On Wednesday 16 October, Professor of Clinical Genetics, Prof Sir John Burn, will deliver the prestigious annual Harveian Oration at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Sir John will be giving a lecture on ‘Prediction and prevention in the genomic era’, which will be live-streamed from the Royal College of Physicians’ website, from 7pm. This is a tradition that dates back more than 300 years.

An article about Sir John being invited to give the lecture was published in NU Connections last week and can be accessed here.

Psychology Seminar Series

Friday 18th October 2019 at 12pm – 1pm, Lecture Theatre 4, King George VI Building, Newcastle University

Professor Graham Towl, Department of Psychology, Durham University

Tackling Sexual Violence at Universities; A Case Study

Professor Graham Towl was Pro Vice Chancellor Chair of the Durham University Sexual Violence Task Force. In this presentation he will outline some of the challenges and solutions found to tackling sexual violence at Durham University. He will also comment more widely on developments across the sector.

Professor Towl is an expert advisor to the Office for Students on their new ‘welfare and safeguarding’ panel. He was expert advisor at Advance HE in their evaluation of the catalyst funding overseen by the Office for Students. He is the co-author (with Professor Tammi Walker) of ‘Tackling Sexual Violence at Universities; An international perspective’ published by Routledge.

https://www.dur.ac.uk/psychology/staff/profile/?id=6790

The MRC, AHRC and ESRC have launched a Call for Expressions of Interest to attend a workshop on
Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind on 22 November 2019.

Expressions of Interest to be submitted by 31 October 2019
This workshop will launch a major new cross-council partnership in Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind which will support multidisciplinary research and innovation in an area of strategic importance aligned with UK government policy research priorities. The programme will be jointly delivered by the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Activity supported through this programme will help to provide a better understanding of how genetic, physiological, psychological, social and cultural factors across the life course shape the adolescent mind; of how they interact to influence, both positively and negatively, lifelong mental health, educational attainment, identity, social relationships and behaviour; and of the key concepts and values involved in these explanations, such as mental health/illness and autonomy. Research will address complex, multifactorial problems that cut across a number of policy domains, requiring engagement of wide-ranging stakeholders and active coordination. This integrated approach is intended to generate better interventions to promote good mental health; accelerate translation of research into policy and practice in education, healthcare and other public services; promote young people’s life chances; and strengthen young people’s involvement in research and innovation.

To launch the programme the research councils will be holding a facilitated workshop to engage the breadth of relevant research communities and stakeholders, communicate their ambitions and forge new multidisciplinary networks.
The workshops will consist of a mixture of presentations from UKRI, keynote talks, stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange, opportunities to meet other researchers and facilitated discussions of key challenges and opportunities for research. The research councils intend to:
• Communicate the scope and ambitions of this initiative
• Foster cross-disciplinary networking and knowledge sharing
• Facilitate interactions with key stakeholders, including policy makers, health, social care and education sectors, young people, carers and those with lived experience of mental health problems
• Explore research and methodology challenges, including opportunities for innovation and novel approaches.

Those who wish to attend a workshop must complete an expression of interest form by the deadline of 31 October 2019 (16:00).
Venue to be confirmed (London or Birmingham)
Applicant will be notified of outcome of EoI on 8 November 2019
Places are limited to approximately 100 attendees.

If anyone applies and gets a place on this workshops, I’d be grateful if you could let me know (lorraine.smith@ncl.ac.uk)

Advertisement for Athena Forum Prizes workshop November 2019

Advertisement for Athena Forum Prizes workshop November 2019

Registration for the Athena Forum Prizes and Awards workshop is now live on Eventbrite.

Deadline for nominations – 30th September 2019

Faces of the Faculty – Celebrating the diversity of success in FMS

Do you know someone whose story of success inspires others to work in their profession?

We are looking for people to showcase in an exhibition celebrating and promoting the accomplishments of individuals in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Ideas of ‘success’ can be different for all of us and we want to celebrate the diversity of the individuals at the heart of our faculty and their impressive journeys that have got them to where they are now. By sharing poignant stories and achievements, we will inspire the next generation of researchers, technicians, academics, administrators and university support staff.
Whether they are a member of staff or a student, their grade or year of study does not matter.

Please use this form to put someone forward. Deadline for nominations is 30th September 2019

Information about the project and full details of eligibility are online here – https://newcastle.sharepoint.com/hub/msgs/Pages/Faces-of-the-Faculty.aspx

Should you have any queries about the project or nominations process, please get in touch with Elizabeth Amies at Elizabeth.amies@newcastle.ac.uk

Tuesday 22nd October 2019, 12:30 – 5
The Core, Newcastle University

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues and have a number of schemes which are open to all researchers.
This event will highlight the opportunities available with ESRC, the various research which has been funded by this research council as well has provide a behind the scenes look at the workings of an ESRC board in reviewing research applications.

