National Biofilms Innovation Centre
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Biological Sciences
Abstract
The University of Southampton will receive the award on behalf of the lead institutions of the NBIC consortium (University of Southampton, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham and the University of Edinburgh). The University of Southampton will also be responsible for the disbursement of funds to the lead institutions of the NBIC consortium. The Grant Holder will be Jeremy Webb (Principle Investigator, Corresponding) on behalf of the NBIC Consortium lead investigators Jeremy Webb (Southampton), Rasmita Raval (Liverpool), Cait MacPhee (Edinburgh) and Miguel Camara (Nottingham)".
Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors. They are a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), forecast to cost $100tn in world GDP and 10m deaths by 2050. Biofilms are the major cause of chronic infections, costing the NHS £2bn p.a. Contamination, energy losses and damage by biofilms impact on the £70bn UK foods industry, the $2.8 trillion consumer products sector, and $117bn global coatings industry. Biofilm management is essential to deliver clean and globally sustainable drinking water and food security.
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) will deliver a future where biofilms can be effectively controlled and harnessed, increasing value for the companies we work with, and providing pathways to impact for world-class research across the UK. NBIC will bring UK companies from across the industrial sectors around the table with the best of UK biofilm research to accelerate the adoption of new technologies into company products and services. Where companies are not ready to take an opportunity to market, we will provide world class entrepreneurial training to maximise the success of our spin outs
NBIC will provide a focus for industry partners to access biofilm research across the UK, simplifying knowledge transfer and catalysing collaboration. Working with industry, NBIC will produce sector roadmaps, identifying the unmet needs of the sectors, and the key scientific, commercial, technical and regulatory barriers to meet them. The roadmaps will provide a key context for the evolution of the NBIC science strategy.
NBIC will leverage existing investments in research, facilities and people to address near and long term industrial and societal challenges and to establish a pathway for the accelerated adoption of new biofilm innovations and technologies, whilst significantly promoting the expansion of a highly trained researcher workforce in this field.
We will develop the next generation of leaders in biofilms with bespoke scientific, entrepreneurial and leadership training, and we will undertake International exchanges of students and staff with SCELSE biofilms centre in Singapore. We will engage with all of the university doctoral colleges with a view to submitting a bid to the 2019 DTP call.
We will draw on the considerable outreach and engagement experience of the NBIC partners to share and develop tailored events and activities suitable for primary and secondary schools, CPD for teachers, science festivals, youth groups and community-based organisations throughout the UK.
Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors. They are a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), forecast to cost $100tn in world GDP and 10m deaths by 2050. Biofilms are the major cause of chronic infections, costing the NHS £2bn p.a. Contamination, energy losses and damage by biofilms impact on the £70bn UK foods industry, the $2.8 trillion consumer products sector, and $117bn global coatings industry. Biofilm management is essential to deliver clean and globally sustainable drinking water and food security.
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) will deliver a future where biofilms can be effectively controlled and harnessed, increasing value for the companies we work with, and providing pathways to impact for world-class research across the UK. NBIC will bring UK companies from across the industrial sectors around the table with the best of UK biofilm research to accelerate the adoption of new technologies into company products and services. Where companies are not ready to take an opportunity to market, we will provide world class entrepreneurial training to maximise the success of our spin outs
NBIC will provide a focus for industry partners to access biofilm research across the UK, simplifying knowledge transfer and catalysing collaboration. Working with industry, NBIC will produce sector roadmaps, identifying the unmet needs of the sectors, and the key scientific, commercial, technical and regulatory barriers to meet them. The roadmaps will provide a key context for the evolution of the NBIC science strategy.
NBIC will leverage existing investments in research, facilities and people to address near and long term industrial and societal challenges and to establish a pathway for the accelerated adoption of new biofilm innovations and technologies, whilst significantly promoting the expansion of a highly trained researcher workforce in this field.
We will develop the next generation of leaders in biofilms with bespoke scientific, entrepreneurial and leadership training, and we will undertake International exchanges of students and staff with SCELSE biofilms centre in Singapore. We will engage with all of the university doctoral colleges with a view to submitting a bid to the 2019 DTP call.
We will draw on the considerable outreach and engagement experience of the NBIC partners to share and develop tailored events and activities suitable for primary and secondary schools, CPD for teachers, science festivals, youth groups and community-based organisations throughout the UK.
Technical Summary
Technical Summary
NBIC will work across 4 strategic themes to prevent, detect, manage and engineer biofilms, capitalising on world-class underpinning research to address sectoral challenges identified with our industry partners. NBIC will work with industry, regulators, funders and policymakers, and engage the public in a two-way dialogue to refine the research and industrial strategy agenda, shape public funding initiatives and determine strategy for industrial pre- and post-competitive research.
The strategy and remit of the 4 themes are as follows:
PREVENT: Prevention of early stage microbial adhesion and colonisation events at surfaces. Advanced techniques to create next-generation biofilm prevention strategies.
DETECT: Accurate, quantitative biofilm detection and metrology across multiple scales through innovative sensing, tracking and diagnostic technologies. Identify and exploit new and known biofilm-specific biomarkers.
MANAGE: To kill, remove or control established biofilms by understanding and exploiting their life cycle dynamics and development across a range of environments and levels of complexity.
ENGINEER: Harness the benefits of complex microbial consortia from knowledge of their composition, function, ecology and evolution. Exploit biofilm understanding at the interface with engineering and process applications.
CROSS-CUTTING THEME: PREDICTIVE MODELLING. This theme will exploit our expertise in computational and mathematical tools for understanding, modelling and simulating biological and physical processes and activities of biofilms.
By addressing the scientific challenges and strategy outlined above, NBIC will help companies create value by benefiting from biofilms or by addressing the challenges that they face caused by biofilms.
NBIC will work across 4 strategic themes to prevent, detect, manage and engineer biofilms, capitalising on world-class underpinning research to address sectoral challenges identified with our industry partners. NBIC will work with industry, regulators, funders and policymakers, and engage the public in a two-way dialogue to refine the research and industrial strategy agenda, shape public funding initiatives and determine strategy for industrial pre- and post-competitive research.
The strategy and remit of the 4 themes are as follows:
PREVENT: Prevention of early stage microbial adhesion and colonisation events at surfaces. Advanced techniques to create next-generation biofilm prevention strategies.
DETECT: Accurate, quantitative biofilm detection and metrology across multiple scales through innovative sensing, tracking and diagnostic technologies. Identify and exploit new and known biofilm-specific biomarkers.
MANAGE: To kill, remove or control established biofilms by understanding and exploiting their life cycle dynamics and development across a range of environments and levels of complexity.
ENGINEER: Harness the benefits of complex microbial consortia from knowledge of their composition, function, ecology and evolution. Exploit biofilm understanding at the interface with engineering and process applications.
CROSS-CUTTING THEME: PREDICTIVE MODELLING. This theme will exploit our expertise in computational and mathematical tools for understanding, modelling and simulating biological and physical processes and activities of biofilms.
By addressing the scientific challenges and strategy outlined above, NBIC will help companies create value by benefiting from biofilms or by addressing the challenges that they face caused by biofilms.
Planned Impact
Impact summary
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre will bring together academic researchers from multiple disciplines; facilitate existing academic/industry collaborations where relevant and appropriate; broker new interactions between the academic research base and industry; and draw upon world-class underpinning bioscience to address unmet industry needs. NBIC will create the world's premier centre for biofilms training and research, and ensure its translation into capacity building and innovation.
NBIC will engage with industry by facilitating knowledge integration and capacity building. NBIC will be a single point of call for companies with challenges that relate to biofilm technologies, whether the challenge is to prevent (e.g. in human health applications), detect (e.g. in potable water systems), manage (e.g. in wastewater treatment plants) or engineer (e.g. in industrial biotechnology applications). Given this wide field of potential sectors, NBIC will draw on and facilitate links with all relevant disciplines across the physical, life, medical and social sciences. The goal is bidirectional: to ensure the maximum impact of world-class underpinning science, as well as respond directly to unmet industry needs. NBIC will achieve this by: establishing sector-specific roadmaps to educate and influence the academic base; the allocation of joint academic/industry collaborative funding; provision of entrepreneurial training for early career researchers and established academics; and the organisation of multiple different types of events, all designed to enrich relationships between Universities and companies.
Market analysis indicates that the formation, control, removal or use of biofilm technology has a global impact on economic activity of $5,000bn. Fundamental scientific breakthroughs remain to be made, and the purpose of NBIC is to form a UK-wide collaborative community best able to make these breakthroughs, and ensure their translation into products, services, devices, materials and protocols that will benefit the general public.
By delivering a coherent national response to the challenges in biofilms research, NBIC will increase the efficiency and impact of the research across the UK for all the academics that work with it.
We will create value for the companies we work with by placing at the heart of our research strategy, solving their problems and helping them access new opportunities.
By providing companies and society with new tools to prevent, detect, manage and engineer biofilms we will significantly reduce the harm that they cause and improve clinical outcomes from persistent infections and biofilm related disease.
We will develop the next generation of leaders in biofilms with bespoke scientific, entrepreneurial and leadership training, and we will undertake International exchanges of students and staff with SCELSE biofilms centre in Singapore. We will engage with all of the university doctoral colleges with a view to submitting a bid to the 2019 BBSRC DTP call.
We will draw on the considerable outreach and engagement experience of the NBIC partners to share and develop tailored events and activities suitable for primary and secondary schools, CPD for teachers, science festivals, youth groups and community-based organisations throughout the UK.
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre will bring together academic researchers from multiple disciplines; facilitate existing academic/industry collaborations where relevant and appropriate; broker new interactions between the academic research base and industry; and draw upon world-class underpinning bioscience to address unmet industry needs. NBIC will create the world's premier centre for biofilms training and research, and ensure its translation into capacity building and innovation.
NBIC will engage with industry by facilitating knowledge integration and capacity building. NBIC will be a single point of call for companies with challenges that relate to biofilm technologies, whether the challenge is to prevent (e.g. in human health applications), detect (e.g. in potable water systems), manage (e.g. in wastewater treatment plants) or engineer (e.g. in industrial biotechnology applications). Given this wide field of potential sectors, NBIC will draw on and facilitate links with all relevant disciplines across the physical, life, medical and social sciences. The goal is bidirectional: to ensure the maximum impact of world-class underpinning science, as well as respond directly to unmet industry needs. NBIC will achieve this by: establishing sector-specific roadmaps to educate and influence the academic base; the allocation of joint academic/industry collaborative funding; provision of entrepreneurial training for early career researchers and established academics; and the organisation of multiple different types of events, all designed to enrich relationships between Universities and companies.
Market analysis indicates that the formation, control, removal or use of biofilm technology has a global impact on economic activity of $5,000bn. Fundamental scientific breakthroughs remain to be made, and the purpose of NBIC is to form a UK-wide collaborative community best able to make these breakthroughs, and ensure their translation into products, services, devices, materials and protocols that will benefit the general public.
By delivering a coherent national response to the challenges in biofilms research, NBIC will increase the efficiency and impact of the research across the UK for all the academics that work with it.
We will create value for the companies we work with by placing at the heart of our research strategy, solving their problems and helping them access new opportunities.
By providing companies and society with new tools to prevent, detect, manage and engineer biofilms we will significantly reduce the harm that they cause and improve clinical outcomes from persistent infections and biofilm related disease.
