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Aston University spin-out wins start-up prize at life sciences and medical technology industry awards show

MESOX, a spin-out from the pharmaceutics group at Aston Pharmacy School, develops drug carrier technology to improve medicine formulations The company won the Start-Up prize at the Medilink Midlands Awards 2024 The prize is awarded to a new company that shows a promising future. A spin-out company from Aston University’s pharmaceutics research group has won a medical technology and life sciences industry award. MESOX, which was founded by Aston University pharmaceutics lecturer Dr Ali Al-Khattawi, won the Medilink Midlands Start-Up Award, which is presented to a newly established company that shows a promising future. The Medilink Midlands Business Awards showcase the best collaborations between industry, academia and the NHS across the Midlands. This year’s ceremony was held at the Athena in Leicester on 9 May. The awards were established by Medilink Midlands, which provides specialist business support to boost the region’s economic output from the life sciences industry. Working alongside the Midlands Engine and other strategic alliances, it helps stimulate additional and value-added growth of the Midlands as a prosperous community for life sciences. With in-depth expertise in particle engineering for drug delivery and pharmaceutical spray drying, MESOX uses IP-protected carriers to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to bring challenging therapeutics to market. In its citation, Medilink Midlands described MESOX as “transforming pharmaceutical formulation with its game-changing carrier technologies.” As a winner of a Medilink Midlands award, MESOX will now be entered into the UK National Awards, the ceremony of which takes place on 11 July 2024 in London. Dr Al-Khattawi said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award, which highlights the outstanding research and development work being done by the MESOX team and the immense potential of our company to transform the medicine formulation development landscape. Through collaboration with other pharmaceutical companies, clinicians, academic researchers, and by engaging directly with patients to understand their needs, we aim to innovate and advance drug delivery science into life-saving therapeutics. “At MESOX, our ambition is to be a global, research-based pharmaceutical company rooted in the Midlands, dedicated to developing life-saving therapeutics at speed and resource-efficiency. Our ultimate goal is to enable healthier lives for patients worldwide and ensure better global access to essential medicines.”

The harmful impact of stigma on individuals struggling with opioid addiction

People in recovery from opioid use disorder often struggle with decisions to tell others about their past substance use, treatment, and/or recovery. Although disclosures that go well can lead to social support that is helpful for recovery, disclosures that go poorly can lead to stigma that can harm recovery. Valerie Earnshaw, associate professor in the College of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware, specializes in speaking about addiction and stigma and can speak on this phenomenon.  She recently spoke about this topic a the annual Marion H. Steele Symposium at UD.  Earnshaw charted the growth of the opioid crisis in the United States, discussed stigma as a complex social process with the power to affect health outcomes and shared her work on an intervention she designed to help people with the disclosure process. She can be contacted by clicking her "View Profile" button. 

