Grant winners – 2 February 2017

National Institutes for Health Research

Research project grants

Health Technology Assessment Programme

• Award winner: Ann Van den Bruel
• Institution: University of Oxford
• Value: £74,884

Non-contact infrared thermometers for measuring body temperature in acutely ill children: a method comparison study

• Award winner: Peter Hajek
• Institution: Queen Mary University of London
• Value: £1,671,212

Helping pregnant smokers quit: multi-centre RCT of electronic cigarettes v usual care

• Award winner: Nicola Innes
• Institution: University of Dundee
• Value: £1,916,394 

The clinical and cost-effectiveness of a short messaging service behaviour change programme to improve the oral health of young people in deprived areas

Public Health Research Programme

• Award winner: Barry Wright
• Institution: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Value: £971,711

Investigating social competence and isolation in children with autism taking part in Lego-based therapy clubs in school environments

Medical Research Council

Research project grants

• Award winner: Michael Owen
• Institution: Cardiff University
• Value: £2,407,100

Molecular genetic studies of schizophrenia

• Award winner: Suzanne Hingley-Wilson
• Institution: University of Surrey
• Value: £124,191

Macrophage-induced drug tolerant persisters in tuberculosis

• Award winner: David Lyons
• Institution: University of Edinburgh
• Value: £411,876

How does neuronal activity regulate central nervous system -myelination?

Fellowships

• Award winner: Risheka Ratnasabapathy
• Institution: Imperial College London
• Value: £286,544

Determining the role of arcuate nucleus glucokinase in the regulation of glucose homeostasis

Wellcome Trust

Investigator Awards in Science

• Award winner: Trevor Graham
• Institution: Queen Mary University of London
• Value: £1,317,862

Evolutionary predictions in colorectal cancer (EPICC) 

• Award winner: Rachel McLoughlin
• Institution: Trinity College Dublin
• Value: £1,310,984

Staphylococcus aureus-induced immunosuppressive memory: consequences for bug and for host

In detail

Economic and Social Research Council

Research project grant

Award winner: Holly Branigan

Institution: University of Edinburgh

Value: £342,123

Conversational alignment in children with an autistic spectrum condition and in typically developing children

Difficulty engaging with conversations is one of the more common symptoms of autism spectrum conditions. However, it is still unclear what may cause these difficulties. Holly Branigan’s research will focus on “conversational alignment”: people’s natural tendency to imitate the syntax and vocabulary of those they speak with, making conversations more fluent and satisfying. Aligning differently – or not aligning at all – could explain the difficulties that children with an autism spectrum condition have with communication. The study will look into how conversational alignment is affected by factors that may set aside children with an autism spectrum condition; “audience design” (adapting language to be easier to understand) and social-affective goals (adapting language to express affiliation). This project could help to explain why these children tend to struggle with conversation.