Researchers win 'first-ever' DHT Summer Studentships

The Dr Hadwen Trust today named four researchers at top universities across the country who will be the first recipients of the inaugural DHT Summer Studentship scheme.

This Summer Studentship scheme is a new initiative from the DHT which has for 42 years funded ground-breaking medical research that does not harm any animals and has helped in the fight against diseases such as cancer, heart disease and mental health disorders.

The scheme will enable undergraduates at the University of Sheffield, Brunel University, University of Westminster and University of Birmingham to extend their studies over the summer period by gaining practical lab experience that will increase understanding about devastating diseases while using alternatives to animal-based research.

Each new award is worth up to £1,440 over a maximum 8 week period, with a separate budget of up to £500 available for consumables.

Recipients of the new DHT Summer Studentship awards include:

• Dr Yubing Shi, University of Sheffield: To develop a mathematical model to predict the effects and changes of blood pressure and flow in human bodies under drug regulation.  Once fully validated, this model can be used to assist the clinical evaluation of drug effects and the developing and testing of new drugs while saving countless animals in the UK every year
• Dr Emmanouil Karteris, Brunel University: To develop alternative models to understand the molecular and biochemical processes associated with cellular pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. This pilot project will provide a novel experimental paradigm for studying neurodegenerative diseases that will lead to substitution of animal models.
• Dr Nicola Fletcher, University of Birmingham:  Aims to identify the cellular mechanisms used by viruses to boost infection in order to identify novel antiviral targets. This project is part of a larger initiative to develop non-animal, immune competent models to study hepatitis C virus pathogenesis.
• Dr Ian Bailey, University of Westminster:  To develop and use a combination of computer modelling systems, biology tools and in vitro cell culture assays, involving human cell lines, to investigate the biology of PXR, which regulates the genes responsible for the uptake, metabolism and excretion of drugs and toxicants from the diet, as opposed to using animal models.

Kailah Eglington, Chief Executive of the Dr Hadwen Trust, said: “Our new Summer Studentship scheme extends the support and funding we already provide to universities across the country in a very practical way to the next generation of researchers.

“These new projects will further our understanding in vital areas of medical research while offering the potential to help to replace the number of animals harmed in scientific research.”

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