A Beginner’s Guide to Expertise Marketing

It’s no secret that audiences are consuming more content online than ever before. Because of this, organizations around the world are trying to keep up with content marketing programs but end up focusing too much on speed and not nearly enough on quality. From click bait to fake news, today’s savvy audiences are quick to abandon websites serving misleading and uninformed content. They are now actively seeking out sources that demonstrate a high-level of knowledge and credibility – which is where expertise marketing comes into play. According to Edelman’s Trust Barometer Study, experts play a vital role in establishing credibility amongst audiences and developing more meaningful interactions with businesses and organizations. As far back as their 2019 report results showed that 56% of people trust businesses as a source of news and information while only 47% trusted the government. On top of that, they also reported that 73% of participants were worried about false information or fake news being used as a weapon. This distrust has only gotten worse since COVID and the polarizing politics of recent years. With this in mind, there’s a real opportunity for knowledge-based organizations to step up and show their smarts through expertise marketing. What is Expertise Marketing? Expertise marketing is the practice of making the knowledge and skills of your human resources more visible to your partners and audiences. It draws attention to the value that your people can bring as brand ambassadors and strategically leverages the work your experts are doing to tell a more personal story. In many cases, expertise marketing can also be used to showcase your strengths in research and innovation. Creating a stronger digital presence, expertise marketing more effectively uses your channels to connect with audiences such as media, customers, partners and donors. It builds a sense of trust with your audiences and above all else, it helps establish your reputation as an industry leader. Expertise Marketing Defined: The practice of collectively promoting an organization's experts as brand ambassadors to demonstrate their skills or knowledge. Best practices to publish and connect organizational expertise in ways that foster internal discovery, collaboration, shared knowledge and diversity. Activities that leverage expertise to nurture conversations and connections with audiences such as media, customers, partners, government and funding agencies. How to Make Your Expertise More Visible Properly executed, expertise marketing is about harnessing your in-house expertise and making it more visible. By delivering comprehensive, relevant information in a visually engaging format, you can create a window into your organization that helps audiences better understand your offering and encourages more meaningful conversations. Here are three areas where expertise excels: On Your Website There’s a good chance that you already created touchpoints for expertise marketing but they’re just not optimized for audiences. For example, many organizations are unaware that the “About Page” is the second most visited page on a website and may overlook its potential for attracting audiences. Other webpages that strongly benefit from expert content include: Speaker’s Bureaus Media Rooms Employee Directories Faculty Directories Blogs Employee Intranets Awards Recognition Research & Technology Transfer Through Search Engines Content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) go hand-in-hand – and it’s key to making your expertise more visible. In Google’s search algorithm, factors like trust and authority are significantly impacted by items such as content and expertise. While SEO is no small task, tools like the ExpertFile Platform are designed to make aggregating and optimizing expert content as seamless as possible. In addition, organizations can also improve their rankings by: Identifying and showcasing a range of expertise Using rich media to display expert content Regularly updating your website with expert content Producing content related to current trends and emerging news In The Media For many organizations, media opportunities are an afterthought but it’s the perfect way to highlight your expertise and attract a broad range of audiences. Media outlets are constantly on the hunt for topic-specific experts to speak at conferences, weigh-in on their editorials and enhance the overall quality of their reporting. By making your experts more visible to this audience, you’re not only building your brand reputation as an industry authority but you’re also creating opportunities for new revenue. Starting an Expertise Marketing Program Bringing an expertise marketing program to life starts by taking a deeper look at your human resources and pinpointing the people in your organization who can support your expertise marketing initiatives. This post on Identifying Expertise is a great starting point for understanding what makes someone an expert and how you can position them for various tasks in your expertise marketing program. From there, it’s about getting buy-in from key stakeholders, collaborating across departments to surface expert content and strategizing with your team about where your expertise is best served. Download The Complete Guide to Expertise Marketing For a comprehensive look at how expertise marketing benefits the entire organization and drives measurable return on investment, follow the link below to download a copy of ExpertFile’s Complete Guide to Expertise Marketing: The Next Wave in Digital Strategy or download one of our tailored Guides for Corporate & Professional Services, Higher Education Institutions, Healthcare Institutions or Association & Not-for-Profits.

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Manitoba Urges Drivers to Slow Down and Move Over

A recent study conducted by CAA Manitoba revealed a knowledge gap in how drivers understand and comply with Slow Down Move Over (SDMO) laws. According to the study, 85 per cent of drivers claim they are aware of the SDMO law – however, only 41 per cent have a clear understanding of its definition. The survey also found that a third of drivers (30 per cent) confuse the SDMO law with the one that requires drivers to give emergency vehicles the right of way and clear passage when stopped on the side of the road. “This data shows us that there is a big divide and misunderstanding between the law in theory and the law in practice,” says Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations CAA Manitoba. “Lack of understanding of the Slow Down Move Over law poses a significant safety risk for tow truck operators and emergency vehicles on the province's roads." To help keep tow operators safe, CAA Manitoba is using National Slow Down Move Over Day to remind drivers of the law, its purpose and penalties for non-compliance. On May 14, all CAA Clubs across Canada are coordinating a National Slow Down Move Over Day, part of a broader campaign to remind motorists to be mindful and cautious around truck operators assisting others on the roadside. Across North America, more than 100 tow truck drivers have been killed in the last decade after being struck by oncoming traffic while helping stranded motorists with flat tires, breakdowns, and collisions. Given the lack of data collection on these types of deaths, this number is very conservative. Add to that the significant number of injuries and near misses demonstrates just how important it is to educate the public about the Slow Down Move Over law. “Tow truck operators face a high risk of injury when on the side of the road or in a live lane helping stranded drivers. “These are real people with friends, families and loved ones,” says Friesen. “CAA Manitoba will always advocate for their safety to create safer roads across Manitoba for everyone, including those working alongside it.” In Manitoba, the SDMO law requires drivers to slow down when a vehicle is working along the roadside. If the posted speed limit is less than 80 km/h, drivers are required to slow down to 40 km/h. If the posted speed limit is 80 km/h or higher, drivers are required to slow down to 60 km/h. Drivers are not as concerned for the safety of tow truck operators as they should be. The survey also found that when compared to other types of emergency vehicles, Manitoban drivers tend to slow down less for tow truck operators. While motorists say they will reduce their speed and fully change lanes when they encounter emergency vehicles like police (95 per cent), ambulances (93 per cent) and fire trucks (89 per cent) only 70 per cent will slow down and move over for a tow operator. “Everyone deserves a safe place to work, including tow truck operators who are working in extremely unsafe conditions, "says Friesen. “ CAA Manitoba will continue to educate the public on road safety, and bring awareness to the laws that have been put in place to protect tow operators along with other emergency roadside assistance.” CAA Manitoba is encouraging motorists to get informed on the laws put in place to protect tow operators and other emergency roadside assistance on National Slow Down, Move Over Day. To learn more about Slow Down, Move Over, visit: https://www.caamanitoba.com/advocacy/government-relations/slow-down DIG Insights conducted an online survey on behalf of CAA Manitoba between October 26th –November 6th, 2023, of 758 Manitoba drivers aged 18-75 years. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/- 3 per cent

