Newton Prize 2018 - Newton Fund
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Newton Prize
2018
1
Foreword from the Minister
As the UK’s Minister for Science and This year’s prize coincides with the first
Innovation, I am clear that the UK’s anniversary of the publication of the UK’s
research and innovation excellence is modern Industrial Strategy, which identifies
founded on our openness and global and prioritises the strong foundations of
engagement: science has no borders and our economy to meet the challenges and
the best science is done working opportunities of the future. The Industrial
internationally. Strategy includes our commitment to the
biggest increase in public and private
The uniqueness of the Newton Fund is the R&D investment in our history, to reach
partnership working between the UK and 2.4 percent of GDP invested in research
partner country at all levels from and development by 2027 and 3 percent in
government to government, delivery the longer term.
partner to delivery partner through to
project lead to project lead. From energy International collaboration in partnerships
and healthcare, to agriculture and digital, such as those in Latin America, celebrated
the Newton Fund demonstrates how within this publication, sit alongside this
bringing researchers together has step change in investment. That’s good Sam Gyimah MP
enormous potential to change lives for the news for innovative nations like the UK and UK Minister of State for Universities, Science,
better across the world. our Newton Fund partner countries. Research and Innovation
The annual £1m Newton Prize builds upon, I would like to congratulate all the
celebrates and further encourages these researchers and innovators – their inspiring
research partnerships. It’s great to see this projects demonstrate what can be
year’s applications representing the achieved when we work together in
breadth of the Newton Fund’s work from partnership. Department for
public and private sector organisations Business, Energy
1 based around the world. & Industrial Strategy
Foreword from the Newton Prize Committee Chair
Last year I was impressed by the fantastic to the 22 shortlisted projects was only
work done through the 2017 Newton possible thanks to the excellent work of
Prize projects and hearing first-hand the the over 400 external peer reviewers from
excited reaction of the winners. In what is around the world. Selecting the winners
now my second year as the Chair of the was not easy but having UK and Latin
Newton Prize Committee, I have really American experts on the independent
enjoyed learning about the collaborative committee, bringing their knowledge and
endeavours in Latin America. insights, was crucial in arriving at the
eventual winners – so a big thank you to
Science by its nature has always been an everyone involved.
international enterprise. The Newton Prize
exemplifies this by allowing international As well as a Newton Prize for each country,
research partners to continue working I am honoured to present a special
together on solutions that change lives. Chair’s Prize, for the project that best
The Newton Prize recognises and demonstrates regional or global impact.
celebrates the outstanding work and After all, our world today faces many
impact of the pioneering ideas and cutting- challenges, from energy to sustainable Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, FRS
edge research and innovations that come food production; from disease prevention Newton Prize Committee Chair
from these Newton Fund partnerships. to city planning. It is only through President of the Royal Society
partnership and international collaboration
There were over 140 applications for this that we can hope to tackle, and solve,
year’s Newton Prize demonstrating the these issues.
strong partnerships between UK and Latin
American researchers. Narrowing it down
2
Introduction
The Newton Fund builds research and impactful partnerships between the UK In 2018, the Newton Prize is being
innovation partnerships with 17 active and Newton countries, and encourages awarded for projects, fellowships or
partner countries to support economic new international collaborations to address other awards as part of the Newton
development and social welfare, and some of the world’s most pressing partnerships with Brazil, Chile,
research and innovation capacity for challenges. Colombia and Mexico.
long-term sustainable growth. It tackles
global challenges such as sustainable food Each year, from 2017 until 2021, a
and water resources, natural hazards, minimum of five Newton funded projects,
atmospheric pollution, and resistance to fellowships or other awards will be
antibiotics. These issues have a major awarded the Newton Prize. Each Prize
impact on the lives of people across the will be worth up to £200,000, and must
globe. be used to advance or develop existing
Newton funded work. The Prize will
The total budgeted UK investment for the be awarded for the best research or
Newton Fund is £735 million from 2014 innovation that demonstrated impact in
to 2021, and partner countries provide economic development and/or social
matched resources within the Fund, welfare.
making it a truly equitable partnership.
It is managed by the UK Department for The Newton Fund supports the United
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
(BEIS) and delivered through seven UK Development and the collaborations
delivery partners. shortlisted for this year’s Prize each tackle
one or more of the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals; addressing areas of
The Newton Prize
critical importance for humanity and the
The Newton Prize is a £1 million fund
planet.
which recognises the exciting research and
innovation the Newton Fund has invested
in since its launch in 2014. It celebrates
3 globalgoals.org
The partner countries
Brazil Chile Colombia Mexico
Newton Fund Brazil was The Newton-Picarte fund is The Newton-Caldas Fund is The Newton Fund in Mexico is
launched by the UK Finance named after Chilean named after Francisco José de the first formal research and
Minister in 2014. The Newton mathematician Ramón Picarte. Caldas, considered the father innovation partnership
Fund invests in partnerships The fund has supported of engineering in Colombia and programme between the UK
with Brazilian ministries, collaborations across the the inventor of the hypsometer, and Mexican Governments.
research funding agencies and scientific spectrum in key an instrument for measuring Both countries have agreed
foundations to promote social sectors that include agriculture, height or elevation. The UK and four priority areas of mutual
and economic development engineering, natural and social Colombia work together interest: health and nutrition;
through science and sciences and medical and through the Newton-Caldas agro technology; future and
innovation. It plays a crucial health research. From 2018 the Fund on: biosciences, food sustainable cities; and clean
role in bringing together fund in Chile will address wider security, post conflict energy development. The fund
specialists from both countries global development challenges, transitions, health, agritech is fostering equal partnerships
to tackle challenges such as reflecting Chile’s graduation research and innovation. that will build capacity and
neglected infectious diseases, from the DAC list. Projects Biodiversity research and support social and economic
environmental threats and to shortlisted for this year’s prize innovation through the £20m development in Mexico. Over
collaborate on sustainable will build on the impact they Colombia Bio programme are a the last four years the fund has
agriculture, biodiversity and have achieved within Chile to major component of the been delivered by more than 50
urban transformation. More benefit other countries in Latin programme, with a focus on different institutions in Mexico
than 50 joint calls have been America and globally. exploration, research, and with UK partners.
launched to date. sustainable bioproducts.
