Schmidt Futures and partner institutions announce the establishment of the Virtual Institute of Scientific Software (VISS), starting with a network of four centres based at the University of Cambridge, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington.

This interdisciplinary virtual institute will address the growing demand for software engineers with backgrounds in science, complex data and mathematics who can build dynamic, scalable, open software to facilitate accelerated scientific discovery across fields. 

While science has become increasingly reliant on complex programming and technology, many researchers lack the training or experience in software engineering, tools and methods to produce effective, reliable, and scalable solutions. As a result, successful research and scientific discovery is sometimes delayed as researchers looking to conduct further experiments struggle to adapt unstable and outdated programming.

VISS seeks to improve the quality of research, accelerate advancements and encourage scalable open-source solutions by providing scientific researchers with access to full-time professional engineers and state of the art technology to develop high quality, maintainable and adaptable software.

“Schmidt Futures’ Virtual Institute for Scientific Software will accelerate the pace of scientific discovery through the development of robust, well-engineered software, supporting longer-term platforms and systems, encouraging best practices in open science, and providing access to techniques such as high-end computing, massive databases, and machine learning,” said Elizabeth McNally, Executive Vice President, Schmidt Futures.

Cambridge's Institute of Computing for Climate Science (ICCS) will apply its existing expertise in climate sciences and artificial intelligence with the research teams from Schmidt Futures’ Virtual Earth Systems Research Institute (VESRI) to address the specific computation and research software needs in the area of climate modelling.

The centre represents a collaboration between Cambridge Zero, the Departments of Computer Science and Technology, Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, and University Information Services. The other three centres will be dedicated to a range of scientific focus areas, including astrophysics, life sciences, engineering and climate.

“With this truly visionary new institute, Cambridge will blend its world-leading climate science, software engineering and computer science expertise,” said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen J Toope. “This interdisciplinary powerhouse will enable the development of next-generation climate models. We are delighted to be partnering with Schmidt Futures and engaging with the international research community to inform the response to our most urgent global challenge.”

The ICCS will be led by Emily Shuckburgh (Academic Director; Cambridge Zero), Dominic Orchard (Co-Director; Computer Science/Software Engineering), Chris Edsall (Co-Director; Engineering), and Colm-cille Caulfield (Co-Director; Science). All have a long-term research agenda to improve understanding of our changing climate through the development, implementation, maintenance, and dissemination of models for scientific computing, data assimilation and analysis.

Being part of the University, ICCS will also have a significant education and training component, through the commitment towards sharing its scientific insights openly and broadly. ICCS will play a key role in Cambridge Zero, the University's climate change initiative, that is identifying routes to the creation of a sustainable, zero-carbon future for all.

Over the coming months, ICCS will build a team of researchers and software engineers who share the vision of the power of modern computer science, data science and software engineering for addressing the pressing challenges of our changing climate.

Director of Cambridge Zero and Academic Director of ICCS, Dr Emily Shuckburgh, said “The Institute of Computing for Climate Science will be the first of its kind, supporting the application of the latest developments in computer science and data science to climate modelling. It is tremendously exciting to launch this Institute, which will be the core of an international network of climate research initiatives supported by Schmidt Futures, and will help drive forwards the frontiers of climate science.”

The interdisciplinary network of centres, which will benefit from the experience of the Schmidt Software Academy at Caltech, will have an initial lifespan of five years.

Adapted from a release published by Schmidt Futures.

Professor Dr Dr h.c. Bernhard Eitel
Rektor
Universität Heidelberg

By email

25 January 2022

Dear Bernhard,

I write on behalf of the entire Cambridge community to express our profound shock and sorrow following the tragic events on the Im Neuenheimer Feld campus.

Our immediate thoughts are with the relatives, friends and colleagues of all the victims of yesterday’s senseless act of violence.

Please accept our most sincere expression of solidarity at this moment of grief. The Heidelberg community is strong and I am sure that you will find ways to honour the victims and reaffirm your common purpose in the face of tragedy.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Stephen J Toope

Vice-Chancellor
University of Cambridge

A study published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has provided the strongest evidence to date of these links and helped researchers estimate more accurately the associated risk.

Since these genes were discovered in the mid 90s, numerous studies have explored possible links between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and other cancers. However, these studies had small sample sizes, resulting in imprecise estimates of cancer risk. Being able to estimate the risks accurately is important for informing cancer prevention and screening strategies and providing genetic counselling to those at greatest risk. BRCA mutations are uncommon, affecting around 1 in 300-400 people in the population.

To further investigate these risk estimates, a team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, funded by Cancer Research UK, analysed data from almost 3,200 families with one or more members with the BRCA1 mutation and almost 2,200 families with members carrying the BRCA2 mutation. The families had all been recruited to the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2. The researchers examined the associations with 22 primary cancers.

From the data, the researchers estimated that men who carry a BRCA2 mutation have a 27% risk of developing prostate cancer by the time they are 80 years old, more than double the rate compared to non-carriers. BRCA1 mutations were not associated with an increase in prostate cancer risk.

Carrying a defective copy of either BRCA1 or BRCA2 more than doubled an individual’s risk of pancreatic cancer to 2.5-3% by age 80.

The mutations were also found to increase the risk of stomach cancer, though the researchers caution that because of the rarity of this form of cancer, the number of patients in their datasets was small.

Mutations in both genes significantly increased the risk of breast cancer in men, though the disease is still very rare, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancer cases in the UK. While a BRCA1 mutation increased a man’s risk of developing breast cancer more than four-fold to 0.4% by age 80, a BRCA2 mutation increased this risk by 44 times to 3.8% by age 80. It is estimated that 38 out of 1,000 male carriers of the BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 80.

The researchers were unable to find compelling evidence that mutations were linked to increased risk of some other cancers which were previously thought to be linked to faulty BRCA genes, such as melanoma.

Cancer Research UK says that people who are worried about their risk of cancer should talk to their GP. GPs can refer patients to a genetics clinic if they think someone has a strong family history and might be at an increased risk.

Professor Antonis Antoniou from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, who led the research, said: “These large datasets of patients have allowed us to estimate with much greater accuracy the extent to which faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of several cancers. We’ve known for some time that they’re linked to breast and ovarian cancer, but there’s been uncertainty about other cancers.”

Professor Marc Tischkowitz from the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Cambridge added: “The link between BRCA2 and prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer is now much clearer, thanks to the data we’ve analysed. We have also identified a potential link with stomach cancer, but this is based on small numbers and needs further study. Our data suggests that there is no strong link between BRCA2 and melanoma, which may provide greater clarity to BRCA2 gene carriers.

“Overall, the results will add to our knowledge on optimising cancer screening and early detection strategies for people who are known to carry these faulty genes.”

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Our scientists helped to discover BRCA over 25 years ago and established that faults in these genes increase breast cancer risk. This study has built on that vital knowledge, giving us some important new insights into BRCA genes and the likely risks of developing prostate and pancreatic cancer.

“Cancers caused by inherited faulty BRCA genes are relatively rare, and other factors like age, smoking, diet and other preventable factors contribute to a person’s risk.

“Improving our understanding of how faults in our genes are associated with certain cancers puts us in a much better position to pinpoint those at a higher risk of developing cancer.”  

Reference
Li, S et al. Cancer Risks Associated With BRCA1 and BRCA2 Pathogenic Variants. Journal of Clinical Oncology; 25 Jan 2022; DOI: 10.1200/JCO.21.02112

The WP-Cambridge Materials Innovation Centre (WP-CAMMIC) will be based at Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy (DMSM), supported by £7.2 million from the WP Investment Company (WPIC), a South Korean investment group.

Over the next five years, the funding will support the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, funding for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to carry out research in lithium-based energy storage technologies. The Centre will also focus on sustainable manufacturing and the circular economy, including recycling to develop battery materials with enhanced properties.

“Sustainable energy storage is in the heart of powering a low-carbon future, including electric vehicle batteries and other applications in renewable energy development,” said Dr Lei Wang, Chair of WPIC and alumnus of the Cambridge Judge Business School. “We are excited to support the establishment and development of the WP-CAMMIC, and look forward to it growing into a centre with a global impact on sustainability.”

“The development of sustainable energy systems and applications is a key focus of WPIC,” said Tiffany Park, co-Chair of WPIC. “We are keen on pursuing new technologies through WP-CAMMIC to produce next-generation batteries that can keep pace with the speed of electrification in transportation.”

“Through the partnership with WP-CAMMIC, our researchers will design materials that enable new battery chemistries, use state-of-the-art techniques to gain new insight into their functionality, and develop new manufacturing methods to accelerate developments in batteries,” said Manish Chhowalla, Goldsmiths’ Professor of Materials Science in the DMSM, and Director of the new Centre.

Professor Ramachandran Vasant Kumar, a leading figure in the recycling of batteries, is co-investigator for the new Centre. He said: “Building on the momentum generated over years of research on sustainable energy materials, this WPIC-funded project will use a holistic approach of how batteries are made, used and recycled.”

“New battery technology is a vital part of the transition to a zero-carbon economy,” said Professor Jason Robinson, joint Head of the DMSM. “This exciting initiative will further strengthen energy materials research in the Department, and the relationship with WPIC will be beneficial for both parties as we work to build a more sustainable future.”

The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre will receive around £22.5 million over the next five years as part of the development of a unique chain of cutting-edge research hubs around the UK.

The money will be used to accelerate work into diagnosing a wide range of cancers in children and adults at a much earlier stage, including pancreatic, ovarian and children’s cancers. The funding will support the development of the Centre’s Advanced Imaging capability, enabling scientists to look inside cancer cells in more detail than ever before and find the physical features that could be vulnerable to new treatments.

Professor Richard Gilbertson, Director at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, said: “We’ve had a challenging year and COVID-19 has slowed us down. But we will not stop working hard to find new treatments for cancer, and this investment will give us the tools we need to deliver high quality research that will make the biggest difference for patients.

“This investment means we will be able to further develop our work in translational research – getting cutting-edge discoveries from the laboratory to patients and learning as much as possible from patients to initiate new research.”

Cambridge has been chosen as one of just seven locations to secure funding in the latest review of the Cancer Research UK Centres network of excellence. These are world-class research centres that draw together leading research and medical expertise to drive the best possible results for cancer patients.

Every year around 37,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the East of England.*

Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “This past year proves, more than any other, the value of investing in science and medical research, and what can be achieved with collective focus and collaboration. Just like science is our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer.

“Despite the impact of the pandemic on the charity’s income, we’re funding some of the best and most promising research in Cambridge to help more people survive.

“Survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. Every step our doctors, nurses and scientists take relies on every pound raised through fundraising, and they need support now more than ever.

“Our determination to beat cancer hasn’t faltered and we’re even more focussed on our ambition of seeing three in four people survive their cancer by 2034. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetimes and all of us can support the research that will beat it.”

Meet the women helping to chance the story of ovarian cancer

Adapted from a press release from Cancer Research UK

The study was led by researchers from the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (CSCI) and the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge.

Breast tissue is dynamic, changing over time during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and aging. The paper, published today in the journal Nature Communications, focuses on the changes that take place during lactation by investigating cells found in human milk. 

This research, led by Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger of CSCI, found that the cells in milk, once thought to be dead or dying, are in fact very much alive. These living cells provide researchers with the chance to study not only the changes that occur in mammary tissues during lactation, but also insight into a potential early indicator of future breast cancer development. 

“I believe that by studying human milk cells, we will be able to answer some of the most fundamental questions around mammary gland function such as: how is milk produced? Why do some women struggle to make milk? and what strategies can be employed to improve breastfeeding outcomes for women?” said Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute who led the study.

The researchers collected voluntary breast milk samples from lactating women, as well as samples of non-lactating breast tissue donated from women who elected to have aesthetic breast reduction surgery. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, the team conducted a novel comparison of the composition of the mammary cells taken using these two methods, identifying the distinctions between lactating and non-lactating human mammary glands.

While accessing breast tissue for study relies on donors already undergoing surgery, breast milk samples are much simpler to acquire. Breast milk donors are engaged via midwives or women’s networks (an undertaking made more challenging by the pandemic) and agree to share their samples over time. Typical daily production for lactating women is between 750-800ml, and the sample size for Twigger’s research is on average a mere 50ml, an amount which can contain hundreds of thousands of cells for study. 

By collecting these samples donated by breastfeeding women – samples now known to contain living and viable cells – researchers have the opportunity to capture dynamic cells in a non-invasive way. This greater ease of access to breast cells can open the door to more studies on women’s health in the future. 

“The first time Alecia told me that she found live cells in milk I was surprised and excited about the possibilities. We hope this finding will enable future studies into the early steps of breast cancer,” said Dr Walid Khaled, at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge's Department of Pharmacology, who was also involved in the study.

This paper and its findings are part of the Human Breast Cell Atlas project funded by the MRC.

This research was funded by the MRC, BBSRC and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. 

Reference: Twigger, A., et al.: ‘Transcriptional changes in the mammary gland during lactation revealed by single cell sequencing of cells from human milk.’ Nature Communications, Jan 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27895-0

LGBT+ History Month takes place every February to promote equality and increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their history, lives and their experiences.

At Cambridge, sexuality and gender will be explored through poetry, politics, art and archaeology - with a blend of online and in-person events.

Dr Duncan Astle, Chair of the LGBT+ staff network at the University, said: “Every LGBT+ History Month we recognise the progress made towards equality and highlight the injustice that persists. Across the UK there has been a substantial rise in homo-, bi- and transphobic hate crime, fuelled by a widespread campaign of misinformation. Transphobic hate crime in particular has quadrupled over the past five years. 

“This LGBT+ History Month we take stock and reflect on our past, while remembering that our long march to equality is far from over. With so many events across Cambridge, in person and online, there are more ways than ever for people to get involved.” 

This year’s LGBT+ History Month events include:

Shon Faye in Conversation with Christine Burns

5pm-7pm, Tuesday 1 February
Online event

Shon Faye in conversation with Christine Burns about her new book The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice. The event is being hosted by the University of Cambridge Students' Union LGBT Campaign, and multidisciplinary network for LGBTQ+ research, lgbtQ+@cam.

For more information, click here.

In Conversation with Yasmin Benoit – hosted by The Beard Society

5pm-6.30pm, Tuesday 8 February 
Upper Hall, Peterhouse

Writer, model, activist, and the creator of #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike Yasmin Benoit will be talking about her experiences in the LGBTQ+ community, her work as an activist in increasing visibility and educating people on asexuality and aromanticism, and how her sexuality has informed her modelling career.

For more information, click here.

Overlapping Activisms 

5pm-6.30pm, Tuesday 8 February
Online event

Solidarity among activist movements can be an incredible force for good - but it's not automatic or easy. Is feminism in conflict with queer and trans activism? Is there a tension between identity politics and class politics? Come to this panel discussion to hear three activists take a long view on the overlaps of the queer movement with other forms of activism. Speakers: Tamsin Omond, Nicola Field. 

For more information, click here.

Religious Art, Queer Possibility

1.15pm-2pm, Wednesday 9 February
Online event

Using works from the Fitzwilliam Museum collection, this online talk will explore how Western European religious painting was embraced and transformed by women and queer artists working in the 19th and 20th century in Britain.

For more information, click here.

#LivefromLucy: LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Universities: Testimonies and Recommendations from the ‘Out at Cambridge’ Study with Elisabeth Sandler

6pm-7pm, Wednesday 16 February
Online event

Based on participants’ narratives from the ‘Out at Cambridge’ study (2019), Elisabeth Sandler will discuss the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion at universities, and what universities and Cambridge colleges can do to create more LGBTQ+ welcoming spaces.

For more information, click here.

Queer Necropoetics 

6pm-7pm, Thursday 17 February 
Online event

A panel with scholars Lee Colwill (University of Cambridge) and Patricia MacCormack (Anglia Ruskin University) on the subject of varying representations and poetics surrounding queer death.

For more information, click here.

Gabriela Oré Menéndez: Redefining (my) archaeological practice through queer lenses

5pm-6.30pm, Tuesday 22 February
Online event

Co-organised by the University of Cambridge Archaeological Field Club, the Department of Archaeology's annual LGBT+ History Month event explores the topics of sexuality, gender and archaeological practice.

For more information, click here.

LQW Presents: LGBTQ+ History Month Poetry Takeover

7.30pm, Thursday 24 February
Cinema Bar – Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge 

Join us for a friendly evening of poetry and spoken word celebrating queer history, in collaboration with LondonQueerWriters. With featured poets and eight open mic slots, this is an inclusive event offering a safe space to platform and celebrate LGBTQIA+ poets and spoken word artists. Come down for a night of queer community, speak your truth or just to listen and soak up the vibes. 

For more information, click here.

University LGBT+ History Month Lecture 

Monday 28 February
More details soon

Also happening:

Winning Together – with Helen Richardson-Walsh

6.30pm, Thursday 3 February
Anglia Ruskin University, East Road

In this ARU Excellence in Sport lecture, Helen Walsh shares learnings from her 18-year career with GB hockey, which culminated in Olympic gold.

For more information, click here.

Livestreamed book launch for Outrageous!

7.30pm, Monday 7 February
Online event

Writer and academic Paul Baker discusses the story of Section 28 and Britain's battle for LGBT education.

For more information, click here.

That which never can be suppressed: LGBTQ+ history in the RCP collections

6pm-7pm, Thursday 17 February
Online event

Exploring queer history through the Royal College of Physicians' archives.

For more information, click here.

 
For the full line-up of events across Cambridgeshire during LGBT+ History Month, visit: http://encompassnetwork.org.uk/history-month/

Using a citizen science database with records going back to the mid-18th century, a research team led by the University of Cambridge has found that the effects of climate change are causing plants in the UK to flower one month earlier under recent global warming.

The researchers based their analysis on more than 400,000 observations of 406 plant species from Nature’s Calendar, maintained by the Woodland Trust, and collated the first flowering dates with instrumental temperature measurements.

They found that the average first flowering date from 1987 to 2019 is a full month earlier than the average first flowering date from 1753 to 1986. The same period coincides with accelerating global warming caused by human activities. The results are reported in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

While the first spring flowers are always a welcome sight, this earlier flowering can have consequences for the UK’s ecosystems and agriculture. Other species that synchronise their migration or hibernation can be left without the flowers and plants they rely on – a phenomenon known as ecological mismatch – which can lead to biodiversity loss if populations cannot adapt quickly enough.

The change can also have consequences for farmers and gardeners. If fruit trees, for example, flower early following a mild winter, entire crops can be killed off if the blossoms are then hit by a late frost.

