The Universities of Bristol and Nottingham will share over 500k to lead a consortium of experts on research projects into bioengineered blood and soft tissue regeneration, respectively. The research could not only save lives, but could also improve the quality of lives of injured personnel.

The funding is awarded at Phase 2 of the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Regenerative Medicine themed competition which is facilitated and managed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) on behalf of the MOD, in partnership with the Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma (ADMST).

Dealing with damage caused by blast or ballistic trauma, which may involve significant blood loss and multiple complex wounds, is a challenge for even the most sophisticated medical facility. Yet to do this in the austere and remote environments within which the military operate further complicates the delivery of medical care.

Approaches in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine hold great promise for the treatment of injured service personnel and the new ‘Defence regenerative medicine research strategy’ is focussed on delivering such advanced therapies in a way suitable for use in the field early after injury.

The 500k funding will enable the University of Bristol to continue its research to engineer a multi-compatible blood type, with an improved storage profile, that could be used to treat military personnel regardless of their blood type. This could transform the logistics of transporting and storing blood supplies on the front line. In the longer term, first responders like paramedics could also benefit from the portability of a blood supply that is suitable for all.

The University of Nottingham will continue to research a novel approach to preserve and regenerate soft tissue after blast and ballistic trauma through transient gene therapy. Preserving living tissue after injury is critically important, and will significantly improve quality of life.

Dave Henson, co-founder of the CASEVAC club, a support network for individuals that were severely wounded in combat, said:

Understanding that saving a life on the battlefield without due consideration for the future quality of that life is nonsensical. Significant progress has been made in the medical arena throughout the duration of recent conflicts. The development of technologies such as we’re seeing in this latest of the DASA competition, with the reduction in burden associated with blood supplies, and the immediate improvement of wound management techniques, provides strong assurances that the functional outcome from battlefield trauma will continue to improve.

Dr Abi Spear, Technical Lead for the regenerative medicine project at Dstl said:

I’m delighted that the Universities of Bristol and Nottingham have won this Phase 2 competition. Their work represents innovative, discovery science that’s high risk but with potentially huge clinical benefit.

Dr Adam Staines, Themed Competition Lead, DASA:

We are pleased that this competition has harnessed cutting edge bio-medical research that seeks to make a real difference on the front line and could also have positive implications for the civilian market in future too.

The Dstl regenerative medicine research strategy looks to support research in four areas, as defined by an evidence-based scoping study, through a variety of activities, including funding and collaboration. If you would like more information on the project as a whole please email DSTLRegenDefenceAccelerator@dstl.gov.uk.

Current issues related to protecting plant health and trade of plants, fruit, vegetables or plant material including Xylella fastidiosa.

We have assessed 11 ancient woodlands, parts of which were due to be affected by preparations to build Britain’s new high speed railway this autumn, during the period of the Oakervee review. Work will now be deferred to Autumn or Winter 2020 on 5 of these sites, and to early 2020 on 6 of the sites. We will also take measures to protect wildlife to ensure they are not affected when work begins in early 2020.

The work affecting 11 ancient woodlands will be deferred as follows:

Five sites to be deferred to Autumn / Winter 2020

• Roughknowles Wood
• North Wood
• Un-named copse off Drayton Lane
• Rookery Wood
• Burnt Firs

Six sites to be deferred to early 2020

In these locations, we will need to carry out measures to protect wildlife. This will involve some localised removal of selected tree branches for essential protected species mitigation works to meet legal requirements ahead of the works in early 2020. However, we will not remove branches from any ‘ancient’ or ‘veteran’ trees within an ancient woodland so as not to affect the integrity of the ancient woodlands.

• Fulfen Wood
• Broadwells Wood
• Birches Wood
• Crackley Wood
• Unnamed Woodland south of Ashow Road
• South Cubbington Wood

Other essential preparatory works will continue including low level vegetation clearance, fencing and preparation of site accesses.

Of the 52,000 ancient woodland sites in England, 43 will be partially affected by HS2’s route between London and Crewe, and over 80% of the total area of these 43 will remain intact and untouched by HS2.

HS2 aims to be one of the most environmentally responsible infrastructure projects ever delivered in the UK. It will be a greener way to travel offering some of the lowest carbon emissions per passenger kilometre, significantly less than cars and domestic air travel.

Seven million new trees and shrubs, including over 40 native species, specific to each location will be planted as part of the HS2 programme. The new native woodlands will cover over 9 square kilometres of land.

Over 33 square kilometres of new and existing wildlife habitat – equating to an area the size of 4,600 football pitches will be created. That’s an increase of around 30% compared to what’s there now.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers

The Charity Commission has appointed an interim manager to Albayan Education Foundation Limited (1128083).

The regulator opened a statutory inquiry into the charity, which operates a school in Birmingham and works internationally to prevent and relieve poverty, in December 2018.

The inquiry has been examining the governance, management and administration of the charity by its trustees. Due to continued concerns, it has now exercised its powers under section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act to appoint Emma Moody of Womble Bond Dickinson as an interim manager at the charity.

Interim managers are appointed as a temporary and protective measure where the Commission has identified misconduct or mismanagement, or there is a need to protect a charity’s property.

Ms Moody has been appointed specifically to evaluate the management and administration of the charity, and will act as manager in respect of the property and affairs of the charity.

She will carry out this role to the exclusion of the trustees, however they retain control of the day to day running of the charity.

The Commission’s inquiry continues; it intends to publish a report setting out its findings on conclusion of the inquiry. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The appointment was made on 6 September 2019.
2. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work see the about us page on GOV.UK.