UK
The Textile Services Association (TSA) has been awarded a prestigious Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) grant that will help to fund the next stage of ongoing research into the microbiology of commercial and domestic washing. The project, carried out in collaboration with De Montfort University (DMU), aims to learn more about biofilms formation within wash systems. vital research into guaranteeing laundry hygiene. A TSA Information Day on 23 July will help the industry understand the issues.
The funding was granted by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC). Competition for the funding was highly competitive and only a select number of organisations were successful. Fubding was awarded to those projects deemed to show exceptional potential to drive innovation and industry collaboration, combined with high impact research training.
The BBSRC is the UK’s main funder of bioscience research while NBIC is the UK’s national centre for biofilm research.
The grant will help solidify the UK commercial laundry sector’s position at the forefront of sustainable, science-driven innovation. It will also help to ensure commercial laundry processes continue to deliver the high-level hygiene requirements its customers demand.
The new funding will allow the DMU research team, led by Professor Katie Laird and Dr Ray Allan, to appoint two additional PhD students to build on the work already undertaken by Microbiology PhD student Jake Dunlop. “We’ve been working on this research for over five years,” said Professor Laird. “It’s fantastic that we can continue to progress our knowledge around the bio-science of industrial and domestic washing. It’s especially exciting that this new phase is aimed at looking at solving some of the challenges we’ve highlighted so far with our research.”
“Being on the leading edge of research efforts like this is hugely important for our members and the industry as a whole,” said David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “It also allows us to work more closely with both machinery and chemical supply partners, with proven science taking the lead, ensuring genuine and mutually beneficial collaboration.”
The TSA is planning an Information Day which will give attendees comprehensive information about the importance of this research, highlighting the challenges posed by biofilms to the industry. The day will include presentations from Simon Fry, Chair of Micronclean; Professor Katie Laird and Dr Ray Allan from DMU; and representatives from NBIC and the Biofilm Alliance. Following the event a steering group will be appointed to drive the project for the benefit of the global laundry industry.
The Information Day will take place on the 23 July between 10.30am and 3pm BST at the Leicester Marriot Hotel. Anyone interested in attending should contact the TSA.
