| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D023807/1 |
| Title: |
IDEAS Factory - Chemical Craftwork: The 'WellChell': A Public-domain Proto-platform for revolutionary discovery of Complex Chemical Systes |
| Principal Investigator: |
Schroeder, Professor SLM |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chem Eng and Analytical Science |
| Organisation: |
University of Manchester, The |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 September 2005 |
Ends: |
31 May 2009 |
Value (£): |
167,026
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biological & Medicinal Chem. |
Bioprocess Engineering |
| Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
Complex fluids & soft solids |
| Fundamentals of Computing |
Light-Matter Interactions |
| Modelling & simul. of IT sys. |
Non-linear Systems Mathematics |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Chemicals |
Healthcare |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This project contributes to addressing one of the great challenges that the Chemical Sciences will have to face over the coming decades. Progress in our understanding of fundamental principles in biology, chemistry and physics has led to studies of increasingly complex chemical reaction systems. We need to devise theoretical and experimental frameworks to handle the increasingly large numbers of interdependent parameters in these complex systems, which include most prominently living systems (especially biological cells), but also processes for generating everyday products, for example the formulation of cosmetics, development of pharmaceuticals or preparation of foods. Such systems already pose a challenge to current chemical science because their formulation involves large numbers of components and preparation steps. It is therefore proposed to build a model miniature laboratory system with 96 chemical flow reactors, wherein the conditions of chemical processes (concentrations of reactants, temperature, flow speed) can be controlled using genetic computer algorithms. These genetic algorithms use the principles of biological evolution to efficiently find practically useful reaction parameters. The proposed 96-reactor system constitutes an inexpensive technology platform that will subsequently be made available for non-commercial use. Observing the evolution process in such a system will allow chemists to begin to analyse the principles underlying complex chemical reactions, and enable them to find synthesis routes for increasingly complex systems, including, ultimately, primitive 'living' systems.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.man.ac.uk |