This event is open to all researchers across the University, at all stages of their careers, who have an interest in applying to ESRC.

Please complete the registration form to attend: https://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5288616

As you know the ICM will be dissolved on 31 October 2019 to be replaced by new Institutes on 1 November 2019.
We would like to mark this occasion by inviting all ICM staff and students to a Celebratory Event to recognise our many successes on:

Date: Friday 25 October 2019
Time: 3pm onwards
Venue: Upstairs in the North Terrace Pub on Claremont Rd

Please forward this message to past members of ICM who may wish to participate in this event.

Can I please request that you fill in the following form should you wish to attend.

This is for catering purposes.

https://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5555767

Apply by 30th September 2019, 4pm

MRC Board and Panel Vacancies from April 2020
https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/
online application form:
https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/apply-for-a-board-or-panel-vacancy/

MRC seeks to fill up to 28 vacancies across 4 Research Boards and 22 vacancies in 5 of their 6 Panels

Please note, Applicants must have both permission and support from their host institution before applying

Personal specification includes:
• ask that applicants have a sound knowledge of experimental design and statistical approaches to ensure the highest standards of methodological rigor
• a first class record in conducting and leading internationally respected research
• a successful track record in applying for and obtaining major grant funding over a number of years
• a proven ability to exercise judgment across a broad spectrum of research and policy issues with a vision of the priorities and opportunities, not only within his/her areas of expertise, but also across the research board or panel portfolio

Aim to:
• steadily increase the number of women (from the current 42% towards 50%)
• broaden the diversity of members
• increase the ratio of mid-career to later-career members
• ensure a strong representation for basic research and data sciences
• have industry representation.

As part of the preparation for their tenure, all new board and panel members are expected to attend an induction meeting on Thursday 6 February 2020 at BEIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria St, Westminster, London SW1H 0ET. Please hold this date when making an application.

Research Board vacancies

Infections & immunity Board (IIB)
9 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in extending its global health activities, addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, strengthening pandemic preparedness, investigating immunity and infection through the life course, and supporting integrative data analysis and systems approaches.

• Bacteriology / microbiology – with expertise in physiology, pathogenesis or virulence mechanisms.
• Cellular immunology – with expertise in T cells, dendritic cells, macrophage biology or immunotherapy.
• Computational modelling and analysis, and/or use of artificial intelligence – in systems approaches to infections and immunity and/or the development of diagnostics or advanced therapeutics
• Global health – with special interest in vector borne disease, parasitology or tropical infections and experience of working in a Low and Middle-Income Country
• Immune homeostasis – with expertise in one or more of the following areas: regulatory immune mechanisms, microbiome-immune interactions, immune- mediated inflammatory diseases.
• Virology and viral diseases – with a focus on physiology, pathogenesis or virus-host interactions.
• Vaccinology – with expertise in adjuvants, and/or vaccine development.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, global health, experimental medicine, data science, drug discovery, clinical trials or translational research of relevance to the Board’s activities. They strongly welcome applications from candidates from the clinical and the industrial sector.

Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB)
6 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in understanding dynamic biological systems across scales, the link between external exposures and causal pathways of disease, and radiation oncology and biology

Applications are invited from clinical and non-clinical scientists.

• Mammalian developmental genetics – core expertise in the use of mammalian model systems to explore the genetics and biology of development, ideally including embryology. Broader expertise in transgenics, gene function/regulation, cell biology and signaling, and non-mammalian model systems would be desirable.
• Genomic instability and repair – with core expertise in genome stability, DNA repair and DNA damage signaling. Broad knowledge relevant to cell biology including biology of the nucleus would be desirable.
• Structural biology – core expertise in a broad range of biophysical methods and integrated structural studies approaches; expertise in NMR would be desirable. The appointee should have a track record in structure-function studies. Knowledge of signal transduction, cell biology and structure-based drug discovery would be desirable.
• Industry representative – currently employed within, or strong experience of, the biomedical research industry sector. Knowledge in areas including cell signaling, functional genomics, stratified medicine, target validation/drug development or advanced therapies would be desirable
• Up to two vacancies covering:
o Medical oncology (with preference for clinically qualified/active biomedical researchers)
o Cancer genetics – with broad expertise in the molecular biology of cancer, particularly in areas of cancer cell adhesion/migration, cell cycle control, mechanisms of invasion/metastasis, cellular signaling, and cancer gene predisposition/function/regulation. Experience of experimental medicine, translational cancer studies and an awareness of cancer in a global health context would be desirable.