4
Shortlist case studies
Brazil Chile Colombia Mexico
5
Increasing livestock fertility for sustainable agriculture
BRAZIL
Brazil is the largest exporter of beef in the Newton-funded researchers from Brazil
❝
world. Livestock supports the economic and the UK are harnessing assisted This project has been a
livelihood and food security of almost 1.3 reproductive technologies to generate springboard enabling us and
billion people and contributes 40 percent of robust cattle and avoid embryo mortality. our Brazilian collaborators to stay at the
the value of agricultural output worldwide. Exposure to environmental stresses can cutting edge of science. It has facilitated a
Livestock is also the world’s largest user be harmful to offspring health even in the new way of working.
of land resources, with grazing land and womb. This project has generated a new
Dr Niamh Forde, University Academic
cropland dedicated to the production of and exciting in vivo model to understand
Fellow, University of Leeds
feed representing almost 80 percent of all how the embryo and the mother
agricultural land. interact, and how this can go wrong. By
understanding communication between The role of extracellular vesicles mediating
One factor that greatly affects the the embryo and the maternal environment embryo-maternal communication in bovine
economic sustainability of both beef the researchers can identify interventions to
and dairy farming is poor reproductive increase successful pregnancy and ensure Project leads:
efficiency associated with embryo mortality. that offspring are resilient to environmental Dr Niamh Forde, University Academic Fellow,
University of Leeds and Dr Juliano DaSilveria,
Increasing fertility in cattle will support stresses.
University of Sao Paulo.
sustainable agricultural production and
reduce environmental impacts worldwide. This work has the potential to identify Delivery partners:
molecules that can be manipulated to Royal Society and São Paulo Research
Cattle in Brazil enhance pregnancy success or can act Foundation (FAPESP)
as markers of early pregnancy success,
helping to transform the sustainable
intensification of agriculture in different
production systems across the world. If the
researchers can implement their findings
to help farmers produce more robust cattle
that will provide more dairy products and
meat, this will have longer term economic
and social benefits by increasing the
economic viability of small holder farmers.
6
Investigating the treatment of a killer disease spread by sandflies
BRAZIL
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical government health agencies will benefit
❝
disease transmitted by the bite of infected from the collection and distribution of new The project will provide the
sandflies. After being bitten, humans can data about leishmaniasis; extending our base for the development of new
experience symptoms ranging from painful collective knowledge and understanding expertise in Leishmania immunity and
skin legions to internal organ failure. It about one of most important neglected support the emergence of innovative and
is estimated that between 20,000 and diseases in the world. unexplored treatments.
30,000 people die from the disease each
Professor Daniel de Oliveira Gomes,
year. Longer term, the project will allow for
Federal University of Espírito Santo
the establishment of new research
Worldwide, 350 million people are at risk partnerships with national and international
of acquiring leishmaniasis and it is very scientists who want to study and fight Characterisation of Leishmania–specific T
common in Brazil. Drug treatment used leishmaniasis, as well supporting research cells in skin and blood during cutaneous
and mucocotaneous leishmaniasis caused
since the 19th century can be toxic, capacity building and technical training for
by Leishmania brasiliensis
expensive and ineffective. Research scientists.
conducted by Newton funded scientists
indicates that the skin legions patients Project leads standing by their winning poster at the Brazilian
Project leads:
suffer with are exacerbated by the Immunology meeting Professor Arne Akbar, University College London
patient’s robust immune response to the and Professor Daniel Gomes, Federal University
parasite. Building on their initial findings, of Espírito Santo.
the researchers are investigating how the Delivery partners:
immune system responds to the disease Medical Research Council, the Brazilian National
and how this can help to tailor potential Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP),
treatments. the Foundation for Support to Research and
Innovation of Espírito Santo (FAPES) and the
As well as directly helping patients Brazilian National Council for Scientific and
through diagnosis and follow-up, the Technological Development (CNPq)
study may lead to new treatments to
counteract leishmaniasis and alleviate
the suffering of patients. More broadly,
the wider biomedical community and
7
Preserving the Amazon with traditional knowledge
BRAZIL
Since 1970, over 800,000 square Training indigenous people in the collection
❝
kilometres of the Brazilian Amazon have and recording of biocultural knowledge This project revitalises the
been deforested – an area four times will enable them to undertake their own knowledge we don’t have in
the size of Great Britain. To combat biocultural research, bringing fundamental the region anymore. I believe that with
deforestation, indigenous peoples of benefits for the sustainable and beneficial this knowledge we can recover our
Northwest Amazonia have historically use of plants throughout the region. The ways of living and the wellbeing of our
practiced sophisticated forms of land current focus of the project is across 22 communities.
management, but these practices are now indigenous groups (40,000 people), but the
Ronaldo Silva, Indigenous leader, Rio Içana,
under threat from erosion of traditional longer-term aim will be to expand this work
knowledge. As this traditional knowledge reconnecting local knowledge and science Baniwa
is lost, the risk to health, income, nutrition throughout Brazil and neighbouring
and culture increases. countries in the Amazon. Mobilising the value of bio-cultural
collections in Brazil
This Newton funded project is preserving
this vital knowledge by drawing upon the
Project leads:
historic collections of the Royal Botanic
Gardens at Kew, to improve understanding William Milliken, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
and Viviane Stern da Fonseca Kruel, Rio de
between past and present indigenous
Tuyuka girl collecting chili pepper fruits Janeiro Botanical Garden.
knowledge and science. This project will
build on the team’s work with the records Delivery partners:
of 19th century botanist Richard Spruce; British Council and Rio de Janeiro Botanical
some of the earliest surviving records Gardens
we have on Amazonian culture, plants
and their uses. The team plan to extend
their programme on Spruce’s collections
to create a long-term digital resource in
collaboration with researchers in Brazil.
