Grant winners - 28 August 2014

Royal Society

Wolfson Research Merit Awards

Awards are worth £10,000-£30,000 a year, which is a salary enhancement

• Award winner: Peter Leadlay
• Institution: University of Cambridge

The biochemistry and synthetic biology of antibiotics

• Award winner: Alberto Naveira Garabato
• Institution: University of Southampton

The role of mixing processes in ocean circulation and climate

• Award winner: Nicholas Zabaras
• Institution: University of Warwick

University of Warwick Centre for Predictive Modelling in Science and Engineering

National Institute for Health Research

Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme

• Award winner: Helen Cross
• Institution: University College London
• Value: £1,046,236

A randomised controlled trial of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy in children under the age of two years

Health Technology Assessment Programme

• Award winner: Christopher Butler
• Institution: Cardiff University
• Value: £1,355,679

General practitioner use of a c-reactive protein point-of-care test to help target antibiotic prescribing to patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are most likely to benefit

Leverhulme Trust

International Networks
Sciences

• Award winner: Colin Beale
• Institution: University of York
• Value: £124,830

Uncovering the variable roles of fire in savannah ecosystems

• Award winner: Wael Bahsoun
• Institution: Loughborough University
• Value: £58,830

Statistical properties of non-uniformly hyperbolic dynamical systems: computer-assisted proofs and rigorous computations

Research Project Grants
Sciences

• Award winner: Ryan Nichol
• Institution: University College London
• Value: £220,205

Probing the ultra-high-energy universe with ANITA and ARA

• Award winner: Chris Jiggins
• Institution: University of Cambridge
• Value: £245,534

Developing transgenic tests of butterfly wing patterning genes

• Award winner: Keara Franklin
• Institution: University of Bristol
• Value: £157,901

How do plants sense temperature?

In detail

Leverhulme Research Project Grants
Social sciences

Award winner: Fiona Brookman
Institution: University of South Wales
Value: £216,531

Homicide investigation and forensic science: tracing processes, analysing practices

This project will examine the role of forensic science in homicide investigations. “Research to date has failed to demonstrate how criminal investigators use forensic science resources and with what results,” said Fiona Brookman. “The ways in which policing demands have affected the development of forensic technologies also remain poorly understood.” Current research in the area has tended to focus on a narrower range of technologies, notably DNA. The study will investigate the role of techniques that are less widely known. It aims to tackle these shortcomings by providing an understanding of how both routine and cutting-edge forensic science practice contributes to homicide investigations in England and Wales. Professor Brookman said the project will put such police work “under the microscope” to reveal how science and technology are used to support and direct the investigation of lethal violence.