MRC are particularly interested to receive applications from those with expertise in the use of quantitative analytical tools, and/or multi-dimensional data and systems approaches applied to resolving complex biological problems across scale, space and time.

Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB)
6 vacancies:
The board has a particular interest in addressing the challenges of mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases as well as exploring what we can learn from the direct study of human brain tissue to gain insight into the function of the human brain.

Applications are invited from clinical and non-clinical scientists.

• Cellular and molecular neurobiology – with expertise in neurodegeneration, synaptic plasticity or behavioural neuroscience.
• Neurodegeneration – with expertise in neuroinflammation and/or translational research.
• Mental health – with expertise in one or more of the areas of : genetics, genomics, clinical psychiatry, experimental medicine and translational approaches.
• Neuro-repair/regeneration – with expertise in clinical neurology.
• Addiction – with expertise in clinical neurology, clinical psychiatry, drug metabolism.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have expertise in clinical genetics, modelling approaches, and translational neuroscience. Knowledge of a range of neuroimaging and non-invasive biophysical techniques will be an advantage.

Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB)
7 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in understanding multimorbidity and disease clustering, mechanisms of rare diseases to provide insight into more common conditions, and integrated population health with a special emphasis on data integration.

• Clinical cardiology and cardiovascular medicine – with expertise in genetics of cardiovascular disease. Knowledge of imaging techniques, including clinical imaging, would be desirable.
• Musculoskeletal research (two vacancies) – with expertise in muscle, bone and/or cartilage physiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Broad interest in and knowledge of ageing research (beyond musculoskeletal ageing), resilience and frailty would be desirable.
• Renal medicine – with expertise in mechanisms of disease.
• Inflammation – with expertise in resolution of inflammation and cellular mechanisms of inflammatory disease.
• Epidemiology and population health sciences – with expertise and/or keen interest in enhancing classical epidemiological methods with new approaches to complex/distributed data collection and analysis. A strong background in experimental design would be advantageous.
• Functional genomics – with expertise in large scale genomics and epigenomics. Knowledge of functional metagenomics linked to the role of the human microbiome in chronic conditions (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, liver disease and female reproductive system disorders) would be desirable.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who take multi-modal approaches and integrate and interrogate complex multidimensional data e.g. combining population genomics with cell biology and capitalising on the rich molecular and phenotypic data sets from human and experimental systems. Applicants with expertise in machine learning and computational models that can be evaluated experimentally are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding Panel vacancies

Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Panel (DPFS)
8 vacancies:

• Diagnostic development and implementation
• Medicinal chemistry
• Cardiovascular medicine
• Oncology
• Advanced therapies, including antibodies, peptides and cell & gene therapies
• Molecular pharmacology, including pre-clinical toxicology
• Statistics, including early phase clinical trial and pre-clinical
• Infectious diseases and global health

Applications from clinically active researchers, researchers based in industry and those with knowledge of the relevant investment landscape would be particularly welcomed. Given the breadth of applications received by the scheme, panel members are required to cover a broad portfolio and individual applicants would ideally be able to cover multiple areas.

MRC-NIHR Methodology Research Programme Panel (MRP)
5 vacancies:

MRC seeks applications from experienced researchers with a broad scientific, and a very strong methodological background. To ensure regional and sectoral representation, researchers based outside of London or from industry are particularly encouraged.

• Clinical Informatics; health systems, services and delivery; computer- or data-science skills for health
• Causal modelling and inference; observational studies; triangulation
• Biostatistics; genetic epidemiology; computational statistics; meta-analytical models
• Co-membership with PSMB (see Board vacancies)
• Co-membership with MCMB (see Board vacancies).

Co-membership ensures that advances and challenges from research methodology are embedded across MRC funding decisions and strategy. Where appropriate, applicants applying to the vacancies within other Boards and Panels should indicate their availability for dual membership with MRP.

Training and Career Development Panels

Non-Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Up to 5 vacancies.

Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across the full range of MRC’s work, and this year they would particularly welcome applications from researchers who would bring core expertise in:

• Cell biology and cancer/ cell and structural biology
• Population scale biomedical research / genetic epidemiology
• Public health and prevention
• Imaging / microscopy technology or applications

Candidates with clinical expertise would be particularly welcome.

Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Up to 4 vacancies.

Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across the full range of MRC’s work, and this year MRC would particularly welcome applications from researchers who would bring core expertise in:

• Endocrinology and metabolic medicine
• Stem cell biology
• Oncology
• Data science and artificial intelligence