SULSA and SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence) aim to support access to Scottish facilities and fund research projects aligned with the RS Macdonald scope, which includes neurological conditions, diseases of the visual system, spinal cord injury, and stroke.

Dr Arpan Mehta (University of Dundee)
Funded Project: Generating the tools to define the interactome of NEK1 protein kinase in human spinal motor neurons

Dr Michal Baran (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Funded Project: Evaluating the protective function of TSPO ligand against Alzheimer’s disease via polyomics

Dr Andreas Holmqvist (University of Dundee)
Funded Project: Neuronal Anchoring for Brain- Specific Inhibition

Dr Matthew Broadhead (University of St Andrews)
Funded Project: Visualising the Novel Honeycomb Synapse In Health and Disease

Dr Giedre Astrauskaite (University of Glasgow)
Funded Project: Brillouin micro- spectroscopy for early detection of retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction in an in vitro model of age-related macular degeneration

Dr Derek Garden (University of Aberdeen)
Funded Project: Advanced microscopy techniques to probe abnormal neuronal development and migration in a model of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder

Dr Tim Wilkinson (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Cerebrovascular reactivity as a biomarker of drug response in vascular cognitive impairment: a feasibility study 

Dr Ali Muqtadir (University of Stirling)
Funded Project: A multi-model investigation into the acute effects of football heading

Dr Robert Shaw (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Characterisation of sphingosine- 1-phosphate-5 (S1P5) radiotracer properties in a mouse mode of Multiple Sclerosis

Dr Carolina Uggenti (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Chromatin disruption and autoimmunity: investigating AGS pathology through advanced electron microscopy

Dr Garyfallia Gouna (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Lipid Mapping of Phospholipid distribution in cerebral Small Vessel Disease (SVD)

Dr Ian MacCormick (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: DRISC-3 (Delirium Retinal Imaging to Study Cause – 3) 

Dr Angie Sin (University of Glasgow)
Funded Project: Investigating the effect of PDE4D PROTAC in a cellular model for Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Santiago Mora (University of St Andrews)
Funded Project: Interneurons in ALS: shedding light

Sarah Eastham (University of Strathclyde)
Funded Project: Development of a Human Cerebral Microvascular Model to Investigate the Biomechanical Influence of Clotting on Angiogenesis

This funding aims to support researchers in their endeavours to develop their own novel research track. The funds can be used for a variety of activities such as travel, training in new techniques/skills, consumable costs, and facility access.

Projects should aim to build a new collaboration, upskill the applicant or generate pilot data/develop a pathway to commercialisation.

Dr Nicola Morrice (University of Dundee)
Funded Project:Validation of novel targets of neuronal insulin signalling

Dr Katy Marshall-Phelps (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Investigating the role of glial cells in seizure generation in epilepsy

Dr Reina Veenhof (University of the Highlands and Islands)
Funded Project: Seaweed microbiomes and stress resilience

Dr Debabrata Dutta (Heriot-Watt University)
Funded Project: MARS-Wheat: Mycorrhiza-Augmented resistance to septoria tritici blotch in wheat

Dr Veerappan Mani (University of Strathclyde)
Funded Project: Advancing Immunoassays with Single-Atom Nanozymes: A Robust, Low-Cost Alternative to Horseradish Peroxidase

Dongyang Sun (Edinburgh Napier University)
Research Exchange Destination: Romania

Julie Cowie (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

William Johnston (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

Adam Burgess (Heriot-Watt University)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

Carlos Moreno-Garcia (Robert Gordon University)
Research Exchange Destination: Spain

Rebecca von Hellfeld (University of Aberdeen)
Research Exchange Destination: Spain

Pengpeng He (University of Dundee)
Research Exchange Destination: Italy

Alessandro Perelli (University of Dundee)
Research Exchange Destination: Denmark

Maria-Chiara Ferrari (University of Edinburgh)
Research Exchange Destination: Italy

Khushboo Pandey (University of Edinburgh )
Research Exchange Destination: Switzerland

Merve Bodur (University of Edinburgh)
Research Exchange Destination: France

Leonidas Doumas (University of Edinburgh)
Research Exchange Destination: Netherlands

Louise Kennefick (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Ireland

Ellen Boeren (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Belgium

Daniela Castro-Camilo (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Spain

Marwa Mahmoud (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

Craig Smeaton (University of St Andrews)
Research Exchange Destination: Ireland

Karen Brown (University of St Andrews)
Research Exchange Destination: Greece

Sanjay Seth (University of St Andrews)
Research Exchange Destination: Portugal

Ale Boussalem (University of St Andrews)
Research Exchange Destination: Italy

Nicole Tausch (University of St Andrews)
Research Exchange Destination: Spain

Christine Ferguson (University of Stirling)
Research Exchange Destination: Spain

Catherine Jones (University of Strathclyde)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

Edoardo Patelli (University of Strathclyde)
Research Exchange Destination: Germany

Will Shu (University of Strathclyde)
Research Exchange Destination: Poland

The following awardees were awarded and fully funded by SULSA:

Deborah Cairns (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Norway

Christian Delles (University of Glasgow)
Research Exchange Destination: Netherlands

Katherine Baxter (University of Glasgow/Strathclyde)
Research Exchange Destination: Ireland

Marija Sciberras (University of Heriot-Watt)
Research Exchange Destination: Netherlands

Dr Elad Katz (University of Dundee)
Industry Partner: Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Germany
Project: Validating a high-throughput drug discovery model for novel diabetic kidney disease

Dr William Johnston (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Industry Partner: Dentherapy Ltd
Project: Harnessing osteopontin as an effective adjunct against complex oral biofilms

Dr Fiona Murphy (University of Strathclyde)
Industry Partner: Targeting pro-tumoral SIGLEC1+ macrophages to overcome chemotherapy resistance
Project: Generation of physiologically-relevant mesothelioma tumour spheroids using tuneable hydrogel scaffolds for improved preclinical drug screening

This funding aims to support researchers in their endeavours to develop their own novel research track. The funds can be used for a variety of activities such as travel, training in new techniques/skills, consumable costs, and facility access.

