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Aston student wins scholarship
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Aston student wins scholarship
An Aston University neuroscience student has beaten off stiff competition to secure a place on the British Neuroscience Association’s (BNA) inaugural Scholars programme.
Tamara Tasnim Wahid, aged 21 from Small Heath, is in her final year of study at Aston University and was one of only seven students from across the UK to be awarded a place on the competitive BNA programme.
Tamara was also the only undergraduate student to be accepted. The BNA is the largest UK organisation representing and promoting neuroscience and neuroscientists.
The BNA Scholars programme, which launched this year, was created with the aim of supporting students from diverse backgrounds in neuroscience in consultation with BNA members and others interested in improving representation, diversity and equity in neuroscience.
Tamara said: “I feel very fortunate and thankful for this opportunity because the BNA team is so supportive. Recently I was encouraged by the team to attend the BNA2021 Festival, which helped me gain an insight into research from neuroscience institutions across Europe.
“Also, with guidance and direction from Aston University’s Neuroscience Department, I got the opportunity to give a presentation at the festival. This was an amazing opportunity and enabled me to develop skills in public speaking and research dissemination.
“Through the BNA Scholars mentorship programme, I have gained a new support network. This takes away some of the intimidation of being an early career researcher, as I get to learn from my more experienced cohort peers. I look forward to the next three years of the BNA Scholars scheme and diversifying my experiences as a scientist.”
The three-year scholars programme aims to build a supportive community through networking opportunities, bursaries and mentorship.
The scholars will receive at least four to six sessions with their mentor each year, free membership to both the BNA and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), funding towards attending the Festival of Neuroscience, as well as funding towards the European FENS Forum and other networking opportunities within the association.
Gavin Woodhall, professor of neuropharmacology and codirector of the Aston Institute for Health and Neurodevelopment at Aston University, said: “We are delighted and proud that Tamara has received this recognition, which is testament to her drive and enthusiasm for neuroscience – she is a real credit to our course.”
Rising neuroscience star: Tamara Tasnim Wahid
Young musician on song in composers’ competition
A budding musician from King Edward’s School in Birmingham has struck the right chord with judges to win the win the Benslow Music Young Composers Competition 2021.
Year 12 student Christopher Churcher won the 18-years-and-under category for his piece ‘Very Early Spring’, which will be performed as part of the Benslow International Concert Series in August.
The competition involved applicants from across the country composing a piece of music for one of five poems on the subject of spring, to be performed by two professional musicians.
Five shortlisted composers took part in a workshop in which they heard their compositions performed by soprano Sarah Leonard and pianist Stephen Gutman, before the winner was announced by the judging panel comprising the two musicians, Benslow Music president and Master of the Queen's Music, Judith Weir, and chief executive of Benslow Music, Peter Hewitt.
On winning the award, Christopher, who is currently studying Higher Level Music as part of his International Baccalaureate Diploma, said: “Writing for Sarah Leonard and Stephen Gutman and hearing my song brought to life so beautifully was a real privilege. I’m so grateful to the judges for giving such detailed and useful feedback – the workshop was a truly invaluable learning experience.”
Dr Martin Leigh, director of Music at King Edward’s School, said: “Christopher is an outstanding and hardworking young musician and composer, and to win this competition is an incredible achievement.”
Hitting the high notes: Christopher Churcher
IT services giant renews Prince’s Trust patronage
International IT services business SCC has renewed its arrangement as patron of The Prince’s Trust for the next three years.
SCC, which has been a patron of the charity for seven years, has supported several of the trust’s regional and national schemes and campaigns, most notably a significant investment of £100,000 in 2018, donated via The Rigby Group, owners of SCC, to help create a new hub in Birmingham that helps thousands of young people secure work, education and training opportunities.
Sharon Arbuckle, senior head of corporate partnerships at The Prince’s Trust, welcomed SCC’s continued support, with the renewal taking the firm to a decade of patronage.
She said: “Youth unemployment rates are rising, and young people across the UK have been heavily affected by the pandemic. We must support young people to upskill, retrain and access job opportunities, or else we risk losing their ambition and potential to long-term unemployment, to the detriment of their future and to the recovery of our economy.