STORY: CAA Clubs Across Canada join forces on National Slow Down Move Over Day 

Every year, CAA clubs across Canada mark the second Tuesday of May as National Slow Down Move Over Day. This year, National Slow Down Move Over Day is on May 14, 2024.  To help keep tow operators safe, CAA South Central Ontario is highlighting the importance of National Slow Down Move Over Day. Everyone deserves a safe place to work including tow truck drivers who are working in unsafe conditions. According to a recent CAA survey of 1,516 Ontario drivers, while almost all drivers comply with Ontario’s slow down move over law, nearly half admit to not slowing down and moving over for tow trucks because they were not aware they had to. As we approach the summer driving season, it is important for drivers to slow down and move over when approaching a roadside emergency rescue. By doing so, we can help protect the lives of those who work on our roads and highways and make our roads safer for everyone.  In Ontario, the SDMO law requires drivers to slow down, and if there is space and it's safe, move over one lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, including tow trucks, with flashing lights. Fines could range from $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points if convicted and possible suspension of driver's licence for up to two years.  As a longtime advocate of road safety, CAA has been pushing for safer roads for everyone.   Learn more about CAA SDMO efforts here: https://www.caasco.com/advocacy/road-safety/slow-down-move-over

Covering the 76th Anniversary of the State of Israel's Declaration of Independence - our experts can help

The anniversary of the State of Israel's declaration of independence holds profound significance, symbolizing the realization of a long-held dream for the Jewish people and reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. This event matters to the public as it commemorates the birth of a nation and underscores enduring themes of identity, self-determination, and resilience. As journalists consider coverage of this milestone, there are several compelling story angles to explore, appealing to a broad audience: The historical context and significance of Israel's declaration of independence Personal narratives and experiences of individuals involved in the establishment of the state Political and diplomatic implications of Israel's independence for the region and beyond Social and cultural developments in Israeli society since its inception Challenges and achievements in Israel's journey as a modern nation-state Reflections on the ongoing quest for peace and coexistence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict As we commemorate the 76th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence, journalists have an opportunity to delve into these multifaceted narratives, shedding light on the complexities and enduring impact of this historic event. Connect with an Expert about the 76th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence: Robert Rabil, Ph.D. Professor · Florida Atlantic University Jeremy Pressman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science, Director of Middle East Studies · University of Connecticut David Mednicoff Department Chair and Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy · University of Massachusetts Amherst Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich Associate Professor of German · University of Mary Washington To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo Credit: Taylor Brandon

