What we do

Our research areas in STRAND

Our members collaborate locally, nationally and internationally with other academic institutions, charities, hospitals and businesses, focusing on six main themes:

• Ageing/ HIV/ Inflammation
• Bladder and Bowel
• Cancer
• Healthcare technologies
• Musculo-Skeletal Biology
• Systems Neuroscience

Research in all six themes is supplemented by colleagues in chemistry with expertise in analytical chemistry, computational chemistry, electrochemistry, materials chemistry, protein chemistry, sensor design and supramolecular chemistry.

A sustainability theme also runs across all themes with the aim of reducing the impact that our research has on the environment.

Research into ageing, HIV and inflammation

The Ageing/HIV/inflammation theme in STRAND focuses on understanding the processes that drive organismal and tissue ageing with a focus on the role that inflammation plays in this process.  

The theme consists of lab scientists and clinicians and a recent focus of this group is to investigate the mechanisms associated with the development of HIV associated cognitive impairment using sophisticated brain imaging techniques and cell culture models.

We are members of the BLAST network, which focuses on increasing scientific understanding of the mechanistic drivers of biological ageing that diminish healthspan and lifespan, and identification of predictive/diagnostic biomarkers of age-related poor health.

Research into bladder and bowel conditions

Conditions of the bladder and bowel are prevalent in older people but remains an under researched area of older people’s health and a neglected and sometimes badly managed area of the frail older person's healthcare.

The work of the bladder and bowel group focuses on conditions of the lower bowel (chronic constipation and faecal incontinence) and the bladder (overactive bladder and urinary incontinence).

The aim is to understand more about the causes of these conditions with the aim of developing tools for their early diagnosis and novel treatments to alleviate patient symptoms and improve quality of life.

A notable success in this field is the ESPRC-funded project 'Drug-eluting in vivo probe to monitor age-related lower bowel dysfunction'

Research into cancer

The cancer theme in STRAND encompasses cancer research from the bedside to the clinic. Our group comprises of translational cancer researchers, immunologists, chemists, and genomics experts. Our goal is to help researchers and clinicians understand the fundamental biological processes underlying cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis with an aim to better improve treatment strategies.

Of particular note in this area is the work covering the relationship between psychological stress and cancer by Dr Mel Flint.

Healthcare technologies

Researchers in this theme work at the chemistry/biology interface to develop interventions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease and utilise expertise in biomaterials and tissue engineering to replace tissues and organs with a focus on conditions in older people.

Members have expertise in the development of novel drug molecules, sensor design, omics technology and have links with external companies to facilitate the translation of their research.  They have been successful in attracting funding from a range of sources including the EPSRC, Wellcome, NIHR i4i and Big Lottery.

A notable success in this area is the collaborative project 'Extracellular Vesicle Profiling for early detection of leukaemic progression'

Research in musculo-skeletal biology

Musculoskeletal conditions are at the forefront of ageing-related conditions and osteoarthritis is one of the most frequent. In STRAND, musculoskeletal researchers are looking to understand the mechanisms underpinning diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. They are also interested in interventions for health and performance of the musculoskeletal system.

Our research uses a multidisciplinary approach using techniques including omics, and multiscale imaging, with funding from the MRC and the World Anti-Doping agency.

Notable projects in this area include:

• Imaging joint biomechanics in growth and osteoarthritis
• Osteoarthritis: Going back to basics

Systems Neuroscience

The systems neuroscience theme focuses on understanding the functioning of the auditory and central nervous systems and how the functional outputs of these systems are affected by disease and natural ageing process. Researchers in this theme have expertise in electrophysiology, mechanics, analytical and physical chemistry.

Our research impact and knowledge exchange

The Public Health Sector

In the short-term our increased understanding of the processes underlying a range of diseases will be utilised to further educate relevant healthcare professionals. In the longer term, the identification of key molecular targets, the development or re-purposing of drugs to target these sites, novel diagnostics and devices will direct clinical trials and therefore guide and direct clinical practices within the health sector. Our links to the NHS through the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the local Health Research Partnership allow us to be well placed to maximise the impact of our work, for example in the development of sensor technology to help predict those at risk of developing chronic constipation/faecal incontinence.

The Commercial Private Sector

Several our members  have links with the commercial private sector and the centre encourages its members to forge new links where appropriate.  Links are facilitated by the Department of Research, Enterprise, and Social Partnerships (RESP) within UoB, which has excellent links with regional industry and has a history of cooperation with the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, will support the research team. The department of RESP will support all IP protection for all novel products associated with the proposal. For example, projects with Carbalive are exploring the development of artificial livers while those with Cooper Vision are developing novel accommodating contact lenses.

Third Sector

The centre has links with a range of charitable organisations and our work is regularly disseminated to local members.  Projects that involve working with charities include Breast Cancer Now, Rosetrees Trust, Big Lottery/Age Concern, Diabetes UK, ARUK with tangible local benefits and longer-term national influence.

Projects with links to charitable organisations include a grant with Age Concern/Big Lottery exploring the health benefits of attending the ‘Eastbourne Shed’ and a separate project exploring whether stress hormones can influence tumour recurrence.

General Public

The diseases that form the focus of the work in the centre occur across the life course. We constantly raise awareness of these conditions and explain how the findings from our research will tackle these challenges through a range of outreach events to patients, the public and to school children.

The information we provide has improved the understanding of a range of conditions of older people.  Those with diseases are more informed about their conditions and the medicines used to treat them. Carers become more familiar with the problems faced by those with a disease.  Finally, for the sufferer, we hope that our public lectures will help make this taboo subject less embarrassing to talk about and help them feel able to discuss their condition, with friends, carers and their GP more openly, thus improving care.

This work supports public engagement and outreach through STEM Sussex, who annually host STEMFest as part of the Big Bang Southeast. The School of Applied Sciences where the centre sits also has its own outreach programme which showcases current and topical science to over 800 school children per year and members of U3A.

Research outputs and projects from the Centre of Stress and Age-related Disease

Details of research publications and other outputs fostered by the centre and achieved by its members, along with funded projects delivered by the centre, can be accessed on the Centre of Stress and Age-related Disease (STRAND)'s database of research.

• Visit STRAND's overview page on our research database
• Visit the record of STRAND's research publications and other outputs 
• Visit the record of STRAND's funded projects 

Our most recently funded projects