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Cardiff University Nanosome Network

Measuring Extracellular Vesicles, Liposomes and other nanoparticles and their interactions with cells and biological fluids.

This new University-funded research network aims to support greater interaction between researchers across disciplines in the challenging research area of nanometre sized colloidal agents and their measurement and manipulation in medicine.

By this we mean:

  • extracellular vesicles (exosomes and microvesicles)
  • liposomes
  • synthetic nanoparticles (such as polymer-gold conjugates, quantum dots, and many others).

There is enormous global interest in the application of such colloids in medicine, as a modality to deliver drugs/macromolecules in a better-targeted fashion. There is also major expansion in the use of natural, cell-derived vesicles as drug delivery systems or as disease biomarkers.

Studying nano-particulates and their application in disease model systems is very challenging. This is because these entities are so small, and because the way particles interact in biological systems is complex.

This topic area therefore requires the pooling of infrastructural resources, as well as varied scientific approaches and expertise, in order to bring about greater understanding and enhance Cardiff University and UK capabilities in this area.

Our mission is to build upon established knowledge in manufacture of nano-particulates, nano-measurement and nano-sorting devices, cell, tissue and whole body model systems, and to bring together this collective expertise across seven Schools through a series of networking events.

In addition to workshops, involving external internationally renowned  experts, and focussed sandpit discussions, the network will drive new, creative thinking through short lab-exchange visits. This will provide early career researchers with first hand experience of a range of nano-related methods and devices, with the aim of escalating our activities in this topic area.

Aims

The Nanosome network has a broad remit, with the overarching goal of increasing research activities and research publication outputs relating to nanoparticles. We aim to:

  • foster greater inter-School communication and collaboration relating to the manufacture, measurement and application of nanoparticles
  • identify basic technical, clinical and ethical challenges and unmet needs through our network
  • apply existing tools to the challenge of nanoscale measurement or nano-sorting, and examine their utility in  medically relevant applications (eg biomarkers)
  • develop new protocols or devices for improved reproducibility in nano-particle production, and systems to quality assure this
  • apply nanoparticles in varied formations to biological model systems, including single cell, tissue and whole body distribution studies.

Our goal is to be inclusive and expand the network, including by bringing in early career researchers, throughout the two-year funding period. We also aim to seek further funding in this area.

Get in touch

To find out more about our work and how you can get involved, please contact our Network leaders:

Academic staff

Professor Aled Clayton

Professor Aled Clayton

Director of Research

Welsh speaking
Email
claytona@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2251 0589
Professor Rachel Errington

Professor Rachel Errington

Deputy Head School of Medicine

Email
erringtonrj@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2068 7301
Dr Jason Webber

Dr Jason Webber

PCUK Research Fellow

Email
webberjp@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2068 7306
Dr Zsuzsanna Tabi

Dr Zsuzsanna Tabi

Reader

Email
tabiz@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2251 0550
Professor Donald Fraser

Professor Donald Fraser

Director, Wales Kidney Research Unit. Director, Division of Infection and Immunity

Email
fraserdj@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2074 8449
Dr Robert Steadman

Dr Robert Steadman

Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine

Email
steadmanr@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2074 8390
Dr Timothy Bowen

Dr Timothy Bowen

Reader

Email
bowent@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29207 48389
Dr Dafydd Alwyn Dart

Dr Dafydd Alwyn Dart

Research Fellow

Email
dartd@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2068 7069
Professor Christopher Marshall

Professor Christopher Marshall

Director of Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre

Email
marshallc3@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2074 8164
Dr Stephen Paisey

Dr Stephen Paisey

Pre-Clinical Facilities Manager, Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre

Email
paiseysj@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2074 3676
Professor Yves Barde

Professor Yves Barde

Emeritus Professor

Email
bardey@cardiff.ac.uk
Professor Paola Borri

Professor Paola Borri

Professor, Coordinator of the European Marie Curie ETN consortium MUSIQ

Email
borrip@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9356
Dr Peter Watson

Dr Peter Watson

Director for Postgraduate Education, Reader, Academic lead of imaging facilities, Postgraduate Research Teaching Co-ordinator

Email
watsonpd@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9042
Professor Arwyn Tomos Jones

Professor Arwyn Tomos Jones

Professor of Membrane Traffic and Drug Delivery, and Director of Research & Engagement

Welsh speaking
Email
jonesat@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 6431
Professor James Birchall

Professor James Birchall

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Deputy Head of School

Email
birchalljc@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5815
Dr Julie Albon

Dr Julie Albon

Senior Lecturer, Deputy Director of Research, Optic Nerve Head Group Leader, HTA Person designate for Cathays Park HTA satellite licence

Email
albonj@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 75427
Professor Keith Meek

Professor Keith Meek

Head of Biophysics Research Group, Emeritus Professor

Email
meekkm@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 6317
Dr Philip Lewis

Dr Philip Lewis

Research Fellow and Electron Microscopy Specialist

Email
lewispn@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 208 70459
Professor Phil Stephens

Professor Phil Stephens

Director off International, Professor of Cell Biology

Email
stephensp@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2074 2529
Professor Rachel Waddington

Professor Rachel Waddington

Associate Director for Staff and Student Matters, Professor of Oral Biochemistry

Email
waddingtonrj@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 225 10647
Dr Sharon Dewitt

Dr Sharon Dewitt

Lecturer

Email
dewitt@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2251 0665
Dr Wayne Nishio Ayre

Dr Wayne Nishio Ayre

Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials

Email
ayrewn@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44(0) 292 2510 660
Dr Alison Paul

Dr Alison Paul

Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry

Email
paula3@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 0419
Professor Sam Evans

Professor Sam Evans

Professor

Email
evanssl6@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 6876
David Barrow

David Barrow

Professor

Email
barrow@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5921
Professor Adrian Porch

Professor Adrian Porch

Professor

Email
porcha@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5954
Dr Xin Yang (Chris)

Dr Xin Yang (Chris)

Senior Lecturer

Email
yangx26@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5708

The network will organise a series of diverse events. Participants across all schools will interact as a community and as smaller groups to help us explore novel collaborative opportunities and to develop these new ideas towards research papers and funding bids.

Network events are currently being planned and will be advertised here. A theme-setting sandpit is intended for spring, and a large formal workshop gathering with external guests planned before the summer break.