We will develop the next generation of leaders in biofilms with bespoke scientific, entrepreneurial and leadership training, and we will undertake International exchanges of students and staff with SCELSE biofilms centre in Singapore. We will engage with all of the university doctoral colleges with a view to submitting a bid to the 2019 BBSRC DTP call.
We will draw on the considerable outreach and engagement experience of the NBIC partners to share and develop tailored events and activities suitable for primary and secondary schools, CPD for teachers, science festivals, youth groups and community-based organisations throughout the UK.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- Innovate UK (Co-funder)
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (Collaboration)
- Edinburgh Bioquarter (Collaboration)
- James Hutton Institute (Collaboration)
- Liverpool John Moores University (Collaboration)
- Historic England (Collaboration)
- University of Bradford (Collaboration)
- Diamond Light Source (Collaboration)
- Magnitude Biosciences (Collaboration)
- Tecrea Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Glasgow (Collaboration)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (Collaboration)
- EUROPEAN CIRCUITS LIMITED (Collaboration)
- Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- Northumbrian Water (Collaboration)
- University of Navarra (Collaboration)
- University of Leeds (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Belfry Therapeutics (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX (Collaboration)
- University of Hull (Collaboration)
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (Collaboration)
- Montana State University (Collaboration)
- Queen Mary University of London (Collaboration)
- ARM Limited (Collaboration)
- Argent Energy (Collaboration)
- Tata Steel Europe (Collaboration)
- National University of RÃo Cuarto (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- Princeton University (Collaboration)
- Whittington Health NHS Trust (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (Collaboration)
- Veolia Environmental Trust (Collaboration)
- ShimyaTech Ltd (Collaboration)
- Virustatic Shield Ltd (Collaboration)
- PENTAX Medical Company (Collaboration)
- Birmingham City University (Collaboration)
- Smith and Nephew (Collaboration)
- Aberystwyth University (Collaboration)
- University of Laval (Collaboration)
- Argentine Chamber of Bioinputs (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (Collaboration)
- Veolia Water Technologies (Collaboration)
- Seaweed and Co (Collaboration)
- Creo Medical Ltd (Collaboration)
- Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) (Collaboration)
- United Kingdom Research and Innovation (Collaboration)
- National Biofilms Innovation Centre (Collaboration)
- University of Liverpool (Collaboration)
- Innovate UK (Collaboration)
- Lancaster University (Collaboration)
- 5D Health Protection Group Ltd (Collaboration)
- Makerere University (Collaboration)
- MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Pilkington Glass (Collaboration)
- Aarhus University (Collaboration)
- Kohler Co (Collaboration)
- Adaptavate (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Anacail Ltd (Collaboration)
- Cromerix Ltd (Collaboration)
- Government of Saudi Arabia (Collaboration)
- Alphasonics (Collaboration)
- CytaCoat (Collaboration)
- Edinburgh Napier University (Collaboration)
- Barts Health NHS Trust (Collaboration)
- Genesis Biosciences (Collaboration)
- Tripura University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS (Collaboration)
- National Physical Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Aqualution Systems Ltd (Collaboration)
- Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research (Collaboration)
- BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Collaboration)
- Karolinska Institute (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF YORK (Collaboration)
- Welsh Wound Innovation Centre (Collaboration)
- University of Aberdeen (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- DNV GL (Collaboration)
- AlgiPharma (Collaboration)
- Earlham Institute (Collaboration)
- AkzoNobel (Collaboration)
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology (Collaboration)
- Yeo Marketing Limited (Collaboration)
- Croda International (Collaboration)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- BluTest Laboratories Limited (Collaboration)
- University of Ghana (Collaboration)
- Medicines Discovery Catapult (Collaboration)
- INTELLIGENT IMAGING INNOVATIONS LTD (Collaboration)
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina) (Collaboration)
- University of La Plata (Collaboration)
- Ceramisys (Collaboration)
- Cica Biomedical Ltd (Collaboration)
- Sellafield Ltd (Collaboration)
- EMERSON & RENWICK LIMITED (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BRISTOL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Rosetrees Trust (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE (Collaboration)
- MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Queen's University Belfast (Collaboration)
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) (Collaboration)
- Victoria and Albert Museum (Collaboration)
- Plantwork Systems (PWS) Ltd (Collaboration)
- Jiangxi Normal University (Collaboration)
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Collaboration)
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Mondelez International (Collaboration)
- Virustatic Ltd (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- HIGH VALUE MANUFACTURING CATAPULT (Collaboration)
- CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST (Collaboration)
- Loughborough University (Collaboration)
- QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE (Collaboration)
- Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Denmark (Collaboration)
- Plantworks Ltd UK (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- Keele University (Collaboration)
- Adtec Plasma Technology (Collaboration)
- Teleflex Medical (Collaboration)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (Collaboration)
- Chilled Food Association (Collaboration)
- NOVA SA (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- Nanyang Technological University (Collaboration)
- BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (Collaboration)
- OsteoCare Implant System Ltd (Collaboration)
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (Collaboration)
- Perlemax (Collaboration)
- Alderley Park (Collaboration)
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Collaboration)
- De Montfort University (Collaboration)
- Scottish Water (Collaboration)
- T-EDTA Ltd (Collaboration)
- Oxi-Tech Solutions Ltd (Collaboration)
- BP (British Petroleum) (Collaboration)
- Harman Technology (Collaboration)
- Johns Hopkins University (Collaboration)
- University of Lincoln (Collaboration)
- King's College Hospital (Collaboration)
- Nottingham Trent University (Collaboration)
- Neotherix Ltd (Collaboration)
- Diamond Coatings Limited (Collaboration)
- Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) Ltd (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA (Collaboration)
- Royal HaskoningDHV (Collaboration)
- Atorika (Collaboration)
- Bruker Corporation (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- Shell Global Solutions International BV (Collaboration)
- Gencoa (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Syngenta International AG (Collaboration)
- Destiny Pharma (Collaboration)
- Isle of Wight Council (Collaboration)
- British Fashion Council (Collaboration)
- University of Huddersfield (Collaboration)
- Kohler Mira LTD (Collaboration)
- SETsquared Partnership (Collaboration)
- Novonesis (Collaboration)
- Go South Coast Ltd (Collaboration)
- Systagenix Wound Management Manufacturing (Collaboration)
- Government of Bangladesh (Collaboration)
- Savitribai Phule Pune University (Collaboration)
- Bactiview (Collaboration)
- Oxford NanoImaging (Collaboration)
- Canterbury Christ Church University (Collaboration)
- Britest (Collaboration)
- Severn Trent Water (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- FUJIFILM (Collaboration)
- Procter & Gamble (Collaboration)
- Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (Collaboration)
- University of Ghent (Collaboration)
- National metrology and testing laboratory (Collaboration)
- University of Strathclyde (Collaboration)
- Brunel University London (Collaboration)
- Cyanofeed Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Southampton (Collaboration)
- Cranfield University (Collaboration)
- UK Health Security Agency (Collaboration)
- Columbia University (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
- M Squared Lasers Ltd (Collaboration)
- Fourth State Medicine Ltd (Collaboration)
- FaraPack Polymers (Collaboration)
- Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (Collaboration)
- Micreos (Collaboration)
- National University of Rosario (Collaboration)
- Polytechnic University of Valencia (Collaboration)
- Polysolar (Collaboration)
- Teesside University (Collaboration)
- Steam-e Holdings Limited (Collaboration)
- Glasgow Caledonian University (Collaboration)
- Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd (Collaboration)
- Neem Biotech (Collaboration)
- SASTRA University (Collaboration)
- 3M (Collaboration)
- Blueberry Therapeutics (Collaboration)
- Io-Cyte (Collaboration)
- Vitacress Salads Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Porto (Collaboration)
- ESP Technology (Collaboration)
- Medipure Ltd (Collaboration)
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (Collaboration)
- Aston University (Collaboration)
- Ultrawave Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Bath (Collaboration)
- Kimal (Collaboration)
- Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) (Collaboration)
- University of the West of England (Collaboration)
- Bear Valley Ventures Ltd (Collaboration)
- Veolia Environmental Services (Collaboration)
- Stavanger University Hospital (Collaboration)
- Frontier IP Group plc (Collaboration)
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Collaboration)
- SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Collaboration)
- Cairn Research Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Dundee (Collaboration)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- Upperton Pharma Solutions (Collaboration)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- University of Exeter (Collaboration)
- Matoke Holdings (Collaboration)
- Pukka Herbs Ltd (Collaboration)
- EXTRONICS LTD (Collaboration)
- JNCASR Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (Collaboration)
- Biaccon (Collaboration)
- Unilever (Collaboration)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- Swansea University (Collaboration)
- University of Portsmouth (Collaboration)
- Perfectus Biomed Ltd. (Collaboration)
- Smiths Medical (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- Fixed phage limited (Collaboration)
- University of Essex (Collaboration)
- Welsh Water (Collaboration)
- NanoVibronix Inc (Collaboration)
- University of Helsinki (Collaboration)
- Technovent Ltd (Collaboration)
- Chinese Scholarship Council (Collaboration)
- IBioIC (Collaboration)
- Valeport (Collaboration)
- CC Biotech (Collaboration)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- YouSeq Ltd (Collaboration)
- NovaBiotics Ltd, UK (Collaboration)
- Altered Carbon Ltd. (Collaboration)
- University of Kent (Collaboration)
- BioInteractions (Collaboration)
- Scotland's Rural College (Collaboration)
- Astrazeneca (Collaboration)
- ACCELERATED MATERIALS (Collaboration)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (Collaboration)
- LGC LTD (Collaboration)
- Chelsea Technologies Group (Collaboration)
- Wellcome Trust (Collaboration)
- University of Edinburgh (Project Partner)
- University of Liverpool (Project Partner)
- University of Nottingham (Project Partner)
Publications
Alcalde-Rico M
(2018)
Role of the Multidrug Resistance Efflux Pump MexCD-OprJ in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Response
in Frontiers in Microbiology
Alcalde-Rico M
(2020)
The impaired quorum sensing response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MexAB-OprM efflux pump overexpressing mutants is not due to non-physiological efflux of 3-oxo-C12-HSL.
in Environmental microbiology
Alexander MR
(2017)
Water contact angle is not a good predictor of biological responses to materials.
in Biointerphases
Allen RJ
(2019)
Bacterial growth: a statistical physicist's guide.
in Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
| Title | #BiofilmAware social media assets |
| Description | Social media assets and headers to help raise awareness of what biofilms are and why they are so important and to promote the #BiofilmAware campaign. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Social media assets and headers to help raise awareness of what biofilms are and why they are so important and to promote the #BiofilmAware campaign. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biofilmaware/ |
| Title | #BiofilmWeek social media assets |
| Description | Social media assets and headers to help raise awareness of what biofilms are and why they are so important and to promote #BiofilmWeek, an initiative which is part of the #BiofilmAware campaign. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Social media assets and headers to help raise awareness of what biofilms are and why they are so important and to promote #BiofilmWeek, an initiative which is part of the #BiofilmAware campaign. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biofilmweek/ |
| Title | A New Weapon Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with Bhavik Bharochia from the University of Southampton. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/pseudomonas-aeruginosa-a-new-weapon/ |
| Title | Additional file 1 of An improved bind-n-seq strategy to determine protein-DNA interactions validated using the bacterial transcriptional regulator YipR |
| Description | Additional file 1: Figure S1. SDS/PAGE gel image shows a single band of the His6-MBP tag of the expected size of 81 kDa purified by affinity and size exclusive chromatography. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/MOESM1_of_An_improved_bind-n-seq_strategy_to_determine_... |
| Title | Additional file 1 of An improved bind-n-seq strategy to determine protein-DNA interactions validated using the bacterial transcriptional regulator YipR |
| Description | Additional file 1: Figure S1. SDS/PAGE gel image shows a single band of the His6-MBP tag of the expected size of 81 kDa purified by affinity and size exclusive chromatography. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/MOESM1_of_An_improved_bind-n-seq_strategy_to_determine_... |
| Title | Antibiotic Resistance in Skin Wound Infections, with Snehal Kadam from the University of Hull. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/antibiotic-resistance-infections/ |
| Title | Article and drawing produced by primary school children (J C Denis) |
| Description | 2 P7 children wrote and article and produced a drawing of the Edinburgh NBIC PI, following a series of events I organised. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Very high quality science interview produced. |
| URL | https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/2020/09/21/interview-with-cait-macphee/ |
| Title | Battling Bacterial Vaginosis, with Ryan Kean from Glasgow Caledonian University. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/bacterial-vaginosis/ |
| Title | Biofilm Brainhub website |
| Description | The Biofilm Brainhub was funded by the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) Public Engagement Grant 2020-2021. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The website has been built with the support of the wider research community and features information on biofilms for a wide range of publics, through multiple clickable layers of information. We hope this will be the "go-to website" for anyone looking to learn about biofilms. |
| URL | https://biofilmbrainhub.co.uk/ |
| Title | Biofilm Embroidery series |
| Description | Series of 4 pieces of embroidery depicting biofilms as imagined by embroiderer: Ruby Tait Collaboration: Jean-Christophe Denis |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Embroiderer submitted embroidery as part of the NBIC Art Competition - and won. Alos, to be displayed at exhibition in 2023. |
| Title | Biofilm Image Gallery |
| Description | In January 2021 we launched our first biofilm photography competitions as part of our #BiofilmAware campaign, which works to raise awareness of NBIC and its research, and the many societal and economic impacts of biofilms. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | This biofilm image gallery contains a selection of images from our 'Biofilms in the lab' and 'Biofilms in Real Life' photography competitions. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biofilm-image-gallery/ |
| Title | Biofilm, Mutants and Mass Spectrometry, with Winifred Akwani from the University of Surrey. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/mass-spectronomy-biofilm/ |
| Title | Bioiflms animation video. (J C Denis) |
| Description | Animation movie to describe the biofilms research in Edinburgh. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Animation movie to describe the biofilms research in Edinburgh. |
| URL | https://youtu.be/-MpueLFcC1I |
| Title | Biological Photovoltaics and Sustainability, with Maira Anam from the University of Nottingham. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biological-photovoltaics-and-sustainability/ |
| Title | Coccus Pocus 2019 |
| Description | Antibiotic resistance by pathogenic microorganisms is currently a major health concern, leading to a big rise of serious untreatable infections, especially in hospital environments. In addition, biofilms (slimy structures that microbes form around them) further protect the microbes against antibiotics, detergents and the attacks of our immune system. In October 2019, the Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences at the University of Hull launched an exciting scary story competition, Coccus Pocus 2019! The contestants were encouraged to write a short horror sci-fi story between 500 and 2,000 words, including antimicrobial resistance and microbial biofilms. |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places with the stories being published on the NBIC website. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/coccus-pocus-2019-a-microbiology-inspired-scary-story-competition/ |
| Title | Coccus Pocus 2020 |
| Description | A horror sci-fi short story competition highlighting the importance of antibiotic resistance and biofilms. In an ambitious attempt to inform young people about the importance of antibiotic resistance and microbial biofilms, we will organise a horror sci-fi short story competition for this Halloween. The participants will be encouraged to write an engaging scary story, incorporating valid scientific information about AMR and biofilms. This will motivate them to read about these topics, understand the basic principles and use this information in their post-apocalyptic horror scenarios, in an educational and enjoyable way. |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places with the stories being published on the NBIC website. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/coccus-pocus-2020-halloween/ |
| Title | Coccus Pocus 2021 |
| Description | A horror sci-fi short story competition highlighting the importance of antibiotic resistance and biofilms. In an ambitious attempt to inform young people about the importance of antibiotic resistance and microbial biofilms, we will organise a horror sci-fi short story competition for this Halloween. The participants will be encouraged to write an engaging scary story, incorporating valid scientific information about AMR and biofilms. This will motivate them to read about these topics, understand the basic principles and use this information in their post-apocalyptic horror scenarios, in an educational and enjoyable way. |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places with the stories being published on the NBIC website. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/coccus-pocus-2021-winning-stories |
| Title | Combatting Cystic Fibrosis, with Declan Power from the University of Southampton. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/cystic-fibrosis/ |
| Title | Complex Polymicrobial Biofilms, with Shaun Robertson, from the University of Nottingham. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/complex-polymicrobial-biofilms/ |
| Title | Edinburgh Science Festival: Sherlock Holmes and the Biofilms Mystery |
| Description | Online activity pack: Sherlock Holmes needs your help to discover who broke into his apartment and why they did it! Can you use the clues to solve the mystery of the burglar? Use the clues and information provided about biofilms to find out WHO broke into Sherlock's apartment. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/83be7dc3978d48f1932760c034f5afcf |
| Title | Forming Biofilms Within 3D Environments, with Eirini Velliou from University College London. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biofilms-within-3d-environments/ |
| Title | Girlguiding Dundee/WCAIR Virtual Sleepover: Science Camp! (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Description | PEOPLE INVOLVED: A co-development between WCAIR researchers, the Girlguiding Dundee committee, and 2 senior female scientists from SLS WHAT WAS IT? A series of activity packs released over the course of a weekend to create the feeling of a sleepover. The packs were accompanied by a series of videos, a Teams Live event, and interaction on social media, particularly using a Facebook group |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | KEY OUTCOMES: 1600 people from across the UK signed up to take part, and the packs received over 6000 downloads. We had an incredibly busy weekend with thousands of images uploaded onto the Facebook group, and thousands of views on our YouTube videos. Well over 1000 people also signed up to receive their badge after the event. FUTURE PLANS: Continue our relationship with Girlguiding so that we can have an in-person sleepover in the future, and continue to use the resources developed for other projects, such as with Glasgow Science Centre. Quote: "Amazing range of activities and useful downloadable resources which we can use again. It was also a great way of introducing science to young people and to de-mystify it for them. So often it is taught in schools in such a dull way - excellent weekend! Virtual Sleepover attendee" |
| URL | https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/girlguiding-dundeewcair-virtual-sleepover-science-cam... |
| Title | Images of Microbiology |
| Description | A booklet containing a series of images taken by scientists based at the University of Dundee that highlight the microbes they work with. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The images in the collection are part of a physical exhibition located at the Dundee Science Centre. |
| URL | https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/58788913/23109_Microbe_Picture_Book_Accessible_... |
| Title | Interactive Biofilm Ontology Map |
| Description | We have devoted time across our industrial and academic communities to understand the language and terminology of biofilms, and this has been captured as an ontology on the MindManager platform. This was developed in consultation with 80 UK researchers (in industry and research institutions/universities) to document how they talk about and describe biofilm research, problems and opportunities. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Reference document to guide discussions on biofilm research, problems and opportunities. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/biofilm-ontology/ |
| Title | International Biofilm Markets Infographics |
| Description | In the summer of 2020, we commissioned an independent study on international biofilm markets to further understand the economic significance of biofilms in the UK and globally. The study estimated expenditure associated with biofilms in 2019; information is not yet generally available for 2020 to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Biofilms are ubiquitous but particularly prominent in some sectors of the economy. These sectors form the focus of this study. We have used publicly available evidence to quantify economic activity relating to biofilms. The study assessed the focus industrial sectors of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. The total economic impact was estimated to be almost $4,000bn globally and £45bn ($62Bn) in the UK. These are likely to be under-estimates of the impact of biofilms. For example, in healthcare whilst we identified $387bn of direct costs as a consequence of biofilms (5% of global healthcare expenditure). we know that prevention of infection (strongly linked to biofilm control) is a major goal of all healthcare procedures and so impacts significantly on the world's $7,800bn health related activity. We conservatively estimate the true total economic significance of biofilms is likely to be in excess of $5,000bn. We've created infographics to reflect the results of this study and show the huge impact biofilms have on our global economy. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | These highlight key facts and statistics relating to 6 international biofilm markets - personal care, human health, food processing, marine biofouling, oral care and homecare. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/international-biofilm-markets/ |
| Title | MOESM1 of An improved bind-n-seq strategy to determine protein-DNA interactions validated using the bacterial transcriptional regulator YipR |
| Description | Additional file 1: Figure S1. SDS/PAGE gel image shows a single band of the His6-MBP tag of the expected size of 81 kDa purified by affinity and size exclusive chromatography. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | g |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/MOESM1_of_An_improved_bind-n-seq_strategy_to_determine_... |
| Title | MicroBattle (µB): Microbiology themed card game |
| Description | MicroBattle Project was funded by the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) Public Engagement Grant 2020-2021. MicroBattle (µB): Microbiology themed card game. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Resources for members of the public to gain understanding of biofilms. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/microbattle-card-game/ |
| Title | Microbe Zone (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Description | A physical exhibition, the microbe zone, located at Dundee Science Centre features images of microbes. Scientists at the University of Dundee alongside some collaborators at other Scottish Institutions contributed images of microbes that highlight their research. Short descriptions accompany the images to allow the reader to explore the wonderful world of microbiology. An associated 'Images of microbiology' booklet and activity book have been created. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | New publications and new recognition of research using microbiology. |
| Title | Mighty Microbe |
| Description | A video of NBIC partner Katherine Fish, a Civil Engineer at the University of Sheffield talking about how she works with microbes, and describing how to make a Mighty Microbe toy. This video was made for the Maker{Future}'s 'Think Like An Engineer' initiative, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B9_6PWA8io |
| Title | Molecular Microbe-Host Interactions, with Shi-qi An from the University of Southampton. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/microbe-host-interactions/ |
| Title | Physics x Art |
| Description | Art exhibition featuring work created by student artists and inspired by physics research. The exhibition featured a gallery opening with over 70 attendees from various different backgrounds (Arts, Edinburgh public, Phyiscs). The exhibition was open from Friday, 14 October - Tuesday, 18 October which included a wider audience of passers-by, art students, College of Science and Engineering students, Edinburgh public. It also included outreach activities ('Build your own Biofilm). Featured art and sculptures related to biofilms (along with other projects). NBIC Collaborators: Jean-Christophe Denis; Cait MacPhee. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Closer cooperation with Edinburgh College of Arts. Art will be displayed in a new building of the University of Edinburgh, The Nucleus, during its official opening by Princess Anne and viewable pubilcally then. |
| Title | Raman Against Respiratory Infection, with Callum Highmore from the University of Southampton. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/raman-respiratory-infection/ |
| Title | Safeguarding Water Quality for the Future, with Katherine Fish from the University of Sheffield. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/water-quality/ |
| Title | Scales of Resistance video (Morgan Alexander) |
| Description | A short video presentation providing educational information regarding the issue of antibiotic resistance and the need to take effective action in the future. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Used as part of the Royal Society Summer Science Online programme promoting science to the general public. Morgan Alexander. |
| URL | https://cfvod.kaltura.com/p/1355621/sp/135562100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_y72nz7d1/version/100001/width/... |
| Title | Science Ceilidh |
| Description | Science Ceilidh-biofilms formation, shows how microbiomes formed into biofioms. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | It allows participants and viewers to have a more direct understanding of biofilms formation and how they are different from normal individual microbiomes, and how physics might be able to tackle the issue. |
| URL | http://www.scienceceilidh.com/physics |
| Title | Science For All Takes Many Hands (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Description | A common factor of many public engagement encounters is that they would not be possible without contributions from many people with diverse roles and skills. If we take the signature outreach event of the Division of Molecular Microbiology Magnificent Microbes as an example, there are 25 different groups of people involved to allow this long-standing public engagement event to achieve its goals. Illustrator Daisy MacGowan created Science For All Takes Many Hands which highlights and celebrates the breadth of the contributions from across the University of Dundee and beyond. These roles come from estate and buildings, health and safety, finance, contracts, research finance, research innovation services, cleaning services, and many more. Look at the illustration to explore the roles in more depth. It is important that we all recognise that public engagement by researchers is the result of teamwork and the collective effort is what allows success. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Stimulate change in scientist and public perception. The recognition that many people in divergent roles have valuable contributions to science outreach. Nicola Stanley-Wall |
| URL | https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/science-for-all-takes-many-hands |
| Title | Sculptures (4) |
| Description | 3d Print and Resin Sculpture series (earth, europa, space, mars) of imagined biofilms - artist: Catriona Clark Collaboration: Jean-Christophe Denis; Cait MacPhee |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Sculptures were included in an exhibition in October 2022 and will be included in an exhibition at the University of Edinburgh in 2023, at the opening of a new building, which will be officially opened by Princess Anne. |
| Title | Super biomaterials to fight superbugs (Morgan Alexander) |
| Description | A short animated video showing how Nottingham University are trying to find novel surface coatings that prevent superbugs sticking and building slime city communities called biofilms. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Used as part of the Royal Society Summer Science Online programme promoting science to the general public. Morgan Alexander. |
| URL | https://cfvod.kaltura.com/p/1355621/sp/135562100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_00ytd3sg/version/100001/width/... |
| Title | The Little Book of Fermentation |
| Description | Following an NBIC-funded public engagement and outreach project (NBIC PE&O Award: PE014 Hands on Biofilm!), this book was created for an NBIC event at the Museum of Science and Industry. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Not known. |
| Title | University of Edinburgh Biofilm Innovation website |
| Description | A website from the University of Edinburgh which showcases the important biofilm research taking place across the institution. The site also includes a number of educational and outreach resources available for download. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | A website from the University of Edinburgh which showcases the important biofilm research taking place across the institution. |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-biofilms-innovation |
| Title | Unruly Objects |
| Description | Exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum 24-25 September 2022 presenting the work completed during an NBIC funded public engagement and outreach project. Discover how BioArt can help mitigate climate change and join the drop-in lab to create your own tiny marble sculpture painted with 'living latex'. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Unruly Objects explores ways of capturing carbon using cyanobacteria encapsulated into a kind of 'living latex' to mitigate climate change. It also investigates the possibility of conserving antiquities through the enhancement of their microbiomes, the place of BioArt within museums, and the use of blockchain technologies to store conservation data. Project developed by Anna Dumitriu in collaboration with Simone Krings, Dr. Suzie Hingley-Wilson and Professor Joseph Keddie from the University of Surrey. Join the Unruly Objects Lab to create your own tiny marble 'unruly objects' painted with 'living latex' and keep your tiny sculpture or leave it with us to become part of a new BioArt work. Activity open to adults and children (5+ years) accompanied with an adult. |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/4KODrMy2bB/unruly-objects |
| Title | Using AI to Detect Bacteria in Wastewater, with Gavin Melaugh, from the University of Edinburgh. |
| Description | Video explaining biofilm research and societal impact. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/using-ai-to-detect-bacteria/ |
| Title | Why Should I brush my teeth? |
| Description | Activity with the aim to Introduce biofilms in the context of teeth hygiene. Works well for attracting people at a stall, as very noticeable setup and intriguing. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Used for public engagement. |
| Description | NBIC has created a pioneering and truly national centre with international reach. We have adopted an inclusive approach that has brought together the original four lead Universities (Edinburgh, Liverpool, Nottingham and Southampton), and a partnership that has expanded to include 59 associate research institutions (RIs), and support from a growing base of >150 small, medium and large companies. This has brought the UK an unprecedented set of capabilities, connectedness and exploratory power that has allowed us to be a crucible and catalyst for innovation and to achieve impact on a global stage. NBIC has created a global brand, linked to the world's leading biofilm RIs. We have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with four of these centres and are well connected with others. NBIC is proud to be recognised internationally for its innovation and leadership role in biofilms through international webinars and landmark work on defining the global research and commercial opportunity. Our impact is evidenced by our company interactions and partnering, our portfolio of 80 Proof of Concept (POC) projects, 34 Flexible Talent Mobility Awards (FTMA), and collaborative partnership awards with the USA, Singapore and Argentina. NBIC is also educating the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs and driving the UK engine to influence the policy and research agenda for biofilms. Only via the creation of NBIC has this national connectivity and global impact been realised, hence advancing the BBSRC Biofilm strategy. |
| Exploitation Route | NBIC will build on its collective strengths as the UK's national centre to drive and expand its global leadership at the international forefront of research, training and innovation in biofilm technologies, addressing the grand challenges important to the UK's future prosperity. We will work with our partnership of 63 research institutions and >150 companies, established under Phase 1, and transition to an approach that develops deeper and more strategic collaborations, focused and co-opted teams, and jointindustry programs to address strategic priorities and deliver on shared sectoral roadmaps. Key overall objectives that will be addressed during Phase 2 will be to: - Tackle the biggest open research and innovation questions in the field and deliver global leadership, cross-cutting enabling platforms and breakthrough science and innovation to Prevent, Detect, Manage and Engineer (PDME) biofilms. - Drive the adoption of flexible, interdisciplinary solutions across industry sectors, addressing societal and economic grand challenges, including climate change, NetZero, food and water safety and security, and healthcare. We will establish the Joint Industry Programs addressing pre-competitive research to progress agreed roadmaps. - Enter into active partnerships with government and policy makers to deliver step-changes in standards and regulations for novel biofilm solutions. We will deliver model biofilms, analytical methods and recommendations within 3 years and support industry-government discussions on regulation through providing a strong evidence base to underpin policy. We will develop new international standards and test protocols driving growth and trade in biofilm products and technologies by Year 5. - Deliver a roadmap for new biofilm biobanking resources and infrastructure, which have been identified by our community as critical to underpin basic science programmes as well as accelerate product development and commercialization. - Provide global leadership via enhanced interactions with established centres in Singapore, US and the EU, while nucleating new relationships and networks with countries with rapidly expanding economic and healthcare challenges. - Train the next generation of thought leaders and entrepreneurs by delivering a co-created programme of training that addresses key skills gaps identified by our industrial and academic communities. - Accelerate the translation of knowledge-rich solutions to industry and the market via academic-industry collaborations, and then driving innovation and growth via close engagement with regional partners, thus contributing to the 'levelling-up' agenda. Companies that we work with will use the outputs of our work to launch new products, processes and services. Together with our partners we will maximise the commercial impact of world-class knowledge developed by our research and industry base to deliver economic and societal impact for the UK. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Energy Environment Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Transport |
| URL | http://www.biofilms.ac.uk |
| Description | The vision for the National Biofilms Innovation Centre is to create a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. By harnessing our interdisciplinary expertise and infrastructure across the UK, we will create the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs to deliver growth and wealth creation. We are creating a pioneering and truly national centre, with an inclusive strategy that has brought together the original four lead Universities, a partnership that has expanded to include 63 associate research organisations, and support from a growing base of >200 small, medium and large companies. This brings an unprecedented set of capabilities, connectedness and exploratory power that carries a huge potential for innovation that will allow us to lead on a global stage. NBIC is creating a global brand, intimately linked with the world's leading biofilm research institutions. We have signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with three of these centres. NBIC aims to be recognised internationally for its innovation and collaborative research in biofilms. Our early impact is evidenced by our company interactions, partnering, our portfolio of 81 Proof of Concept (POC) projects, and workshops. We are also educating the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs and starting to drive the policy and research agenda for biofilms in the UK. Our vision for advancing biofilm research and skills training builds on the strategic themes of Prevention, Detection, Managing and Engineering of biofilms. Together with our academic and industry partners, we are working to define the key global challenges and scientific priorities within these themes, and we will continue to refine and develop our objectives according to industry needs. We have built a UK-wide cohort of Interdisciplinary Research Fellows (IRFs) to deliver on these scientific priorities. Key challenges defined within these themes include: In Prevention we aim to design a new generation of surfaces and materials to prevent microbial adhesion and/or biofilm formation; in Detection to deliver a step change in the ability to detect biofilms directly, in-situ and at the point-of-use in field-based contexts and in close-to-patient care; in Manage to accelerate the development of successful treatments, which target the biofilm life cycle-dynamics; and in Engineer to harness the benefits of complex microbial consortia from knowledge of their composition, function, ecology and evolution. Our vision is for NBIC to be the natural route for organisations to target their open innovation activity related to biofilm management or exploitation across the UK. We are connecting experts, simplifying knowledge transfer and catalysing collaboration to address key issues on biofilm prevention, detection, management and engineering. Working with industry, NBIC is already starting to produce sector roadmaps, identify the unmet needs of the sectors, and the key scientific, commercial, technical and regulatory barriers to meet them. The roadmaps will provide clear direction to evolve the NBIC science strategy over time. Our vision is that the research institutions in NBIC will create and share the national infrastructure that UK industry needs and that NBIC will collaborate with companies across a wide range of sectors under a permissive IP framework that anchors IP within the team that creates it, and rewards increasing commitment from companies. We have built this approach to IP into our contracts for our POC calls. Through site visits and discussions, we are building an understanding of the capabilities of all our partner research institutions to be able to capture current infrastructure and begin to identify gaps. A key part of our vision is to transform the research and entrepreneurial capability across the UK in the biofilm community through our IRFs, Doctoral Network and entrepreneurial training, addressing the skills gap in multidisciplinarity, entrepreneurship, responsible innovation, regulatory knowledge and leadership identified across the multi-sectorial biofilm field. The NBIC vision is one we have shared widely through our face-to-face contact with researchers, engagement with companies, our communications, consultations, workshops and social media. Our wider vision has been refined in response to the views of the wider community and through input from our Advisory Groups. A clear measure of the community support we have for this vision is the active and firm support from the UK Research and industrial base via their direct engagement in our work. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Active participation in the International Biofilm Standards Task Group (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/international-standards-task-group/ |
| Description | Approaches to Biofilm-associated Infections: Evaluating Gaps in Standardized Methods for Clinical Applications. Credits for continuing education webinar. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://education.healthtrustpg.com/calendar/2454/2020-06-21/ |
| Description | Attendance at policy / strategy meeting with BBSRC to influence and contribute to the Microbiome Research Strategy (Mark Richardson) (Jan - Mar 2020) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Attendance at policy / strategy meeting with BBSRC to influence and contribute to the Microbiome Research Strategy. |
| Description | BBSRC Microbiome Research Strategy (Jeremy Webb) (Jan - Mar 2020) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Attendance at policy / strategy meeting with BBSRC to influence and contribute to the Microbiome Research Strategy. |