Aston University scientist to help make crop monitoring easier and cheaper

Photonics expert Dr Sergey Sergeyev to help make crop monitoring easier and cheaper with remote sensing The technology can be placed on drones and flown over crop fields to provide real-time information about crop health Remote sensing is an essential tool to provide real-time information about crops to estimate yields. An Aston University photonics expert has received a Royal Society Industry Fellowship grant to help make crop monitoring easier and cheaper with remote sensing technology. Dr Sergey Sergeyev of Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT) has received £174,000 to improve polarimetric LIDAR, a technology that uses light to remotely observe plants. LiDAR, an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging, involves light sent from a transmitter which is reflected from objects. Devices with this technology can be placed on drones and flown over crop fields to provide real-time information about crop health to help farmers forecast the success of their crops. Polarimetric synthetic-aperture radars (SARs) and polarimetric LiDARs are the most advanced, cost-effective sensors for crop monitoring. They are often used onboard aircraft and satellites and have been in use for three decades. However, current polarimetric LIDAR systems have low spatial resolution, a slow measurement speed and use expensive components that limit their cost effectiveness. Dr Sergeyev will be working in collaboration with Salford-based digital and AI farming company Fotenix to meet farmers' need for a cost-effective solution to check if their plants are adequately watered and disease-free. The team will aim to advance recently patented AIPT technology of the polarimetric LIDAR, making it affordable for farmers in the UK and worldwide. The project, called POLIDAR, will run from 2024 to 2025. Dr Sergeyev said: “Aston University’s patented technique will be modified by using a laser emitting four time-delayed pulse trains with different states of polarisation. By comparing the input states of polarisation and states of polarisation of light reflected from plants, it will reveal information about the distance to plants and plants' leaf texture, such as water stress and pathogen infection. Unlike state-of-the-art solutions we suggest an all-fibre design with a minimum number of bulk components that reduces the footprint, cost and weight. Dr Sergeyev added: “My project's motivation is driven by the global and UK agenda on increased food production, requiring novel remote sensing approaches towards ICT farming. “As declared at the World Summit on Food Security in 2017, the growth in the world's population requires increased and more efficient agricultural production. “Remote sensing is an essential tool to systematically address the challenging task of enhanced agricultural efficiency by providing real-time information about crop traits for yield estimation.” The announcement coincides with UNESCO Day of Light which marks the role light plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development. It is held on 16 May every year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser. ENDS  World Summit on Food Security in 2017 The future of food and agriculture: Trends and challenges (fao.org) https://www.fao.org/3/i6583e/i6583e.pdf UNESCO Day of Light The International Day of Light is a global initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. The International Day of Light is held on May 16th every year, the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. The laser is a perfect example of how a scientific discovery can yield revolutionary benefits to society in communications, healthcare and many other fields. About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

New podcast: Aston University researchers explore the benefits of walking for Mental Health Awareness Week

Clary Collicutt and Professor Rachel Shaw join the latest episode of Aston Originals Health Matters series Clary’s PhD research investigates the mental health benefits of urban walking The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, from 13 to 19 May, is ‘moving more for our mental health’. Two researchers from Aston University’s School of Psychology discuss the mental health benefits of urban walking in the latest Aston Originals Health Matters podcast, recorded for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024. Clary Collicutt is a PhD researcher, with her project specifically looking at urban walking. While there is much in the literature about the benefits of walking in nature and the countryside, very little exists about urban walking. Professor Rachel Shaw is director of the Applied Health Research Group and wellbeing lead for the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, and Clary’s PhD supervisor. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is ‘moving more for our mental health’. Movement, whether that’s going for a walk, dancing in the kitchen or playing a sport, has been shown to increase energy levels, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost self-esteem, and the Mental Health Foundation is seeking to encourage more people to find ‘moments for movement’. One of the easiest ways to get moving is simply to go for a walk, and with many more people living in towns and cities, this is most likely to be around urban streets and roads. Clary’s PhD research is an extension of her MSc studies and is a qualitative look at how urban walking can help mental health. While a quantitative study would look at numbers and statistics, the qualitative research will allow Clary to connect with people’s stories and personal experiences. As part of her research, Clary is interviewing people about walking and what they feel it does for them. One interviewee told Clary that she views her urban walking like a “prescription”, something she needs to do every day, while another plays Pokémon Go, which he finds an incentive to walk further. Meanwhile, Professor Shaw has been researching wellbeing in paediatric critical care (PCC) staff, who face hugely stressful working conditions. One fact that has come out time and again is how important walking is, even if only a wander round the block in a break. Clary said: “Talking about urban walking, one of the main advantages is the complete accessibility of it, I think. “I personally find walking a magic tonic. You can feel really stressed and then you can have a walk and I feel that really helps me. Or I can feel really good and have a walk and it will still help me. So, wherever the mood spectrum is, I think walking can benefit.” The full podcast can be accessed on YouTube.