Digitising the collection will make this key
reference work on Brazilian ethnobotany
available to wider audiences.
8
New technology to fight neglected tropical diseases
BRAZIL
Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical
❝
disease, is endemic in 97 countries and Rapid point-of-care technology
up to 1 million new cases occur each year. and new drugs discovery could
When left undiagnosed in the early stages, revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment
it may progress into serious conditions of leishmaniasis, benefitting thousands of
leading to disability and death. This disease people in the poorest regions of the world.
dramatically lowers the quality of life and
Dr Mardjane Alves de Lemos Nunes,
worsens poverty and inequality.
Superintendent of Health Surveillance,
New technology in the form of rapid Alagoas, Brazil
and low-cost diagnostic devices offers Professors Silva and Moreira in Brazil discuss new diagnostic
devices in video link to Professor Drinkwater in the UK
the prospect of early intervention when Acoustophoretic technology: from theory to
leishmaniasis is readily treatable. A application
parallel investigation is underway to better In time, improvements in health will lead to
understand leishmaniasis, helping to find better quality of life and are an economic
Project leads:
new drugs to treat the condition. This enabler. These new acoustic devices
research addresses both these issues, can break the cycle of neglected tropical Professor Bruce Drinkwater, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol
providing cheap, portable and robust diseases in poor regions around the world.
and Associate Professor Glauber Silva, Physical
solutions. The development of new technology Acoustics Group, Federal University of Alagoas
in partnership with Brazil will also lead
Delivery partners:
Newton-funded researchers in Brazil and to new skilled jobs in technology and
the UK are co-developing this technology manufacturing. Royal Society and the Brazilian Council for the
State Funding Agencies (CONFAP)
in such a way that the ideas, skills, and
trained people remain in the country where
they are most needed. Prototypes will be
tested in poor regions of Brazil bringing
immediate benefits to these people. This
will attract publicity, raising awareness of
this disease, locally and around the world.
9Improving the lives of the Guarani people by saving the Atlantic Forest
BRAZIL
The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is one of the agrobiodiversity from collapse on Guarani
❝
world’s richest biomes, home to a large territory and collective plantations have Winning the Prize would enable
number of species unique to that area. It been established, helping to restore us to include more villages and
is fundamental to the physical and cultural degraded land. The team has produced greatly expand on the success we’ve
survival of the indigenous Guarani people, territorial and environmental management already achieved.
and to the quality of life of more than 70 plans and ethnomaps representing how Daniel Calazans Pierri, General
percent of the Brazilian population who Guarani organise their territory, helping to
Coordination Member, Indigenous Work
depend on its water supply. Despite establish agreements that protect the land.
Centre
this, nearly 90 percent of the forest
has been destroyed to make way for The Guarani have met with governmental
pastures, croplands and urban areas, and non-governmental organisations Environmental and territorial management
severely affecting the Guarani people and to exchange knowledge and discuss in indigenous lands among the Guarani
threatening many species with extinction. solutions. They were also introduced to people in the south and south east of Brazil
the Ashaninka, an indigenous community
A Newton-funded project between who shared their experience on community Project leads:
researchers in the UK and Brazil is helping organisation and environmental restoration.
Marc Brightman, Co-Director at the Centre for
the Guarani restore the Atlantic Forest in As well as benefitting the Atlantic Forest the Anthropology of Sustainability, University
their territory. By drawing from Guarani and the communities it supports, the College London and Daniel Calazans Pierri,
ancestral agricultural knowledge and results of the project could inform General Coordination Member for the
established agroforestry techniques, and conservation efforts elsewhere. Indigenous Work Centre – CTI
by promoting a better understanding of Delivery partner:
Seed exchange.
the importance of indigenous peoples for British Council and Indigenous Work Centre
environmental conservation, the team are (CTI)
supporting the preservation and restoration
of the forest and improving the wellbeing of
Guarani communities.
The project has already benefited
more than 3,000 Guarani people.
Seed exchanges have helped rescue
10The race to find new drugs for a neglected tropical disease
BRAZIL
Schistosomiasis is a neglected yet The team hopes to strengthen
❝
important disease which affects the collaborations with the Brazilian Ministry of It’s a privilege to have been given
poorest and most vulnerable people in the Health to enable clinical trials of candidate the opportunity to collaborate
world. Those infected with the disease can drugs against schistosomiasis and to with researchers in an endemic country
experience liver damage, kidney failure, create unprecedented capacity in Brazil and take a step closer to advancing new
infertility, or bladder cancer. The disease is for state-of-the-art drug discovery, which treatments of schistosomiasis.
spread through contact with fresh water could be applied to other neglected
Nicholas Furnham, Associate Professor,
contaminated with parasite flatworms. diseases.
London School of Hygiene & Tropical
The disease is especially common among Medicine
children in developing countries as they are
Building research capacity for
more likely to play in contaminated water.
schistosomiasis drug discovery and
There is one drug available to treat the Studying the snail intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis
development through high-content imaging
disease and yet even this lifeline is in doubt and structural molecular biology studies
as the parasite is developing resistance to
it. The race is on to create new drugs to
fight the disease. Project leads:
Nicholas Furnham, Associate Professor, London
Newton funded researchers in the UK and School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and
Brazil are using advanced x-ray technology Floriano Silva-Jr, Full Researcher, Oswaldo Cruz
Foundation.
at the UK’s national synchrotron science
facility. They hope to find a way to prevent Delivery partners:
a protein prevelant in schistosoma worms Medical Research Council (originally RCUK),
– and known to be crucial to its survival – Brazilian Council of State Funding Agencies
from working, starting the process of drug (CONFAP) and the Foundation for the Support
of Research in Espírito Santo (FAPES)
discovery. The team has also developed a
network that shares expertise and builds
research capacity in Brazil, a country
whose population is particularly at risk from
schistosomiasis.
