University of Warwick and Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology - WISB Flexible Talent Mobility Account
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Research Support Services
Abstract
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| Description | Ten early career Fellows were awarded funding to support independent research projects with industry partners. They developed their individual research profiles, gained valuable experience of working at the academia-industry interface, supported knowledge exchange between the partners and the collaborations have continued beyond the FTMA projects. The BBSRC FTMA aimed to pump-prime the establishment of new academia-industry interactions and further develop existing ones. The BBSRC FTMA funding has developed new research and further developed new collaborations with biotechnology and drug discovery companies. Key findings as follows: - A systems engineering approach was used to optimise approaches to optimise microbial growth and production for a biotech company, discovering a key trade-off between growth and production. A report was prepared and provided to the company with these recommendations - Proprietary technology from a company was used evaluate efficiency of aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment of bacteria - Applications of proprietary technology as a device to detect and profile antibiotic resistance in Tuberculosis (TB) was ruled out as an avenue for commercial exploitation - A method for monitoring phage activity against bacteria was discovered, with both outward (university to industry) and then subsequent inward (industry to university) fellowship projects utilised to explore this lead - A prototype test for a neglected tropical disease (NTD) was further developed - Electron microscopy imaging was used to validate existing findings for a company's in vitro diagnostics platform - Uptake of nanoparticles by cancer cells and their subsequent fate once inside the cell was studied by electron microscopy - Novel antibacterial activity for members of a group of >600 candidate materials was found, with an FTMA2 project with an industrial partner used to refine leads |
| Exploitation Route | The collaborations established by the FTMA funding have continued with planned research proposals or publications (with one further BBSRC bid in development, as are relevant research manuscripts). Key findings relevant to industry, particularly with respect to their proprietary technology, will be used to inform development of technology and so make the benefits widely accessible to others. Approaches to industrial problems and learning of new technical skills by the past FTMA Fellows supported through this scheme will prepare them to better engage with industry in the future. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | The BBSRC Flexible Talent Mobility Account supported talented early career researchers (postdoctoral researchers, and those early in their career who are equivalent to BBSRC David Phillips Fellows) to facilitate exchange of knowledge, skills and expertise between academic and industrial sectors. The University of Warwick FTMA2 award supported seven early career researchers and one industry scientist to undertake industrial strategy-related projects, with 10 unique projects awarded (8 awards, and two new invited extension projects). The FTMA Innovation Fellowships have enabled two-way transfer of knowledge between the industry and academic partners, including exchange of techniques, development of protocols and improved understanding of commercial processes and commercial potential. New methods have been adopted by companies relating to their proprietary technology. Results from a company's in vitro diagnostic platform were validated by complementary techniques allowing them to invest more into its development. A well devised fast-failure project ruled out a promising avenue of commercial exploitation of existing technology - ensuring that further time and resources weren't committed by the company on this aspect of development. The collaborations initiated by the FTMA2 funding have continued with new projects, planned collaborative research proposals and publications. The projects have been relevant to the industry partners' interests so we anticipate further impact. Findings with one company will be further explored via an iCASE studentship starting October 2022. Covid-19 did impact results due to Fellowship holders being unable to visit partners and start of work delays in some circumstances, however all projects were delivered on by the end of the institutional FTMA2 award. We hope to see further impact outcomes in the near future. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Overcoming cellular constraints for real-world engineering of biological systems (Research Fellowship) |
| Amount | £499,998 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF\202021\20\270 |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Title | Rapid measurement method for phage activity against bacteria |
| Description | A method was successfully established to measure phage activity against bacteria using the Cytecount proprietary device from Cytecom. The Cytecount was successful in detecting phage induced death of bacteria. This was achieved rapidly (in less than 3 hours) as hypothesized. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It has provided another, new application for existing technology which could factor into marketing strategies for the company. |
| URL | https://www.cytecom.co.uk/phage-efficacy |
| Description | Ten collaborative fellowship projects |
| Organisation | InBios International |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well. |
| Impact | Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ten collaborative fellowship projects |
| Organisation | Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well. |
| Impact | Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ten collaborative fellowship projects |
| Organisation | Ingenza Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well. |
| Impact | Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ten collaborative fellowship projects |
| Organisation | Linear Diagnostics Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well. |
| Impact | Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ten collaborative fellowship projects |
| Organisation | Synthomer plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well. |
| Impact | Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | MK presented research as part of continuing professional development (CPD) to NHS (Microbiology Lab at the Great Ormond Street Hospital) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented to NHS professionals on the potential of new technology to tackle anti-microbial resistance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |