Glasgow – Confidence in Concept 2019

Lead Research Organisation: University of Glasgow
Department Name: UNLISTED

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Technical Summary

The Confidence in Concept (CIC) scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions to flexibly support a portfolio of early stage translational research projects. CIC is designed to accelerate the transition from discovery research to viable translational projects by supporting preliminary studies to establish proof-of-concept so that the approach will then become competitive for more substantial translational funding.

Publications

10 25 50

publication icon
Eaglesfield R (2021) Targeting and Insertion of Membrane Proteins in Mitochondria. in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

publication icon
Kirimi MT (2024) Detection of Blood Clots Using a Whole Stent as an Active Implantable Biosensor. in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

publication icon
Liang X (2022) A Neuromorphic Model With Delay-Based Reservoir for Continuous Ventricular Heartbeat Detection. in IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering

 
Description Contribution to Tanzanian policy documents informed by key findings from the SNAP-AMR project
Geographic Reach Africa 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description GUMI Symposium - All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Evaluating novel mutant-selective PDE4D PROTACs for the treatment of Acrodysostosis Type 2
Amount £870,759 (GBP)
Funding ID 870759 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2023 
End 11/2026
 
Description KCL MAISI - John Mercer - Regulatory approvals required for VascuGraft
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation King's College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 01/2025
 
Description Kevin Rattigan - Therapeutic enzyme to exploit tyrosine dependency in leukaemia
Amount £40,765 (GBP)
Funding ID 22-23-059 
Organisation Beatson Cancer Charity 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Kevin Rattigan - Therapeutic enzyme to exploit tyrosine dependency in leukaemia
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Funding ID S22-15 
Organisation Tenovus Cancer Care 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Prof. George Baillie - 5th Generation CAR-T Cell Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Organisation Philips Healthcare 
Sector Private
Country Netherlands
Start 09/2023 
End 10/2026
 
Description Prof. George Baillie - Development of PDE4 PROTACS
Amount £481,088 (GBP)
Organisation BioTheryX 
Sector Private
Country United States
Start  
 
Description Risk stratification of HPV in self-taken vaginal samples - a potential molecular solution to cervical screening
Amount £297,357 (GBP)
Funding ID TCS/22/24 
Organisation Chief Scientist Office 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Scottish Enterprise - Market assessment for diagnostics application (Mitotargin) - Kostas Tokatlidis
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Scottish Enterprise HGSP Follow-on funding - Dr. Connor Blair
Amount £200,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Scottish Enterprise HGSP Opportunity Qualification grant
Amount £75,000 (GBP)
Funding ID PS730591C 
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 01/2023
 
Description Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spin Out - Philips Healthcare Round 2 - John Mercer/VascuSens
Amount $615,000 (USD)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spin Out award - John Mercer
Amount £75,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
 
Description Scottish Enterprise POC application - IMMUNOSTATx - Brewer and Cattanach
Amount £69,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Title Dataset of four key proteins involved in mitochondria biogenesis 
Description Dataset of four key proteins involved in mitochondria biogenesis (expression profiles) in over 300 cancer cell lines (in collaboration with EUROFINS). 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact IP generated. 
 
