The political context in which disasters occur is an under-developed area of research. This is despite natural hazards posing significant political challenges by inflaming grievances, increasing resource scarcity, negatively impacting on livelihoods, and increasing criminality. As changes in local climate amplify the regularity and severity of disaster events, this research project asks: how does regime type influence the impact of disasters caused by natural hazards? And what potential disaster risk reduction strategies can be identified to facilitate and strengthen future disaster governance? This project seeks to determine the political barriers to disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Southeast Asia, with the aim of improving regional and international disaster aid dispersal across political contexts. Using Southeast Asia as a test case study, the project will develop an original dataset that maps national disaster impact across Southeast Asia according to regime type. Results in the form of a dataset, codebook and briefing paper will be disseminated to disaster relief organisation practitioners to be used as an analytical tool to guide future disaster responses and to improve the efficacy of disaster risk reduction across multiple political contexts in Southeast Asia. Eleven countries will form the basis of analysis across a thirty-year timeframe. There are two objectives: Objective One: To conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to ascertain (a) the number, severity and impact of all disasters originated by natural hazards across Southeast Asian cases from 1991-2021, (b) the regime type, utilising existing Worldwide Governance Indicators (World Bank), Democracy Status Indicators (Freedom House) and Political Regime Characteristics (Polity IV) indicators, and (c) the regional (ASEAN), national (state agency) and sub-national (civil society and local government) disaster responses. A regression analysis will assess the relationship between regime type and disasters impact across the eleven Southeast Asian cases between 1991-2021. Objective Two: To (a) process and evaluate the dataset established under objective one and (b) compile findings for dissemination to beneficiaries in the form of three academic articles, a policy brief, infographics, two training and networking workshops and two academic conferences. The dataset and codebook will be shared on a custom-built website. There is no existing dataset that examines the relationship between disasters impact and regime type. This new dataset will be used as an analytical tool to help inform disaster relief organisations of the political context in which they operate, the types of DRR and response strategies utilised in the past, those that will be most effective per country, and predicted responses to future disasters irrespective of changes in political context. Early engagement with beneficiaries has identified two user-related needs that the project will deliver on: 1. to enhance knowledge of context-specific restrictions impacting on the ability of disaster relief organisations and their community-based partners to perform their role in DRR and response effectively. 2. to generate a quantitative dataset that can be used by organisations as evidence when lobbying state policymakers for organisational funding and resource acquisition. The dataset will be disseminated to international and UK-based disaster relief organisations working in DRR. Outputs will supplement data and knowledge gaps to improve context-specific disaster responses and aid dispersal, support state and private funding initiatives, and influence policymaking. This will support the capacity of these organisations to work with local communities and government authorities to improve in-country DRR capacity and resilience. The project will engage with these stakeholders at all stages of the research process to achieve maximum impact.

Cell based therapies using Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are an exciting therapeutic option, using our own cells to both dampen inflammation and promote repair of damaged tissues. Large numbers of MSCs are required for effective therapeutic applications, requiring expansion in the laboratory. This can result in loss of their important immuno-modulatory and repair functions due to spontaneous differentiation. This project will build on current knowledge to manufacture new microcarriers which can be optimized to provide both adhesive signals, and 'tuneable' elasticity to provide MSCs with the optimal growth surface conditions. Additionally, this project investigates key soluble factors released by MSCs in the reactor, such as extracellular vesicles containing bioactive molecules. Such factors are known to possess immunomodulatory properties and can provide a dual approach to therapy when combined with MSCs. This 'tuneable' new microcarrier system will incorporate slow-release crystals allowing direct delivery of growth factors than can modulate MSC function. Importantly, these carriers will be degradable, allowing for easy collection of expanded cells for further testing. This allows for efficient, standardised, and scalable expansion of MSCs for use in therapy or scientific research.

