We welcome members of the public, press and government to contact us, request a tour and learn about our biomedical research performed on superconducting magnets.
2011
Twenty-five enthusiastic students from King Edward's School, Birmingham, visited HWB-NMR to learn how NMR can be used in the study of cancer. Presentations and tours were given.
The NMR-DG postgraduate meeting was held at the University of Birmingham on 22 June. Seminars were given by Clare Grey (Cambridge) and Ulrich Günther (HWB-NMR) with presentations by postdocs and students.
Tour of the HWB-NMR facility was given to a group of ladies employed at JCB who collectively raised £10k for CR-UK taking part in Race for Life in Stoke-on-Trent.
What they enjoyed most about their day?
"Seeing the equipment used and finding out what the building is used for and what the scientists study."
"The presentation gave a good concept of [cancer] awareness and of the ongoing research to improve [our understanding]."
"...I found it absolutely fascinating!"
"Everything..! I feel very privileged to have been able to come today."
And how the tour made them feel about CR-UK?
"Very inspiring and wanting to go out and do much more to help such a wonderful cause."
"If I had millions of pounds you could have it all - it's wonderful what you are doing!"
A big thank you to these wonderful ladies from all CR-UK scientists here! It's this kind of support and acknowledgement that inspires us to do the best we possibly can in our research.
WW-NMR workshop held in Beijing, China prior to the 17th International Biophysics Congress, 2011 (30 Oct - 3 Nov).
Speakers for the HWB-NMR Annual User Meeting on 4 Nov:
Oleg Fedorov, SGC Oxford: Targeting epigenetic readers
Mark Howard, University of Kent: Structure, dynamics and interactions of recombinant isotopically labelled RGD-integrin peptides
Mark Pfuhl, King's College London: NMR investigation of the TACC3 complex in cell cycle regulation
Mike Williamson, University of Sheffield: Conformational selection in Barnase
2010
The UK's first NANUC NMR BootCamp was held on 1-4 Nov. Tutors: Frank Delaglio, Eriks Kupce, Tim Stevens & Wayne Boucher, Michael Nilge & Benjamin Bardiaux. 30 students/postdocs attended.
Launch of WW-NMR IRSES project funded by the European Commission to foster collaborative interactions between EU-NMR sites and NMR facilities from India (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Argentina (CONICET-UNR University of Rosario), South Africa (Meraka Institute of the CSIR and University of the Western Cape), Brazil (Biological NMR at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, LNLS and the National Center for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), and China (WUHAN institute of physics and mathematics, Peking University and University of Science and Technology of China).
Speakers for the HWB-NMR Annual User Meeting on 5 Nov:
Paul Driscoll, National Institute for Medical Research: Solution state measurements of death domain complexes
Arnout Kalverda, University of Leeds: Using Hadamard spectroscopy with larger proteins to achieve both spectral simplification and reduced dimensionality without sacrificing sensitivity
Joel Loveridge, Cardiff University: Solvent effects on DHFR dynamics and catalysis
Jennifer Potts, University of York: Using NMR to investigate some unusual protein-protein interactions
Andrew Peet, University of Birmingham: MR spectroscopy of childhood cancer - patients, tissue and cells
2009
Speakers for the HWB-NMR Annual User Meeting on 5 Nov:
Chris Bunce, University of Birmingham: Drug re-deployment in a high risk malignancy; targeting the metabolome
Steve Homans, University of Leeds: What drives ligand-protein interactions?
Matt Crump, University of Bristol: How to survive in an Organic Chemistry Department: Combining organic synthesis and Protein NMR
Jörn Werner, University of Southampton: Dynamics in the self-assembly of HIV viral particles
Steve Matthews, Imperial College: Host cell recognition by apicomplexan parasites and pathogenic bacteria
2008
Speakers for the HWB-NMR Annual User Meeting on 6 Nov:
Andrew Almond, University of Manchester: Resolving glycosaminoglycan shape with isotope enrichment and ultra-high-field NMR
Geoff Moore, University of East Anglia: Characterising disordered and partially folded states of proteins with NMR spectroscopy
Eriks Kupce, Varian Inc.: Hyperdimensional NMR spectroscopy
Udo Oppermann, Structural Genomics Consortium, Oxford: Chemical Probes for Epigenetic Signalling
Tours of the HWB_NMR facility were given to visitors including Paul Ramsbottom, Director of Wolfson Foundation (7 Apr), the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Randall Brew OBE (8 Apr) and the Canadian High Commission (9 Oct).
2007
Resonance Project concert was held at HWB•NMR on Nov 13.
Wayne Boucher and Tim Stevens (CcpNmr Project) gave a CcpNmr tutorial at HWB•NMR to local users on Nov 7.
Users and visitors were invited to our Open Day celebrating our third anniversary on Nov 2.
HWB•NMR was selected by the RIBA Higher Education Quality Forum Distinction by Design and exhibited in a national exhibition of exemplary higher education buildings.
Visitors to HWB•NMR included:
2006
HWB•NMR was toured by 30 senior delegates from 15 EU member countries through Programme of the UK Peer Learning Activity organized by the Department for Education and Skills.
HWB•NMR was declared winner of the Education category of the “Built in Quality” Standards by Birmingham City Council.
2005
The Resonance project funded by the Wellcome Trust and Locate in Birmingham explores the connections between advancing science at the Henry Wellcome Building and composing music.
HWB•NMR was been given extensive coverage in the November 2005 issue of ‘Architecture Today’.
2004
Andrew Peet was interviewed for Research-TV, News-Medical and the Birmingham Post, saying:
"We are developing new magnetic resonance scans to measure the levels of chemicals in tumours to help us diagnose them and identify the best way to treat them. In future these scans may allow us to avoid surgery in some patients and improve treatment in others. At present, to interpret these new scans we need information on the chemistry of the tumours and this is obtained by putting tumour samples in the magnets in the Henry Wellcome Building."
The magazine Buzz published an article entitled Magnetic Milestones in Children’s Brain Tumour Treatment in December.
The Inaugural Symposium Magnets, Molecules and Medicine was held in November.
In the Birmingham Vision's article An Attractive Proposition, the NMR building was described:
"Based on a cathedral design, the clean, open lines of the new Centre are more akin to a building designed for welcoming people in than a traditional ‘closed off’ scientific research centre. Constructed using the minimum of ferrous metal the building features three symmetrical chambers housing five large superconducting magnets, with the largest standing 5 metres tall and weighing 10 tonnes."
2003
In the Birmingham Magazine's article Adventures in Nanoland, Peter Evans stated:
"This specially designed building nearing completion on the West Campus alongside the Institute for Cancer Studies houses Britain’s biggest and most powerful nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer - a state of the art 900 megahertz machine for scrutinising protein structures at the highest level of resolution now achievable. With it, Professor Michael Overduin and his team of specialist computer engineers and bioscientists will be able to visualise protein structures and see how they are arranged as assemblies of atoms in three dimensional space."
In his interview with David Long entitled National NMR Centre Comes to Birmingham, Professor Lawrence Young stated:
"the theoretical, practical and commercial value of 900 Mhz NMR spectroscopy will guarantee the brightest possible future for this, the latest addition to Birmingham’s already formidable array of biomedical research facilities."
2002
In Magnetic Attraction in the Architects' Journal Austin Williams explained Berman Guedes Stretton's design of the building:
"The roof is divided into three sections, in line with the three NMR chambers, and the sections are separated by strips of north-light roof glazing, bringing daylight into the heart of the building. The chambers are grouped around a central control area and large, removable glazed panels in each chamber allow views of the NMR machines and also provide access for removal and installation of the equipment. Associated with the central control area is the main entrance with seminar, breakout and office facilities - these areas are clad with cedar boarding and solar control louvres."
Our staff and users publish in leading scientific journals and are actively involved in promoting public understanding of biomedical research.
HWB•NMR wins recognition from the RIBA Higher Education Quality Forum and has been reviewed by the Architecture Journal and Architecture Today.