Description Biotheryx collaboration established GB 
Organisation BioTheryX
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution University expertise, training and hosting for students that collaborate between university and industry partners.
Collaborator Contribution Thanks to the recent visit (19/02/2022 - 24 /02/2022) funded by this award, co-funding was secured for two more PhD places. Biotheryx have agreed to co-fund one MRC iCASE PhD place on the College's MRC DTP in Precision Medicine (15/09/2022 start) and also co-fund one Medical Research Scotland PhD place (01/10/2022 start). This will maintain and strengthen the link between Biotheryx and Glasgow University and allow further development of the research plan.
Impact Patient group links and fee for service agreement has been established.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Collaboration with Jerry Colca from the Metabolic Solutions Development Company (MSDC) - Vignir Helgason 
Organisation Metabolic Solutions Development Company
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution In partnership with MSDC and larger industry partner(s) to take forward commercial exploitation
Collaborator Contribution In-kind support (£30k R&D, £225 Jerry Colca/MSDC)
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Lily Foundation - public sector collaboration - Kostas Tokatlidis 
Organisation The Lily Foundation
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Mitotargin project
Collaborator Contribution Lily Foundation family weekend (2 workshops).
Impact None yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description MAISI (King's College London) - VascuGraft: manufacture of active medical devices and implants - JM 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Concept, design and testing of VascuGraft device
Collaborator Contribution Support the development of a human grade device
Impact None yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Novartis commercial collaboration - Vignir Helgason 
Organisation Novartis
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Working closely pre-clinical and clinical development teams in Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Collaborator Contribution Working closely pre-clinical and clinical development teams in Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Impact None yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Prof. George Baillie - 5th Generation CAR-T Cell Therapy for Prostate Cancer 
Organisation Philips Healthcare
Country Netherlands 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Principal investigator, concept, experimental design
Collaborator Contribution Philips have agreed to co-fund an MRC iCASE PhD studentship (MVLS DTP in Precision Medicine) starting in Oct 2023. (£20K funding : £100K in-kind) in this area.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Title Advanced CART treatment of prostate cancer 
Description 5th Generation CAR-T Cell Therapy for Prostate Cancer 
IP Reference 2022ID01207 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed No
Impact none
 
Title Connor Blair / Disruptyx: Lead allosteric c-RAF inhibitor, DRx-170 
Description Utilising funding support from a Scottish Enterprise HGSP Opportunity Qualification grant, and the continued support from University of Glasgow's RSIO, we have filed a patent application on DRx-170 (our lead allosteric c-RAF inhibitor). 
IP Reference GB2300853.5 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2023
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Container with adjustable wheel assembly 
Description A container, especially a wheeled refuse container, comprises a body made up of sidewalls 12 and a base 16 and a wheel assembly made up of an axle rod 52 and at least one wheel 46 connected thereto, said wheel assembly being adjustable mounted on the underside of the container to move between an inboard position relatively close to the centre of the base or the vertical centreline of the container and an outboard position relatively distant from the centre of the base or the vertical centreline. The mounting may take the form of at least one slot 30 in at least one flange 28, 29, which slot receives the axle rod, said slot having inboard 32 and outboard 34 ends, which ends may be provided with protrusions 36, 38 to entrap the axle rod at the ends. The slot may be J-shaped. The axle rod may have a wheel affixed to each end thereof. With the wheel assembly in its inboard position the container may be nested with similar containers, in the outboard position the tipping stability of the container is enhanced. 
IP Reference GB2309672 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 1997
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Dr John Mercer: VascuGraft - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL CHARACTERISATION IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE 
Description The patent was published on 26th Jan 2023 No US-2023-0023897-A1 and the team have undertaken an IP audit of all of technical know-how to identify new protectable elements. 
IP Reference US-2023-0023897-A1 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2023
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Mitotargin: mitochondria-targeted peptide inhibitor technology - Kostas Tokatlidis 
Description As a novel anticancer therapy, Mitotargin molecules deliver covalently linked therapeutic cargoes to the mitochondria. We have demonstrated payloads covalently attached to Mitotargin, such as small molecules and other peptides. Ongoing studies aim to transport small proteins. For diseases related to the mitochondria, the compounds are dual-functional, not just as cell penetrating peptides, but also mitochondrion specific. We have shown this interesting dual property of cell penetration across the plasma membrane and specific targeting to the mitochondria in multiple cell types. 
IP Reference GB 2103243.8 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2021
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Mitotargin: mitochondria-targeted peptide inhibitor technology - Kostas Tokatlidis 
Description As a novel anticancer therapy, Mitotargin molecules deliver covalently linked therapeutic cargoes to the mitochondria. We have demonstrated payloads covalently attached to Mitotargin, such as small molecules and other peptides. Ongoing studies aim to transport small proteins. For diseases related to the mitochondria, the compounds are dual-functional, not just as cell penetrating peptides, but also mitochondrion specific. We have shown this interesting dual property of cell penetration across the plasma membrane and specific targeting to the mitochondria in multiple cell types. 
IP Reference  
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2021
Licensed No
Impact None Yet
 
