Pioneering projects celebrate excellence

Five pioneering research projects which transformed policy and practice in business, healthcare and society have been recognised by Cardiff University.

The prize-winning ventures have been chosen as winning 'exemplars of excellence' ahead of the University's annual Innovation and Impact Awards.

Leading academics behind each of the projects will gather for a gala dinner in a fortnight's time (17 June) where a 'People's Choice' winner will be announced.

Sponsored by Geldards Law Firm and IP Group Plc, the Innovation and Impact Awards 2014 will take place in front of VIP guests and leading academic and business figures. This year, Cardiff University is offering the public a chance to vote for the 'People's Choice' – and win two tickets, plus dinner, for the opening night of Cape Town Opera's latest production of 'Showboat' at Wales Millennium Centre on 22 July 2014. To vote for a winning finalist, see the summaries below:

Global Challenge Award
'Engineering Solutions for High Level Nuclear Waste Disposal.' To read more, and vote for this project (#CUII1), click here.

Medical Breakthrough Award
There are two winning projects in this category: 'Defining a Standard of Care for Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer' – to read more, and vote for this project (#CUII2) click here, and 'Identification of MUYTH, the first gene for recessive predisposition to bowel cancer'. To read more, and vote for this project (#CUII3), click here.

International Collaboration Award
'Improving labour relations in the world's ports through social dialogue' – to read more and vote for this project (#CUII4), click here.

New Ventures Award
'Development of Ultravision, a revolutionary new technique for handling smoke produced during laproscopic surgery' – to read more and vote for this project (#CUII5), click here.

Professor Colin Riordan, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University, said: "The standard of entries in the 2014 Innovation and Impact Awards has been exceptional. The Awards recognise excellence in innovation, and celebrate the fact that Cardiff University research has a real impact on society, healthcare and industry in Wales and beyond."

Leading law firm Geldards sponsor Cardiff University's Innovation & Impact Awards. The firm's Chief Executive, Jeff Pearson, said: "Geldards values its relationship with Cardiff University and has always looked to support and encourage innovative ways of thinking and that is why we've sponsored these Awards since their inception 16 years ago."

Alan Aubrey, Chief Executive Officer, IP Group Plc said: "IP Group is delighted to be sponsoring these awards for the seventh year running. We look forward to helping to create exciting new businesses out of Cardiff's world leading IP for many years to come."

The Innovation and Impact Awards Competition is organised under the auspices of Cardiff University Innovation Network; the business/university network established in 1996. The Awards are an opportunity for Cardiff University academic staff to showcase their innovative collaborations with business and other non-academic organisations, demonstrating the positive impact that universities can have on economy and society.

Which is your favourite entry? Tell us why to have a chance of winning the prize. Here's how you can vote

• Tweet @cardiffuni with your reason for choosing a particular project. Don't forget to include the hashtag for that project (see above).
• Leave a comment on the Cardiff University Facebook post about the Awards.
• Leave a comment on the project's film on the Cardiff University YouTube channel.

Voting for the 'People's Choice' award on Friday 13 June.