Analyst Blog

SciX 2017, a conference featuring cutting edge developments in analytical sciences, instrumentation and unique applications, was held in Reno, NV from October 8-13, 2017.

It also gives us great pleasure to announce that Analyst Chair Duncan Graham and Analytical Methods Editor-in-Chief Scott Martin both received awards at SciX 2017. The Charles Mann Award for Applied Raman Spectroscopy was awarded to Duncan Graham, who delivered his Plenary lecture “Mann up, SERS Can be Useful!” on Tuesday 10th October. Scott Martin was the recipient of the AES Mid-Career Award. After being presented with his award, Scott delivered a plenary lecture titled  “Using Microchip Electrophoresis and Electrochemical Detection to Investigate Cellular Communication”. We are extremely proud of Scott and Duncan. Congratulations on well-deserved awards.

Duncan Graham, Chair of Analyst, is presented with the Charles Mann Award for Applied Raman Spectroscopy by Ian Lewis from Kaiser Optical Systems

Analytical Methods Editor-in-Chief Scott Martin receives the AES Mid-Career Award from Mark Hayes, Arizona State University

RSC Sessions

Maria Southall, Deputy Editor of Analyst and Analytical Methods, attended SciX and chaired two Royal Society of Chemistry sessions – the RSC Sensors for Cancer Diagnostics session and the RSC Award session. Both sessions featured excellent presentations from experts in the field of analytical chemistry. The RSC Award session showcased the work of Danny O’Hare (Imperial College London, UK), Eiry Kobatake (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan), Xian-En Zhang (Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) and Gianfranco Gilardi (University of Torino, Italy). At the RSC Sensors for Cancer Diagnostics session, Analyst Associate Editors Steven Soper (University of Kansas, USA) and Jean-Francois Masson (University of Montreal, Canada) presented some of their research, along with Analytical Methods Advisory Board member Amanda Hummon (University of Notre Dame, USA) and Peter Gardner from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology.

Photo from left to right: Eiry Kobatake, Xian-En Zhang, Maria Southall (RSC), Tony Cass, Gianfranco Gilardi, Danny O’Hare

Thank you to all our session speakers!

Spring SciX 2018

Spring SciX is a UK-based meeting of the successful SciX series, covering a wide range of analytical chemistry research, with a focus on early career researchers. Join leaders in the analytical sciences as they present progress on emergent topics, meet with exhibitors, and network over four days in Glasgow. Find out more at http://springscix.org/

We hope to see you there!

The 66^th Annual Meeting for the Society of Analytical Chemistry was held from 9th – 12th September, 2017, in Tokyo, Japan.

Analyst was honoured to sponsor poster prizes for the meeting. Our Executive Editor (Philippa Hughes) was also in attendance and presented the awards.

Analyst poster prize presentation

(left to right) Fukui Yoshiharu, Yoshida Kentaro, Philippa Hughes and Tenda Keisuke

List of winners:

• Kohno Soshi, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Yanaga  Yohei, Kyushu University Faculty of Engineering
• Yoshida Kentaro, Tokyo Science University Graduate School
• Fukui Yoshiharu, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Nagashima Moeko, Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Tenda Keisuke, Keio University
• Yamamoto Sho, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology
• Takeuchi Riko, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
• Kobayashi Mizuki, Tokyo University of Science

Congratulations to all of the poster prize winners!

The RSC Tokyo International Conference 2017: Analytical Science & Technology for Global Sustainability was held from 7th – 8th September. The Royal Society of Chemistry and JAIMA (JAPAN Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association) jointly organised the RSC-TIC（Royal Society of Chemistry-Tokyo International Conference）during JASIS 2017, one of the biggest exhibitions of analytical and scientific instruments in Asia.  The conference focuses on analytical science and technology and consists of invited lectures and poster presentations.

