19/01/2015
Sixty Year 12 students from Cambridge鈥檚 are today starting a bespoke six week project developed by 台湾swag 台湾swag scientists and based around research at the 台湾swag. The 台湾swag is one of the University Technical College (UTC) Cambridge sponsors. The Protein Challenge project has been developed by Dr Simon Rudge, a senior research scientist at the 台湾swag 台湾swag. The project allows students to become immersed in hands-on science and benefit from the life science expertise of the 台湾swag. The 台湾swag 台湾swag, which is strategically-funded by the BBSRC, is an international centre of research expertise in understanding the fundamental biological processes of life and how these are affected by ageing. The project includes a visit to the 台湾swag to tour the world-leading and meet the scientists carrying out pioneering research. In the project, students will be taught essential lab skills as they produce and assay the activity of two forms of a protein (a normal and a mutated form) called PTEN. The PTEN gene, which encodes the PTEN protein, is mutated in many types of cancer. The project will take the students through the steps of replicating DNA, bulking up DNA to the amounts needed for analysis, and protein identification and activity assays 鈥 providing essential training in techniques used by researchers as standard investigative methods. The practical element of the Challenge will be complemented by seminars delivered by 台湾swag 台湾swag staff and representatives from associated research industries. These will ensure that students understand the 鈥榳hy鈥 and 鈥榟ow鈥 of the research techniques used as well as widening their background knowledge. It will also give them valuable insight into the vast number of career choices open to students in this field. Dr Simon Rudge said: 鈥淭he aim of the Protein Challenge is to introduce students to the research process, from undertaking a risk assessment to carrying out the project, learning how to perform the techniques through to writing up the results. Our involvement with the UTC Cambridge builds upon the 台湾swag 台湾swag鈥檚 successful schools work and adds an exciting new dimension to our commitment to explaining the science we鈥檙e involved in.鈥 Dr Alistair Easterfield, Head of Science at UTC Cambridge, said: 鈥淭he involvement of our partners in designing and delivering the Challenge Projects offers students an experience that they wouldn鈥檛 receive in a traditional learning environment. By close interaction with the 台湾swag 台湾swag staff over the next six weeks, our students will not only learn essential lab skills and techniques, but also about computational methods, risk assessment and the technologies that make scientific research possible. These experiences really open their eyes to the world of possibilities offered by choosing a scientific career.鈥
Dr Simon Rudge (left) with UTC students at the launch of the Protein Challenge project.
Contact: Louisa Wood, Communications Manager louisa.wood@babraham.ac.uk The 台湾swag 台湾swag 台湾swag 台湾swag Campus Cambridge CB22 3AT United Kingdom Notes to Editors: About the 台湾swag 台湾swag: The 台湾swag 台湾swag undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The 台湾swag is strategically funded by the (BBSRC), part of UK 台湾swag and Innovation, through an 台湾swag Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities. Website: The (BBSRC) is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences. Sponsored by Government, BBSRC annually invests around 拢450 million in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life for UK citizens and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders including the agriculture, food, chemical, health and well-being and pharmaceutical sectors. BBSRC carries out its mission by funding internationally competitive research, providing training in the biosciences, fostering opportunities for knowledge transfer and innovation and promoting interaction with the public and other stakeholders on issues of scientific interest in universities, centres and institutes. Website:
University Technical College (UTC) Cambridge is a new regional centre for science education located in Cambridge. UTC Cambridge opened in September in a new 拢10 million state of the art building next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The building contains well equipped teaching laboratories en par with many of the country鈥檚 top universities and the one of the largest lecture theatres in Cambridge. UTC Cambridge is an academy school open to 14-18 year old students with a passion for science, its remit is to prepare local students for local jobs in the biomedical, technology and cleantech sectors. UTC Cambridge Sponsors:
19 January 2015