| Description | Board Member, Audit and Risk committee and EPSRC Value for Money committee, Rosalind Franklin Institute (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Formation of a new national research institute working at the interface of life sciences and engineering. |
| Description | Citation in a clinically-focused review (Dario Carugo) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in clinical reviews |
| URL | https://turkishjournalofurology.com/en/problems-and-solutions-of-stent-biofilm-and-encrustations-a-r... |
| Description | Co-supervise a PhD candidate (Peng Bao) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Kyle has trained for the use of multiple instruments. He has gone to Bruker (Berlin) for an on-site training on BioAFM. Kyle has progressed well with his PhD study and he has built a solid research plan. |
| Description | Comparison of the effectiveness of various dressings to absorb and retain wound exudate and its harmful components |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Cosmetics Cluster UK Ltd (Katerina Steventon) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Via organising the joint webinar(s), NBIC enabled CCUK members to access new academic and industry expertise, and gain better understanding of market trends, claim substantiation and regulatory insights in the area of microbiome in personal care. The collaboration also informed CCUK about NBIC remit, initiatives and approach to innovation, to share this knowledge widely. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js3SF_j2zlo |
| Description | Cystic Fibrosis Syndicate in AMR (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | To address these challenges, the CF Syndicate in AMR will catalyse new research efforts and build capacity in the following areas: Streamline and enable access to clinically relevant samples for the preclinical screening and testing of CF antimicrobials Map and validate the preclinical screening and testing pathways to provide faster routes to bring CF antimicrobials to the clinic Develop guidance for industry on the key characteristics and requirements that CF antimicrobials should meet in order to address the needs and priorities of people with CF, through the development of Target Product Profiles. |
| URL | https://md.catapult.org.uk/syndicates/cystic-fibrosis-syndicate-in-antimicrobial-resistance/ |
| Description | Cystic Fibrosis Syndicate on AMR with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Medicines Discovery Catapult Syndicate Steering committee (Miguel Camara) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | We have designed a strategy to accelerate the discovery, commercialisation and implementation of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with cystic fibrosis. I am representing NBIC within this committee. We are working on the generation of strain biobanks for patients, Target Products Profiles for CF and drug discovery platforms which can be accessible to the general scientific and industrial community. |
| Description | EPSRC Beyond Antibiotics International advisory board (Paul Stoodley) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Formation of the International Biofilm Standards Task Group with our partners at CBE and SNBC (Jeremy Webb and Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/international-standards-task-group/ |
| Description | Guidelines created for Historic England to apply UV-C to historic sites |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | IBRG (INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION RESEARCH GROUP) Advisory Committee (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Membership of this group has allowed me alongside our IBSTG membership to demonstrate that NBIC is well engaged with the wider biofilm sector and allowed me to gain membership and chairmanship of a BSI technical advisory group. |
| URL | https://www.ibrg.org/Default.aspx |
| Description | Invited to UK-Singapore strategic talks representing global NBIC-SCELSE partnership. Government-to-Government discussions involving FCO, BEIS, Innovate UK, NRF (Jeremy Webb) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Involvement in the KTN Special interest group on the Microbiome across multiple sectors to aid in support of business progress and academic translation. (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Joint Research Strategy Board, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Coordinating clinical, health and research activities across the University of Southampton and the University of Southampton foundation Trust. |
| Description | KTN-NBIC Workshop on Biofilms and formal Report (Rasmita Raval) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://admin.ktn-uk.co.uk/app/uploads/2018/05/Biofilm-Workshop-Report-May2018.pdf |
| Description | Local Enterprise Partnership Innovation South Strategic Regional Industrial Policy. (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | MedTech Market Access (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Better informed start up and SME community on the processes and pitfalls of developing a Medtech product through to deployment. |
| Description | Member of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Strategic Implementation Board (Miguel Camara) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Being a member of this Board I have been involved in the selection of the awards for Strategic Research Centres which are key to develop new treatments for cystic fibrosis, influencing clinical guidelines and provide training for early career researchers. |
| Description | Member of the International Advisory Council for Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR) at RIKEN, Japan (Rasmita Raval) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pubs/pubs/reports/cpr/index.html |
| Description | Methodology - The methodology used in this project can provide a quick and accurate screening method for the generation of ROS within the TAED/H2O2 system. (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10112700/ |
| Description | Microbiome Innovation Network Steering Group (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://ktn-uk.org/agrifood/microbiome/ |
| Description | Participation in BSI CH/216/1 Standards meeting . Influencing Standards (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | NBIC on behalf of IBSTG is now on the BSI committee for reviewing antiseptic / disinfectant testing standards . This feeds in CEN, We aim to try and influence the adoption of Biofilm relevant testing in these standards. |
| URL | https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/committees/50081157 |
| Description | Participation in IBBS expert panel on standards and regulations (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | This was an international webinar expert panel discussing the need for innovation in standards and regulations in a range of fields and how this could be coordinated internationally. Follow up discussions are happening. |
| Description | Participation with NIBSC and MHRA on standard setting (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Pitch to Health Secretary Matt Hancock for microbubble decontamination prototype for intensive sterilization of microbes and viruses |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | SCELSE Scientific Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | SoCO BIO DTP (Mark Richardson) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Chairing Non Exec board of BBSRC funded DTP and able to influence the training of doctoral students. |
| URL | https://southcoastbiosciencesdtp.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Society for Applied Microbiology Regulatory Standards (Jeremy Webb) (Dec 2019 - Mar 2020) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Meetings and discussions of the regulatory needs in the food environment with view to a workshop and coordinated policy of influence on regulatory standards . |
| Description | Supervision of a third-year student on the course of Chem366 (Peng Bao) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Through this course, Hamza has gained basic experimental skills, knowledge of safety rules in the lab, a better understanding of the research environment, and experience in scientific report writing and public presentation. |
| Description | The Biofilm - Associated Impact of Surgical Outcomes. Continuing credit course for medical practioners. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://education.healthtrustpg.com/calendar/on-demand-the-biofilm-associated-impact-on-surgical-out... |
| Description | The Environmental Biotechnology Network (EBNet) Steering Group (Will Green) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://ebnet.ac.uk/ |
| Description | UK MoD surface fleet hull management policy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | UK-Singapore Bio-Institute review panel. BEIS, Innovate UK proposal for A Bio-incubator partnership with UK. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | UTI Patient Experience Survey |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust COVID-19 Assessment Panel (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Research and clinical assessment panel to fund and focus activities on the Covid-19 pandemic and possible interventions, or discouraging activity that would defocus the response. |
| Description | Wessex Health Partners Working Group, Lead discovery (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Coordination of Wessex biomedical discovery, translation and innovation across all Universities and NHS Hospital Trusts. |
| Description | Wessex Regional Life Sciences Opportunities for Enterprise (Peter Smith) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | iiCON Infection Innovation Consortium (Rasmita Raval) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| URL | https://www.infectioninnovation.com/about/ |
| Description | 22ROMITIGATIONFUNDLiverpool |
| Amount | £283,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X51200X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | A Sludge Characterisation Platform (BBSRC IAA) |
| Amount | £44,742 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | A high-content screen for novel small molecules that inhibit antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection (Shi-Qi An) |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wessex Medical Research |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W018497/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 06/2023 |
| Description | Advanced live imaging for the Eastern ARC with dual inverted light-sheets and AI-led analysis |
| Amount | £481,950 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W020033/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Antibiofilm Wound Dressings Designed to Prevent Infection and Minimize the Risk of Bacteraemia and Sepsis (Ronan McCarthy) |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SBF006\1040 |
| Organisation | Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | Assessment of Nanocin in UTI co-Biofilms (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC Impact Acceleration Award via University of Warwick (PI) Mesoporous materials for antibiotic delivery into bacterial biofilm with industrial partner Brentapharm (Freya Harrison) |
| Amount | £3,996 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC Impact acceleration award (University of Edinburgh, Gavin Melaugh, BBSRC IAA PIII089) |
| Amount | £29,712 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BBSRC IAA PIII089 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2021 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Benchmarking different antibacterial technologies using an oral in vitro system (Jeremy Webb) |
| Amount | £160,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2017 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | Beyond Antibiotics |
| Amount | £6,552,650 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V026623/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Biofilm Resistant Liquid-like Solid Surfaces in Flow Situations |
| Amount | £457,503 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V049615/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Description | Biofuel generation from CO2 by using microbial electrolysis system (Loughborough University, Eileen Yu) |
| Amount | ¥100,000 (CNY) |
| Organisation | Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | China |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | COLLABORATIVE TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS (CTP2) |
| Amount | £7,025,368 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W009374/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| Description | Combined ultrasonically activated water stream and novel disinfectant for vCJD decontamination of re-usable medical instruments (Bill Keevil) |
| Amount | £820,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PR-R17-0916-23005 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | DNA based super-resolution microscopy for bacterial cell surface nanoscale mapping |
| Amount | £11,920 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IES\R2\222107 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Developing stochastic models of micro-plastic associated biofilm growth (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £6,306 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cassino and Southern Lazio |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Italy |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | Development and validation of biofilm model to establish the effect of chemical and physical treatments on cellular viability (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £12,457 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Melbec Microbiology Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 01/2023 |
| Description | Development of a Moving Membrane Bioreactor (MMBR) for the Automated Cultivation and Harvest of Algae Grown as a Biofilm (Felix Ciceron) |
| Amount | £135,333 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | Development of antimicrobial peptides against Gram-negative antibiotic resistant pathogens |
| Amount | £17,221 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_MR/T029552/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Development of outreach material for Nottingham NBIC outreach and public engagement (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Development of outreach material for Nottingham NBIC outreach and public engagement - Nottingham University Institute of Policy and Engagement |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Development of rapid testing technology to increase food security (Bill Keevil & MolEndoTech) |
| Amount | £192,206 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 77477 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Development of rapid testing technology to increase food security (Callum Highmore) |
| Amount | £249,905 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Development of synthetic biofilm for calibrating the effect of coatings on reducing marine viscoelastic drag. (University of Southampton, Paul Stoodley) |
| Amount | £87,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | Diagnostic biomarkers of gut microbiome-associated phenotypes predictive of healthy aging and neurodegenerative disease |
| Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 303109 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Direct Industrial Funding (Robin Thorn) |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Creo Medical Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Do Host Microbe Interactions Accelerate Age-Related Cognitive Decline (PhD studentship) |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T008768/1, studentship 2441683 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Does irrigating chronic wounds with a liquid acoustic stream (LAS) improve healing? |
| Amount | £20,800 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Nutrition |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Drug interactions in the gut microbiome (PhD studentship) |
| Amount | £87,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | EMBO BACNET21 Conference (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Amount | € 35,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | EMBO Bacterial Networks conference grant |
