Researchers from the University of Aberdeen have been awarded a share of £144,000 in funding for international collaborations aimed at promoting green economic growth and improving cancer treatment, among other benefits.
They are among 17 researchers who have been awarded a share of funding from the Scotland Asia Partnerships Higher Education Research (SAPHIRE) Fund* which promotes collaboration between Scottish researchers and their Asian counterparts.
The University of Aberdeen recipients include:
- Dr Chunxia Jiang (University of Aberdeen Business School) whose interdisciplinary research collaboration with Kanazawa University in Japan and the National University of Singapore investigate how to finance environment-friendly projects, particularly in developing countries with high carbon emissions but a lack of capital.
- Dr Wenbo Zhan (School of Engineering), who will work with the Indian Institute of Technology and the National University of Singapore on a project that will focus on Glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer. The project will combine multiphysics modelling with medical imaging to optimise novel chemotherapy using thermosensitive hydrogel, aiming to provide a sustainable supply of drugs to effectively kill tumour cells.
- Professor David McGloin (School of Natural and Computing Sciences), whose project with the University of Technology Sydney will develop 3D printing approaches to shape terahertz waves, with the aim of improving the use of these radioactive beams in applications such as medical imaging and environmental sensing.
Professor Marion Campbell, Vice-Principal (Research) at the University, congratulated each of the recipients on their awards.
“We are an international University whose interdisciplinary research crosses boundaries, and each of these projects is testament to the strength of our global collaborations in areas including engineering, medicine, economics, and the environment.
“My congratulations go to our researchers in Aberdeen as well as their international colleagues, and I look forward to hearing how each of these exciting projects develops.”
The Scottish Government’s International Development Minister Neil Gray added: “Congratulations to the successful recipients of the latest round of Scotland Asia Partnerships Higher Education Research (SAPHIRE) funding. The SAPHIRE scheme is funded by the Scottish Government to enhance educational collaboration between some of Scotland and Asia’s most prestigious universities and projects like these will support our goals in the transition to net zero and building a healthier, wealthier, fairer Scotland.”