Professor Matthew Gibson has been honoured as 1 of the 2 recipients of the ACS Biomacromolecules/Macromolecules Young Investigator Prize! This is an annual award given to a scientist in polymer science of any nationality under the age of 40. The award citation reads;

Professor Gibson was selected in recognition of his outstanding contributions in fields of bioinspired materials and polymer chemistry, having successfully translated his basic research findings to industrial partners. Prof. Gibson is acknowledged as having created the field of macromolecular cryoprotectants, which is making a global impact, in addition to his work on glyco-materials and new polymer synthesis.

Read the release here

This follows a long tradition at Warwick, with Perrier, Dove, O'Reilly all being previous awardees.

Our recent paper Antifreeze Protein Mimetic Metallohelices with Potent Ice Recrystallization Inhibition Activity has been featured in Scientific American (a monthly US science magazine with a circulation ~ 0.5 million). In this article they highlgihted our collaborative work with Peter Scott and David Fox on designed amphipathic helicies which have the unique ability to slow ice crystal growth. These helicies provided understanding for how native antifreeze proteins, which are often helical, prodcue their antifreeze effects through their structure and not necessarily through a lock-and-type type interaction with the ice surface - although this is still under investigation in our lab.

Read it here

Nature-Inspired Antifreeze Molecules Could Keep Organs Fresh Longer

On 26th June, Professor Matthew Gibson gave his inuagral ('leading lights') lecture at Warwick Medical School. This is a celebration of his promotion to a personal chair (professorship) joint between Warwick Medical School and the Department of Chemistry. After introductions by Prof Sudhesh Kumar (WMS Dean) and Prof Martin Wills (HoD of Chemistry) Matt introduced his career path on his way to Warwick, sharing success (and failures!) along the way. He then described two areas of research where his group actively works with his Medical School (and Life Sciences) colleagues; Glycoscience to study infection and new cell cryo-storage methods.

Following this, the Group had a Cocktail night to celebrate this, and future group successes!

Our collaboration with Edgecombe Community College, NC, USA, funded by a Nasa outreach grant resulted in the high-altitude balloon launch on Saturday. Our polymers were sent up added to several biological samples. Due to the polymers ability to mimic the function of natural antifreeze proteins, the cells (blood and algae) were protected from teh extreme cold stress and survived the (bumpy) journey.

Read the press release (with videos) here

On Saturday, 8th April, a high altitidue balloon will be launched to over 60,000 ft, containing an experiment designed in collaboration with the GibsonGroup. This is part of a NASA-sponsered program, being undertaken by students at Edgecombe Community College, in Carolina, USA. The balloon will contain equipment for monitoring the external environment and also cameras; the Balloon will be high enough for the curvature of the Earth to be clearly visible. A secondary payload will also be included, enabling an additional science experiment. Jilian Leary, a student at the College contacted Professor Gibson to see if our cryo-protective polymers, inspired by antifreeze proteins could be included in an experiment to see how cells (blood) survive in the harsh conditions.

The launch will be live on facebook on 8th April (evening, UK time),

https://www.facebook.com/pg/EdgecombeCC/posts/?ref=page_internal

Read more here

https://www.edgecombe.edu/news/students-preparing-high-altitude-balloon-launch/

The photograph shows the lead student Jillian, preparing the samples.

Whilst attending the World Biotechnology Congress in May this year, Prof Gibson was interviewed for FutureScience OA, ragarding the groups work in infection, cryopreservation and science in general.

Read the interview here

http://www.future-science.com/doi/full/10.4155/fsoa-2016-0043

Our latest paper on cell cryopreservation has been selected by the editors of Biomaterials Science to feature on the front cover.

Read the paper here

Enhanced non-vitreous cryopreservation of immortalized and primary cells by ice-growth inhibiting polymers

Matt has been promoted to a personal chair (full professor) joint between Chemisry and Warwick Medical School. This is recognition of hard work of all team members over past 6 years!