While we can see the effects of climate change through extreme weather events and increasing climate variability, the long-term effects of climate change on ecosystems are more subtle and are therefore difficult to recognise and quantify.

“We can use a wide range of environmental datasets to see how climate change is affecting different species, but most records we have only consider one or a handful of species in a relatively small area,” said Professor Ulf Büntgen from Cambridge’s Department of Geography, the study’s lead author. “To really understand what climate change is doing to our world, we need much larger datasets that look at whole ecosystems over a long period of time.”

The UK has such a dataset: since the 18th century, observations of seasonal change have been recorded by scientists, naturalists, amateur and professional gardeners, as well as organisations such as the Royal Meteorological Society. In 2000, the Woodland Trust joined forced with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and collated these records into Nature’s Calendar, which currently has around 3.5 million records going back to 1736.

“Anyone in the UK can submit a record to Nature’s Calendar, by logging their observations of plants and wildlife,” said Büntgen. “It’s an incredibly rich and varied data source, and alongside temperature records, we can use it to quantify how climate change is affecting the functioning of various ecosystem components across the UK.”

For the current study, the researchers used over 400,000 records from Nature’s Calendar to study changes in 406 flowering plant species in the UK, between 1753 and 2019. They used observations of the first flowering date of trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers, in locations from the Channel Islands to Shetland, and from Northern Ireland to Suffolk.

The researchers classified the observations in various ways: by location, elevation, and whether they were from urban or rural areas. The first flowering dates were then compared with monthly climate records.

To better balance the number of observations, the researchers divided the full dataset into records until 1986, and from 1987 onwards. The average first flowering advanced by a full month, and is strongly correlated with rising global temperatures.

“The results are truly alarming, because of the ecological risks associated with earlier flowering times,” said Büntgen. “When plants flower too early, a late frost can kill them – a phenomenon that most gardeners will have experienced at some point. But the even bigger risk is ecological mismatch. Plants, insects, birds and other wildlife have co-evolved to a point that they’re synchronised in their development stages. A certain plant flowers, it attracts a particular type of insect, which attracts a particular type of bird, and so on. But if one component responds faster than the others, there’s a risk that they’ll be out of synch, which can lead species to collapse if they can’t adapt quickly enough.”

Büntgen says that if global temperatures continue to increase at their current rate, spring in the UK could eventually start in February. However, many of the species that our forests, gardens and farms rely on could experience serious problems given the rapid pace of change.

“Continued monitoring is necessary to ensure that we better understand the consequences of a changing climate,” said co-author Professor Tim Sparks from Cambridge’s Department of Zoology. “Contributing records to Nature’s Calendar is an activity that everyone can engage in.”

The research was supported in part by the European Research Council, the Fritz and Elisabeth Schweingruber Foundation, and the Woodland Trust.

Reference:
Ulf Büntgen et al. ‘Plants in the UK flower a month earlier under recent warming.’ Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2456

XetaBase is built on the open-source OpenCB platform, the first proven big data system optimised for genomic data. The result of a five-year collaboration between Genomics England and the University of Cambridge, OpenCB enables genotypes to be stored in a database.

The lead developer of OpenCB, Ignacio Medina, is Head of the Computational Biology Lab at the University of Cambridge and Zetta Genomics’ founder and co-developer of XetaBase.

XetaBase allows researchers and clinicians to securely store, easily access, and dynamically interrogate vast and increasing volumes of genomic data – on demand. The technology brings genome-enabled discovery, healthcare analytics, and population research into the lab – and prognostics, diagnostics, and therapeutics into the clinic.

Zetta Genomics founder, Ignacio Medina said, “Zetta Genomics re-imagines data to deliver a dynamic platform fit for the fast-emerging, fast-scaling, multi-petabyte environment. In liberating genomic data – placing its power into the hands of researchers and clinicians – we will drive precision medicine’s transformation into mainstream healthcare and life-changing patient benefit.”

The seed funding round comes as genome-enabled precision medicine moves from the niche to the mainstream. The UK has led the world with its new Genomics Medicine Service, making testing routine within the publicly funded NHS. These and other population level initiatives are predicted to see 60 million genomes sequenced to 2025 and 100 million by the end of the decade.

Marc Subirats, Partner at lead investor, Nina Capital, said, “Genomic medicine has enjoyed explosive growth in the past five years, but this is set to be eclipsed in the next decade. XetaBase is an enabling technology – empowering virtually every research field and clinical application. As genomic sequencing moves from the hundreds of thousands to the hundreds of millions, Nina Capital is confident that Zetta Genomics’ growth will both drive and be driven by rapid advances in precision medicine.”

Market and precision medicine opportunities have helped Zetta Genomics to create an extensive, growing and valuable partnership network with organisations such as Fujitsu, Future Perfect Healthcare, Genomics England, Microsoft, the NHS, and the University of Cambridge.

Dr Elaine Loukes, Investment Director at University of Cambridge Enterprise, said, “Cambridge Enterprise creates and invests in companies, built on University of Cambridge research, that can have a huge positive impact on society. From our first meeting it was clear that Ignacio had developed something incredibly special. Zetta’s technology helps researchers and clinicians fully exploit genomic data, speeding the delivery of precision medicine across the world.”

VC-backed funding will focus on growth, enhancing the company’s partnership network while it expands from the UK to open both Spanish and US offices. Investment will also focus on talent, with a five-fold increase in headcount to secure additional software, development and commercialisation expertise.

Proper fit is essential to the effectiveness of a face mask, especially for those in healthcare settings who are caring for patients with COVID-19.

However, face masks, like faces, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and some users have experimented with ‘hacking’ their masks to improve the fit. Some popular hacks include using rubber bands as a ‘brace’, knotting the elastic ear loops, or taping the edges of the mask directly to the face.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge tested seven different hacks for surgical and KN95 masks (similar to FFP2 masks in the UK) and found that two hacks in particular: first aid tape and nylon tights, significantly improved mask fit. However, the tights, in particular, were highly uncomfortable for wearers.

The researchers hope their results, reported in the journal PLoS ONE, could be used by mask designers and manufacturers to improve fit for as wide a range of users as possible in future, particularly in healthcare settings.