The fast fashion industry is one of the most globalised and profitable. The success in industry has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few decades, offering consumers affordable and constantly changing clothing styles while maintaining cost efficiency. However, this success comes at a cost to society and the environment, as fast fashion companies prioritise low supply chain costs to meet consumer demands. The research problem focuses on sustainability issues to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate unsustainable practices within the firms in fast fashion supply chains. The literature review explores the current state of fast fashion supply chains and their implications for sustainability. It investigates the various factors contributing to the environmental degradation, economic issues, and social challenges associated with the industry's practices. Numerous studies propose sustainable practices for the fast fashion industry; however, the proposed sustainable practices often fail to address the practical barriers faced by companies, multi-stakeholder's efforts, and multifactor context. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient in tackling the complex realities faced by various stakeholders, necessitating tailored solutions that can accommodate the unique circumstances and limitations of different companies. A critical analysis shows a significant gap in terms of a systemic approach to enhance firms with sustainable supply chains, assist stakeholders in identifying leverage points within the fast fashion supply chain, and propose a systemic problem-solving. There is a lack of specific guidance for decision-making and recommendations on where and how to intervene to achieve the most significant impact on sustainability. The complexity of the industry further complicates matters with its diverse business models, varied supply chain strategies, and policies among companies. Without a more holistic and integrated approach, the industry may struggle to navigate these complexities and drive meaningful change toward sustainability. To address this gap, this research aims to build a systemic framework to assess sustainability and identify key leverage points within a supply chain in the fast fashion industry, supporting diverse companies to contribute to sustainable practices. A theoretical framework to identify these leverage points is essential, and Donella Meadows' 12 leverage points offer a promising approach for applying in the fast fashion industry. Researchers and practitioners can systematically analyse the fast fashion supply chain using this framework and find strategic intervention points to drive transformative change. The research design involves developing a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chains in the fast fashion industry from a systems perspective. The methodology for data collection will vary across stages, including extensive literature review, expert input through workshops, and case studies to test the framework's efficacy. Through iterative refinement, the framework will be continuously improved and adapted. In conclusion, this research contributes to an enhanced understanding of sustainability issues in fast fashion supply chains. By adopting a systemic perspective and leveraging transformative interventions, the industry can align with sustainable development goals and drive positive change. The proposed framework offers an alternative method for companies to transition toward a more sustainable future while acknowledging the dynamic nature of fast fashion. Continuous improvement and adaptation are crucial for a sustainable and responsible industry.

Preeclampsia is the most common of the serious complications of pregnancy. It is caused by a defect in the placenta and is symptomless in the early stages. It is currently only detectable by regular antenatal checks on the mother s blood pressure and urine. In its widest forms, preeclampsia affects about 1 in 10 pregnancies overall and 1 in 50 pregnancies severely. It is potentially life-threatening to mother and baby if allowed to develop and progress undetected. Preeclampsia is curable only by delivery, which puts some babies at risk if they have to be delivered prematurely. Recently, scientists have identified chemicals in the blood (anti-angiogenic factors) that appear to be associated with the onset of preeclampsia. However, it is not known what regulate these anti-angiogenic factors. If we can identify novel mechanisms to inhibit these factors, we could provide preventative treatment.

The transition to a green economy requires a workforce with the right (green) skills but what is "right" and how to get it "right" for different regions, industries, and businesses is less well understood. For most businesses (that will not invent green technologies and processes), adoption and diffusion of green technologies and processes are crucial. The skills required for this adoption may differ considerably from those used in technology development. The evidence on local green skills and the impact of any shortages is much limited with no systematic evidence on how businesses interact with local labour markets to bring in these green skills. The proposed project will contribute to the currently limited academic research to answer questions on the availability of green skills, the impact of green skill shortages on regional green transitions and the policy options to address shortages and facilitate transitions. The project will be a joint studentship between Aston University and the University of Birmingham, bringing together the expertise of academics from different backgrounds. The project will explore the current state-of-the-art on i) demand and supply of green skills, ii) how jobs and local labour markets are affected by skills shortages and iii) what green skills policies have been implemented in different countries and regions. It will use large micro-datasets in combination with advanced econometric techniques to estimate the level of green jobs and the demand for green skills in UK regions and contrast them to the supply of green skills. This analysis will determine what are the shortages (if any) in different subnational spatial scales (different regions within the UK). Econometric modelling will explore the consequences of such shortages at firm level and understand the individual and firm characteristics for upskilling. Qualitative evidence (interviews and focus groups) will deepen our understanding of these issues. Such qualitative methods enable insights into employers' decision-making and priorities and answer 'why' they behave as they do in addressing skills deficiencies. The project's empirical findings will inform policy making decisions at the local and national level to help bridge green skills gaps. It will integrate findings with an analysis on skills policies to provide an overview of policy options for enhancing local green skills and evaluate the practicalities of applying these policies in the UK. Of particular importance will be the maintenance of inclusive growth in poorer parts of the UK, suggesting effective policies that promote prosperity.