Lab Challenge: Fight the virus! at the Oxford IF Festival

Lab Challenge is an interactive lab-themed activity aimed at younger children - step into a drug discovery lab to perform experiments and find a drug to fight a virus! ​ We had a great time running Lab Challenge at the Science Oxford Centre as part of the Oxford IF Science + Ideas Festival on 15 October 2023. Over 90 young scientists undertook our screening, cytotoxicity and compound building experiments, recorded their results and found our antiviral compound!

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  Oxford IF Festival 2023

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  Screening compounds

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  Cytotoxicity station

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  Compound building

We had great engagement throughout the day, and feedback from participating children (and their parents/carers) was positive, with 86% rating the activity 5* or 4*.

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  Feedback

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  Feedback

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  Well done!

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Finally, thanks to our Ph.D. student volunteers - Gemma Cooper, Brandon Moulds, and Katie Silver - for their help setting up and running Lab Challenge!

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  Brandon Maitreyi Gemma Katie

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  Setting up

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  Setting the scene

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  Charlie's Angels volunteers!

If you'd like to learn more about Lab Challenge, or would like us to host the activity at your school, please do get in touch.

Applied Microbiology International summer studentship

Undergraduate student Nicole Sibanda joined us in the lab this summer, funded by the Applied Microbiology International summer studentship. Nicole worked in the lab with Ph.D. student Brandon Moulds, to investigate the reusability of a novel catalyst for norovirus disinfection.

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  Nicole and Brandon

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  Lab meeting - August 2023

Nicole said of the experience, "During my internship, I had the privilege to engage in various tasks that provided me with a comprehensive understanding of microbiology and its practical applications.

"The hand-on experience of assessing the efficacy of cleaning products in killing norovirus has broadened my perspective on the practical aspects of combating pathogens. One of my highlights was delving into my independent research on norovirus and the potential implications for disinfection strategies by hydrogen peroxide and the catalyst.

"The skills I have acquired during my time in the lab, including laboratory maintenance practices, will undoubtedly be valuable as I pursue my Masters degree. I am extremely confident that the insights gained during my internship will be instrumental in shaping my career in the pharmaceutical industry in the coming years."

Through the eight week project, Nicole developed our understanding of the stability and activity of the catalyst following various treatments. She is now undertaking an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Manchester.

If you are interested in completing a summer studentship in the lab, get in touch!

DMU Doctoral College Showcase 2023

The annual Doctoral College Showcase, this year held on 8th June, gives PGR students from all Faculties in DMU an opportunity to celebrate their work and present their research.

A total of 40 students presented their research through posters, ten minute presentations, or three minute flash talks as part of the 3MT three-minute thesis competition. Topics ranged across various disciplines, covering Identity, Sustainability, Societal Impact, and Digital Society.

Ph.D. Gemma Cooper gave a fantastic presentation on her research 'Plants to Drugs: The Search for Novel Antivirals', for the first time to a non-specialist audience. Huge congratulations to Gemma on winning both the Judge's Choice and People's Choice in the Excellent Presentation Competition!

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