Masks have been a defining feature of the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, when high-quality masks and PPE were unavailable in many areas, healthcare workers and others made poorly-fitting face coverings out of whatever was available: scarves, t-shirts or layered cloth.

Now, as we enter the third year of the pandemic, high-quality masks, such as N95, KN95, FFP2 and FFP3 masks have been shown to provide far greater protection than cloth masks, and are widely available.

However, fit of a mask is even more important than the material it is made of. “In order to provide the advertised protection, a mask needs to fit tightly to the face – there should be no visible gaps around the edge of the mask,” said Eugenia O’Kelly from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, the paper’s first author.

Most hospitals and other healthcare settings provide KN95 and surgical masks in a range of sizes, and staff carry out ‘fit-check’ routines before starting work to ensure their mask is properly fitted. However, in some cases, only certain sizes are available, and so individuals have used different ‘hacks’ to improve fit.

“We’ve seen lots of anecdotal evidence of people hacking their masks to better fit the shape of their face, but we wanted to validate whether any of these hacks actually work, as very little research has been done in this area,” said O’Kelly.

O’Kelly and her colleagues conducted qualitative and quantitative fit testing, with and without ‘hacks’, on four participants, in order to test their effectiveness. Qualitative testing is usually measured by spraying a flavoured compound and testing whether the wearer can taste the compound while wearing the mask. Quantitative testing, which is far more accurate, measures the concentrations of particles both inside and outside the mask.

The researchers tested seven different hacks: sealing the edges with cloth tape, stuffing the gaps with first aid gauze, binding the mask to the face with gauze like a mummy, pressing the mask to the face with tights, knotting the ear loops, and using rubber bands to create a ‘brace’.

For the KN95 masks, the tights and cloth tape were the most effective at improving fit, although there were significant variations between participants. The tights helped produce a tight fit, but participants found them highly uncomfortable. The tape, while it did not cause any discomfort while wearing the mask, did cause discomfort during removal. The other hacks mostly improved the fit, but not by a significant amount.

For surgical masks, again the tights and tape improved fit most significantly, with the other hacks only providing small to moderate improvements.

“For most of the hacks, comfort was a big issue,” said O’Kelly. “The rubber bands for example, tended to put painful pressure on the ears and face, to the point where they hindered circulation to the ears. However, using an effective but uncomfortable hack may make good sense in some high-risk situations, where the discomfort is worth it for the added protection, but it would be harder to wear these hacks day in and day out.”

The researchers also point out that fit is highly influenced by the shape of the wearer’s face: whether they have relatively high or low deposits of fat under their cheeks, for example.

“We hope these results can be used in the design of future masks, in order to ensure that they are as tight to the face as possible, for as many wearers as possible, without making them uncomfortable,” said O’Kelly.

While the results of the current study are meant to be of use mostly to healthcare workers, as increasing numbers of civilians are wearing high-filtration masks, the researchers say that fit-checks are a useful exercise for anyone to carry out.

In the absence of testing equipment, wearers should check their mask in the mirror, with their face still and in motion, and see whether there are any visible gaps. If possible, users should test a range of different high-filtration masks to find the one that fits best.

“If you take a breath in, you’ll want to see the material move a little bit, which indicates a pretty good fit,” said O’Kelly. “If you’re worried about getting the best fit possible, you may want to try first aid tape around your chin and cheeks.”

More information about the research group and their upcoming projects is available at www.facemaskresearch.com.

Reference:
Eugenia O’Kelly et al. ‘Face mask fit hacks: Improving the fit of KN95 masks and surgical masks with fit alteration techniques.’ PLoS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262830

Researchers have carried out a feasibility study and found that installing solar panels on the Grade I listed Bath Abbey could save around 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the Abbey and other key heritage buildings that are difficult to insulate.

The team, including researchers from the University of Cambridge, examined the dimensions, tilt and orientation of the Bath Abbey roof, along with historic weather data and shading of the roof from spires, to model the best configuration for 164 photovoltaic (PV) panels and estimated the amount of electricity that could be generated in a normal year.

They found that the setup could produce around 45 megawatt hours per year, which accounts for roughly 35% of the Abbey’s annual usage. The equivalent amount of carbon dioxide saved, versus buying the electricity from the National Grid, would be around 10 tonnes per year, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the building.

A cost-benefit analysis showed that the system could pay for itself in 13 years and provide a profit of £139,000 over a lifespan of 25 years. It would also future-proof the Abbey from rising costs of energy bills. The findings show that despite a large initial outlay, the system would be financially feasible for the historic Grade I listed building.

Their findings are published in the journal Energy Science & Engineering.

“It’s very difficult to insulate historic Grade I listed buildings like Bath Abbey, so installing solar panels is a good way to reduce the carbon footprint of these buildings,” said first author Matthew Smiles from the University of Liverpool. “With increasing energy prices, installing solar panels could result in large cost savings.”

In the model, the panels were sited such that they couldn’t be seen from the street, so they would have a minimal visual impact on the historic building.

“Not only does it make financial sense, but the installation of solar panels on Bath Abbey could inspire reinvigoration of solar PV deployment in the UK which has stagnated over the past five years,” said co-author Adam Urwick.

“It was exciting to contribute to work on such an iconic building in my hometown,” said co-author Alan Bowman, from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. “We’ve shown that it’s possible for historical buildings to reduce their carbon footprint without impacting how they look from the ground, demonstrating that almost everyone is able to help tackle the climate emergency. I’m hopeful our work will encourage other historical buildings to consider installing solar panels.”

The research was performed as part of the Bath Abbey Footprint programme, part of the Church of England’s Shrinking the Footprint campaign, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its historic buildings.

The Bath Abbey Footprint programme has already reduced its carbon footprint by using the geothermal hot springs of the local area to provide underfloor heating and installing LED light bulbs to illuminate the interior.

Although environmental and planning rules must also be considered carefully, installing solar panels is another potential way the Abbey could reduce its footprint further.

Nathan Ward, Footprint Project Director at Bath Abbey, said: “The research will help us greatly in exploring the use of solar panels on the Bath Abbey roof. The Abbey is highly committed in the outstanding care of both our built and natural environment and to reduce our carbon footprint.”

The research was carried out by a team of PhD students from the Centre for Doctoral Training in New and Sustainable Photovoltaics: a consortium of seven universities and 12 industrial partners led by the University of Bath and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The universities include: The Universities of Bath, Cambridge, Liverpool, Loughborough, Oxford, Sheffield and Southampton.

