HMA goes to University

HMA Digital Marketing has created the first in a series of CGI animations to help researchers at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Biomedical Science explain their work to others in the scientific community and to the public. Their research into improving methods of delivering therapeutic agents to the central nervous system could ultimately be used in the treatment of conditions including several motor neurone diseases, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Dr Beppe Battaglia of the Department of Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield was awarded a three-year grant from EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), the Government’s leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. Dr Battaglia and his team are using their expertise in molecular engineering and neuroscience to further develop their nanoparticle technology into mechanisms which will allow delivery of therapeutic agents to specific biological targets within the central nervous system.

The EPSRC grant requires the project to feature a strong element of public engagement, so Dr Battaglia asked HMA to create an animation that could be used to visually explain the research to others, including clinicians and patient groups.

This animation is the first in a series that HMA will create for the University research project. The focus of the initial animation is on the molecular engineering methods used to create the nanoparticles used (namely polymersomes) in a Petri dish. It will demonstrate how the polymersomes are produced from single hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer strings, using context and scale to convey their nanometre size.