| Amount | £32,795 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | w21/22 |
| Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | EMBO LONG TERM FELLOWSHIP (University of Dundee, Nicola Stanley-Wall, ALTF 471-2020) |
| Amount | £185,189 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ALTF 471-2020 |
| Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | EPSRC DTP Early Career Researcher Competition, Understanding Microbiological Risks of Urban Flooding (University of Edinburgh, Isabel Doutelero) |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Description | EPSRC IAA - Anti-Viral Surfaces and Materials |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) (Susana Direito 2022) |
| Amount | £1,980,071 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EPSRC IAA PIV078 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Plasma activated aerosols for on-demand rapid sanitisation (Heather Allison) |
| Amount | £14,678 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EPSRC IAA 2020 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (University of Edinburgh, Susana Direito, EPSRC IAA PIII008) |
| Amount | £16,615 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EPSRC IAA PIII008 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account - Anti-Viral Surfaces and Materials |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, Travel and Events Funding (University of Edinburgh, Susana Direito, EPSRC lAA Pll!063 Direito) |
| Amount | £2,304 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EPSRC lAA Pll!063 Direito |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Description | Engineering Novel Imaging Technologies for Reproductive Health: Transforming IVF outcomes |
| Amount | £244,593 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R041814/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Establishment of Cryo-EM Screening Facility At University Of Dundee (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Amount | £1,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 223816/Z/21/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2021 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Evaluation of a stabilised hypochlorous for decontamination of root canal surfaces (Heather Allison) |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Dentosafe-T LTD |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | FELS Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Funding Skin Health and Mental Health/Wellbeing: A Cross-Functional Workshop and Structured Industry Interviews (Katerina Steventon) |
| Amount | £12,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Formulated Materials for Infectious Disease Prevention |
| Amount | £3,300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Formulated Materials for Infectious Disease Prevention (Rasmita Raval) |
| Amount | £3,300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) - Antimicrobial point of use water filtration in India (Raechelle D'Sa) |
| Amount | £76,676 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) - Point of use water filtration (Raechelle D'Sa) |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Gut bacteria and the brain: the surprising impact of bacteriophages (PhD studentship) |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T008768/1, studentship 2596661 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | ICURe Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research Cohort 40 biofilms sprint - Exploit Phase 2 |
| Amount | £11,958 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Award |
| Amount | £19,928 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Impact Accelerator Account- PoC grant |
| Amount | £74,484 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Infections in complex physical environments: Life and death in the sinuses (Bartlomiej Waclaw) |
| Amount | £2,172,244 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W023881/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Innovate UK (TS/P004512/1) (Rasmita Raval) |
| Amount | £521,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | TS/P004512/1 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | Innovate UK TS/P013716/1 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | TS/P013716/1 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Innovate UK Temp Framework Aug 2020 - Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 |
| Amount | £224,011 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Interface Standard Innovation Voucher (Susana Direito) |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Interface |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Label-free Super-resolution in Light Sheet Microscopy (Impact Acceleration Account) |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Lactam AMR Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Action and Resistance of microbes to Unilever Anti-biofilm Lactam Technology |
| Amount | £100,279 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T509127/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Description | Lighting the Way to a Healthy Nation - Optical 'X-rays' for Walk Through Diagnosis & Therapy |
| Amount | £5,577,754 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T020997/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | MICRA Innovation Funding (Veeren Chauhan) |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Modulating Skin Bacteria to Improve Wound Healing in the Elderly (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Amount | £85,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 003/S/20 |
| Organisation | British Skin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Multifunctionalized Microalgae - A novel and flexible platform technology for maximising feed/energy conversion ratios and treating severe infections in livestock. (Michael Allen) |
| Amount | £186,525 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Muscle resilience across the life course: from cells to society |
| Amount | £184,485 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W018284/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Description | NBIC Eurobiofilms Marketing funding |
| Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| Description | NBIC Flexible Talent Mobility Account (FTMA) |
| Amount | £275,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S508020/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | NIBB Summer Studentship Bursaries: Optimizing the operation of a novel photobioreactor (Mike Allen) |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | NanoPrime (Veeren Chauhan ) |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 06/2020 |
| Description | NanoPrime (Veeren Chauhan ) |
| Amount | £500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2020 |
| End | 06/2020 |
| Description | NanoPrime Rapid (Veeren Chauhan) |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Nanoscale Characterisation of Biological and Bioinspired Materials using Integrated Fluidic Force - High-Resolution Confocal Microscopy |
| Amount | £777,904 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W019639/1 |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Nanoscale Characterisation of Biological and Bioinspired Materials using Integrated Fluidic Force - High-Resolution Confocal Microscopy |
| Amount | £777,905 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W019639/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2022 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Amount | £7,659,682 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X002950/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | National Biofilms Innovation Centre NBIC 2021 Flexible Talent Mobility Account |
| Amount | £180,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W510865/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | New Testing methods for Oral care (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Amount | £21,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Newcastle University Impact Acceleration Account - Feasibility test for large scale Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MEC) with bespoke control unit (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Amount | £7,311 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Description | Nottingham DTP3 |
| Amount | £14,883,260 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T008369/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | Nottingham Research Fellowship (Veeren Chauhan ) |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Novel Endolysin to Selectively Manage Antimicrobial Resistant S. aureus in Wound Biofilms |
| Amount | £101,356 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | CTP_22_0000000010 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | Novel Raman Spectroscopic Analysis for In Situ Detection of AMR in Cystic Fibrosis |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Nutrition |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | Novel rapid detection and imaging technologies for deep-sea applications |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Japan |
| Start | |
| Description | Partnership PhD (Robin Thorn) |
| Amount | £227,700 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Altered Carbon Ltd. |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | PhD Antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in the WHO priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii (Ronan McCarthy) |
| Amount | £84,048 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | PhD Control of Listeria monocytogenes in the fresh produce supply chain (Bill Keevil) |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2597285 under BB/T008768/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | PhD Developing ultrasound-responsive therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic wounds (working title) (Dario Carugo) |
| Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | PhD Intraspecies competition mechanisms in Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley Wall) |
| Amount | £85,236 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2734197 under BB/T00875X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | PhD Viscoelasticity and Associated-drag of Artificial and Natural Marine Fouling Biofilm (Jeremy Webb) |
| Amount | £111,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Pilot screen of selected compounds versus common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £11,689 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Eurofarma |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Brazil |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 07/2019 |
| Description | Plasma-activated antimicrobial hydrogel therapy (PAHT) for combatting infections in diabetic foot ulcers |
| Amount | £369,080 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V005839/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Description | Product development award (PDA) scheme NIHR i4i: Can novel ureteric stents offer a better patient outcome compared to existing standard ureteric stents (CASSETTE) |
| Amount | £1,375,896 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR202935 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 01/2025 |
| Description | Project |
| Amount | £270,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Dunhill Medical Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Proof of Concept application to the High Value Biorenewables Network (Eileen Yu) |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | POC-HVB-2021/01 (YU) [University of York BBSRC High Value Biorenewables Network] |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Prophage host interactions: pulling back the curtains on Pseudomonas puppet masters (Heather Allison) |
| Amount | £901,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T015616/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 10/2023 |
| Description | Rapid characterisation and modelling of marine biofilm deformation for estimating biofouling frictional drag (Jinju Chen) |
| Amount | £86,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Rayleigh Light Sheet Microscopy for Label-free Chemical Imaging of DNA (impact Acceleration Account) |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Research Fellowship : Identification of novel antibiofilm compounds using high throughput approaches. (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £63,749 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Research Fellowship : Role of signalling mechanisms in biofilms from uropathogenic E. coli (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £107,999 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Fundación Canaria de Investigación Sanitaria |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | Royal Society University Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £1,119,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | URF\R1\221795 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | SUrfaCe Characteristics Enabled StrategieS against virus transmission (SUCCESS) |
| Amount | £649,501 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V029762/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Seeing the virus with topological optical microscopy |
| Amount | £180,022 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X003477/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Shape, shear, search & strife; mathematical models of bacteria |
| Amount | £361,730 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S033211/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SoCoBio DTP) |
| Amount | £10,099,355 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/T008768/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | Southampton AMR Clinical Research Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Capital funding. (University of Southampton, Jeremy Webb, NIHR200638) |
| Amount | £2,859,674 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR200638 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Description | Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
| Amount | £25,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | StarHealer: a novel ultrasonically activated water stream device for wound management (Bill Keevil) |
| Amount | £32,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Strategic Research Centre: An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). |
| Amount | £773,682 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SRC022 |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | Strength in Places Fund: Delivering Integrated Solutions for Human Infections. (Rasmita Raval) |
| Amount | £18,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | Studying embryo development by novel microscopy techniques for improving IVF screening (PhD studentship) |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2155568 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | The Physics of Antimicrobial Resistance |
| Amount | £2,158,027 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T002778/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | The Physics of Bacteriophage-coated Antimicrobial Surfaces |
| Amount | £613,277 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S001255/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | The State Key Laboratory Program: Understanding polybacterial interactions during rice disease (Shi-qi An) |
| Amount | £11,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Guangxi University |
| Department | State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro bioresource |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | China |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Optically enhanced antiviral transparent screen protection |
| Amount | £235,709 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: round 1 (temporary framework) |
| Amount | £192,206 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 77477 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | The association of biofilms to water quality deterioration in Valencia (The University of Sheffield, Isabel Doutelero) |
| Amount | € 21,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Global Omnium |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership |
| Amount | £1,626,518 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V038036/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | Transforming industry standards in healthcare: Connecting key UK interdisciplinary analytical platforms for biofilms across the NBIC, NPL, SCELSE and SNBC (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Treatment of recurrent bacterial vaginosis using engineered probiotic bacteria |