Reference:
Matthew J. Smiles et al. ‘Next steps in the footprint project: A feasibility study of installing solar panels on Bath Abbey.’ Energy Science & Engineering (2022). DOI: 10.1002/ese3.1069

Adapted from a University of Bath press release.

Their experiences are captured in a Government-commissioned report assessing UK-funded programmes for marginalised girls in some of the poorest parts of the world. It shows that when COVID-19 forced schools to close, the roles of educators working for these projects expanded dramatically.

Around 85% of those interviewed by researchers said they had provided some form of physical or mental health assistance on top of their educational duties. Many appear to have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide critical healthcare, safeguarding and pastoral care to girls who were at extreme risk of dropping out of education, amid efforts to keep them learning.

The independent report for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office assesses the Government-backed ‘Girls’ Education Challenge’ (GEC), which is providing literacy, numeracy and life skills education to a million of the world’s most marginalised girls.

Professor Pauline Rose, Director of the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, University of Cambridge, and one of the authors, said: “When schools closed, the GEC projects underwent a transformation, operating not just as educational initiatives, but assuming a humanitarian role. Without this, the pandemic’s impact on girls’ learning might have been even more severe.”

The research team analysed 10 GEC projects, all of which use networks of teachers, volunteers and ‘para-educators’ (such as mentors) to meet the complex challenge of supporting girls in communities that are under-resourced, remote and often in recent or current war zones.

They focused in particular detail on two projects in Afghanistan, and one each in Ghana and Sierra Leone. Their analysis involved interviews with staff, pupils, government officials and other stakeholders; as well as classroom observations and a wider impact assessment. The work was undertaken before the international withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

The report highlights how the pandemic unleashed new difficulties which further impeded educational opportunities for girls in countries where their enrolment and attainment is already low. Once schools closed, their families often expected them to perform domestic or income-generating labour, or get married, rather than learn. Closures also cut off their access to teachers, who for some were trusted confidantes. This contributed to a surge in health problems, stress and anxiety.

At the same time, national-level remote learning programmes often failed to reach these girls, who often lacked not just computers, televisions and radios, but sometimes a reliable electricity supply. In Ghana, for example, 80% of the pupils interviewed were aware that TV lessons were being broadcast in their country, but only 34% had been able to watch them.

Under these circumstances, the report finds, educators on the GEC projects took on a pivotal ‘bridging’ role – especially female, community-based teachers, who were able to establish vital face-to-face contact with students. For safeguarding reasons, male staff were unable to do the same.

To keep students learning, teachers provided numerous other forms of support. Some helped refer pupils who were struggling to community or social services, while many disseminated COVID-19 safety information and dropped off PPE supplies. The report records cases of teachers helping girls who were pregnant, or in one case providing ad hoc support to a pupil with epilepsy.

Project managers also arranged for TVs and decoders to be distributed to households so that students could tune in to lessons, and for teachers to be given mobile phones so that they could stay in touch with students. This proved critically important for pupils who largely struggled with self-directed learning. One Afghan girl, for example, recalled: “The lack of guidance prevented us from studying so we could not read our lessons well. When I called the teacher, our mobile card ran out.”

Project managers organised extra training for staff in areas such as psychological first aid, stress management, wellbeing support, and COVID-19 mitigation. Teachers also received child protection and gender equality training, partly in response to evidence of a rise in gender-related violence.

The Sierra Leonean project, which gathered specific data on this issue, found that 19% of girls and 20% of female mentors reported increased violence towards women and girls during the pandemic, rising to 38% in one district. In recognition of the extent of gender-based violence, projects put in place several measures to address it and ensure teachers were equipped to do the same. Many teachers interviewed for the report particularly welcome this guidance.

In general, teachers felt that the additional training they have received during the pandemic improved their ability to do their job by attending to the welfare of their students. Little attention appears to have been paid to their own wellbeing, however. “The additional work they were shouldering affected their own mental health, led to work-related burnout, and put extra pressure on their home life,” Rose said. This was especially the case for female teachers.

Among multiple recommendations, the report calls for:

• The recruitment of more community-based, female teachers, who played a critical role in keeping girls’ learning going during closures.
• Closer integration between the GEC projects and health, social care, and other services, given teachers’ widened responsibilities.
• More provision for two-way contact between teachers and students in future lockdowns, to ensure that pupils receive appropriate guidance and feedback when learning remotely.
• More wellbeing support for teachers, as well as their students.

Rose added: “As we start to build back from COVID-19, we need to examine what these additional expectations and pressures mean for teachers and education systems. We should look particularly hard at the implications for burnout, recruitment, retention and training.”

The full report is available on the Girls’ Education Challenge website.

Our cells contain mitochondria, which provide the energy for our cells to function. Each of these mitochondria contains a tiny amount of mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA makes up only 0.1% of the overall human genome and is passed down exclusively from mother to child.

Faults in our mitochondrial DNA can affect how well the mitochondria operate, leading to mitochondrial diseases, serious and often fatal conditions that affect around 1 in 5,000 people. The diseases are incurable and largely untreatable.

There are typically around 1,000 copies of mitochondrial DNA in each cell, and the percentage of these that are damaged, or mutated, will determine whether a person will suffer from mitochondrial disease or not. Usually, more than 60% of the mitochondria in a cell need to be faulty for the disease to emerge, and the more defective mitochondria a person has, the more severe their disease will be. If the percentage of defective DNA could be reduced, the disease could potentially be treated.

A cell that contains a mixture of healthy and faulty mitochondrial DNA is described as ‘heteroplasmic’. If a cell contains no healthy mitochondrial DNA, it is ‘homoplasmic’.

In 2018, a team from the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge applied an experimental gene therapy treatment in mice and were able to successfully target and eliminate the damaged mitochondrial DNA in heteroplasmic cells, allowing mitochondria with healthy DNA to take their place.

“Our earlier approach is very promising and was the first time that anyone had been able to alter mitochondrial DNA in a live animal,” explained Dr Michal Minczuk. “But it would only work in cells with enough healthy mitochondrial DNA to copy themselves and replace the faulty ones that had been removed. It would not work in cells whose entire mitochondria had faulty DNA.”