Top: Plenary Speaker, Professor Craig Banks

Bottom: Event organiser Professor Takehiko Kitamori 

By all accounts, the 6th instalment of the RSC-TIC was another success. Across the two days, there were 277 delegates, coming from around the globe. The number and diversity of delegates made for some high quality poster presentations. As an official sponsor of the poster presentations, Analyst Executive Editor (Philippa Hughes) was delighted that there were 120 poster presentations at the conference. We would like to congratulate the Analyst poster presentation award winners:

• Direct measurement of Pd-107 in Pd metal recovered from spent nuclear fuel with laser ablation ICP-MS
  Shiho Asai1, Ohata Masaki 2, Takumi Yomogida1, Morihisa Saeki3, Hironori Ohba3, Yukiko Hanzawa1, Takuma Horita1, Yoshihiro Kitatsuji1
  1 Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2 National institute of advanced industrial science and technology, 3National institute of quantum and radiological science and technology
• A Thiol Sensing Probe Based on a Caged Luciferin
  Mayu Hemmi, Yuma Ikeda, Yutaka Shindo, Shigeru Nishiyama, Kotaro Oka, Daniel Citterio, Koji Suzuki
  Keio University Graduate School of Science and Technology
• High sensitive nanobeads’ immunoassay with preconcentrator enhancement
  Yu-Jui Fan1, Chih-Zong Deng2, Horn-Jiunn Sheen2
  1 School of Biomedical University, Taipei Medical University, 2 Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University

Philippa Hughes (second from left) presenting the Analyst post prizes

Whilst attending RSC-TIC, Philippa also gave a talk entitled “How to get published in high impact journals”. The talk was well received and offered invaluable insights into the world of scientific publishing. Other guest speakers included Craig Banks, who is a member of Analytical Methods‘ Editorial Board and Abe Lee, Editor in Chief for Lab on a Chip.

  Speakers dinner attendees

Join us in London to discuss diagnostics for Antimicrobial Resistance

In a recent report, the World Health Organisation reiterated concerns that not enough antibiotics are in development. Along with making new antibiotics, we also need to manage demand for these medicines. For example, in the US, it is estimated more than 2/3 of antibiotics prescribed to treat respiratory problems are unnecessary, that equates to about 27 million doses a year. Reducing the over-consumption of antibiotics is multifaceted involving stewardship programmes, regulation and crucially diagnostics. In his final report for the Review on AMR, Lord Jim O’Neill outlined how “doctors must still prescribe antibiotics based only on their immediate assessment of a patient’s symptoms, just like they used to when antibiotics first entered common use in the 1950s.”

Rapid, high quality and affordable diagnostics are urgently needed. As part of the Learned Society Partnership on AMR (LeSPAR), we are bringing together experts to discuss some of the challenges facing discovery, development and use of diagnostics for infectious disease. Topics covered at the workshop will include the clinical challenges, molecular diagnostics, metrology and analytical technologies. With a particular focus on supporting early career researchers from academia and industry, we hope to stimulate links across the many disciplines and sectors needed to realise a healthy pipeline of new diagnostics tests and technologies. We hope that you can join us in London on 20 November 2017.

Secure you place by registering online now at rsc.li/diagnostics4AMR

Early bird registration deadline  – 02 October

Standard registration deadline – 06 November

Euroanalysis 2017, will be held from 28th August – 1st September 2017, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Along the lines of the long traditions of Euroanalysis, the meeting will cover all aspects where analytical chemistry plays a role including fundamental and applied sciences. It will offer plenary and keynote presentations on cutting-edge topics by internationally renowned leaders of the field, followed by contributed talks and poster presentations to stimulate interdisciplinary discussions. In addition, a young researchers’ session will be organized to provide opportunities for and encourage Ph.D. students and postdocs to share their findings.

The conference has attracted about 500 participants from more than 30 countries, covering academia, governance and industry. The organisers hope that this will help to strengthen the networks between chemical societies and their members, working in diverse fields.

In addition to the lectures offered in the program, there are also opportunities to visit the exhibition, attend short courses and vendor’s seminars. A number of prominent analytical chemists will also be awarded.

The Newton fund workshop on exploring new collaborations – working at the chemistry microbiology interface to develop new antibiotics is being held from 14th – 18th December, 2017, at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru, India.

One of the largest issues that modern medicine is currently facing is how to combat the emergence of bacteria which is resistant to antibiotics. With potentially fatal ramifications worldwide, this is an area of research which is clearly vital. As such, Public Health England (PHE) and the Rajiv Gandhi Institue of Chest Diseases (RGICD) are combing forces for a five day residential workshop.

The workshop is aimed at early stage scientists from India and the UK, with a rough split of 20 participants from each country. Successful applicants will benefit from a hugely valuable mentoring system from luminaries in the fields of medicinal medicine,  clinical microbiology and translational research.

The cost of travel, visas, accommodation and meals will all be covered by the organisers.

Application Deadline: 15th September 2017

Click here to find out more

The first TISuMR Symposium on Tissue Culture and Magnetic Resonance will take place from 24th – 27th September, 2017, in Winchester, UK.

The culture of tissue under controlled conditions holds great promise for the future of medicine and the life sciences in general. While the study of cells provides detailed insight into biological processes at the molecular and supra-molecular scale, understanding many disease processes requires a more systemic approach.

Culture of  tissues, either from organ samples or grown entirely in vitro, can provide insight at the organ system level, revealing not only the function of individual cell types, but also their interaction with each other as well as with the extracellular matrix.

Combining advanced microfluidic lab-on-a-chip approaches to tissue culture with non-invasive, in-situ NMR investigation of life processes is the central theme of the TISuMR project. This symposium will bring together clinical experts on liver pathology,  researchers working on microfluidic tissue culture,  and scientists developing novel magnetic resonance techniques, with the following aims:

• Exchange ideas across discipline boundaries.
• Discuss opportunities and challenges in the field.
• Establish the potential of the TISuMR approach for developing liver disease models.
• Foster mutual understanding between the biomedical and technical aspects of the project.

The technical program will feature a number of leading scientists in the fields of hepatology, microfluidic technology, and magnetic resonance as keynote speakers. In addition, members of the TISuMR team will present their projects and early results.

Register here for the conference

Electrochem 2017 will be held at the University of Birmingham, UK, from Sunday 10th – Tuesday 12th September, 2017

The Electrochem 2017 annual meeting is organised by the Electrochemistry, and Electroanalytical & Sensors Interest Groups of the RSC, and the Society of Chemistry & Industry (SCI). In 2017, it will also include the 58th Corrosion Science Symposium, the annual meeting of the Institute of Corrosion (Corrosion Science Division).

The Corrosion Science Symposium has been held annually since its launch in 1960 by Prof. L.L. Shreir. It is an ideal opportunity for students and young researchers in corrosion science from across Europe to congregate, discuss their work, share ideas and, above all, enjoy themselves in a stimulating environment. Contributions are invited in all areas of corrosion science and engineering.

Confirmed speakers:

Faraday medal winner: Professor Marc Koper, Leiden University
Fleischmann lecturer: Professor Stephen Fletcher

Registration closes on Friday 25th August.

Click here to register

The Analytical Research Forum 2017 was held on the 7^th of July at Burlington House in London. The interdisciplinary one-day event featured invited talks, flash presentations and poster presentations on an impressive range of analytical techniques and applications. From the analysis of the hidden art beneath Rembrandt’s paintings to conducting life science experiments in outer space, the variety and calibre of work was of the highest standard.

Invited talks were given by Elaine Holmes (Imperial College, UK), Perdita Barran (University of Manchester, UK), David Peggie (National Gallery, UK) and Tony Ricco (NASA Research Laboratory, USA). Contributed talks and flash presentation sessions also enabled more participants to present a snapshot of their research to the analytical community.

Prizes were awarded by the RSC Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund to the best contributed talks and flash presentations. We are pleased to offer our congratulations to the prize winners:

• Becki Scott (KU Leuven, Belgium), Contributed Talk, First Prize
• Thomas Smith (University of Sheffield, UK), Contributed Talk, Second Prize
• Ryan Kane (University of Strathclyde, UK), Flash Presentation, First Prize
• Yuko P. Y. Lam (University of Warwick, UK) and Emily Kempa (University of Manchester, UK), Flash Presentations, joint Second Prize.

The Royal Society of Chemistry also awarded subscriptions to our journals Analyst, Analytical Methods and Lab on a Chip as prizes for the best posters on the day. We are delighted to recognise the excellent work of the following prize recipients:

• Fay Nicolson (University of Strathclyde, UK) for a poster entitled “Through barrier detection using handheld surface enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy”
• Saba Al-Obaidy (Hull University, UK) for a poster entitled “Simple microfluidic platform to evaluate biological inspired nano-particles for focussed delivery of anti-bacterials”
• Andrew Donohoe (Dublin City University, Ireland) for a poster entitled “Development of cost effective sensors for the in-situ monitoring of heavy metals”

Congratulations to Fay, Saba and Andrew for presenting top class analytical research!

Andrew Donohoe and Fay Nicholson accept their awards from Melissa Hanna-Brown,
President of the Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Division

Congratulations to all the prize winners and many thanks to all the participants who contributed to a vibrant and exciting meeting!