Paul Roach – Page 7

World Biomaterials Congress

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Statement

Following the recent developments in the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the 11th World Biomaterials Congress which was due to take place in Glasgow on 19 – 24 May 2020.

The UKSB will be holding a special meeting within the World Congress and are proud to be a part of, and support the international conference.

As demands on the health service will increase significantly over the next few months, and the UK government has recently recommended social distancing and restricting travel we do not feel it is appropriate for us to run large-scale events. Our congress brings together professionals from all around the world, and our Board of Trustees is keen to avoid the risk of transmission to our delegates.

The congress will now take place from 11 – 16 December 2020 remaining at the SEC in Glasgow and we will automatically be moving the current programme over to the December schedule and hope that you are available to attend at this time.

If you are taking part in this congress we will be in touch with further details soon.

WBC Conference Secretariat

wbc2020.org/

Job Advert

Research Assistant, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences

King’s College London (KCL), London, United Kingdom

The salary will be paid at Grade 5, £32,676 per annum, inclusive of £3,500 per annum London Allowance.
This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 12 months.
This is a full-time post.

Applications are invited for Research Assistant to work alongside with Dr Sherif Elsharkawy in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science at King’s College London. The research project will be focused on the design, synthesis and purification of recombinant mutated and non-mutated proteins, known to be involved in dental hard tissue development. These proteins will be employed to fabricate protein-based matrices to understand biomineralization mechanisms at multiple lengthscale. The goal will be to generate in vitro models to investigate developmental and pathological mineralisation. Alongside with the principal investigator, the candidate will play a major role in setting up a Biomineralization Lab at King’s College London.

Ideally, you will have (or near completion) a PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Biology, or Engineering and experience in biomineralization as well as one or more of the following areas:

1) Protein Production.

2) Protein-based mineralization.

3) Disordered proteins.

4) Hierarchical materials.

The selection process will include a panel interview and a presentation.

To apply, please register with the King’s College London application portal and complete your application online.

Informal enquiries should be emailed to Dr Sherif Elsharkawy at sherif.elsharkawy@kcl.ac.uk

Closing date: Midnight on Friday 24 January 2020

Dr Caroline J Harrison Lab-2-Lab Award

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Bioengineering and Healthcare Technologies Group,School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield

Host laboratory:
Prof Alastair Sloan, Dr Wayne Nishio Ayre and Mr Jabur Khan The Mineralised Tissue Group, Dental School, Cardiff University

The purpose of the placement was to develop an ex vivo bone infection model to screen antimicrobial and osteogenic bone regeneration materials. The Mineralised Tissue Group at Cardiff University has considerable experience of developing these models so a 3 week placement was undertaken to in order to understand the methods involved in the development of ex vivo models.

Prof Alastair Sloan and Dr Wayne Nishio Ayre arranged that I could work with Mr Jabur Khan, a PhD student currently developing an ex vivo bone infection model. During the first week Jabur demonstrated the ex vivo bone infection model that he is currently developing and trained me in the various techniques including the sectioning of the bone and the setting up of Trowell-type cultures which are essential for keeping the bone viable whilst preventing excessive migration of the cells out of the bone. Jabur also showed me the immunohistological techniques he is currently optimising to be able to assess the distribution of biomarkers in the bone models. Furthermore, I observed the setting up of other ex vivo models including a model to assess the viability of the gingiva in a mandible culture model which Dr Amr Alraies is currently researching.

Over the next two weeks I was able to set up my own ex vivo cultures in order to investigate the effect of the dual action bone paste currently under development by the research team at The University of Sheffield. It was very useful to get hands on experience setting up the model as well as investigating different methods to apply the paste to the model. I assessed my models using viability assays and histological techniques. My lab work went very smoothly which was in part due to the fantastic technical support staff at the School of Dentistry, University of Cardiff. The laboratory managers and technicians including Dr Fiona Gagg, Dr Sarah Youde and Ms Wendy Rowe all provided excellent inductions and support material, which allowed me to work in the laboratories with ease and confidence.

I was very pleased with the consistency of the data from the assays I carried out, and I would say this was my professional highlight of the visit. My personal highlights were some lovely sunny lunches in the small nature haven provided directly outside the entrance of the University Hospital of Wales (see picture). Due to the success of this placement we are now looking forward to establishing future collaborative projects between the Mineralised Tissue Group at Cardiff University and the Bioengineering and Healthcare Technologies Group at The University of Sheffield.