| Amount | £612,881 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BMC 10035355 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Description | UKRI Ideas to address COVID-19 - Innovate UK Temp F'work Aug 2020 (University of Edinburgh, Rosalind Allen and Susana Direito, 83701) |
| Amount | £519,283 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 83701 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (Loughborough University, Eileen Yu) |
| Amount | £4,436,401 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V011863/1 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | UVC-pulsed Lasers for Rapid Disinfection of Pathogen (Impact Acceleration Account) |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Understanding inter-kingdom and inter-microbial interactions in microbial and fungal communities - Nanoprime (University of Nottingham, Shaun Robertson) |
| Amount | £14,880 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| Description | Understanding interactions between microbes in polymicrobial communities via liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) mass spectrometry - British Mass Spectrometry Society (University of Nottingham, Shaun Robertson) |
| Amount | £4,160 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Mass Spectrometry Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| Description | Understanding the impact on underwater cleaning on fouling control coatings (Jinju Chen) |
| Amount | £104,900 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | Understanding the molecular survival strategies of Acinetobacter baumannii and developing strategies to disable them. |
| Amount | £451,305 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V007823/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Unravelling the quorum sensing mechanisms in Azospirillum brasiliense Az39: one of the most used strains for agriculture in America (Miguel Camara) |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IEC\R2\181079 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Wellcome Prime Covid-19 Research Support (Shaun Robertson) |
| Amount | £10,306 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Wellcome Prime Scholarship (Veeren Chauhan) |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Title | A surface-confined liposome system for early-stage evaluation of new antimicrobial molecules (Peng Bao) |
| Description | Many antimicrobial molecules work by disrupting cell membranes. There have been a few well-established systems/protocols for evaluation of this mode of action at the early stage of technology development. In particular, there is a need for a fast and sensitive evaluation of such ability directly at a surface. Here, we developed an assay that allows fast screening of a wide range of antimicrobial agents. A fluorescent leakage assay employing surface-confined liposomes could provide a fast/sensitive platform for the evaluation of new antimicrobial molecules. The antimicrobial properties of UV-powered active molecules (provided by our partner at the University of Nottingham) were tested using a surface-confined liposome leakage assay in vitro. The leakage assay employed micro-sized DOPC/DOTAP (1:1) vesicles attached to the glass surface and checked under UV exposure from the LED light source on Zeiss Image2 fluorescence microscope. The mean time constants (averaged over many individual vesicles, n>20) were found to be distinctly different for samples with and without molecules, directly demonstrating the disruptive effect of molecules on lipid membranes. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The surface-confined liposome system provides an easy, fast, and sensitive way for the early-stage evaluation of the potential of new active molecules for antimicrobial applications. It could find wide applications in drug screening. |
| Title | Automated in-situ biofilm imaging and mechanical characterisation (Jinju Chen) |
| Description | We developed a uniquely designed automated in-situ testing rig to detect and monitor of marine biofilm erosion and study marine biofilm mechanical properties at meter scale. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This technique enabled the new partnership with International Paint (AkzoNobel). We are in the process of applying the patent. |
| Title | CSF derived Biomarker for Alzheimer's |
| Description | Novel biomaker for diagnosing AD when combined with core biomarkers and imaging |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | No impact yet. |
| Title | Developed casting methods for creating elastomeric replicas of rigid structured surfaces with micron-level accuracy (Paul Stoodley) |
| Description | The research tool is a pipeline from casting real surface roughness from materials, including marine fouled surfaces, and creating materials with replicated patters and roughness with defined viscoelastic parameters in able to assess the relative influence of material viscoelasticity and roughness on marine drag. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The data generated are currently being prepared for a manuscript and will serve as a PhD thesis chapter. |
| Title | Endoscope biofilm model. (Robin Thorn) |
| Description | UWE developed an Endoscope Biofilm Model, comprising of a re-circulating perfusion system with a known microbial load through a surrogate endoscope operating channel (PTFE tubing). The biofilm densities of the test bacterial species were determined following 72 hours of culture within the EBM. Viable biofilms were recovered from the EBM for all four bacterial species tested; P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumonia and E. coli, whereby the results demonstrated the growth of reproducible biofilms. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The development of this model has led to the successful demonstrated pf the efficacy of a Creo Medical Ltd. developed endoscope disinfection system for the treatment of bacterial biofilms within the internal lumen of PTFE tubing as a surrogate for medical endoscope operating channels. The success of this approach has led to successful follow-on funding directly from Creo Medical Ltd. |
| Title | Ex vivo lung model - optimised / UKAS-accredited implementation (Freya Harrison) |
| Description | In line with the aims of the grant, we have optimised and shared our ex vivo lung model. The current grant has allowed significant improvements and flexible re-optimisation of the model to make it more useful and tractable for colleagues, especially those in industry. We have successfully trained scientists from Perfectus Biomed Ltd. in the use of the model and helped them gain UKAS accreditation for its use in preclinical testing of antibiofilm agents. We have also published and open-access protocol for use of the model in antibiotic susceptibility testing (JoVE, video protocol to follow - delayed by COVID-19 restrictions). Please also refer to other sections of the ResearchFish submission for details of ongoing use and uptake, and the dedicated website at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/fharrison/exvivolung. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Accreditation of the model and Standard EN 1276 to ISO 17025 by our industrial collaborator Perfectus Biomed Ltd. for biocide testing on biofilms of P. aeruginosa. Now beiing used by Perfectus Biomoed Ltd. to test candidate antibiofilm agents for industrial clients. See https://perfectusbiomed.com/perfectus-biomed-elevate-method-testing-beyond-the-standard/ We have also published an open-access protocol for use of the model in antibiotic susceptibility testing for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in JoVE (see Publications). We will continually monitor uptake of the model through the lifetime of the grant and beyond, an in particular record any concomitant reduction in animal usage by users of the model, and report on this at a later stage. |
| URL | https://www.jove.com/t/62187/antibiotic-efficacy-testing-an-ex-vivo-model-pseudomonas-aeruginosa |
| Title | Fabrication of novel antimicrobial membrane to remove biofilm in female reproductive system (Farshid Sefat) |
| Description | In this research a group of scaffolds encapsulated and fabricated with a antibacterial drug and tested biologically. This scaffold remove biofilm in female reproductive system by a novel method. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This is an ongoing experimental work and we are predicting the outcome will have significant impact on many patients who suffering from bacterial within females reproductive system. |
| Title | Image analysis protocol for quantifying surface structural deformation under hydrodynamic shear. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Description | Developed image analysis protocol for quantifying surface structural deformation under hydrodynamic shear from cross sectional optical coherence tomography images of the elastomeric replica surfaces. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These data will be used in a peer reviewed manuscript and as a PhD chapter. |
| Title | Improvement of self referencing method for recording and mapping both ion and molecular activity and flux from single cells, tissues and biofilms (Peter J. Smith) |
| Description | Further development of the self referencing electrochemical method for detection of chemical activity or flux from living systems with high temporal and spatial fidelity. Previous a bespoke system the design brings in commercially available equipment, modified for function, and delivering higher sensitivity, control, analytics and versatility. Parllel and ongoing evolution of the solid state ultra micro sensor designs provide a more robust base for distributing the technology. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Van Mooy, B.A.S., Hmelo, L.R., Fredricks, H.F., Ossolinski, J.E., Pedlera, B.E., Bogorff D.J. and Smith P.J.S. (2014) Quantitative exploration of the contribution of settlement, growth, dispersal and grazing to the accumulation of natural marine biofilms on antifouling and fouling-release coatings. Biofouling 30(2):223-236. DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2013.861422. Alavian, KN, Collis, L, Li, H, Bonanni, L, Zeng, L, Sacchetti, S, Lazrove, E, Nabili, P, Flaherty, B, Graham, M, Chen, Y, Messerli, S, Mariggio, MM, Rahner, C, McNay, E, Shore, G, Smith, PJS, Hardwick, JM and Jonas, EA 2011 Bcl-xL regulates metabolic efficiency of neurons through interaction with the mitochondrial F1FO ATP synthase. Nature Cell Biol. 13, 1224-1233 doi:10.1038/ncb2330. |
| URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927014.2013.861422 |
| Title | Method to measure natural marine biofilm accumulation on artifical surfaces (Karen Tait) |
| Description | During this project we have made adaptions to established epifluorescence microscopy methods to allow us to measure natural microbial biofilm accumulation on artificial surfaces that have been exposed to untreated natural seawater. We have used epifluorescence techniques combined with image analysis to increase through-put and quality control associated with data capture from multiple images. This revised method will form the basis of a commercial biofilm quantification service and as such is commercially sensitive. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We anticipate that this method will form the basis of a commercial biofilm quantification service for PML. |
| Title | Microfluidic-based models to screen formation of crystalline biofilms in urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Description | Microfluidic devices (referred to as stent-on-a-chip, SoC) were designed to replicate key flow dynamic features of a stented ureter in the presence of different types of ureteral obstruction. Dimensions mimic those of commercially available double-J stents. A replica moulding technique was employed in order to manufacture SoC devices, which employed 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) master moulds. Devices can replicate the architecture of different urological stents and patient-specific urinary tracts. They have been employed as an in-vitro model to iterate different urological stent designs and assess whether specific device geometries could minimise deposition of bacteria over the device surface. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Novel ureteric stent designs have been developed, which have been proven to reduce particle deposition in-vitro. See following publications and patents: (1) Particle Accumulation in Ureteral Stents Is Governed by Fluid Dynamics: In Vitro Study Using a Stent-on-Chip Model (2) Reducing deposition of encrustation in ureteric stents by changing the stent architecture: A microfluidic-based investigation (3) A Microfluidic-Based Investigation of Bacterial Attachment in Ureteral Stents (* directly linked to this award) (4) Stent With Streamlined Side Holes |
| URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/4/408/htm |
| Title | Model reactor and culture system for biofilm metrology studies. |
| Description | We have developed a CDC reactor model system for Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture in order to carry out studies of biofilm reproducibility in partnership with LGC. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Knowledge exchange and collaborative work in the area of biofilm metrology with industry partner LGC. |
| Title | Model system for the assessment of in-line ozone treatment in drinking water pipelines. |
| Description | Oxi-Tech have developed an in-line system for the delivery of ozone as a method to treat bacteria and biofilms within drinking water systems. We developed a recirculating water model system that incorporated an Oxi-cell and that was used to model water contamination by planktonic bacteria Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa, and Legionella shakespearei. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The Oxi-cell eradicated planktonic bacteria following 10 mins of activity. Biofilms of P. aeruginosa and L. shakespearei were grown for 48h and transferred to a model water system that contained 15m pipe between the Oxi-cell and the biofilms. Oxi-cell activity significantly reduced the percentage of live cells in L. shakespearei biofilms from 78% to 42%, and prevented the dispersal of live cells from the biofilms. These data together suggest that the Oxi-cell is effective at preventing dissemination and growth of bacterial biofilms within water systems, where it is unable to eradicate established biofilms. |
| Title | Optical imaging of wound dressings (Daimark Bennett) |
| Description | Development of an approach to visualise wound dressings and associated microbial biofilms using confocal microscopy. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | In preparation. |
| Title | Partial development of a novel testing rig (Karen Tait) |
| Description | This project has been severally impacted by Covid-19 and as such is still in its very early stages. We are in the early stages of developing a novel laboratory test rig to allow us to remotely quantify marine biofouling on a test panel. Due to the commercial interest in the project and IP agreements in place with our funders (National Biofilm Innovation Centre) it is not possible to disclose further information concerning the biofilm quantification techniques. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Title | Polymicrobial biofilm development |
| Description | This tool is a complex wound biofilm that can be used to assess inflammation and the effects of antimicrobials. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Facilitated the methods to secure EPSRC grant |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8991182/ |
| Title | Porcine Skin as a Model for Human Biofilm Research |
| Description | NBIC-funded industry placement (NBIC FTMA3_21_007) demonstrated the suitability of in vivo pig skin as a living microbiome model which is compositionally more similar to human skin than mouse skin. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This model will enable the industry partner to develop further opportunities by providing commercial collaborators with a validated human-relevant skin microbiome model in pigs, which was previously unreported and unappreciated. |
| Title | Porcine corneal explant cultures for antimicrobial drug development (Peter Monk) |
