2013 BIO Report - University of East Anglia

Faculty of Science
School of Biological Sciences
Report 2013-14
Winner
Whatuni.com Student
Choice Awards
1
Contents
Image Contributions
03 Welcome to the School
of Biological Sciences.
In order to generate interesting pictures for this report
we had a photo competition in BIO. Below are the three
winners. We would also like to thank everyone else in
the School who provided the marvellous pictures found
throughout the report.
04 Our Ethos
05 Research Excellence
Research Themes
Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences…
…. and to this, our 2nd BIO report. Our first report four years ago was a
great success, highlighting the many research, teaching, enterprise and
public engagement activities carried out in the School of Biological Sciences
(BIO). A lot has been happening since then and this report will give you an
overview of exciting new developments.
Winner - Tim Grocott - Imaging the eye
Head of School
Prof Dylan Edwards
06 Organisms and Environment
08 Cells and Tissues
10 Molecular Microbiology
Director of Research
Prof Tamas Dalmay
14 Plant Sciences
Our School
12Timeline
Director of Teaching
Dr Helen James
17 New Faces
18Enterprise
19 Facilities
Second - Matt Hutchings - A leaf cutter ant
20 Learning and Teaching
22 Engagement
To view a brief video of the school use the
23Impact
See more with
Our report features augmented links to
online content. You can access videos
and hidden web links by downloading
Layar App to your smartphone or
tablet device.
Third - Ben Tyrrell and Mette Mogensen - A dividing cell
To begin with, 2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of
UEA and, as BIO is one of the original five founding
Schools, we share this birthday. The School’s
original mission was to develop a multidisciplinary
environment distinct from the rigid structure of
traditional botany, zoology, microbiology and
biochemistry departments. As can be seen from the
breadth of world-leading research currently being
carried out within the School and the Sainsbury
Laboratory, our associated institute on the Norwich
Research Park, we have stayed true to this
aspiration. The centre pages of this report give an
overview of the important events and milestones in
the 50 year history of UEA and BIO.
In the present challenging times for UK higher
education, BIO has continued to thrive and prosper.
In line with the growth in popularity of the School as a
home for undergraduate and postgraduate study, our
academic staff numbers have grown since our last
report. Our research is continuing to be well funded
and the number and quality of our publications are
both increasing year-on-year. In the run up to the
2014 REF, this can only augur well for the continued
future success of the School.
Compiled and edited by Grant Wheeler, assisted by
Andrew Bourke, Richard Davies, Matt Hutchings,
Charlotte Price and Kay Yeoman.
Cover photo courtesy of Martin Taylor.
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Design by MADE Agency.
All of our four research themes (Plant Sciences;
Molecular Microbiology; Organisms and Environment;
Cells and Tissues) have been strengthened by new
recruitments (page 17). In particular we initiated a new
“Synergy Lecturer” scheme in which two of our recent
faculty appointments were made in partnership with the
John Innes Centre, the world-leading plant sciences
research institute nearby on the Norwich Research Park.
app
Our postgraduate research training programme has
gone from strength to strength and we currently have
198 PhD students funded from many different sources,
including funding of Doctoral Training Programmes with
partner Schools at UEA and Norwich Research Park
institutes. Since our last report we have also developed
a new taught postgraduate MSc training programme
in Molecular Medicine to run alongside the highly
successful Masters in Applied Ecology and Conservation
and Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement.
Staff in BIO are passionate about teaching. Our
Undergraduate student numbers are rising and our
students are consistently enthusiastic about the
quality of the education that we deliver. Since its
inception we have always held a top 5 place in the
annual National Student Survey, frequently taking the
coveted number one position for our teaching quality.
A novel feature in this report are a number of movies
that have been embedded. These document the
research carried out in BIO in an accessible format
through interviews with our leading scientists.
We hope you enjoy this report. It is a snapshot of
some of the exciting discoveries and contributions
made in BIO over the last couple of years. It should
also give you a feeling for the friendly and interactive
atmosphere within the school.
Dylan Edwards
(Head of School 2008-13)
and Tamas Dalmay
(Head of School from 2014)
Director of
Postgraduate studies
Dr Mohammad Hajihosseini
Director of Admissions
Prof Ian Clark
Director of Engagement
Dr Kay Yeoman
Director of Employability
Dr Sam Fountain
Director of Enterprise
Dr Matt Hutchings
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Our Ethos
Research Excellence
The School of Biological Sciences (BIO) is a vibrant and friendly academic community firmly
embedded in the internationally renowned Norwich Research Park. It boasts extensive,
state-of-the-art research facilities as well as modern teaching laboratories.
BIO embraces a collaborative research ethos across a range of opportunities within the
wide-ranging disciplines of the biosciences. The school contains a dynamic research
community with expertise that covers the full spectrum of biology. Currently BIO is
organised into four themes listed below.
Our goal is to carry out world-leading
research that informs and inspires our
teaching of biology at the undergraduate
and postgraduate levels, and which delivers
values to society through engagement with
the community and stimulation of enterprise.
The School comprises 59 faculty members,
4 research fellows, 34 technical support
and 6 administrative staff, 42 research
associates, 198 postgraduate students and
500 undergraduates.
The School is spread over two buildings
(BIO and the Biomedical Research Centre)
joined by the Atrium which is a focal point
for gatherings and networking and which
houses the BIO Café, selling the best coffee
on campus. In addition The Sainsbury
Laboratory is housed in its own building
alongside the John Innes Centre on the
Norwich Research Park to facilitate cross
fertilisation of ideas.
As a research-led institution, we are
extremely proud that we are recognised
as carrying out fundamental research of
international excellence whilst at the same
time developing a learning environment in
BIO, which has been highly acclaimed in
multiple National Student Surveys.
BIO is actively engaged in advancing the
careers of women in science. We recognise
that as a School we increase our potential if
we can benefit from the talents of the whole
population. To focus our efforts in this area
we applied in 2013 for Athena Swan Bronze
status. We aim to raise awareness of existing
support, and develop new measures, for
enhancing career development of women
within our School.
BIO themes:
Organisms and
Cells and Tissues
Molecular Microbiology
Plant Sciences
the Environment
This huge span of activity not only allows
genuinely research-led teaching, but also
facilitates partnerships with colleagues in other
Schools within UEA and affiliated organisations
within the Norwich Research Park.
Since 2009, BIO has won almost £30 million
in peer-reviewed, competitive grant funding,
an annual average of £5.5 million, with 90
per cent of funding coming from Research
Councils, the EU and research charities.
Research Councils invest in research
across the full range of scientific disciplines,
supporting peer-reviewed research that
has an impact on growth, prosperity and
wellbeing. BIO’s flourishing research has been
supported by research councils to the tune
of £19 million since 2009, including BBSRC,
MRC, NERC and the Royal Society.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council has been our biggest
source of income in the last five years,
providing £13 million of funding.
Charities are increasingly important to our
funding, as we receive approximately £1.5
million of funding for research every year.
BIO’s notable research into cancer continues
with the help of organisations such as Cancer
Research UK and the Movember Group,
while other biomedical research is maintained
thanks to Arthritis Research UK, The British
Heart Foundation and Fight for Sight.
The Big C is a local cancer
charity funding projects
into many different aspects
of cancer, both prevention
and treatment. We have a
close working relationship
with them and they are responsible for some
of our longer term funding – over £1 million
in the last 3 years – including research into
colon and breast cancer.