11Affordable solutions for sustainable aquaculture in Chile and Brazil
CHILE
Infectious diseases are a serious threat to fish farmers to select disease-resistant
the sustainability of aquaculture and the
livelihoods of millions of people globally
who depend on the industry. Improving
genetic resistance to disease in fish
via selective breeding is one promising
fish based on their genetics. This new
method led to increased uptake of genetic
technology in Chilean salmon farms,
contributing to a 41 percent reduction
in fish farm mortality and a 32 percent
❝ This project has brought
international attention to our
research teams in the UK and Chile,
provided training opportunities for early
career researchers, and has helped
solution, however the technology this reduction in antibiotic use. Exports of spark new collaborations between
requires is too expensive for many Chilean salmon increased 20 percent in academic and industry partners.
aquaculture systems. 2017, supporting income and nutrition for
communities reliant on aquaculture. Professor Ross Houston, University of
A Newton-funded project has helped Edinburgh
tackle the two most important diseases The team will now translate this technology
affecting Chilean salmon aquaculture, and from the advanced salmon industry in Chile Utilising functional genomic variation for
established a successful collaboration to the rapidly developing tilapia breeding improved disease resistance in Chilean
between research groups in the UK and and production sector in Brazil. Tilapia – salmon aquaculture
Chile, that is now expanding to other a species of freshwater fish – supports
countries in South America. The team the nutrition and livelihoods of millions of Project leads:
developed an inexpensive method for people. Brazil is a potential ‘aquaculture
Ross Houston, University of Edinburgh and Jose
superpower’ with 240,000 tonnes of tilapia Yanez, Universidad de Chile
Salmon eggs
produced each year. The team will work
Delivery partners:
with the Aquaculture Center of UNESP
(CAUNESP) in Brazil to implement this low- Biotechnology and Biosciences Reseach
cost innovation and support this critical Council (BBSRC) (originally RCUK) and National
Commission for Scientific and Technological
food industry.
Research (CONICYT)
While the research will initially target Brazil,
the ultimate aim is for the widespread
adoption of genetics and breeding
technology to enhance aquaculture
production globally.
12New electrical architecture to reduce energy poverty
CHILE
Growing technological development cooperation on the important subject
❝
in Chile has led to the need for a more of sustainable energy. The team has The Newton Fund allowed me
efficient and sustainable supply of enabled capacity building in the form of to be hired as a postdoctoral
electricity. Power converters are part of the new MSc and PhD programmes; retaining researcher. I got access to top equipment
answer. They play a simple role in power undergraduate students from the University and was able to conduct high-level
systems around the world, allowing us of Talca and attracting new ones from research and interact with well-known
to carry out far more complex processes the whole region, providing them with professors in the field. As a woman in
in the overall management of electrical the infrastructure and equipment for their Chilean academia it was my gateway to
energy. specialist research. international research.
This project aims to develop new power The project has expanded to other Yamisleydi Salgueiro, Post-doctoral student
converter topologies, connecting separate countries such as Argentina, Cuba and
powergrids to make it easier to manage Serbia and further funding would enable New configurations of power converters for
the supply of electric more effectively, the team to bring these benefits to rural grid interconnection systems
reduce waste and even make electrictity Paraguay.
far more available to remote communities, Project leads:
thereby reducing energy poverty.
Jon Clare, Head of the Power Electronics,
Machines and Control Research Group,
As well as supporting the creation University of Nottingham and Marco Rivera,
of skilled and specialised Head of Energy Conversions and Power
professionals in Electrics Laboratory, University of Talca.
power electronics, Delivery partners:
renewable energy
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
and microgrid
Council (EPSRC) and the National Commission
design, this project will for Scientific and Technological Research
strengthen international (CONICYT)
The ‘Usman’ rig
13Documenting the past for a more peaceful future
CHILE
Thousands of people around the world
❝
are imprisoned, tortured or executed for Undertaking our research
political reasons. Left undocumented, these internationally through the
actions are often met with denial, revisionism Newton Fund will help us protect human
and impunity for those who commit rights in the Latin American region and
them, threatening democracy, peaceful beyond.
coexistence and human development.
Dr Oriana Bernasconi, Associate Professor,
Alberto Hurtado University
Examining the case of Chile and the
unprecedented documentation work Talking to survivors and human rights advocates in the biggest
undertaken by civil society organisations detention centre operating in Mendoza city during the Argentinian
dictatorship Political technologies of memory: a
during the Pinochet dictatorship, an genealogy of the devices of registration
international research team has shown and denunciation of human rights violations
how the act of documentation itself is an rights movements. This study will produce under the military dictatorship in Chile (1973-
important mode of resistance to human recommendations to enhance the 2013)
rights violations. Working closely with human registration policy and processes currently
rights advocacy organisations, Newton- underway in Colombia and Mexico, and Project leads:
funded researchers plan to increase the the results will be shared with human rights
Professor Vikki Bell, Professor of Sociology,
availability of information about human rights organisations to improve registry and
Goldsmiths and Dr Oriana Bernasconi,
violations and inform policy and practice in documentation systems globally. Associate Professor, Department of Sociology,
this important area in Colombia and Mexico. Alberto Hurtado University
Long term, increased documentation will Delivery partners:
Documentation and record-keeping is an help societies confront and learn from
Arts and Humanities Research Council and
essential part of seeking truth and justice. political violence and protect fundamental
the National Commission for Scientific and
It allows affected societies to appreciate – human rights – a basic condition for peace, Technological Research (CONICYT)
often for the first time – the depth and scale sustainable governance and sustainable
of the trauma suffered by fellow citizens. human and economic development in
Both for Colombia and Mexico, this new any society. Crucially, it will support public
line of research, virtually unexplored until policy and measures that help us to move
now, is a decisive contribution to human towards a more peaceful future.
