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Research at the UCL Institute of Child Health underpinned the update in 2009 of children's growth charts, which allow for more accurate determination of a child's growth pattern and provide better tools for assessing possible weight problems in children. The new charts are now in universal use in the UK for children from birth to 18 years of age, including preterm babies. Having been quickly adopted, they now account for 90% of all growth chart sales. Modified versions of the charts are in use in Ireland and New Zealand. In the UK they are provided to all new parents as part of the Personal Child Health Record (PCHR) — known as the "red book". They are used in general practice, community paediatrics, general paediatrics and paediatric endocrinology. The most recent charts are for use in children with growth or nutritional problems.
Every child born in the UK receives a set of growth charts with their Personal Child Health Record. These charts have been developed and designed by Professor Charlotte Wright, University of Glasgow. Growth monitoring is fundamental for the assessment of health and the identification of growth abnormalities in children, and growth charts are used to interpret these measurements. The design of child growth charts and the instructions for their use influences perceptions of normality and drives screening activity for conditions such as failure to thrive or obesity. The newly developed UK child growth charts more accurately reflect healthy growth patterns than previous versions, and feature a range of design improvements and evidence-based, straightforward instructions for use. They have been endorsed by the key professional societies for child health and nutrition in the UK, and are being used by health professionals and parents throughout the UK, Ireland and New Zealand.
Research on vapour growth of semiconductor compounds led to a key breakthrough in growing large crystals which form the basis for sensitive X-and gamma-ray detectors. The process was commercialised by a Durham University spin-out company, Kromek Ltd., which floated on AIM at £55M and has over 100 employees in the UK and USA. The X-ray detectors are in use in Kromek's security systems for screening liquids at airports, significantly reducing restrictions on duty free goods. This application won the $400,000 international prize in the 2009 Global Security Challenge. The company also markets gamma-ray detectors for nuclear isotope identification. These have won contracts totalling $7.5M from the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency and are in use at Fukushima.