School of Biological Sciences
Annual Income (Average 2008-2012)
Besides funding from both British and overseas
governments and national and international
industries, the remainder of our funding could
come from anywhere, including individuals and
groups who have fundraised for us, and trusts.
On average we can receive approximately
£40,000 a year from such sources.
BIO are very fortunate
to have a close
relationship with
the John & Pamela
Salter Charitable
Trust. The Trust’s
aim is to support
scientists on the first steps of their careers by
‘pump-priming’ new research that could lead
to a key research paper, or an application for
a fellowship or grant.
£99,837 Direct Govt Funding
£190,879 EU
£3,595,446 Research Councils
£1,456,595 Charities
£93,837 Overseas
£42,131 Industry
£40,059 Others
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Organisms and Environment
This theme conducts research on an array of plant and
animal systems, in the field and the laboratory, to gain an
integrated understanding of adaptation and ecology at the
molecular, organismal, population and community levels.
By studying questions in evolutionary biology, ecology
and conservation, we address both fundamental issues
and societal priorities, eg, the preservation of biodiversity
and essential ecosystem services. As part of the Centre
for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (CEEC) and the
Biodiversity theme of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance
(ELSA) with researchers across the Norwich Research Park,
we help to generate an international hotspot of research
within these areas.
Research Highlights
Archetti M, Ubeda F, Fudenberg D, Green J,
Pierce NE, Yu DW (2011) Let the right one
in: a microeconomic approach to partner
choice in mutualisms. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences,
USA 177: 75-85.
Bourke AFG (2011) Principles of social
evolution. Oxford Series in Ecology and
Evolution (eds, P.H. Harvey, R.M. May, C.H.
Godfray and J.A. Dunne), Oxford University
Press, Oxford. xii + 267 pp.
Gunnarsson TG, Sutherland WJ, Alves JA,
Appleton GF, Potts PM, Gill JA (2012) Rapid
changes in the distribution of phenotypes
in an expanding population of a migratory
bird. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
London B 279: 411-416.
Robbirt KM, Davy AJ, Hutchings MJ,
Roberts DL (2011) Validation of biological
collections as a source of phenological
data for use in climate change studies:
a case study with the orchid Ophrys
sphegodes. Journal of Ecology 99: 235-241.
Once a year the PhD students organise a meeting called
the CEEC Rebellion.
Males detect mating rivals using
multiple, redundant cues
Five Key Publications
Professor Tracey Chapman
Professor Matt Gage
Our research investigates fundamental evolutionary processes
underlying mating and reproduction. Using fruit flies as model
systems, we seek to identify why some individuals are more
successful in reproducing than others. This helps us understand
how interactions between the sexes drive evolutionary change
and how genes influence fertility. It also suggests novel methods of
controlling insect pests. We recently investigated the mechanisms
by which males detect male
mating rivals and found that they
use overlapping combinations
of several cues to do so. This
showed that the males’ system
of sensing their competitive
sexual environment employs
redundancy to confer robustness
and precision.
Telomere length is an indicator of
biological age in a wild bird
Professor David S. Richardson
Five Key Grants
‘Colonisation, domestication and
population control in pest insects’
Prof. Tracey Chapman, Dr Matt Hutchings &
Dr Phil Leftwich: 2012. £376K BBSRC
Why do females often mate with several males despite the inherent
costs of promiscuity to females? One theory is that promiscuous
females avoid fertilisations by genetically incompatible males. We
tested this idea using inbred populations of Tribolium flour beetles,
where risks of genetic incompatibility are high. Results showed
that promiscuity did allow inbred females to avoid incompatible
fertilisations and almost double their reproductive success compared
with monogamous females. By driving populations through tight
genetic bottlenecks, we also discovered that female promiscuity
increased as the risks of incompatible matings rose. These results
provided new evidence for the evolutionary benefits of promiscuity.
Bretman A, Westmancoat JD,
Gage MJG, Chapman T (2011)
Multiple, redundant cues used by males to detect mating rivals.
Current Biology 21: 617–622
Scheuring I, Yu DW (2012) How to
assemble a beneficial microbiome in three
easy steps. Ecology Letters 15: 1300-1307.
‘Investigating the impact of habitat
structure on queen and worker
bumblebees in the field’.
Prof. Andrew Bourke (with Drs C Carvell &
M Heard, CEH Wallingford, Dr S Sumner,
University of Bristol, & Dr J Wang, Zoological
Society of London): 2010.
£666K Insect Pollinators Initiative (BBSRC,
Defra, NERC, The Scottish Government,
The Wellcome Trust)
Promiscuity is promoted in inbred
populations by allowing females to avoid
genetically incompatible males
Michalczyk Ł, Millard AL, Lumley AJ, Martin OY, Emerson BC,
Chapman T, Gage MJG (2011) Inbreeding promotes female
promiscuity. Science 333: 1739–1742.
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Telomeres are specialized caps that protect the ends of
chromosomes. Over time they get shorter due to the biological
stress an individual experiences. If they become too short the
cells they are in stop functioning. In an island population of a wild
bird species, the Seychelles Warbler, we found that individuals
differ substantially in how quickly their telomeres shrink with age,
and that having shorter telomeres at any age was associated
with an increased likelihood of death. These findings showed, for
the first time, that telomere length is a better indicator of future
life-expectancy than actual age in wild vertebrates.
‘Ecological and behavioural constraints
on range expansion in migratory birds’
Dr Jenny Gill: 2010. £454K NERC
‘Genomic resources to investigate
mimicry, colour pattern evolution and
polyploidy in Corydoradinae catfishes’
Dr Martin Taylor: 2012.
$150K Science without Borders
for more
Communities of mimetic fish are
structured by competition and
evolutionary history
Dr Martin Taylor
Until recently, the study of negative interactions (for example,
competition and predation) dominated ecologists’ understanding
of the structure, maintenance and assembly of communities of
species. Nevertheless, a recent theoretical model suggests that
positive interactions (for example, mutualisms) may counterbalance
competition, facilitating long-term coexistence even among
ecologically undifferentiated species. In contrast to this recent model,
we showed that resource partitioning and phylogeny determine
community structure and outweigh the positive effects of Müllerian
mimicry in a species-rich group of neotropical catfishes. Hence, in
this case, competition for resources, coupled with phylogeny, is a
pivotal factor in community evolution.
Alexandrou M, Oliveira C, Maillard M, McGill RAR, Newton J,
Creer S, Taylor MI (2011) Competition and phylogeny determine
community structure in Müllerian co-mimics. Nature 469: 84–88.
‘Trans-generational impacts on
senescence: quantitative genetics of
cellular and organismal ageing in the wild’
Prof David S Richardson: 2013.
£535K NERC
Barrett ELB, Burke TA, Hammers M, Komdeur J, Richardson DS
(2013) Telomere dynamics predict mortality in a life-long longitudinal
wild study. Molecular Ecology 22: 249–259.
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Cells and Tissue
Research in this theme focuses on how cells, tissues and
whole organisms develop and work. We have strengths in
cell and developmental biology and use modern research
facilities to investigate fundamental questions important in
health and disease, using for example the cardiovascular
and musculoskeletal systems, the gut, the eye and cancer
models. Insights gained at the basic level are used to develop
expertise that will contribute to developments in translational
biomedical research.