14Strengthening energy infrastructure to withstand extreme weather and natural disasters
CHILE
Long electricity blackouts have a big will inform planning practices to help shape
❝
impact on a country’s economic activities, a robust, cost-effective and low-carbon Attending the workshops and
social stability and security. Latin America’s Chilean transmission network. different activities organised
energy infrastructure currently lacks the within this project, I learned innovative
resilience to deal with the increasing The research also focuses on community concepts about planning resilient systems
frequency of climate-related extreme resilience as a way to lessen the impact that I applied on a regular basis in policy
weather events and natural disasters that of outages and manage disasters, by making.
cause power supplies to fail. ensuring households have response
Oscar Alamos, Head of Risk Management
strategies that are complemented by
Newton funded scientists in the UK and resilience measures prepared for (and by) and Energy Emergencies Unit, Chilean
Chile are using mathematical models to the community. Energy Ministry
develop a framework that will strengthen
power systems in Chile and other countries The application of this research will Disaster management and resilience in
vulnerable to environmental hazards. benefit power system planners, regulators electric power systems
The framework will help energy providers and policy makers, contributing to the
prevent or reduce widescale electricity development of a more resilient, affordable
outages when power systems are exposed and clean energy supply. Already, the Project leads:
to high-impact, low-probability events. It Chilean independent system operator has Pierluigi Mancarella, Professor of Smart Energy
included resilience as an explicit factor in Systems, University of Manchester and Rodrigo
Damage caused by an extreme weather event Moreno, Associate Professor, University of Chile
its system planning for the first time and
has proposed resilient network investments Delivery partners:
worth 50 million US dollars. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council (EPSRC) and the National Commission
National and international networks for Scientific and Technological Research
developed through the project have built (CONICYT)
the capacity of researchers in the wider
region, and the potential impact of this
project could benefit countries affected
by extreme weather and natural hazards
worldwide.
15Converting palm oil waste into sustainable energy
COLOMBIA
Colombia’s densely populated cities When palm oil is extracted from the palm
❝
are some of the most polluted in Latin fruit bunches, the empty fruit bunches We’re excited to work with
America. Rapid urbanisation and are often left in the fields to decay and Professor Titirici and Professor
reliance on fossil fuels is damaging the used as a cheap fertiliser. However, this Lopez on this exciting UK-Colombia
environment, contributing to climate raw material has huge potential to create project and support them towards the
change and negatively affecting the health new bio-based products. With support commercialisation of the devices.
of urban communities. However, as the from the British Council and Colciencias Felipe Gutierrez, Head of Engineering,
leading producer of palm oil in Latin under the Newton Fund, the researchers
Tronex Battery Pack
America, Colombia also has the potential are examining how the residue biomass of
for a successful bioenergy sector. the empty fruit bunches could be used to
create clean energy such as batteries to Sustainable products from biomass
A team of researchers from Colombia power electric vehicles and biofuels. They
and the UK are working together to turn have produced bioethanol, lactic acid and
Project leads: Professor Magdalena Titirici,
waste biomass from palm tree residues furfural – excellent precursors for liquid Queen Mary University of London and Professor
into sustainable energy solutions that fuels – and they also used carbon materials Diana Lopez, University of Antioquia
reduce pollution and help drive social and from the residue biomass as electrodes in
Delivery partners: British Council and
economic development. supercapacitors and batteries. Colciencias - the Administrative Department of
Science, Technology and Innovation
The researchers hope that collaborations
with industrial partners such as Tronex,
a battery manufacturer, will help them to
develop the technology and build the next
generation of sustainable and clean energy
in Colombia. If successful the project will
boost the economy and wellbeing of rural
communities, advance Colombia’s bio-
Prof. Diana Lopez with
a biomass to carbon
economy and reduce dependency on fossil
nanotubes reactor fuels in the transport sector.
designed by industrial
partner HATCH INDISA
at the University of
Antioquia 16A smart solution to sustainable water supply in Colombia
COLOMBIA
Access to the supply of clean and safe company is already running several pilot
❝
water is one of the most important projects with utility companies in three With Newton Fund’s support
environmental issues facing the world Colombian cities that supply water to over great things happened. Only
today. It is estimated that within the next 950,000 people. eight months have passed, and we are
10 years nearly two-thirds of the world’s already working on three utilities in
population will experience water stress. The invention connects existing water Colombia.
In Colombia, over 40 percent of drinking meter technology to the internet, creating
Jimy Alexander Aguirre, Hardware
water is lost on its journey from the water a ‘smart’ water management device
Coordinator, Greenywave
utility company to the point of use, due to which generates online alerts in real time
leakages and inadequate infrastructure. to warn users of leaks and measure water
pressure. The data it collects can be used Intelligent metering device for water, energy
A start-up tech company called to avoid water waste, help people and and other resources
Greenywave has developed a novel companies save money, and ensure that
device to reduce water leakage and water supply exceeds demand. Project lead: Jimy Alexander Aguirre, Hardware
improve infrastructure planning. Supported Coordinator, Greenywave
by Newton funding through the Royal Greenywave’s team of innovators are now Delivery partners: Royal Academy of
Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in refining the technology and strengthening Engineering, Icetex and Ruta N
Innovation Fellowship programme, the partnerships with utility companies and
government organisations. As well as
ensuring the sustainability of Colombia’s
rapidly growing cities Greenywave plans
to support other countries facing the
same challenges. In the UK more than 20
percent of water is lost before it reaches
homes. As a result of this collaboration,
several UK utility companies have shown
interest in the technology, demonstrating
the potential reach of this project.
