From a new 6G signal processing technique to a diversity symposium and cystic fibrosis funding, here is some quick-read news from across Imperial.  

Paving the way to 6G telecomms

A new signal processing technique for wireless communications developed at Imperial College London has outperformed alternative methods, potentially paving the way for its use in 6G. The technique, called Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA), was invented and pioneered by Professor Bruno Clerckx, in his lab in our Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The main challenge in modern wireless communications systems, such as 5G, is the ‘multiple access problem’ – how to simultaneously serve as many users as possible to meet the huge demand for mobile connectivity. The key is to overcome interference caused at each use by signals intended for other users. RSMA allows a cell tower to better manage interference, enabling higher data rates, in principle, than is currently possible in state-of-the-art 5G.

Now, experimental results published in a new paper in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications have shown this to be true, which makes it a promising technology for future wireless networks like 6G.

Diversity symposium  

The Faculty of Natural Sciences hosted a research symposium on 4 June, the largest event to celebrate diversity at the university. The Changing the Face of Science Research Symposium showcased the work – and research journeys – of researchers from historically underrepresented groups in STEM, from 18 of Imperial’s departments.  

The symposium opened with a panel discussion on research careers, with speakers giving candid insights into the advantages and challenges they had sometimes faced. The panel included (pictured above L-R): Dr Sarah Essilfie-Quaye (National Heart and Lung Institute); Professor Faith Osier (Life Sciences), Dr Mark Richards (Physics), Professor Richard Craster (Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences) and Dr Calvin Tiengwe (Life Sciences). It was chaired by Dr Bernadette Byrne, Vice-Dean of EDI in the Faculty of Natural Sciences. 

Dr Richards said: “Events like this symposium help to raise the visibility of researchers from underrepresented groups, serving to motivate and inspire others.”

Prizes were also given on the day to student and staff researchers and the winners included: Hemali Chauhan, Department of Surgery and Cancer;  Davide Nodari, Department of Chemistry; Myriam Prasow-Émond, Department of Earth Science and Engineering; Rupali Dabas, Department of Chemistry; Shubha Talwar, National Heart and Lung Institute.

Cystic Fibrosis funding

Imperial researchers have been awarded £800,000 by Cystic Fibrosis Trust to investigate the impact of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding on women with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Professor Jane Davies and Dr Imogen Felton (both of the National Heart and Lung Institute and Royal Brompton Hospital) will focus on how CF-modulator drugs taken by women who then become pregnant are affecting their children and their own health. 

This game-changing class of medicines has improved life expectancy for people with CF, so women with the condition are increasingly able to become pregnant. However, the medicines themselves are not licensed or tested during pregnancy. 

Professor Davies, Professor in Paediatric Respirology & Experimental Medicine at the NHLI, explains: “This funding will help us continue the vital work we’re doing to help women with Cystic Fibrosis make better decisions about their reproductive health”. The money is part of a package of £2m total funding from the charity, targeting research priorities identified by people with CF.

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