Research Highlights
Five Key Publications
White RM, Cech J, Ratanasirintrawoot
S, Lin CY, Rahl PB et al (2011). DHODH
modulates transcriptional elongation in
the neural crest and melanoma. Nature.
471:518-22. Scan with
for more
Goldspink DA, Gadsby JR, Bellett G, Keynton
J, Tyrrell BJ, Lund EK, Powell PP, Thomas P
and Mogensen MM (2013). The microtubule
end-binding protein EB2 is a central
regulator of microtubule reorganisation
in apico-basal epithelial differentiation.
Journal of Cell Science (in press)
Baker N, Sharpe P, Culley K, Otero M,
Bevan D, Newham P, Barker W, Clements
KM, Langham CJ, Goldring MB and
Gavrilovic J (2012) Dual regulation
of metalloproteinase expression in
chondrocytes by WISP3/CCN6.
Arthritis & Rheumatism. 64(7):2289-99.
The CDB (Cell and Developmental Biology) seminars are a forum
for Biomedical Research across the Norwich Research Park.
Haan N, Goodman T, Najdi-Samiei A,
Stratford CM, Rice R, El Agha E, Bellusci S,
Hajihosseini MK. (2013) Fgf10-expressing
tanycytes add new neurons to the
appetite/energy-balance regulating centers
of the postnatal and adult hypothalamus.
Journal of Neuroscience 33(14):6170-80.
Reynolds A, Wharton N, Parris A, Mitchell
A, Sobolewski A, Bigwood L, El Hadi A,
Münsterberg A, Lewis M, Speakmen C,
Stebbings W, Wharton R, Sargen K, Tighe R,
Jamieson C, Hernon J, Oue N, Yasui W and
Williams M (2013). Canonical Wnt signals
combined with suppressed TGFb/BMP
pathways promote renewal of the human
colonic crypt epithelium. Gut (in press)
Five Key Grants
DevCom – European Initial Training
Network on Developmental and
Computational Biology. Dr Grant N Wheeler
and 12 European laboratories: 2013. Euro
4.5 million Marie Curie CEC EU Framework 7
Blood and vascular disease
Cancer Biology
Dr Samuel Fountain
Professor Dylan Edwards
Our overall aim is to understand cellular communication between
blood cells and the blood vessels through which they circulate. We
are investigating two families of potent signalling molecules called
purines and chemokines and the roles they play in atherosclerosis
(narrowing of the arteries) and type I diabetes. Recently we have
discovered that blood monocytes actively secrete purines and
this influences how they respond to and move towards areas of
inflammation. We hypothesise
that such events are involved in
vascular diseases and may be a
target for new drugs.
Sivaramakrishnan V, Bidula S,
Katikaneni D, Campwala H,
Fountain SJ (2012). Constitutive
lysosome exocytosis releases
ATP and engages P2Y receptors
in human monocytes. Journal of
Cell Science 125: 4567-4575.
A small molecule with big impact on
muscle development
Professor Andrea Münsterberg
The development of an embryo into a healthy organism is a complex
and highly regulated process. We study cardiac and skeletal muscle
and investigate the mechanisms that govern the commitment of
naïve progenitors to their fate and subsequently the differentiation of
these cells. The regulation of gene activity is very important in these
processes. We recently discovered a novel ‘molecular switch’, called
microRNA-206, which allows early stage muscle cells to become
more specialised contractile cells needed for muscle to function. This
switch turns off another gene and is also important in muscle stem
cells, which differentiate in response to injury or exercise.
Regulation of the proatherogenic activity of
CC chemokines by purinergic co-signalling
in human monocytes. Dr Samuel Fountain,
Prof David Crossman and Dr Darren Sexton,
2013. £202K British Heart Foundation
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The function of microRNAs in cartilage
metabolism and osteoarthritis. Prof. Ian
Clark, Prof. Tamas Dalmay and Dr David
Young, Newcastle: 2011. £1.1million Arthritis
Research UK.
Thirkettle S, Decock J, Arnold H, Pennington CJ, Jaworski DM
and Edwards DR (2013). Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 (Collagenase
2) Induces the Expression of Interleukins 6 and 8 in Breast Cancer
Cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 288: 16282-16294
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Blocking a ’rogue gene’ could stop
cancer cells from spreading
Dr Andrew Chantry
Worldwide, more than 25 per cent of deaths are attributable
to cancer, and around 300,000 people will be diagnosed with
cancer this year in the UK alone. Once cancer cells start to spread
throughout the body the disease takes hold rapidly and prognosis
is very poor. We have recently discovered a ‘rogue gene’ known as
WWP2 that attacks and breaks down a natural inhibitor in the body
which normally prevents cancer cells from spreading. The challenge
ahead is to identify a potent drug that will get inside cancer cells and
destroy the activity of this rogue gene.
Re-organisation of microtubule minus-ends
during apico-basal epithelial polarisation
and differentiation. Dr Mette Mogensen, Prof.
Tom Wileman, Dr Penelope Powell and Dr Paul
Thomas: 2012. £456K BBSRC
Elucidating how avB3-integrin regulates
Neuropilin-1’s role in tumour angiogenesis
in order to improve anti-angiogenic therapy.
Dr Stephen Robinson: 2012. £107K Big C
I am a molecular biologist interested in the “degradome” – the
secreted proteases and related molecules that cells use during tissue
remodelling in development, repair and disease. A major focus of our
work elucidated degradome gene function in relation to the clinical
behaviour of human tumours. This led to studies of angiogenesis
(new blood vessel formation), which is critical for the growth of solid
tumours, and the ways in which proteases influence cell signalling,
adhesion, migration and invasion. We are working towards novel
therapies that employ knowledge of the degradome to deliver targeted
treatment of cancer and other diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Goljanek-Whysall K, Sweetman D, Abu-Elmagd M, Chapnik E,
Dalmay T, Hornstein E and Münsterberg A (2011). MicroRNA
regulation of the paired-box transcription factor Pax3 confers
robustness to developmental timing of myogenesis.
PNAS 108 (29): 11936-11941
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Soond, SM and Chantry,
A (2011) Selective
targeting of activating
and inhibitory Smads
by distinct WWP2
ubiquitin ligase isoforms
differentially modulates
TGF(B) signalling and
EMT. Oncogene,
30:2451-2462.
for more
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Molecular Microbiology
Our research addresses fundamental aspects of
microbiology and microbial biochemistry. Microbes are
the most successful organisms on Earth and they are the
driving force in the evolution, development and success
of multicellular organisms. Our research addresses big
questions in microbiology from the effect of microbial
communities on host fitness and reproduction to their roles
in driving the global sulphur and nitrogen cycles. We are
funded primarily by the BBSRC, NERC and MRC and we
benefit through collaborations with our partner institutes
on the Norwich Research Park under the auspices of
Microbes in Norwich.
Research Highlights
How do animals select their
good bacteria?
Five Key Publications
Holmes NA, Walshaw J, Leggett RM,
Thibessard A, Dalton KA, Gillespie MD,
Hemmings AM, Gust B, Kelemen GH.
(2013). Coiled-coil protein Scy is a
key component of a multiprotein
assembly controlling polarized growth
in Streptomyces. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
110(5):E397-406.
Green RT, Todd JD, Johnston AW. (2012).