17 Greenywave smart water meterUsing state-of-the-art technology to treat neglected tropical diseases
COLOMBIA
Leishmaniasis is a devastating and poorly- Biomarkers – molecules, genes, or
❝
characteristics that indicate the presence I have worked on Leishmaniasis
understood disease that disproportionately
affects poor people in remote communities. or severity of disease in the body – play throughout my research career.
In Colombia, cutaneous leishmaniasis is a critical role in disease diagnosis and Of all the projects on which I have
the most common form of the disease. treatment. Recent omic technologies, worked, this is the one with the most
Symptoms include swollen glands and such as proteomics (the study of proteins) obvious potential to have a positive effect
skin lesions which are disfiguring and slow and metabolomics (the study of small on populations that are affected by this
to heal. Left untreated it can lead to more molecules), are rapidly accelerating the rate devastating and poorly understod disease.
serious, life-threatening disease. of biomarker discovery.
Richard Burchmore, Senior Lecturer,
University of Glasgow
High-tech research approaches that have Using metabolomics, scientists will be
revolutionised much medical research able to show how children infected with
have not been readily applied to neglected the disease respond to miltefosine, the Linking the power of omic technologies to
tropical diseases. Seeking to change this, only oral drug registered for treatment of translational research on neglected tropical
researchers from the UK and Colombia cutaneous leishmanisis. The results of diseases
are harnessing the power of ‘omic’ based this research will provide urgently needed
technologies to improve treatment and evidence to support appropriate and
Project leads:
outcomes for people infected with the personalised therapeutic interventions for
Richard Burchmore, Senior Lecturer, University
disease. children.
of Glasgow and Maria Adelaida Gomez,
Coordinator, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
So far, more than 100 Colombian Unit, CIDEIM
researchers have received training in
Delivery partners:
the application of omic technologies to
neglected tropical diseases. The project British Council and The International Training and
Medical Research Center (CIDEIM)
also benefits UK researchers who can
apply their expertise, infrastructure and
resources for technology driven biomedical
research in affected countries.
Glasgow Polyomics technologists apply high resolution mass
spectrometry to identify predictive markers of treatment outcomes
in Colombian leishmaniasis patients 18City innovation and social equity in Colombia
COLOMBIA
Colombia has the second largest number base to engage other stakeholders and
❝
of internally displaced people in the support their access to housing, basic It is a testament to the strength
world after Syria, according to the United services and livelihood opportunities. It of this project that it has been
Nations. The country’s recently brokered will continue to facilitate dialogue between prepared with such a collaborative
peace agreement holds the prospect government and community groups, approach between community and
of developing a more equitable society, strengthen the capacity of local and academia.
but it is largely focused on the rural metropolitan government organisations
Carlos Velasquez, Community Leader
areas worst affected by the conflict. This and give them the tools to make informed
neglects the needs of those who have planning decisions. This will ensure
found themselves in urban areas and their that peace agreement implementation Harnessing innovation in city development
surroundings, who make up the majority of contributes to socio-economic equity and for social equity and wellbeing: a critical
internally displaced people in Colombia wellbeing in Medellin, and the results could proposal to build on Medellin’s experience as
be extended to other cities in Colombia. a model for Colombian future cities
Researchers in the UK and Colombia are The work could also be applied to other
investigating how the implementation of the countries dealing with peace processes Project leads:
peace agreement can resolve the urgent and the wellbeing of affected communities. Dr Soledad Garcia-Ferrari, University of
need for social and economic development Edinburgh and Professor Francoise Coupe,
Medellín
in Medellin – one of the most innovative National University of Colombia, Medellín
yet socially unequal cities in Latin America. Delivery partner:
The project evaluated Medellin’s planning British Council and National University of
experience from the ground up, involving Colombia, Medellín
communities and institutions on a level
platform. It has already led to changes
in the city’s municipal development plan,
which sets out key policies and actions,
and informed local policy on informal rental
housing.
The project is now providing community
organisations with a strong evidence
19Turning environmentally damaging coffee waste into electricity
COLOMBIA
Waste water from coffee processing is By using microbial fuel cells to clean
❝
harmful to the environment, as it contains This research proposes a
up their waste water, and reusing it,
substances that take a very long time to Colombian coffee farmers could relieve a potential high-impact solution
degrade. This is a particular problem in huge strain on their water supply. As well to environmental, social and economic
Colombia, the world’s third largest coffee as offering an environmentally-friendly challenges facing rural sectors.
producer, where nearly all coffee is grown alternative to treat waste water, the Professor Lina María Agudelo-Escobar,
on small, family-owned farms. The farmers generation of electricity could boost social Associate Professor, University of
are unable to afford the large-scale water and economic development for Colombia’s Antioquia
treatment systems needed to process the farming communities. If their fuel cells
coffee waste, so it ends up in local water are used successfully in Colombia, the
Valorisation of agro-industrial waste: A
courses, which become contaminated. researchers hope to engage with large
Bioelectrochemical System for waste
coffee companies in Europe to adopt the degradation and energy recovery from
Scientists working on a Newton Fund same approach to treating their waste. industrial coffee waste
project in Colombia have found that
environmentally damaging coffee waste
could be turned into electricity using a Project leads:
microbial fuel cell. They discovered that if Lina María Agudelo-Escobar, Associate
they fed coffee waste to a community of Professor, University of Antioquia and Dr Claudio
microbes originally found in a wastewater Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) Avignone-Rossa, University of Surrey
treatment plant, the tiny creatures would Delivery partners:
eat it, producing energy. This energy could British Council and Colciencias – the
then be captured in the form of electricity. Administrative Department of Science,
Technology and Innovation
The research team is now developing a
small, inexpensive device suitable for use
on Colombian farms. The aim is to initially
implement it in the coffee growing area
of Southwest Antioquia, where they have
already established good relationships with
farmers.
