Doctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.

TBC

To develop chemical admixtures to control durability and strength properties of innovative low carbon binder system in order to make the system adaptable for a range of in situ application.

Project title: The use of polysaccharide nanoparticles for drug delivery to the oesophagus Although considerable progress has been made in the general area of targeted drug delivery to specific tissues and cells within the body, it has proved extremely difficult to deliver drugs specifically to the oesophagus. This is due in part to the short residence time of material within the oesophagus, typically less than 10 seconds, minimising the likelihood of drug-oesophageal contact, and in part to the necessity of maintaining a clear passage through to the stomach, which thereby precludes the use of conventionally-sized oral delivery systems, such as bioadhesive tablets. The oesophagus is associated with several disease states such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal cancer; the last of these being associated with approximately 2% of tumour-related fatalities. There is therefore a strong argument for the development of delivery systems whereby the drug can be specifically targeted to the oesophageal tissue. Work to date on oesophageal targeting within the Belfast group has focused on the adhesion of alginates to the oesophageal tissue, particularly in solution. This has involved the development of a ex-vivo model in which porcine oesophageal tissue is isolated in a Perspex frame and alginate solutions applied, with the concentration adhered to the tissue calculated by measuring the concentration difference before and after application. We have been able to show that alginates are effective bioadhesives when applied in solution, with the concomitant implication that delivery systems composed of this material may therefore bind preferentially to the oesophagus. As the use of alginates as materials for microparticulate systems is reasonably well established, we consider it entirely logical to suggest that such systems may be of considerable benefit as drug delivery vehicles to this otherwise inaccessible tissue. We therefore intend to prepare particulate systems, preferably in the nanometre size range, and to investigate the propensity of these particles to adhere to porcine oesophageal tissue using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The study will therefore provide an invaluable proof of concept as to the validity of the approach.

An investigation of migration relating to Northern Ireland and its 'Diaspora, employing. Life narrative interviewing to record the experiences of Northern Irish people living abroad in jurisdictions where Northern Protestants comprise a significant component of the Irish migrant group. The study will examine the relationship between emigration and return migration, the Northern Ireland conflict, the Peace Process and how the migration experience forefronts issues of political and religious identity and sectarianism.