In their latest advance, published today in Nature Communications, Dr Minczuk and colleagues used a biological tool known as a mitochondrial base editor to edit the mitochondrial DNA of live mice. The treatment is delivered into the bloodstream of the mouse using a modified virus, which is then taken up by its cells. The tool looks for a unique sequence of base pairs – combinations of the A, C, G and T molecules that make up DNA. It then changes the DNA base – in this case, changing a C to a T. This would, in principle, enable the tool to correct certain ‘spelling mistakes’ that cause the mitochondria to malfunction.

There are currently no suitable mouse models of mitochondrial DNA diseases, so the researchers used healthy mice to test the mitochondrial base editors. However, it shows that it is possible to edit mitochondrial DNA genes in a live animal.

Pedro Silva-Pinheiro, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr Minczuk’s lab and first author of the study, said: “This is the first time that anyone has been able to change DNA base pairs in mitochondria in a live animal. It shows that, in principle, we can go in and correct spelling mistakes in defective mitochondrial DNA, producing healthy mitochondria that allow the cells to function properly.”

An approach pioneered in the UK known as mitochondrial replacement therapy – sometimes referred to as ‘three-person IVF’ – allows a mother’s defective mitochondria to be replaced with those from a healthy donor. However, this technique is complex, and even standard IVF is successful in fewer than one in three cycles.

Dr Minczuk added: “There’s clearly a long way to go before our work could lead to a treatment for mitochondrial diseases. But it shows that there is the potential for a future treatment that removes the complexity of mitochondrial replacement therapy and would allow for defective mitochondria to be repaired in children and adults.”

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council UK, the Champ Foundation and the Lily Foundation.

Reference
Silva-Pinheiro, S et al. In vivo mitochondrial base editing via adenoassociated viral delivery to mouse post-mitotic tissue. Nature Comms; 8 Feb 2022; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28358-w

The change has been made in consultation with the Cambridge Students’ Union, and is intended to remove barriers to students who wish to undertake doctoral degrees. It is one of a number of recent initiatives that the University is undertaking to improve the diversity of students applying to undertake research degrees at the University.

The University is also working in collaboration with the University of Oxford to assess how best to consider the context and background of postgraduate applicants when selecting students to receive offers, and with UCL and City University to identify ways to develop interest in undertaking advanced study for students currently studying for their first degree.

Professor Graham Virgo, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), said “I am pleased we are able to announce this change for postgraduate applicants. I feel strongly that the Collegiate University should remove barriers to talented students who want to study and research at Cambridge. We know there is more we can do in this respect, so this work continues.”

Amelia Jabry, Postgraduate Access, Education, and Participation officer for Cambridge Students’ Union, said "Cambridge SU, having lobbied for this change, welcomes the University's commitment to scrap the doctoral application fee and reduce the master's fee. This will remove a significant barrier to postgraduate study at Cambridge and allow talented prospective students, both domestic or international, to apply. This commitment is certainly a positive step, but there is still further work to be done from Cambridge SU and the University to make postgraduate study more accessible."

The above changes do not apply to applications for courses admitted by the Judge Business School (MBA, eMBA, Global MBA, MFin, MAcc).

The campaign, Stick to Science, calls for an open and collaborative research and innovation landscape in Europe that is free from political barriers.

It comes as the UK’s participation in the EU’s research and innovation programme has stalled. Negotiations over the UK’s final association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s €95.5 billion (£79.4 bn) research and innovation programme, are part of post-Brexit trade arrangements. Campaign organisers are urging the EU to put science collaboration ahead of political disagreements and finalise association as soon as possible.

Switzerland and the UK are two long-standing and academically important partners in the European research and innovation landscape. The current situation means that the work of some of the best minds in Europe's science and excellent research infrastructures could miss out on the additional scientific knowledge and resources of UK and Swiss institutions. These circumstances could prevent Europe’s top scientists from working together to tackle global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and food security and already the delay in securing association is having an impact on collaborations.

It is estimated that the UK and Switzerland would add another €18 billion (£15 bn) to the Horizon Europe budget of €95.5 billion (£79.4 bn) representing a top-up of 18%, and allow greater collaborative resources for Europe to be put into world-leading research projects.

Among the first supporters of the campaign from across the European research and innovation community are Cambridge’s Professor Toope, Professor Dame Athene Donald, Master of Churchill College, and Nobel Prize winner Professor Didier Queloz.

Professor Toope said: "I am pleased to join academic and business leaders from across Europe’s research community in supporting the ‘Stick to Science’ Campaign. Collaboration across borders remains crucial for tackling the most pressing challenges of our time, so today we are calling for European leaders to prioritise science and research by urgently securing the UK’s association to Horizon Europe." 

Members of the European scientific community can add their signatures to the initiative. 

Adapted from a press release from Stick to Science

Artificial intelligence is transforming society as algorithms increasingly dictate access to jobs and insurance, justice, medical treatments, as well as our daily interactions with friends and family. 

As these technologies race ahead, we are starting to see unintended social consequences: algorithms that promote everything from racial bias in healthcare to the misinformation eroding faith in democracies.   

Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) have now been awarded nearly two million Euros to build a better understanding of how AI can undermine “core human values”.

The grant will allow LCFI and its partners to work with the AI industry to develop anti-discriminatory design principles that put ethics at the heart of technological progress. 

The LCFI team will create toolkits and training for AI developers to prevent existing structural inequalities – from gender to class and race – from becoming embedded into emerging technology, and sending such social injustices into hyperdrive.      

The donation, from German philanthropic foundation Stiftung Mercator, is part of a package of close to €4 million that will see the Cambridge team – including social scientists and philosophers as well as technology designers – working with the University of Bonn.   

The new research project, “Desirable Digitalisation: Rethinking AI for Just and Sustainable Futures”, comes as the European Commission negotiates its Artificial Intelligence Act, which has ambitions to ensure AI becomes more “trustworthy” and “human-centric”. The Act will require AI systems to be assessed for their impact on fundamental rights and values. 

“There is a huge knowledge gap,” said Dr Stephen Cave, Director of LCFI. “No one currently knows what the impact of these new systems will be on core values, from democratic rights to the rights of minorities, or what measures will help address such threats.” 

“Understanding the potential impact of algorithms on human dignity will mean going beyond the code and drawing on lessons from history and political science,” Cave said.