20Increasing productivity and removing toxic mercury from Colombia’s gold mines
COLOMBIA
Artisanal and small-scale mining is rehabilitates degraded soils and reuses
❝
important for Colombia’s social and the toxic cyanide as fertiliser for a legume This technology will change
economic growth and represents more plant. The plants can be used as livestock Colombia. It’s the tool the new
than 70 percent of the country’s total gold feed and they also capture carbon dioxide; government needs.
production. However, these often informal providing additional income for local Gustavo Cordova, former Deputy
and unproductive mining operations use communities and reducing CO2 emissions. Director of Corpouraba
mercury – a highly toxic and polluting
element – to extract the gold ore. In Nanotecol has created an alliance with
2018 the Colombian government banned Cornare, an independent body which
mercury in gold mining to reduce its impact promotes regional development and Self-sustainable gold mining process
on the environment and reduce mercury the protection of natural resources and
exposure to miners and the general CORPOURABA, which implements Project leads:
population. environmental policy in Antioquia. Together Lina Marcela Hoyos, Co-founder, Professor
they are working with mining communities Universidad Bolivariana, Nanotecol, Yudira
A Colombian innovation and research to pilot the technology so they can Zapata Sánchez, Co-founder and manager
company has developed a solution eradicate the use of mercury, protect the and project manager, Nanotecol and Lesli
that eliminates the need for mercury livelihoods of artisanal miners and their Zapata Sánchez, Co-founder and Assistant
and supports a clean, profitable and communities, and help Colombia take the Management, Nanotecol
sustainable gold mining sector. With path towards green growth. Delivery partners:
support from Newton funding, Nanotecol Royal Academy of Engineering and Ruta N
is working with the Government of
Antioquia to implement a gold extraction
process using nano and biotechnology.
The process reduces costs, increases
production efficiency and improves the
quality of gold, all without generating
pollutants to the environment.
As well as reducing mercury pollution,
Nanotecol’s circular economy model First gold extraction plant with nanotechnological and
21 biotechnological procedures, Abriaqui, Antioquia, ColombiaSecuring a community’s right to access safe water and food
MEXICO
Dangerous levels of arsenic are present in Supported by Newton funding, the
❝
the soils and water of the Cerrito Blanco research team implemented a traffic Increased awareness of arsenic
community in central Mexico. Arsenic light alert system to help the community contamination has helped Cerrito
contamination in the semi-desert area is distinguish between contaminated and Blanco communities make the right
2,500 times higher than the limit set by the non-contaminated water, and produced a decisions for their wellbeing.
World Health Organisation, causing poor visual guide to help farmers to recognise Dr Bhaskar Sen Gupta, Heriot-Watt
crop productivity and posing a serious contaminated crops. A campaign video University
health risk to the people living there. publicised in the local news helped to
raise public awareness and the research
Distribution of arsenic on agricultural soils
Responding to this urgent problem, team have directed people to alternative
and its influence on exposure risks through
researchers from Mexico and the UK arsenic-free groundwater sources. As a
maize ingestion and agricultural activities in
worked closely with members of the result of the interventions, maize yields are Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
community to locate the source of significantly higher than preceding years,
contamination and implement several reaching up to one tonne per hectare for
successful interventions; raising awareness rain-fed crops without the use of fertiliser. Project leads:
about the risk of exposure, and improving Nadia Martinez-Villegas, Professor in Water
crop safety and community health. The scientists are also working with Technology, Potosi Institute for Scientific and
community members, the Human Rights Technological Research AC (IPICyT) and
Professor Bhaskar Sen Gupta, Heriot-Watt
Commission in Mexico and other partners
University
to ensure that their right to access
Delivery partners:
clean water and safe food is protected.
By strengthening relationships with Royal Society and IPICyT (Potosi Institute of
community members and establishing new Scientific and Technological Research) and the
National Council of Science and Technology
partnerships with the private sector, the
(CONACyT)
researchers want to attract investment for
the remediation of arsenic contaminated
soil to secure the social and economic
development of the community.
Cerrito Blanco maize field 22Improving surgical outcomes with virtual reality
MEXICO
Over the course of modern history, lowering costs and limiting chance of life
❝
surgery has transformed from a risky ‘art’ threatening complications and infections. This tool will be very useful
into a scientific discipline capable of especially for the incoming
treating many diseases and conditions. Two hospitals have started to use the generations of medics. Using it will help
Nevertheless, human errors and life technology to analyse and discuss a lot to understand a case and arrive
threatening complications still occur, clinical cases. Now Verum’s CEO wants in the operation room with much more
particularly for complex surgical to conduct further clinical studies and confidence.
procedures. strengthen the national and international
Senior trauma surgeon at Hospital Civil
partnerships he formed through the
In Mexico, a Newton funded entrepreneur project, so he can help to revolutionise Guadalajara in an open medical session
is using virtual reality technology to develop the way that surgeries are practiced and
a surgical planner and simulator that taught around the world. Verum VR Medical
will allow surgeons to plan and perform
an operation before the actual surgery. Project lead:
Supported by the Royal Academy of Fabio Antonio Gonzalez Sanchez, CEO of Verum
Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation VR Medical
Fellowship programme and the Ministry of Delivery partners:
Economy in Mexico, Verum VR Medical’s
Royal Academy of Engineering and the Ministry
technology could result in better surgical of Economy in Mexico
decision making, significantly reduce the
occurrence of errors and improve the
overall surgical outcome.
This new tool can simulate and reconstruct
clinical and anatomical conditions, creating
a virtual case the doctor can practice on.