Manganese uptake in marine bacteria; the
novel MntX transporter is widespread in
Roseobacters, Vibrios, Alteromonadales
and the SAR11 and SAR116 clades.
ISME J doi: 10.1038/ismej.2012.140
Using bacteria to make electricity
Dr Tom Clarke, Professor David J
Richardson and Professor Julea Butt
Dr Matt Hutchings, Dr Doug Yu and
Professor Tracey Chapman
A beneficial bacterial community living with a plant or animal is
called its microbiome. For example, the gut microbiome provides
nutrition and protects against disease. But how do hosts select the
right mix of bacteria to assemble a microbiome and how does this
microbiome affect host fitness, reproduction and evolution? We are
addressing these fundamentally important questions using fruitflies
and leafcutter ants because they host simple microbiomes that
are easy to manipulate. The results allow us to build mathematical
models that we can apply to more complex systems, including
plants and humans.
Our research focuses on the way that different bacteria reduce
insoluble minerals in the environment. We identified a protein
complex that assembles in the cell membrane and contains iron
atoms that conduct electricity to the cell surface. The structures
of complexes exposed on the cell surface revealed a complicated
network of iron atoms used for electron transport. We are now
looking to understand how this protein complex functions in more
detail and how it can be used to conduct electricity between bacteria
and devices attached the cell, including electrodes, important
minerals or photovoltaic nanoparticles (quantum dots).
Hanke DE, Parmar PN, Caddick SE,
Green P, Brearley CA (2012). Synthesis
of inositol phosphate ligands of plant
hormone-receptor complexes: pathways
of inositol hexakisphosphate turnover.
Biochem J 444:601-9.
Norwich has the highest concentration of
microbiology researchers in Europe.
Felgate H, Giannopoulos G, Sullivan MJ,
Gates AJ, Clarke TA, Baggs E, Rowley G,
Richardson DJ (2012). The impact of copper,
nitrate and carbon status on the emission
of nitrous oxide by two species of bacteria
with biochemically distinct denitrification
pathways. Env Microbiol 14:1788-800.
Bradley JM, Silkstone G, Wilson MT,
Cheesman MR, Butt JN (2011). Probing a
complex of cytochrome c and cardiolipin by
magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy:
implications for the initial events in
apoptosis. J Am Chem Soc. 133:19676-9.
Barke, J., Seipke, R.F., Gruschow, S., Heavens, D., Drou, N., Bibb,
M.J., Goss, R.J.M., Yu, D.W. and Hutchings, M. I. (2010). A mixed
community of actinomycetes produce multiple antibiotics for the
fungus farming ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. BMC Biol 8:109
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How do eukaryotic phytoplankton produce
the most abundant organo-sulphur
compound in the world’s oceans?
Jon Todd and Thomas Mock: 2012-15.
£385,649 NERC
Advancing biotechnologies for fuel
generation: Exploiting transmembrane
cytochromes for solar energy conversion.
Julea Butt, Tom Clarke and David J
Richardson: 2013-16. £480,000 BBSRC
Molecular basis for controlled electron
transfer. Tom Clarke, Julea Butt and David J
Richardson: 2013-16. £417,000 BBSRC
Making and breaking DMS by salt marsh
microbes – populations and pathways,
revealed by stable isotope probing and
molecular techniques. Andy Johnston and
Jon Todd. 2010-2013. £170k. NERC
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What determines cell shape in bacteria?
Five Key Grants
Let the right ones in: Testing
microeconomic models of screening
in an ant-bacteria microbiome.
Matt Hutchings and Doug Yu: 2012-15.
£418,419 NERC
Clarke TA, Edwards MJ, Gates AJ, Hall A, White GF, Bradley J,
Reardon CL, Shi L, Beliaev AS, Marshall MJ, Wang Z, Watmough
NJ, Fredrickson JK, Zachara JM, Butt JN, Richardson DJ (2011).
Structure of a bacterial cell surface decaheme electron conduit.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108(23):9384-9.
Identifying new antibiotic targets in the
food poisoning bug Salmonella
Dr Gabriella Kelemen
Dr Gary Rowley and Dr Tom Clarke
Salmonella bacteria are important pathogens that cause severe
food poisoning or Typhoid fever in humans. Salmonella can survive
inside and outside their host and must survive an array of different
stress conditions. Research in the Rowley laboratory has found
that a family of proteins called chaperones form an integral part of
the Salmonella stress response, helping them to survive inside their
host, and represent a potential Achilles heal to target with novel
antibiotics. This work is currently funded through a BBSRC CASE
studentship with the biotechnology company Inspiralis, to perform
structure-function analyses of these chaperones and determine their
commercial potential.
Appia‑Ayme, C, Hall, A,
Patrick, E, Rajadurai, S,
Clarke, TA and Rowley, G
(2012) ZraP is a periplasmic
molecular chaperone and a
repressor of the zinc-responsive
two-component regulator
ZraSR. Biochemical Journal,
442 (1). pp. 85-93
How cells polarise is
one of the fundamental
questions in
developmental biology.
A special case of cell
polarisation is polarised
growth with many beautiful examples amongst both bacteria and
eukaryotes. Recently we have made significant progress in our
understanding of polar growth and its link to cell division in the
filamentous, antibiotic producer model organism, Streptomyces
coelicolor. We have established a multi-protein assembly, the tip
organising centre (TIPOC), which includes the novel scaffold protein,
Scy. The diverse interactions between Scy and its partner proteins
establish a link between polar growth and cell division in bacteria.
Streptomyces species have a unique developmental cycle and are
known to produce an array of secondary metabolites, many of which
are exploited as antibiotics or anticancer agents.
Ditkowski, B, Holmes, Neil, Rydzak, J, Donczew, M, Bezulska,
M, Ginda, K, Kedzierski, P, Zakrzewska-Czerwinska, J, Kelemen,
Gabriella and Jakimowicz, D (2013) Dynamic interplay of ParA with
the polarity protein, Scy, coordinates growth with chromosome
segregation in Streptomyces coelicolor. Open Biol, 3 (3) 130006.
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Timeline - 50 years of Biological Sciences at UEA
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1994 - the Duke of
Gloucester is
given a hands-on
tour of the School
of Biological
Sciences.
1973 - Paul Nurse
receives his Phd
on ‘The spatial and
temporal organisation
of amino acid pools in
Candida Utilis’.
1988 - The Prince
of Wales helps to
celebrate UEA’s
25th anniversary.
1963 - The first
students arrive to
study Biology at the
University of
East Anglia.
1990 - Alan Dawson’s
paper on Thapsigargin is
published in PNAS.
It has since been cited
2,901
times… and counting!
1989 - John Turner devised a
genetically engineered strain of
willow resistant to ‘watermark’
disease, partly funded by cricket
bat manufacturers who feared
the ruination of their industry.
1991 - George
Duncan’s vital work
with human eye tissue
and collaboration with
the Norfolk & Norwich
Hospital helps to
establish the East
Anglian Eye Bank.
2000 - Godfrey Hewitt’s paper
The genetic legacy of the
Quaternary ice ages is published in
Nature. To date it has been cited
2,218
times.
1973
1983
1993
1974 - Promotional
film for UEA.
1982 - Promotional
film for UEA.
1967 - The award-winning
Ziggurats are completed
on campus.
2001 - UEA alumnus
Sir Paul Nurse awarded
the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine
for the discoveries of
protein molecules that
control the division
(duplication) of cells in
the cell cycle.