Projects should aim to build a new collaboration, upskill the applicant or generate pilot data/develop a pathway to commercialisation.

Dr Lauren Forsyth (University of Strathclyde)
Funded Project: Changing the game! Wearable sensor-based analysis of stability for rehabilitation in female sport

Dr Shannan Foylan (University of Strathclyde)
Funded Project: Resolving the distribution of 70 nm glucose transporter GLUT4 molecules in fat tissue using Expansion Microscopy

Dr Nicola Graham (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Targeting pro-tumoral SIGLEC1+ macrophages to overcome chemotherapy resistance

Dr Clémence Fraslin (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Genomic tools for an improved sustainability of Scottish halibut

Dr Carlos Martínez-Pérez (University of Glasgow)
Funded Project: Comprehensive characterisation of breast cancers within a novel platform for ex vivo culture, study and testing of clinical tumour samples

Dr Nicole Brace (University of the Highlands and Islands)
Funded Project: Multi-omic comparison of induced stress responses in neuronal precursor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells originating from schizophrenia and healthy patients

Dr Frank Machin (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Potato CRISPR

Dr Rachel Falconer (University of Aberdeen)
Funded Project: SimUp: a proof-of-concept study for an innovative “digital coach”

This funding aims to support the development of ECRs including their international networks, research outputs and technical skills and knowledge. This fund has been jointly created by Scottish Government, the State Government of Rheinland-Pfalz, and SULSA to support research collaborations between Scotland and the Rheinland-Pfalz region of Germany.

• Dr Angela Harrison (University of Dundee): Research exchange to Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz for project ‘iCLIP2 analysis of Nipah virus matrix protein interactions with host RNA regulatory pathways’

• Ms Tegan Gaetano (University of Aberdeen): Research exchange to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz for project ‘Cross-island genomic comparison of ecologically key bumblebees’

• Dr Sofija GaeSemeniuk (University of Edinburgh): Research exchange to University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern for project ‘High content analysis of synNotch and FPR signalling in tumour microenvironment’

• Dr Clara Benavent Celma (James Hutton Institute): Research exchange to RPTU Kaiserlautern-Landau for project ‘Impact of Antibiotic Resistance on Biofilm Community Function’

• Mr Miroslav Novak (University of Dundee): Research exchange to JGU/Pharmaceutical and Biomedicinal Sciences for project ‘The impact of targeting Keap1 by electrophiles and non-electrophilic protein-protein interaction inhibitors on mitochondrial function and dynamics’

• Dr Mark Macaskill (University of Edinburg): Research exchange to University Hospital Mainz, Germany for project ‘Digital biopsies in patients with recurrent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas using Markov clustering of pixelwise dynamic [68Ga]FAPI-positron emission data’
  

Run in collaboration with CENSIS and IBioIC this fund is aimed at early lecturers/PIs to support development of their independent research and their affiliation with the industry sector. The project should aim to foster new projects and collaborations across the academic and industry sector and drive novel and exciting research and innovation.

Dr Szabolcs Pap (University of the Highlands and Islands)
Funded Project:Clay/biochar composite for integrated resource recovery with DRAM and FILTRAFLOTM-P systems

Dr Richard Good (University of Glasgow)
Funded Project: Quantification of heart artery calcification in contrast enhanced, non-cardiac CT scans: a comparison with the Agatston score derived from dedicated cardiac CT imaging

Dr Lucas Frungillo (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: De-risking multipurpose hemp for a resilient British farming system

Dr Claire Crossan (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Funded Project: Development of a Porcine Cytomegalovirus Serological Assay

This funding aims to support researchers in their endeavours to develop their own novel research track. The funds can be used for a variety of activities such as travel, training in new techniques/skills, consumable costs, and facility access.

Projects should aim to build a new collaboration, upskill the applicant or generate pilot data/develop a pathway to commercialisation.

Dr Helena Chaytow (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Investigating the neuroprotective action of terazosin as a therapy for motor neuron disease

Dr Didier Devaurs  (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Protein Engineering of Myomaker to Enable Gene Therapy for DMD

Dr Giulia Gaggioni (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project: Exploring visual and non- visual light sensitivity in young people with neurodevelopmental conditions

Dr Kirstie McClatchey (University of Edinburgh)
Funded Project:Developing and evaluating the implementation of integrated health psychologists in healthcare services

Dr Fiona McLean (University of Dundee)
Funded Project: Environmental nanoplastics: Is our brain a dumping ground for plastic waste?

Dr Liam Rooney (University of Strathclyde)
Funded Project: High-precision chemical mapping in biofilm transport channels to inform better therapies