It is a virtual experience but it provides
the surgeon with real life training. The
technology has the potential to reduce
surgery time by at least 30 percent; A doctor tests the virtual simulator
23Childhood obesity: a Mexican solution to a global problem
MEXICO
Maternal obesity is a major risk factor problem. This Newton-funded project is
❝
for childhood obesity and reduced life developing a therapeutic early intervention This project brings together
expectancy. In Mexico, 32 percent that has the potential to improve the two of the leading groups in
of the adult population is obese and metabolic health of future generations; this field and has the potential to develop
the prevalence of childhood obesity is preventing chronic diseases such as new avenues of treatment that can help
the highest in the world. The current diabetes and alleiviating the burden of alleviate the obesity crisis.
generation of Mexican children may, health care costs.
Professor Lucilla Poston, Head of School of
for the first time ever, have a shorter life
Life Course Sciences and the Department
expectancy than their parents. Researchers in the UK and Mexico have
discovered that drinking a novel probiotic of Women & Children’s Health, Kings
Diet and nutrition during pregnancy can extracted from a traditional aguamiel drink College London
have an impact on the metabolic health (‘Honey milk’ from Agave salmiana cactus)
of offspring, presenting an opportunity for improves metabolism in obese pregnancy. Interventions to improve maternal metabolic
profile and prevent cardio-metabolic and
intervention to stem this growing global The probiotic proved highly effective in
behavioural deficits in future generations due
preclinical trials. Administered daily for one to programming by maternal obesity
Dr Nozomi Itani, at King’s College London
cataloguing obese pregnant rats month prior to and throughout pregnancy
and lactation, the aguamiel probiotic was
found to prevent many of the negative Project leads:
biochemical and metabolic outcomes Dr Paul Taylor, King’s College London and
observed in the offspring of obese rats. Professor Elena Zambrano, National Institute of
Medical Science and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran
The researchers hope to translate the Delivery partners:
preclinical studies performed initially in Medical Research Council and the National
Mexico, to small scale clinical trials in the Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT)
UK. Successful translation of preclinical
studies to the general population could
have significant impact on the health and
life expectancy of the next generation. The
aguamiel probiotic may yet prove to be a
Mexican solution to a global problem.
24New drought resistant beans for sustainable food supply in Mexico
MEXICO
Beans are central to Mexico’s food losses for Mexican and Latin American
❝
security, but they are also highly sensitive agriculture. By understanding how This is a fantastic opportunity to
to drought. Drought can cause up to 80 plants respond to drought and carbon increase the impact of our work
percent bean yield losses and climate dioxide through adjusting their stomata in Mexico, by enabling a much larger,
change is making this problem worse. (microscopic valves on the leaf surface interdisciplinery team of experts to tackle
Seventy percent of Mexican farmers are that open and close), the researchers the issues of drought in bean agriculture
smallholders with no irrigation which makes are finding that reducing bean stomatal and Mexican food security.
them particularly vulnerable to droughts numbers could reduce water use by up
Professor Julie Gray, University of
and climate change. to 40 percent without affecting yield;
potentially saving up to three percent of Sheffield
Researchers in the UK and Mexico are Mexico’s entire agricultural water use.
developing climate ready elite bean Manipulation of bean pod stomata to
varieties to combat drought related crop Using this knowledge, the team want improve yield under drought and climate
change
to develop new elite high yielding bean
Bean pods varieties with better water use and nitrogen
fixation under drought. With over six million Project leads:
people employed in agriculture and five Dr Caspar Chater, Marie Skłodowska-Curie
percent of the population undernourished, Individual Global Fellow IBT UNAM, University of
developing high yielding, drought resistant Sheffield and Professor Alejandra Covarrubias,
beans will benefit the Mexican economy IBT UNAM
and future food security, as well as Delivery partners:
people’s health and wellbeing. Royal Society and the National Council of
Science and Technology (CONACyT) and the
Longer term, the project could lead to Mexican Academy of Sciences
a reduction in rural poverty and improve
socio-economic advancement by aiding
efficient, competitive and profitable low
input farming. Improving bean yields and
minimising fertiliser use will also benefit
soils, reduce desertification and improve
25
water quality.Producing natural and nutritionally beneficial food additives from microalgae
MEXICO
In the last two decades, the number of
❝
people in Mexico regularly consuming The phycopigments project has
processed foods that contain synthetic demonstrated that substantial
additives has grown dramatically. While savings in the costs of algal processing
many synthetic additives are safe in small and biorefining are possible using
quantities, they provide no nutritional value membrane technology.
and some studies suggest they can be Dr Robert Lovitt, Director,
toxic in large amounts.
Membranology Ltd
To increase the nutritional value of these
foods and reduce the risks associated Phycopigments: Novel manufacturing
with some synthetic additives, researchers Harvesting equipment methods for high value pigment products
from Mexico and the UK have found a from microalgae
This efficient, safe and simple technology
new, environmentally friendly method
only uses a small amount of energy,
of producing two natural pigments, Project leads:
minimising the environmental impact,
phycocyanin (a shade of blue) and Dr Robert Lovitt, Director, Membranology Ltd
allowing for the re-use of water and making
phycoerythrin ( a shade of red), on a large and Professor Eugenia J. Olguín, Head of
the most of the biomass to yield a range of
scale. This Newton-funded project uses Research Group, INECOL
high quality, nutrionally valuable products.
microalgae to produce these pigments Delivery partners: Innovate UK and INECOL
which can then be used as natural
Having shown that it is possible to produce
additives in the food and drink industry.
these natural pigments on a large scale,
The process generates valuable by-
the research will benefit the Mexican
products that are also beneficial for health
agro-industry, supporting the development
and nutrition.
of a sustainable industry based on high
value, non-toxic microalgal products and
In Mexico, spirulina has been consumed as
by-products that also provide consumers
food since pre-Hispanic times. It is also a
with added nutritional value. The
source of the natural pigment phycocyanin.
commercialisation of these products would
Phycocyanin and phycoerythrin have anti-
extend the project’s impact beyond Mexico
oxidant and nutraceutical properties.
and the UK to support a global market. 26You can also read