LCFI made the headlines last year when it launched the world’s only Masters programme dedicated to teaching AI ethics to industry professionals. This grant will allow it to develop new research strands, such as investigations of human dignity in the “digital age”. “AI technologies are leaving the door open for dangerous and long-discredited pseudoscience,” said Cave. 

He points to facial recognition software that claims to identify “criminal faces”, arguing such assertions are akin to Victorian ideas of phrenology – that a person’s character could be detected by skull shape – and associated scientific racism.  

Dr Kanta Dihal, who will co-lead the project, is to investigate whose voices actually shape society’s visions of a future with AI. “Currently our ideas of AI around the world are conjured by Hollywood and a small rich elite,” she said. 

The LCFI team will include Cambridge researchers Dr Kerry Mackereth and Dr Eleanor Drage, co-hosts of the podcast “The Good Robot”, which explores whether or not we can have ‘good’ technology and why feminism matters in the tech space.  

Mackereth will be working on a project that explores the relationship between anti-Asian racism and AI, while Drage will be looking at the use of AI for recruitment and workforce management. 

"AI tools are going to revolutionize hiring and shape the future of work in the 21st century. Now that millions of workers are exposed to these tools, we need to make sure that they do justice to each candidate, and don’t perpetuate the racist pseudoscience of 19th century hiring practices,” says Drage. 

“It’s great that governments are now taking action to ensure AI is developed responsibly,” said Cave. “But legislation won’t mean much unless we really understand how these technologies are impacting on fundamental human rights and values.”

Initially offering one fully-funded studentship (fees and maintenance) for a Posse student accepted into a full-time MPhil programme in the Department of Geography within the School of the Physical Sciences, it is hoped that the affiliation will expand to offer more studentships in other departments.

Professor Nigel Peake, Head of the School of the Physical Sciences at the University of Cambridge: “We are excited about welcoming Posse alumni to Cambridge and proud to be Posse’s first international partner. This is a significant addition to our efforts to widen access and participation at Cambridge to ensure we continue to attract and nurture the brightest talent.”

Established more than 30 years ago, The Posse Foundation partners with 64 US colleges and universities each year, which together have awarded US$1.7 billion in scholarships to more than 10,000 students since 1989. In 2010, Posse was one of only 10 organisations that then-President Barack Obama chose to recognise with a portion of his US$1.4 million Nobel Prize award.

Although the overwhelming majority of Posse alumni come from low-income backgrounds and are underrepresented minorities, the Foundation does not screen for race or need. Instead, Posse scholars are selected for their academic promise and outstanding leadership potential.

Deborah Bial, President and Founder, The Posse Foundation: “We are thrilled to partner with the School of the Physical Sciences, our first overseas affiliation. The need for visionary leaders in the environmental sciences has never been greater. The department of Geography at Cambridge, among the best in the world, produces scientists of the highest caliber, and this affiliation will help to ensure that Posse Scholars are among them. We look forward to working with Professors Peake and Vira and the entire team at Cambridge on this exciting new endeavor.”

Professor Bhaskar Vira, Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge: “This partnership has the potential to transform lives. Posse awards are made on the basis of merit. Through this affiliation, the Department will admit talented students who will both benefit from and contribute to Cambridge’s vibrant community. We’re looking forward to meeting the first Cambridge Posse Scholar.”

Photo courtesy of the Posse Foundation

An international team of scientists have produced a fully woven smart textile display that integrates active electronic, sensing, energy and photonic functions. The functions are embedded directly into the fibres and yarns, which are manufactured using textile-based industrial processes.

The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, say their approach could lead to applications that sound like sci-fi: curtains that are also TVs, energy-harvesting carpets, and interactive, self-powered clothing and fabrics.

This is the first time that a scalable large-area complex system has been integrated into textiles using an entirely fibre-based manufacturing approach. Their results are reported in the journal Nature Communications.

Despite recent progress in the development of smart textiles, their functionality, dimensions and shapes are limited by current manufacturing processes.

Integrating specialised fibres into textiles through conventional weaving or knitting processes means they could be incorporated into everyday objects, which opens up a huge range of potential applications. However, to date, the manufacturing of these fibres has been size limited, or the technology has not been compatible with textiles and the weaving process.

To make the technology compatible with weaving, the researchers coated each fibre component with materials that can withstand enough stretching so they can be used on textile manufacturing equipment. The team also braided some of the fibre-based components to improve their reliability and durability. Finally, they connected multiple fibre components together using conductive adhesives and laser welding techniques.

Using these techniques together, they were able to incorporate multiple functionalities into a large piece of woven fabric with standard, scalable textile manufacturing processes.

The resulting fabric can operate as a display, monitor various inputs, or store energy for later use. The fabric can detect radiofrequency signals, touch, light and temperature. It can also be rolled up, and because it’s made using commercial textile manufacturing techniques, large rolls of functional fabric could be made this way.

The researchers say their prototype display paves the way to next-generation e-textile applications in sectors such as smart and energy-efficient buildings that can generate and store their own energy, Internet of Things (IoT), distributed sensor networks and interactive displays that are flexible and wearable when integrated with fabrics.

“Our approach is built on the convergence of micro and nanotechnology, advanced displays, sensors, energy and technical textile manufacturing,” said Professor Jong min Kim, from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, who co-led the research with Dr Luigi Occhipinti and Professor Manish Chhowalla. “This is a step towards the full exploitation of sustainable, convenient e-fibres and e-textiles in daily applications. And it’s only the beginning.”

“By integrating fibre-based electronics, photonic, sensing and energy functionalities, we can achieve a whole new class of smart devices and systems,” said Occhipinti, also from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. “By unleashing the full potential of textile manufacturing, we could soon see smart and energy-autonomous Internet of Things devices that are seamlessly integrated into everyday objects and many other sector applications.”

The researchers are working with European collaborators to make the technology sustainable and useable for everyday objects. They are also working to integrate sustainable materials as fibre components, providing a new class of energy textile systems. Their flexible and functional smart fabric could eventually be made into batteries, supercapacitors, solar panels and other devices.

The research was funded in part by the European Commission and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Reference:
H.W. Choi et al. ‘Smart textile lighting/display system with multifunctional fibre devices for large scale smart home and IoT applications.’ Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28459-6