Very-High Field NMR in the Physical and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool

f69e4d7d-6db4-4894-85e3-e1c1e325f44c

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£6,388,275

April 30, 2018

March 31, 2021

The objectives of the proposal are to upgrade and reconfigure the existing 800 MHz solution-state NMR spectrometer to a dual solution-solid NMR spectrometer. This dual configuration is similar to other NMR systems successfully used worldwide and is strategically differentiated from any of the existing UK high field provision. The upgraded system will provide opportunities to do new science not previously possible in Liverpool and the UK, in both academia and industry. In addition, the new system will become one component of the UK hub and spoke network of NMR instrumentation, with up to 30% of its time offered to the wider UK research community across the physical and life sciences, and is configured to complement other high field instruments (> 600 MHz), providing the flexibility for NMR infrastructure at the highest available field to respond to changes in research priorities and opportunities.
NMR spectroscopy is the most versatile of all the analytical tools; it provides insights into molecular structure, dynamics, and interactions. The higher sensitivity and resolution delivered with very-high field NMR are transformative, providing information not accessible at lower field strength.
The new dual solution-solid capabilities will support, extend and enhance research activities where there is excellence in the region and UK-wide (see Academic Beneficiaries) such as advanced chemical- and bio- materials, renewable energy, industrial biotechnology, personalised medicine and human/animal health. They will also strengthen and/or catalyse new academic-industrial collaborations, focusing on and exploiting areas of priority to the region and the UK. Examples include:
(1) Structure determination of biological and chemical molecules and supra-molecular aggregates in solution and solid states;
(2) Folding of linear polypeptides into complex biologically-active 3D structures, and the ways in which these processes can be altered or subverted in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer;
(3) Catalytic processes, and the detailed analysis of the structure and dynamics of complex materials;
(4) Metabolism within intact cells and organisms.
UK research support targets strengthening the UK's competitive position in key priority areas. By upgrading to state-of-the-art instrumentation, the proposed 800 MHz upgrade will enable UK research communities to continue to make major contributions across the range of research challenges aligned with national agendas and strategic priorities, and to respond rapidly and flexibly to initiatives such as the Industrial Strategy Challenge and the Global Challenges Research Funds.
We will deliver on this major investment in NMR by:
(1) Progressing a challenging scientific agenda based on national priorities such as advanced materials, renewable energy, industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, and core health challenges;
(2) Ensuring that the UK is at the forefront of NMR technique development in both solution and solid state, by capitalising on our collective knowledge and experience, and providing training to the community through courses and summer schools;
(3) Attracting industrial support, partnerships and engagement, founded upon a strong collective track record of using our scientific capabilities and assets to support economic growth;
(4) Maximising the effective use of capital assets to ensure efficient provision of NMR access, building on our pioneering experience in equipment sharing of the N8, and operating and managing national facilities, within a long-term sustainability plan;
(5) Aligning with the core individual institutional strategy of the University, as demonstrated by substantial institutional contributions towards the costs;
(6) Developing annual reporting systems and symposia to disseminate findings and open new research strategies, and monitoring performance using defined Key Performance Indicators.

Potential Impact:
The proposed upgrades will, through its interaction with the internationally-leading and interdisciplinary Centres of Excellence in the region and UK-wide, impact on a broad spectrum of UK industries, including:
(1) Supporting and growing the UK chemical industry. The sector has a turnover exceeding £50Bn and over 180,000 employees working in 3000 organizations, and represents around 10% of value added in UK manufacturing, equivalent to 2.2% of GDP;
(2) Strengthening the UK's competitiveness in the global market for advanced functional materials, which is expected to generate revenue of £85Bn by 2018 and is one of the UK government's 8 Great Technologies, representing 15% of the country's GDP. New and accelerated approaches to designing functionality into molecules, components and processes are required, which will be based on understanding structure- property-process relationships;
(3) Enhancing the UK's role in the development of renewable energy generation and storage and in the mitigation of anthropomorphic climate effects. Over the last six years, the UK's solar photovoltaic capacity has increased from virtually nothing to more than 11,000 MW, with significant economic impact (turnover > £6Bn, providing > 30,000 jobs in 2013). The development of more efficient solar photovoltaic devices, and of photocatalytic processes, relies on the characterization of ultrafast charge carrier dynamics and loss processes;
(4) Providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for the UK biomedical-life science sector, which has a turnover in the region of £50Bn. The life sciences cluster in the North of England alone accounts for between 21% and 23% of the UK sector, with 925 companies employing 38,000 people and generating £10.9Bn in turnover. This spans Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Analytics, Diagnostics, Contract research, Contract manufacturing, Medical devices, Healthcare;
(5) Guiding advances in industrial biotechnology (IB), which is a burgeoning area and a cornerstone of the European IB economy that will transform industries as varied as chemicals, waste, energy and plastics with a combined value of £81Bn and 800,000 UK jobs. The N8 region is very well placed to capitalise on and contribute to this economic explosion, with its unique interdisciplinary profile in biotechnology and its strong connections with industrial stakeholders in Europe and internationally. For example the Centre of Excellence in Biopharmaceuticals alone has engaged with 52 companies, both SMEs and larger organisations, in the region, the UK and internationally;
(6) Advancing the UK's global standing in the emerging area of nanomedicines and nanomaterial-based therapies. Global clinical use of nanomedicines benefits patients daily and has considerable market value, predicted to be > £120Bn this year. The development and validation of new nanomedicines and delivery technologies require optimization of product performance, and demonstration of pharmaceutically-relevant manufacturing and in-man pharmacokinetic studies. Apart from their economic impact, development and optimization of nanomedicine and nanomaterial-based therapies will have a significant impact on life expectancy and quality of life.