2013 - UEA Celebrates
its 50th Anniversary.
2013 - A photo from Mohammad
Hajihosseini’s lab wins Anatomical
Society Best Image Prize 2013
2002 - The foundation of
the School of Medicine
sees the start of the new
Biomedicine degree.
1968 - The Queen visits UEA for the first time.
1963
2006 - The Wellcome-funded Biomedical
Research Centre is opened.
2003
1999 - siRNAs and their role
in post-transcriptional gene
silencing (PTGS) in plants
were first discovered by David
Baulcombe’s group and
reported in Science in 1999.
1989 - The Sainsbury
Laboratory is opened.
2013
2011 - A paper published in Nature,
with contributions from labs in
Harvard and the lab of Dr Grant
Wheeler in BIO, holds out hope for a
new treatment for Melanoma.
2007 - Following the sudden death of
Prof George Duncan, a new teaching
laboratory is opened in his memory.
1969 - BIO starts running
week-long summer courses
for School Biology teachers.
1969 - George Duncan
appointed lecturer in
biomedicine. He remained at
UEA for the rest of his career.
1979 - The popular
Year Abroad
programme started.
1991 - Ian Gibson becomes Dean of
School. Six years later he becomes
MP for Norwich North and Chair of the
Parliamentary Science Committee.
1994 - Norwich
City footballer
Brian Gunn
opens the
Francesca Gunn
Laboratory, in
memory of
his daughter.
2005 - Henry Wellcome
Laboratory for Cell Imaging opens.
1968 - BIO’s building is completed
12
13
Plant Sciences
This theme studies different aspects of plant molecular
biology including biochemistry, gene expression regulation
by small RNAs, flower development, modelling of cell
polarity and disease resistance. We make fundamental
discoveries and translate them to cultivated crops to
increase nutrient level, yield and resistance against
pathogens. The theme includes the Sainsbury Laboratory
which is based in a separate facility on the Norwich
Research Park.
Research Highlights
Five Key Publications
Sorefan K, Pais H, Hall AE, Kozomara A,
Griffiths-Jones S, Moulton V, Dalmay T.
(2012) Reducing ligation bias of small
RNAs in libraries for next generation
sequencing. Silence 3(1):4.
Luo, D, Bernard, DG, Balk, J, Hai, H, Cui, X
(2012) The DUF59 family gene AE7 acts in
the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly
pathway to maintain nuclear genome
integrity in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell (24).
pp. 4135–4148.
Beck M, Zhou J, Faulkner C, MacLean
D, Robatzek S. (2012) Spatio-temporal
cellular dynamics of the Arabidopsis
flagellin receptor reveal activation
status-dependent endosomal sorting.
Plant Cell. 24:4205-19
Some of our Plant Sciences researchers are based at the John
Innes Centre, a world-class research centre for plant science.
Saunders DG, Breen S, Win J, Schornack
S, Hein I, Bozkurt TO, Champouret N,
Vleeshouwers VG, Birch PR, Gilroy EM,
Kamoun S. (2012) Host protein BSL1
associates with Phytophthora infestans
RXLR effector AVR2 and the Solanum
demissum Immune receptor R2 to mediate
disease resistance Plant Cell. 24(8):3420-34.
Nicaise V, Joe A, Jeong BR, Korneli C,
Boutrot F, Westedt I, Staiger D, Alfano JR,
Zipfel C. (2013) Pseudomonas HopU1
modulates plant immune receptor levels
by blocking the interaction of their
mRNAs with GRP7. EMBO J. 32(5):701-12
Five Key Grants
Characterisation of tomato short RNAs
involved in fruit development. Prof. Tamas
Dalmay (with Prof V. Moulton, School of
Computing): 2009-2012. £618,703 BBSRC
Plant small RNAs
Professor Tamas Dalmay
Dr. Janneke Balk
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression
of protein coding genes. They play an important role in a variety of
biological processes. We have profiled the expression of small RNAs
during tomato fruit development and
are identifying the function of the
differentially expressed microRNAs.
We also investigate the role of
microRNAs in sulphur-metabolism
and other processes.
More than 90 per cent of the iron we need comes from plant-based
foods. Plants are very good at scavenging the soil for mineral iron
and distribute it to all parts including leaves, fruits and seeds. Our
laboratory investigates how plants use iron, and ultimately, how
this can be manipulated to improve crop yield or iron content
in vegetables. Most of the iron is used to catalyse biological
processes that turn sunlight into sugars, or stored away in seeds for
germination. As it turns out, spinach actually does not contain much
iron, but all pulses such as peas and lentils do.
Mohorianu, I, Schwach, F, Jing,
R, Lopez-Gomollon, S, Moxon, S,
Szittya, G, Sorefan, K, Moulton,
V and Dalmay, T (2011) Profiling
of short RNAs during fleshy fruit
development reveals stage-specific
sRNAome expression patterns. Plant
Journal, 67(2):232-46.
Luo D, Bernard DG, Balk J, Hai H and Cui X, 2012. The DUF59
family gene AE7 acts in the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly
pathway to maintain nuclear genome integrity in Arabidopsis.
Plant Cell 24: 4135-48.
Plant biochemistry
Dr Charles Brearley
Plant Reproductive Development
Professor Phil Gilmartin
Inositol hexakisphosphate, InsP6, phytate, is the single most
abundant organic phosphate molecule in the environment. It is the
principal storage form of phosphorus in cropped parts of plants
and it is estimated that the annual sequestration of phosphorus in
these cropped organs is equivalent to the worldwide application
of phosphorus as fertilizer. With Dr Andrew Hemmings (BIO) and
international partners, we study the enzymology of phytate synthesis
and turnover in plants, and its structural biology. With our animal
feedstuff industry partners, we study the mobilization of phosphorus
from dietary phytate in digestive situations.
Plant sex determination: isolation of the
Hermaphrodite gene from Silene dioica.
Prof. Phil Gilmartin 2012 – 2015, £170,146
Leverhulme Trust
The assembly of iron-sulphur proteins
in germinating seeds. Dr Janneke Balk:
2013-2016. £428,000 BBSRC
Signal integration of stomatal stress
responses (STORM) Dr Silke Robatzek:
2012 – 2017. 1,494,559 euros, European
Research Council (ERC)
Signaling initiation and specificity in
BAK1-dependent receptor kinase-mediated
innate immunity in Arabidopsis
(PHOSPHinnATE) Dr Cyril Zipfel:
2012 – 2017. 1,499,420 euros, European
Research council (ERC)
14
Plants and iron: Where Popeye
went wrong
Baños-Sanz JI, Sanz-Aparicio J, Whitfield H, Hamilton C, Brearley
CA, González B.(2012) Conformational changes in inositol 1,3,4,5,6pentakisphosphate 2-kinase upon substrate binding: role of
N-terminal lobe and enantiomeric substrate preference. J Biol Chem.
287(35):29237-49.
Our laboratory focuses
on plant reproductive
development with
specific interests in
sex determination
in Silene dioica and
floral heteromorphy
in Primula vulgaris
and related species.
Both systems
represent examples
of the development
of different forms
of flowers in plants of the same species which have evolved as
mechanisms that promote out-breeding. We use a wide range of
approaches from classical genetic analysis of floral mutants, to
molecular genetics and genomic techniques and are using these
approaches to identify the genes that control floral architecture in
these two different plant breeding systems.
Li, J., Dudas, B., Webster, M., Cook, H., Davies, B., Gilmartin, P.M.
(2010) Hose in Hose, an S locus-linked mutant of Primula vulgaris is
caused by an unstable mutation at the Globosa locus. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences USA 107: 5664-5668
15
Plant Sciences:
The Sainsbury Laboratory
Located on the Norwich Research Park,
the Sainsbury Laboratory favours daring,
long-term research and has state of the art
technologies and support services to enable
cutting-edge science. The year 2013 marks
25 years since it was started.
scan with
for more
Kamoun Laboratory
Identification
of potentially
indispensible
“effectors” leading
to a new strategy
for durable control
of potato
blight disease
Late blight, the most devastating disease of potato, is caused by the
Irish potato famine pathogen, a microorganism that secretes effector
molecules that alter the potato plant, resulting in infection. We
identified key effectors that are helping us devise ways to manage
late blight that are harder for the pathogen to overcome.
Key Publication
Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A., Raffaele, R., Vossen, J., Champouret, N.,
Oliva, R., Segretin, M.E., Rietman, H., Cano, L.M., Lokossou, A.,
Kessel, G., Pel, M.A., and Kamoun, S. 2011. Understanding and
exploiting late blight resistance in the age of effectors.
Annual Reviews of Phytopathology, 49:507-531.
Jones Laboratory
Publication of the
genome sequence
of Albugo
Albugo species
cause white rust
disease of Brassicas
and other crops. We
used next-generation
sequencing to define the sequence and gene complement of Albugo
laibachii which infects the model plant Arabidopsis, and are
discovering novel classes of effectors that suppress host defences. Key Publication
Kemen E, Gardiner A, Schultz-Larsen T, Kemen AC, Balmuth AL,
Robert-Seilaniantz A, Bailey K, Holub E, Studholme DJ, Maclean
D, Jones JD. Gene gain and loss during evolution of obligate
parasitism in the white rust pathogen of Arabidopsis thaliana.
PLoS Biol. 2011 Jul;9(7)
16
New Faces
Robatzek Laboratory
Development and
application of
high-through-put
imaging systems
to detect mutants
in sub-cellular
functions relating to
plant defence
The addition of new faculty helps to move forward the School’s core missions of excellence in
research and teaching. Over the last couple of years we have recruited a number of scientists
in disciplines covering the complete breadth of the School.
1
Pathogens exploit a variety of infection strategies for gaining access
to plant cells, and this includes reprogramming of the dynamic
membrane trafficking network. We develop high-throughput bioimaging
tools to dissect the dynamic cellular and subcellular changes that occur
in the crosstalk between plants and pathogens for identifying key
regulators of the plant’s immune system.
4
7
2
Key Publication
8
5
Beck M, Zhou J, Faulkner C, MacLean D, Robatzek S.
Spatio-temporal cellular dynamics of the Arabidopsis flagellin
receptor reveal activation status-dependent endosomal sorting.
Plant Cell. 2012 Oct;24(10):4205-19
3
6
9
Zipfel Laboratory
Revealing the
mechanism by which
plants recognise
invariant molecules
from potential
pathogens as the
trigger to
mount defences
Plants must detect the presence of potential pathogenic microbes
to mount efficient innate immune responses. We are identifying key
components involved in the perception of microbes by plants and
the activation of downstream immune responses. Knowledge on
these plant immune mechanisms enable us designing strategies to
engineer broad-spectrum disease resistance in crops.
New Faculty
Synergy Posts
Fellows
1 Sam Fountain
Lecturer in Pharmacology
As part of the closer integration and
collaboration across the Norwich Research
Park, the John Innes Centre and BIO have
created ‘Synergy Lectureships” to facilitate
cross talk and interactions.
9 Marco Archetti
NERC Fellow and Lecturer
in Evolutionary Theory
My major interest is the molecular physiology
of the cardiovascular system, specifically blood
and blood vessels in health and disease.
Andrew Gates
Lecturer in Bacterial Bioenergetics
2
My research group investigates the role of
proteins and enzymes associated with the
sensing, trafficking and transformation of
nitrate and nitrite in bacteria.
Philip Gilmartin
Professor in Plant Molecular Genetics
and Dean of Faculty
3
Key Publication
Lacombe S, Rougon-Cardoso A, Sherwood E, Peeters N, Dahlbeck
D, van Esse HP, Smoker M, Rallapalli G, Thomma BPHJ, Staskawicz
B, Jones JDG and Zipfel C (2010) Inter-family transfer of a plant
pattern recognition receptor confers broad-spectrum bacterial
resistance. Nature Biotechnology, 4 :365-369.
2Blades Laboratory
Progress towards isolation of
genes for resistance to rusts in
crops of global significance
Wild relatives to the rescue
New highly aggressive strains
of wheat rust have emerged in
recent years, which pose a serious
threat to global food security. We
have identified high levels of resistance in wild relatives of wheat and
are exploring GM technology to introduce this genetic resistance into
elite lines of bread wheat.
The main focus of research in my laboratory
is directed towards understanding
developmental gene regulation and the
control of plant reproductive architecture.
7
Janneke Balk Synergy Lecturer
We investigate how plants use iron for
healthy and vigorous growth. In particular, the
assembly of iron with inorganic sulphur which
forms a catalyst for many basic processes
such as photosynthesis and respiration.
8
Jacob Malone Synergy Lecturer
We address the molecular mechanisms
underlying bacterial signal transduction during
colonisation of the plant root environment. To
achieve this we employ a range of processes
including genetics, cell and molecular
microbiology and biochemistry.
My group uses evolutionary
game theory to study conflict and
cooperation in biological systems.
Simon Butler
NERC Fellow and Lecturer in Ecology
10
My research focuses on the integration
of conservation management with food
production in agroecosystems in the UK
and overseas
Dr Veronica Greineisen
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow
11
My research uses computational biology to
understand Morphogen gradient dynamics,
cell polarity and shape in plants (and animals)
and cell-cell interactions and tissue polarity
4 Stephen Robinson
Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
12 Tim Grocott
‘Fight for Sight’ Fellow
We are working towards understanding
how tumour cells influence endothelial cell
behaviour during blood vessel formation.
We study the developing eye to investigate
how cells organise themselves into complex
organs and to expose the root causes of
congenital malformations.
Martin Taylor
Senior Lecturer in Molecular Ecology
5
10
We investigate the evolution, ecology and
conservation of marine and freshwater fishes.
6 Jon Todd
Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology
We are studying how marine eukaryotes
generate the climatically influential gas
dimethyl sulphide (DMS)
11
12
17
Enterprise
Facilities
We provide a stimulating and supportive atmosphere for developing enterprise and
entrepreneurship, for both staff and students. Examples shown include innovation within the
school and investment in enterprise across the Norwich Research Park.
We have state of the art analytical research facilities which enable us to carry out cutting edge
research. These specialist facilities, including our extensive insect culture rooms, aquaria for frogs
and fish and molecular labs, are maintained by dedicated staff. Our facilities are fully integrated into
the Norwich Research Park virtual technology centre.
The Enterprise and Engagement Club
Our E&E Club mission is to inspire,
encourage and support researchers in
the School to pursue opportunities in
enterprise, science communication and
entrepreneurship. The club hosts regular
talks from inspiring entrepreneurs and
science engagers.
The iGem competition
The International Genetically Engineered
Machine is the premiere undergraduate
Synthetic Biology competition and in 2012 a
team from BIO won a gold medal. The 2013
team efforts are already underway to develop
a biosensor that detects novel antibiotics
made by Streptomyces bacteria.
BBSRC Biotechnology Young
Entrepreneurs Competition
The Norwich Research Park Centrum
Postdoctoral researchers and PhD
students in BIO participate in the BBSRC
Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs
Competition and iTeams scheme which
train researchers in the skills and processes
needed to develop new businesses,
products and services from the research
being done at UEA.
The Centrum will open in Spring 2014 and
aims to grow companies looking to take
advantage of the business and academic
excellence on the Norwich Research Park.
The Centrum will be the hub for the Research
Park, providing laboratory and office suites
on the upper two floors while the ground
floor will house the business centre with
meeting rooms and an exhibition space
with a restaurant and cafe.
Project 26
Enquiries to Jonathan Barnard
jonathan.barnard@norwichresearchpark.com
The government recently invested £26 million
in the development of enterprise on the
Norwich Research Park, of which UEA is a
key partner. Two new Enterprise centres are
being built as part of this project;
The Enterprise Centre,
University of East Anglia
The Enterprise Centre will be built at the
University of East Anglia and is scheduled to
open in 2014. The Centre will house an early
stage incubator for new start-up businesses
to further enhance opportunities for UEA
graduates and encourage staff across the
Norwich Research Park to start their
own businesses.
The Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Cell Imaging
The School of Biological Sciences is
part of a virtual technology centre. The
research facilities of each organisation
on the Norwich Research Park are
shared across all researchers.
The result is a range of scientific
equipment and specialist services the
equal of anywhere in the world. Visit
the website to take a virtual tour of the
facilities available.
With over £40m invested in instruments
alone, the Norwich Research Park
research facilities offers high-end
analytical equipment and technical skills
for biomedical, bioimaging, genomics,
growth facilities, environmental
analysis, proteomics and metabolomics
research, many of which are rare or
unique in the UK.
If you would like more information
or access to these facilities and
services, please get in touch.
www.norwichresearchpark.com/
researchfacilities
18
Contains laser–scanning confocal and multi-photon microscopes
as well as widefield fluorescence microscopes that can take high
quality images and films of fixed and live cells and tissues. The lab
also has a dedicated analysis suite for multi-user image analysis,
3D-reconstruction and image restoration.
The Wolfson Fermentation and Bioenergy Laboratory
This facility has been funded by grants from the Royal Society, Wolfson
Foundation and the HEFCE Capital Infrastructure Fund. The lab is a
containment 2 facility with large-scale bioreactors (15-100 litres). It
also houses continuous culture bioreactors for use in post-genomic
studies on microbial physiology. Its work includes studying bacteria
that produce the greenhouse gas Nitrous Oxide and the production of
a new generation of biofuels from micro-organisms.
Plant Growth Facilities
BIO has excellent facilities for growing plants under controlled
environmental conditions. These include two high-specification
containment glasshouses which satisfy stringent requirements set by
DEFRA and HSE for containment of transgenic plants and recombinant
plant pathogens.
The Disease Modelling Unit (DMU)
A Wellcome Trust-Funded laboratory for the study of the mechanisms
of human diseases. This unit contains a germ-free facility and a
containment level 3 laboratory for handling pathogenic organisms as
well as advanced in vivo imaging technologies.
19
Learning and Teaching
We offer a range of both full time and part time undergraduate degree courses, including Biological
Sciences, Biomedicine, Biochemistry and Ecology. Students can also choose to have a year
abroad, in Europe, America or Australia or they can broaden their experience and develop skills
with a year in industry. We have three full-time postgraduate taught MSc programmes in Applied
Ecology and Conservation (AEC), Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement (PGCI) and Molecular
Medicine with part time variants of AEC and PGCI.
A Leading Learning
and Teaching Environment
We are a friendly and supportive educational
environment, welcoming approximately 150
undergraduate and 40 taught postgraduate
students each year. Our taught programmes
are delivered in collaboration with experts
from the Schools of Chemistry, Pharmacy
and Environmental Sciences as well as
world-leading researchers from the John
Innes Centre, the Institute of Food Research,
the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital,
The Sainsbury Laboratory and The Genome
Analysis Centre.
Key Publications
Yeoman, KH, James, HA, and Bowater, L
(2011) Development and evaluation of an
undergraduate science communication
module, beej, 17-7
Jones, H (2011) Are our students
prepared for university?
Bioscience Education, Volume 18
Bowater L, Cornea C, James H and Bowater
RP (2012) Using science fiction to teach
science facts The Biochemist 34, 15-20.
“The Ireland field trip gave me the experience and confidence
to be able to plan and execute my own research project in
the field. This experience had been of value for subsequent
modules including the dissertation.”
Jasmin Riches, Biological Sciences
Jones, H, Hoppitt, L, James, H, Prendergast,
J, Rutherford, S, Yeoman, K, and Young,
MR (2013) Exploring students’ initial
reactions to the feedback they receive on
coursework Bioscience Education volume
21 Issue 1.
Key Grants
UEA Teaching Fellowship in skills
acquisition feedback
Harriet Jones, Helen James, Laura Hoppit,
Kay Yeoman £5,000
Staff are dedicated to helping students achieve
their academic potential through a variety
of innovative teaching initiatives for example
extended practicals and research projects,
fieldtrips and online discussion forums.
We pride ourselves on the focus we have on
developing key laboratory skills within high
quality teaching laboratories. We have the
benefit of the wonderful ecological habitats
across East Anglia which provide perfect
teaching opportunities for the development
of field skills. We have been consistently
recognised as a leading Biological Sciences
Department for overall teaching satisfaction
in the National Student Survey. This stems
directly from staff at the forefront of teaching
and learning development. For example, staff:
–– deliver talks at STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths) conferences
–– have won teaching excellence awards
–– have initiated the ‘Learning Highlights’ an
in-house publication showcasing innovative
teaching practices across the UEA
–– have HEA recognition through
fellowships and invitations to speak
at National Workshops.
“[The summer placement] has given me an insight into science beyond the classroom. It
has shown me how to apply the theory I have learnt to practical use. It has also encouraged
me to use initiative. I have had a great time and learnt lots in a friendly environment. I would
recommend it to anyone.” Hannah Chenoweth, Biomedicine
20
UEA Teaching Fellowship
Learning Highlights
Harriet Jones, Kay Yeoman £2,000
Research-led Learning and Teaching
Enriching the Student Experience
Research produces new knowledge and
this is a vital part of developing a knowledge
economy within the UK Our taught
programmes benefit from teaching which
comes from the research process.
In studying with us, students are also
offered the chance to develop key
employability skills, through both academic
and extracurricular activities. This includes
opportunities for both UG and PG students
to take part in public science communication
events, a recent example being a public
event at Norwich Castle Museum & Art
Gallery on the theme of Inventors and
Inventions. Our vibrant student community,
through the student run BIOSOC, organise
their own academic and social events.
We offer research-led teaching using expertise
from across the Norwich Research Park
and the wider region. In addition to the
research focus in taught modules this allows
us to offer exciting opportunities to do real
research in leading laboratories during both
undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
Students also have opportunities to develop
their research skills during the summer
vacations. Postgraduate students on the
AEC programme often go abroad for their
projects. Recent projects have included
“Restoration assessment of Round Island.