Title System and method for cell characterisation in biological tissue - John Mercer 
Description System and method for cell characterisation in biological tissue - VascuSens/VascuGraft 
IP Reference US-17/443410 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2023
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Vignir Helgason - patent GB2210503.5 
Description the use of MSDC-0160 in combination with TKI for treating CML patients 
IP Reference GB2210503.5 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2023
Licensed No
Impact None yet
 
Title Design and synthesis of CAR construct with anti-PSMA as a recognition region targeting tumour antigen plus the expression of PDE4 - George Baillie/Connor Blair 
Description Design and synthesis of CAR construct with anti-PSMA as a recognition region targeting tumour antigen plus the expression of PDE4 
Type Therapeutic Intervention - Cellular and gene therapies
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Non-clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2023
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Impact None yet 
 
Company Name Glox Therapeutics 
Description Glox Therapeutics develops precision antibiotics aiming to target drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. 
Year Established 2023 
Impact None yet
Website https://gloxtherapeutics.com/
 
Company Name Disruptyx Therapeutics Limited 
Description The Scottish Science Advisory Council provides independent advice and recommendations on science strategy, policy and priorities to the Scottish Government, supporting Scotland's status as a science and innovation nation. 
Year Established 2022 
Impact None yet
Website http://www.scottishscience.org.uk/
 
Description AMR communication materials developed for engaging a wide range of stakeholders in Tanzania 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact As part of our research dissemination plan, several AMR communication materials were developed to facilitate engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. These materials were used both for dissemination activities related to this award and for an antimicrobial resistance symposium organised to commemorate World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022 (18th to 24th of November). These include a SNAP-AMR research summary brief; 5 research posters detailing key results and health messages deriving from the SNAP-AMR project, and how these feed into NAP objectives; and a booklet of presentations slides for engagement activity 1 above detailing fundamental information on AMR and associated risk and prevention practices. The 4-page research summary brief and posters were disseminated to research partner institutions in Tanzania: The Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences; the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute and the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology. The presentation handouts were used as an aid during the workshops detailed in the first engagement activity described above and subsequently disseminated to community members and health providers at the end of each workshop. Contributions to the WAAW scientific symposium included oral presentations of SNAP-AMR research findings by Tanzanian members of the team.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Connor Blair: Disruptyx Video Case Study 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This work was recently documented as a video case study at the University of Glasgow's IAA celebration event 2023.

This video case study highlighted the key support UofG IAA funding has provided how it has allowed for novel/impactful research to be carried out by Connor Blair's research group.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HLozgPNnh8
 
Description Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL) - Launch Event (8th November 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Successful DHVL launch November 8th 2023 was directly related to feedback and insights garnered through this project's networking event.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/livinglab/newsevents/headline_998491_en.html
https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/livinglab/newsevents/headline_1021953_en.html
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/livinglab/newsevents/headline_1021953_en.html
 
Description Dr Jo Halliday: Human brucellosis policy in Tanzania - meeting with Chief Pharmacist, Dodoma, Tanzania 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Meeting with Chief Pharmacist - 2nd Feb 2023, Dodoma Tanzania; 5 people directly involved (meeting planned in March to involve ~29 members of national committee) with local to national reach. Primary audience of policymakers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description GUMI Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact GUMI symposium had 85 registered attendees. These were from the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Audience was primarily academics but also clinicians and a couple of industry people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gumi/#
 
Description Prof. Kostas Tokatlidis - Lily Foundation family weekend 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact PPIE (Public patient involevement and engagement): Prof Tokatlidis was invited as a speaker in the Lily Foundation family weekend (the largest UK based mito-patient charity) alongside the RA Fara van der Schans. Prof Tokatlidis led 2 focused workshops in the meeting and Fara van der Schans another one. Disemination after this on social media channels (twitter of Tokatlidis Lab and the Lily Foundation); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmAyUv30zPI ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQaeEqDn7Y
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmAyUv30zPI
 