“SCC is already showing amazing dedication when it comes to helping turnaround the lives of disadvantaged young people. Through their new patronage of The Prince’s Trust, and membership of our Technology Leadership Group, we hope we will be able to empower thousands more young people to transform their lives and give them the confidence and skills to succeed in life.”
SCC CEO Mike Swain said that the work that the charity does with young people has been ‘outstanding’, especially during the Covid crisis.
He said: “The pandemic has been a huge blow to all of us in many different ways and it will take a long time to recover. In the IT sector we have been in a more fortunate position, but sadly, the same cannot be said for everyone. The youth demographic has been severely hit, and those already disadvantaged now face even bigger obstacles.
Renewed support: Mike Swain
“Young people are the future and we’re so pleased to be able to help those more affected by the crisis through our partnership with The Prince’s Trust. The work this charity does with young people is outstanding and they’re making a real difference to many lives. We look forward to seeing how we can continue to support them.”
University leads infection study
A new study aims to explore the immune response to natural Covid-19 infection and vaccination in patients with antibody deficiencies.
The study is being led by a trio of medical experts and academics at University of Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and University College London.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), ‘Covid infection in patients with Antibody Deficiency’ (COVAD) is part of a portfolio of national studies examining the immune responses in patients considered at high risk.
Immunodeficiency patients are considered vulnerable or extremely vulnerable to infection and have had to undertake preventative measures to minimise their risk of exposure to the virus.
Patients with antibody deficiency do not make good responses – if any – to most vaccines, but it is unknown whether they will respond to Covid-19 vaccines.
COVAD chief investigator Alex Richter, professor of clinical immunology at the University of Birmingham, and consultant clinical immunologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Nationally, a number of patients with immunodeficiency have had severe or prolonged illness with Covid-19.
“Understanding why some patients do well and others don’t is so important. Being unable to clear the virus is not just a problem to the patient but is potentially a public health problem too.”
The researchers will be using Oxford Immunotec’s ‘T-SPOT’ covid test to research immunological responses. Samples will be taken from patients to measure the presence and level of antibodies in the blood and antiSARS-CoV-2 T-cells.
Researchers say that results of the study will help inform the development of vaccination strategies as well as strengthen the understanding of risk for continuous virus transmission.
Professor Richter and Siobhan Burns, professor of translational immunology at University College London, are leading the COVAD research team at immunodeficiency centres at NHS hospital trusts across the UK, in what will be the largest study of its kind in this rare patient group world-wide.
The centres will screen patients and will invite those who are eligible and meet specific criteria to join the trial.
700th business signs Covenant
Seven hundred businesses and organisations across the West Midlands have pledged their support to the Armed Forces community.
Valiant Integrated Services Ltd has been hailed as the 700th company within the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) region to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant was introduced by the Ministry of Defence in 2014 and is used across the country for businesses to pledge their support to the Armed Forces family.
The organisations who hold a Covenant recognise the value serving personnel - both regular and reserve - veterans and military families contribute to their business and the country.
Valiant is a trusted partner to government military clients and the broader defence sector, providing vital resources, high-value solutions, and critical support services for essential missions around the world.
“Valiant is proud to show our support to the Armed Forces community through the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant,” Emma Sharma, the firm’s chief administrative officer said.
“We demonstrate our commitment to actively serving personnel, veterans, and their families by funding and supporting initiatives that provide opportunities to those who serve. Veterans and reservists make up 28 per cent of our worldwide workforce, and they and their families are an important and integral part of team Valiant.”
Colonel (Ret’d) Richard Maybery, chief executive of West Midland RFCA added: “It’s great to see our Covenant network continuing to expand rapidly across the region and I am delighted that Valiant Integrated Services have just become our 700th Armed Forces Covenant signatory in the West Midlands.
“Since establishing themselves in the UK they have very quickly jumped aboard this and as well as their commercial links with Defence, they are already actively supporting the wider Armed Forces Community.”