Survival and fitness of floral pioneer species”
in Mauritius, “A study of bison and deer use
of riparian habitat in Grasslands National
Park” in Canada and “Response of the
long-clawed ground squirrel, Spermophilopsis
leptodactylus, to sheep grazing on a semi-arid
rangeland” in Uzbekistan.
UEA Teaching Fellowship for the
development of an Art and Science
Biodiversity workshop with the Sainsbury
Centre for Visual Arts
Kay Yeoman, Sarah Yeates,
Richard Bowater £2,500
UEA Teaching Fellowship ‘Handouts or no
handouts, that is the question. Assessing
the impact of a teaching practice change’
Helen James, Kay Yeoman, Harriet Jones,
Richard Bowater £1,706
Higher Education Academy grant
for investigating student feedback
Harriet Jones, Laura Hoppit, Helen James,
Stephen Rutherford (University of Cardiff),
Kay Yeoman, Mark Young (University of
Aberdeen) £3,000
Successful Graduates
Data from Unistats show that depending
upon degree programme, between 65 per
cent and 95 per cent of our graduates enter
further study or employment. Further study
includes postgraduate taught and research
degrees or Postgraduate Certificate in
Education. Recent graduates have entered
directly into employment as research
scientists, technical staff, science writers,
various business roles and direct graduate
teacher placements.
21
Engagement
Impact
From a mobile laboratory which visits schools and public areas to an active bird ringing group,
the School of Biological Sciences has something to suit all ages and interests. Our open days are
always popular and enable families to get involved with hands-on science activities. We recognise
the need to inspire a future generation of scientists, but also that the life sciences are raising very
important issues around health and the environment which society as a whole needs to be aware
of and make decisions about.
Research in BIO ranges from Biomedicine to Conservation Ecology and so achieves
substantial impact in diverse areas of enterprise, as shown below. We also achieve societal
impact through our Engagement activities such as our BIO Open Days, interactions with
schools, science café talks, public lectures and Enterprise and Engagement Club.
The School of Biological Sciences provides
opportunities for undergraduate students
to get involved with schools and the wider
community through a final year module in
Science Communication. Together with
research staff and postgraduate students
they run activity days and extracurricular
science clubs with both primary and
secondary schools as well as public events.
Conservation of an endangered,
endemic island bird
Fifty years ago the Seychelles warbler was
on the verge of extinction with only 29
individuals remaining on one tiny island in the
Seychelles. For the last 17 years, Professor
David S. Richardson has played a leading role
in the study and conservation of this species.
He wrote the Species Action Plan and has led
successful translocations to new islands. Now,
with over 3,000 individuals on five islands,
the warblers’ conservation status may soon
be downgraded. This would be the first time
a ‘critically endangered’ species has been
completely removed from the ‘threatened’ list
as the result of conservation efforts.
BioPunks
In 2011-12 a group of Year 9 pupils from the
City of Norwich School (CNS) took part in
a synthetic biology club called ‘BioPunks’.
During a year-long project, pupils learnt about
DNA, its structure and function, and how to
manipulate it. Through their project work, they
made a bacterial biosensor for caffeine. All the
pupils involved were awarded a Silver Crest
Award from the British Science Association.
This project has continued into 2013 with a
new group of Year 9 pupils investigating the
content of popular probiotic products.
Public Events for Science Week
For Science Week in 2013, we ran two
public events, one at City of Norwich
School, and the other at the Norwich Castle
Museum & Art Gallery. The theme was
‘Inventors, Inventions and Discoveries’, and
undergraduate students designed activities
such as making your own thermometer,
using a stethoscope and understanding how
DNA can be used to identify people.
22
scan with
for more
photo: EDP Online
School-University Partnership Programme
Led by the School of Biological Sciences,
UEA recently received funding from the
Research Councils UK (RCUK) to establish
partnerships with local secondary schools.
The project engages staff and pupils in
schools with the process and understanding
of the research process and its outcomes.
Research is the foundation upon which
all new knowledge is built, it is a vital and
fascinating process and is crucial in the
development of a knowledge economy.
The partnership includes the City of Norwich
School (CNS) as the lead school, with
Attleborough High School, Archbishop
Sancroft High School, Thetford Academy
and Wymondham Academy in Norfolk, as
well as the Kesgrave and Farlingaye Teaching
Alliance in Suffolk and with Norwich School
and East College affiliated. Within the project
we will engage students with the ideas and
processes of research that occurs across
all subject areas, including science, history,
literature, language and art. We will show
how research is done and highlight the
differences and similarities between the
research processes in different disciplines.
We will also show that sciences, arts and
humanities subjects do not exist in isolation,
and that much can be gained by working
together in a cross-disciplinary way to
investigate and solve problems.
Key Publications
Yeoman KH, James HA, and Bowater, L
(2011) Development and evaluation of an
undergraduate science communication
module, beej, 17-7
Yeoman K.H (2012) Keeping it in the
Family, Journal of International Innovation,
Issue 2, Health Partnerships, 18-20.
Bowater L and Yeoman KH (2012)
Science Communication:
A Practical Guide for Scientists,
Published by Wiley Blackwell.
Key Grants
Wellcome Trust People’s Award for the
Mobile Family Science Laboratory.
Dr Kay Yeoman £14,000
RCUK funding for the School-University
Partnership Initiative.
Dr Kay Yeoman, £150,000.
Improving the outcome of cataract
surgery - seeing a way forward
Developing novel anti-cancer drugs
from bacteria
During cataract surgery, implanting artificial
lenses restores visual power and can limit
unwanted side-effects such as cell growth
and tissue disruption. At UEA, Professor
George Duncan and Dr Michael Wormstone
developed a human lens model system
based on a simulated cataract operation.
This system is now being used by scientists
and industrial manufacturers to test and
develop new artificial lenses for implant
during cataract surgery with the aim of
improving patient care. Tens of millions of
artificial lenses are implanted worldwide each
year – the use of this model in optimising
lens design will have impact of
global significance.
Streptomyces bacteria produce most of our
clinically important antibiotics and anti-cancer
compounds, the most important being the
polyketides. As Professor of Genetics at
UEA, Sir David Hopwood pioneered genetic
engineering of Streptomyces to produce
novel polyketides. Kosan Biosciences
was created on the basis of this work,
and engineered novel polyketides for use
as anti-cancer drugs. The company was
sold to Bristol Myers Squibb in 2008 for
$190M. Continuing Sir David’s work, Dr Matt
Hutchings and his group are engineering
the pathway for a novel group of hybrid
polyketides called antimycins, which
have strong and specific activity against
drug-resistant cancers.
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School of Biological Sciences Achievements
1st for teaching and 3rd best for overall satisfaction in the UK
(National Student Survey 2012)
UEA Achievements
No.1 for Student Experience
(Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2013)
17th in the UK
(Guardian University Guide 2014),
World top 1%
(Times World Rankings 2013)
UK Top 10 for research citations
(Times Higher Education 2013),
World Top 100
(Leiden Ranking 2013)
Further Information
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich NR4 7TJ
T +44 (0) 1603 5692269
F +44 (0) 1603 5692250
E bio.requests@uea.ac.uk
W www.uea.ac.uk/biological-sciences
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