Description Prof. Kostas Tokatlidis - Mitotargin case study video 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Kostas Tokatlidis (Cathcart Chair of Biochemistry, University of Glasgow) and Dr Keith Wreggett (Biotech Consultant, InnoSpective) discuss the Mitotargin Project; an innovative translational project to develop therapeutic and diagnostic applications through research into the mitochondria. Mitotargin Translational Project funded through the Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership Award, grant ref. 219390/Z/19/Z, BBSRC Impact Accelerator Account ref. BB/S506734/1, MRC Proximity to Discovery award ref. MC_PC_17190 and MRC Confidence in Concept Award, grant ref. MC_PC_18048 and MC_PC_19039.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YJLB1nVnO4
 
Description Prof. Sheila Graham: Scottish HPV Investigators' network meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Scottish HPV Investigators' network. ~50 people. National. Clinicians and clinical scientists. 2022. May 2023 meeting in planning. Information dissemination.
Blog and twitter feed planned on 4 March, International HPV Awareness Day to advertise this and the new CSO project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://shine.ed.ac.uk/shine-meetings-and-relevant-events/meeting-archive/shine-meeting-2022
 
Description SNAP-AMR community workshops for raising awareness on AMR (Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Mwanza Regions of Tanzania) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Six two-day workshops were conducted in three regions in northern Tanzania (two workshops per region) representative of predominant livestock-production systems in East Africa (agro-pastoral, pastoral and rural smallholder) in order to raise awareness on AMR. The workshops were conducted with community members (including community leaders and patient/farmers) and community-based health providers (such as human drug sellers, animal drug sellers, nurses, clinical officers and traditional healers). The workshops covered topics relating to: 1) What micro-organisms are; 2) What diseases they cause; 3) How these diseases are treated; 4) Drug efficacy; 5) Drug resistance; 6) How resistance spreads; 7) How human behaviours contribute to resistance; and 8) How it can be prevented. The workshops also included discussion sessions with participants on topics 5 - 8 with a view at identifying main areas for interventions that should be taken forward.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description SNAP-AMR team contributions at the antimicrobial resistance Multi-sectoral Coordination Committee (MCC) meeting (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Nine members of the SNAP-AMR team attended the 21st meeting of the antimicrobial resistance multi-sectoral coordination committee in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on the 26th and 27th of September 2021. The team compiled a comprehensive report in preparation for the meeting detailing key findings from the team's research activities conducted since 2018. These results were also presented at the meeting. These results have fed into each objective of the National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR which are: Objective 1: Creating Awareness and Understanding; Objective 2: Surveillance and Research; Objective 3: Infection Prevention and Control; Objective 4: Optimise the Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Human, Animal and Plant Health; and Objective 5: Economic Case. The evidence-informed priorities identified by the team and MCC members were subsequently fed into the most recent 'Implementation Status report of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2022' and the 'National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2023-2028.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
 
Description SNAP-AMR workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Three members of the SNAP-AMR Glasgow-based team hosted a three-day workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during February 20th to 22nd 2024. The meeting enabled discussions to (1) "map" the impact generated by SNAP-AMR research and the evidence needed to demonstrate this; (2) co-produce future research priorities to support the delivery of the new Tanzanian National Action Plan for AMR (2023-2028), whose development SNAP-AMR supported; (3) enable discussions to link SNAP-AMR research in Tanzania with other well-established platforms in East Africa, specifically the Digital One Health lab ([https://digital-one-health.github.io)]https://digital-one-health.github.io) at the Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh). The Digital One Health lab is developing a digital One Health framework focusing on AMR in East Africa to integrate data for public health decision making; and (4) review an AMR communication toolkit developed as part of SNAP-AMR to support the Tanzanian government in the design and implementation of communication campaigns to raise AMR awareness amongst healthcare providers and the public. The toolkit was revised during this meeting and subsequently presented to the broader MCC-AMR at a meeting in Dodoma on February 29th 2024. Further steps regarding the toolkit will be to identify stakeholders who would benefit from this resource and distribute it to these in June 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024