EzMol and BioBlox: Assessing the commercial opportunities and societal benefits of protein modelling resources in industry, schools and museums

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Life Sciences

Abstract

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Publications

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Description This grant supported a market survey into the viability and strategy to translate the web-based molecular graphics program EzMol and the protein docking games BioBlox into either commercial and/or educational resources.
Exploitation Route Private report
Sectors Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description Development and marketing of protein docking games for the educational sector
Amount £200,844 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/R01955X/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2018 
End 09/2019
 
Title BioBlox2.5 
Description This is a game to dock ligands into proteins. Itis availablefrom Google Play and can be played on line. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Not known 
URL http://www.bioblox.org/
 
Title BioBlox2D 
Description a computer game modelling protein/ligand docking. A fun to play game with an educational component 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact Available for mobile devices on App Store and Google play 
URL http://www.bioblox.org
 
Title BioBlox3D 
Description A web-based serious computer game to dock proteins. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact Public engagement via users of the game 
URL http://www.bioblox3d.org
 
Title BioBloxVR 
Description A virtual reality tool to explore protein/protein docking 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact Software used at outreach events to engage public with science. Also used to direct public to play BioBlox2D and BioBlox3D. 
URL http://www.bioblox.org
 
Title EzMol - a web-based wizard-driven program for the display of protein and nucleic acid structures 
Description A very simple-to-use web-based molecular visualisation tool developed by our group. It works via most browsers and is driven by a wizard interface. The program is web-based and works with most common browsers so there is no need for any installation or a licence. It is driven a wizard that directs the user through a focussed set of options with no need for any commands to be typed. It supports cartoon, stick and space-filling visualisation options for the protein chains, and the user selects residues for display, colouring and labelling from a presented list, similar to date selection tools on many web sites. The final visualisation model can be downloaded for publication or saved for subsequent use. The interface is particularly designed for the occasional user who does not want to remember command syntax or have to cope with a large number of menu options. Available at http://www.sbg.bio.ic.ac.uk/~ezmol/ 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact None yet as just launched 
URL http://www.sbg.bio.ic.ac.uk/~ezmol/
 
Description Imperial Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We presented protein modelling. In 2016 and 2017 we also presented the protein docking game BioBlox.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2016,2017
 
Description New Scientist Live - stand presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Over 300 visitors to the stand saw protein modelling.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016,2017
URL https://live.newscientist.com/
 
Description Presentation of protein modelling resources at the Bett - An Educational show at Excel 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Prof Sternberg group together with members of Goldsmiths College exhibited at the Bett Show at the Excel Centre (23-26 January 2019) presenting molecular resources for educational use in schools. Two resources were presented i) EzMol: a web-based program to display protein and nucleic acid structures linked to a teaching portal and ii) BioBlox2D: a mobile game based on docking shapes linked to an A-level syllabus quiz. Imperial issued a press release about these resources.

As a result discussion have started with educational tools providers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019