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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/R029407/1
Title: The UK High-End Computing Consortium for Biomolecular Simulation
Principal Investigator: Khalid, Professor S
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
AstraZeneca UCB Vernalis plc
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 February 2019 Ends: 31 July 2021 Value (£): 321,432
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Chemical Biology
Novel industrial products
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
01 Feb 2018 High End Computing Consortia Call 2017 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
There is tremendous future scope for biomolecular simulation to provide unprecedented insights into biomolecular systems. The level of detail afforded by these methods, along with their ability to rationalise experimental data and their predictive power are already enabling them to make significant contributions in a wide variety of areas that are crucial for healthcare, quality of life and the environment. The UK biomolecular simulation community has a strong international reputation, with world-leading efforts in in drug design and development, biocatalysis, bionano-technology, chemical biology and medicine. HECBioSim has already delivered outstanding research with impact in bionanotechology, drug design and AMR. But we have only just scratched the surface and there is currently huge room for expansion. Having access to the largest, most modern computing facilities is essential for this. Renewal of the Consortium will enable us to continue allocating time ARCHER for cutting-edge biomolecular simulations.

We will place a special emphasis on reaching out to experimentalists and scientists working in industry in order to foster interactions between computational and experimental scientists, and academia and industry to encourage integrated multidisciplinary studies of key problems.

Biomolecular simulation and modelling is an integral part of drug design and development. The pharmaceutical industry needs well-trained scientists in this area, as well as the development of new methods (e.g. for prediction of drug binding affinities, ligand selectivity and metabolism). Members of the consortium have a strong track record of collaboration with industry to deliver trained scientists and new methodologies. For example, PhD students trained by consortium members have recently taken up positions in UCB, Unilever, Oxford Nanoimaging and even Sky Broadcasting as software developer. Many of these academic-industry collaborations have been strengthened by work done through HECBioSim allocations.

The Consortium will continue to welcome new members from across the whole community. We will continue to develop computational tools and training for both experts and non-experts using biomolecular simulation on HEC resources. We propose to develop new tools that will enable inter-conversion between biomolecular systems at different levels of resolution thereby allowing users to tackle more ambitious 'grand challenges' than are currently feasible.

In summary HECBioSim will foster collaborations between computational and experimental scientists between scientists working in industry and academia in all disciplines within biomolecular simulation to maintain the UK as a world-leader in this field.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk