enabled us to deliver BReD, a world first in on-farm technologies, giving


agronomists and farmers a real measure of the degree of non-target site herbicide resistance in their blackgrass populations and enabling the farm to make informed decisions.”


Professor Rob Edwards, Professor of Agriculture and Director of the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) at Newcastle University said: “Early-indication diagnostic tests are common place in medicine (and) ..it should be no different in agriculture. This new diagnostic tool marks an important step in our fight against resistance, using the latest research to deliver solutions in crop protection. It is an approach we have termed ‘personalised agriculture’ and BReD represents the first in a series of diagnostics we are working on to counteract resistance and emerging disease in the agricultural setting.”


Professor Edwards’ research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences


Andrea Ablasser Wins the 2018 Eppendorf Young European Investigators Award


explained: “Andrea Ablasser’s work sheds light on the mechanisms by which other cells are informed about the presence of foreign DNA, and she has recently shown that the same pathway can be triggered in ageing cells, contributing to senescence. This work may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for both microbial infections and autoinflammatory syndromes.”


Andrea Ablasser said: “I am greatly honoured to receive the prestigious Eppendorf Award. It recognises the contributions of several gifted colleagues and students, who all took part in this long, but exciting research effort. We are fascinated by the fundamental mechanisms of innate immune recognition that enable defence against pathogens and hope that our research will in the future aid the development of new treatment options for human diseases.”


Andrea Ablasser


In 2018, the Hamburg life science company presented its highly prestigious research prize for the 23rd time. The independent Eppendorf Award Jury chaired by Professor Reinhard Jahn selected Professor Dr Andrea Ablasser, Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, as the 2018 winner of the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators.


The Award ceremony took place on 21 June 2018 at the EMBL Advanced Training Centre in Heidelberg, Germany. The Award Jury Chairman, Professor Reinhard Jahn of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, gave the laudatory speech honouring Andrea Ablasser’s achievements.


Andrea Ablasser, born 1983, receives the €20,000 prize for her contributions to a key step in the innate immune response, which triggers a frontline defence when cells are attacked by microorganisms. The Jury


With the Eppendorf Young Investigator Award, which was established in 1995, Eppendorf AG honours outstanding work in biomedical research and supports young scientists in Europe up to the age of 35. The Eppendorf Award is presented in partnership with the scientific journal Nature. The Award winner is selected by an independent committee composed of Professor Reinhard Jahn (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany), Professor Dieter Häussinger (Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Düsseldorf, Germany), Professor Maria tin (EMBO, Heidelberg, Germany), Professor Martin J. Lohse (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany), and Professor Laura Machesky (Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK).


More information about entry details, judging procedures, and past winners can be found at www.eppendorf.com/award


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Research Council (BBSRC) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), as part of the Black-Grass Resistance Initiative a partnership with Rothamsted Research, Sheffield and York Universities and the Institute of Zoology.


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£33 million Health Tech Innovation Funding Boost for Swansea


Swansea University Medical School has welcomed the announcement of £33 million of Welsh Government funding to develop new, innovative healthcare products and services, which will help boost the economy and create high quality jobs.


£24 million of the funding which comes jointly from the European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government will support the new Accelerate programme which will see Swansea University, Cardiff University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David come together to speed up the translation of ideas into new technology products and services.


The Accelerate programme, launched at the beginning of the month, will run over three years, is being led by the Life Sciences Hub Wales and will bring together clinical, academic and industry expertise to develop and roll out new, innovative products and services within the Welsh health and care system.


Professor Keith Lloyd, Head of the Medical School at Swansea University, said the funding would help build on the already strong life science sector – which is worth around £2 billion to the Welsh economy.


Professor Lloyd said: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting new Accelerate programme. The Medical School has contributed significantly to the growing life science sector through its Institute of Life Science (ILS) at Singleton campus. As a top 3 UK Medical School we are committed to ensuring the research, innovation and expertise within our Medical School is used to prevent ill health, develop better treatments and be at the forefront of new technologies which can be used to improve care in the NHS.


£9 million will also be used to create additional health innovation centres across Wales. The aim of the centres will be to develop cutting edge health technology to improve the prevention, treatment and management of long term chronic conditions and take advantage of new and emerging technologies.


The money was jointly announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health Vaughan Gething and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy Ken Skates.


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