| Description | The corneum is a complex multi-layered tissue that is not easy to reproduce using cell lines. To avoid the use of living animals, we have developed an ex vivo model using the easily available by-product of the food industry. Infection with bacteria or fungi requires abrasion of the corneal epithelial layer, usually a requirement in vivo. Infection of the explants recapitulates infection in vivo, and appears similar to that seen in human corneal explants. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We will shortly be creating a video methods publication to allow other groups to use this method. |
| Title | Porcine skin explant model of infection using Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Description | The skin explant model developed for this project a. allowed us to evaluate antimicrobial drug efficacy against biofilm infection. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The model allowed us to assess Destiny Pharma's novel antimicrobial compound for efficacy against biofilm-associated infection - the compound was highly effective at killing biofilms formed by clinical S. aureus strains in the pig skin explant model. |
| Title | Rapid single-step fluorescence detection using aptamer beacon (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Description | The assay involves an aptamer beacon, which acts like a fluorescence switch. The aptamer fluorescence is turned off in its original state. In presence of the target species, the aptamer undergoes a change in configuration, which turns on the fluorescence. The change in intensity of fluorescence suggests quantitative detection of the target species. The method is application to a broad range of biomolecules (proteins, lipid, carbohydrates) and biological particles (fungus, spores, bacteria and virus). |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Success validation has led to clinical evaluation projects in point of care wound diagnosis (from wound swabs) and COVID-19 diagnosis from saliva. |
| Title | Reagents to monitor biofilm assays in vivo in C. elegans |
| Description | Reagents to monitor biofilm assays in vivo in C. elegans tested and validated. Work to improve reagents and methods ongoing in the lab. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None yet but work is continued to achieve impact. |
| Title | Rotating Spiral Bioreactor (Jordan MacInnes) |
| Description | The prototype reactor developed in the project allows interaction between beds of microbial particles and media solutions in a controlled and therefore tractable manner. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The device has already allowed precise investigation of reaction rates in microbial particle beds as a function of microbial type. The same will be true for catalytic particles of any kind. |
| Title | Standard method for growing simulated dental plaque biofilms for safety and efficacy testing using modifications of CDC and ASTM standard methods (Paul Stoodley) |
| Description | Biofilm communities grown from human saliva on hydroxyapatite coupons in the CDC reactor were identified through 16S sequencing and included the presence of key taxa including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria which form the healthy core oral microbiome, including aerobes, anaerobes and unculturable species. Over an 8 day time course we observe changes to the composition of the microbiomes within the model bioreactor systems. To test this hypothesis, we utilized the commonly used antimicrobial compound chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine was applied to bioreactor biofilms for 2 weeks resulting in significant differences in taxa composition compared to both the Control treatment and . These observations indicate that the model developed is a suitable tool for the investigation of the oral microbiome and may be valuable in determining the impact of active compounds and antimicrobial technologies on the oral microbiome, facilitating the improved development of oral healthcare products. A publication is in preparation. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The method has potential for adoption by dental companies for testing dental hygiene products in vitro. |
| Title | The UK CF Infection Biorepository (UKCFIB) |
| Description | THE UKCFIB addresses a key challenge in CF antimicrobial discovery and development: the difficulty researchers face to access all the sample types required for preclinical testing. Coordinated by the MDC, the UKCFIB brings together a network of eight Universities and Hospitals, each linked to an NHS specialist CF centre that holds clinics for adults and children with CF. Initially funded by the Trust and Antabio, the UKCFIB has been awarded further funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which will start in October 2022 to further develop the initiative. The UKCFIB supports innovators to access hard-to-access samples, data and expertise, speeding up their drug discovery programmes. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Access to high quality clinically relevant samples, data and expertise will enable researchers from academia and industry to quickly identify and translate discoveries into new treatments for infections in people with cystic fibrosis. |
| URL | https://cfamr.org.uk/uk-cf-infection-biorepository/ |
| Title | Use of HS-AFM as a tool for biofilm monitoring (Michael Allen) |
| Description | High Speed Atomic Force Microscopy was successfully developed as a tool for assaying and analysing the structural features of biofilms. Various solid substrata which could be used in membrane bioreactors were assayed including isotactic polypropylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polystyrene. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Following incubation in an aqueous environment, we could confirm and monitor biofilm formation with nanoscale resolution.Indeed, in addition to whole cellular observations ranging from larger microalgal diatom cells and bacteria, we could successfully observe what we believe to extracellular polysaccharide coating plastic surfaces. This was achieved in both air and liquid environments, the latter in particular raising the possibility of utilising this technique for non-destructive assessment of biofilm formation in the future. Independent software developments during the course of this project have allowed for the real time stitching of raster pattern generated images, providing SEM scale imagery, but delivering nanoscale resolution.Following the successful trial of the MMBR system, biofilms were monitored with the new SOP developed herein, providing HS-AFM data showing colonisation of the 'mesh' utilised. Interestingly, cells were observed to adhere to the surface elements of the individual membrane fibres, as well as being corralled in to the intervening spaces of the structure. Further work could determine the rate of colonisation and how repeated harvesting effects biofilm structure, function and integrity. |
| Title | Using H-NMR to detect the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Description | This technique consists in the use of H-NMR to follow the reactions taking place within a complex formulation with particular emphasis in the generation of ROS. On its own the technique can effectively detect and quantify the elements present in the mixture. By fine tuning the pH of the environment the generation of ROS can be increased and its half-life in solution increased. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The main impact is that it allows a quick screening and quantification of a complex mixture of ingredients within a solution. It can be extremely valuable to compare new formulations enabling the researcher to test the reactants efficacy in the early stages of product development saving costs and time on not so good formulations. |
| Title | Viability status: inability of viability kits to assess damage from ozone-treated Listeria monocytogenes (Nicola Holden) |
| Description | Qualitative assessment of Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) viability in biofilms was made with Lmo biofilms stained with the commercial LIVE/DEAD BacLight kit and imaged by microscopy, mounted on polylysine-coated slides. Initially, an in vitro test was performed with a 1:1 mixture of Lmo killed with 70% isopropyl alcohol: live cells cultured in TSB, and it was possible to detect both live and dead cells at the proportions expected. Detailed examination of the slides using con-focal microscopy showed two distinct layers of Lmo cells. To investigate this phenomenon, the Lmo cells were co-stained with another nuclei acid stain DAPI, and a membrane stain (FM 1-43). There appeared to be two types of debris: one stained with SYTO9 and close to the coverslip and another stained with DAPI and close to the microscope slide. The DAPI-stained debris near the slide associated with the membrane dye (FM 1-43), suggesting that lipids that may have altered the density or adhesive properties of DAPI. It is possible that staining with SYTO9 may competitively prevent binding of DAPI, explaining why it wasn't uniform. Live/Dead staining was then performed on Lmo biofilms in situ on stainless steel (SS) discs, +/- ozone treatment. It appeared that the ozone-treatment had a minimal effect on cell viability since only a very low proportion of Lmo were stained with propidium iodide in comparison to untreated SS disc biofilms that contained a 'natural' population of dead cells. Therefore, the stains were validated in situ by treatment of Lmo on SS discs with 70 % isopropyl alcohol for 1 hour, which resulted in a high proportion of dead cells, as expected. However, treatment with 3 % hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes only yielded a small proportion of dead cells. Yet, Lmo viable plate counts decreased by ~ 2 orders of magnitude after treatment with just 2000 ppm (0.2 %). Therefore, there was a large discrepancy in viability as reported by the Live/Dead staining kit for peroxide or ozone treatments compared to viability as assessed by CFU. It was apparent that the PI dye was not able to enter ozone/peroxide-treated cells. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The main outcome is that we are now much better informed on whether commercial kits provide correct answers to quantify viable cells and we know that it is not possible to use this approach to assess viability of ozone or peroxide-treated biofilms. Although the kits work well for other physiological stresses that result in cell death / reduced viability, the one we tested (most commonly used) was unable to accurately quantify viability from ozone or H2O2 treated cells. This has implications for food safety risk assessments since reactive oxygen (in various forms) is used commercially as a bactericidal agent. Our data was accumulated from an experimental set-up that reflected Listeria contamination in food processing settings, i.e. at low temperature and allowing biofilm formation to occur on stainless steel surfaces. We show that if the commercial kits are used for quantification of viability, and hence to calculate the extent of die-off following treatment, they would not be accurate and could over-estimate the extent of kill / die-off. In turn, this would provide mis-leading information on the efficacy of the treatment in food safety settings. |
| Title | Workflow for genomic assessment of microbially influenced corrosion |
| Description | The team have developed expertise in field based DNA sequencing and the use of the Nanopore sequencing platform for energy sector samples. Furthermore, the secondment has facilitate the development of industry links, both in the UK and internationally through DNV GL's global research team. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The FTMA application has allowed knowledge exchange between NBIC researchers and renewable energy industries and infrastructure that will be required for the energy transition. This has involved working with DNV who provide access to bacterial corrosion samples, and have assets such as wind farms and pipeline digs and are who are familiar with the industries standardisation processes. |
| Title | YouSeq The ONE 16S NGS kit |
| Description | Create a ready to sequence 16S Library in one closed tube reaction. The ONE 16S NGS kit contains all of the reagents necessary to create a ready-to-sequence NGS library in minutes. In a breakthrough kit format, the user simply performs one closed tube qPCR reaction. The variable regions V3/4 are targeted, amplified and adapters are added in a single reaction. The quantitative PCR read out simultaneously quantifies each library so they can be pooled precisely. Then a simple bead-clean completes the workflow. After sequencing, the data can then be loaded on to our cloud for rapid analysis. A detailed report is typically returned within 15 minutes. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This product was developed during an NBIC funded secondment. |
| URL | https://youseq.com/product/the-one-16s-ngs-kit/8 |
| Title | Assessing the effects of mixed microbiomes on human skin repair |
| Description | RNA-Sequencing analysis of human ex vivo skin wounds treated with secreted products from an S. aureus-dominant or S. aureus-depleted microbiome. This data is linked to a publication assessing the specificity and efficacy of a novel S. aureus-targeted endolysin for skin and wound infections. Generated by NBIC-funded projects 04POC21-228 and NBIC_FTMA3_21_007. The paper published alongside these datasets can be accessed here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.01.018. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known. |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA1031137 |
| Title | Biofilm disruption activity of absorbent sustained action alginate and iodine combined wound dressings |
| Description | Test new wound dressing formulations against clinically relevant polymicrobial biofilms |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not yet known. |
| URL | https://rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/internal/9521 |
| Title | CSD 1977978: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
| Description | Related Article: Quinn D. Gibson, Troy D. Manning, Marco Zanella, Tianqi Zhao, Philip A. E. Murgatroyd, Craig M. Robertson, Leanne A. H. Jones, Fiona McBride, Rasmita Raval, Furio Cora, Ben Slater, John B. Claridge, Vin R. Dhanak, Matthew S. Dyer, Jonathan Alaria, Matthew J. Rosseinsky|2020|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|142|847|doi:10.1021/jacs.9b09411 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc24d7rk&sid=DataCite |
| Title | Dataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'Layer by layer (LbL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation |
| Description | The dataset contains Nanoindentation results for coated and uncoated samples of PDMS with PEI/PAA multilayers. The number of bilayers of PEI/PAA coating varies from 5-50 and the stiffness of the surface compared with uncoated PDMS in different indentation depths. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Nanoindentation data provides information about surface stiffness, which correlates with antimicrobial (AM) activity of coated surfaces and helps establish a potential AM mechanism that is disputed or not fully understood in the field. |
| URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/472184/ |
| Title | Density and temperature controlled fluid extraction in a bacterial biofilm is determined by poly-gamma-glutamic acid production |
| Description | A hallmark of microbial biofilms is the self-production of extracellular matrix that encases the cells resident within the community. The matrix provides protection from the environment, while spatial heterogeneity of expression influences the structural morphology and colony spreading dynamics. Bacillus subtilis is a model bacterial system used to uncover the regulatory pathways and key building blocks required for biofilm growth and development. Previous reports have suggested that poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) production is suppressed during biofilm formation and does not play a major role in biofilm morphology of the undomesticated isolate NCIB 3610. In this work we report on the observation of multiple travelling fronts that develop during the early stage of B. subtilis colony biofilm formation. We find the emergence of a highly motile population of bacteria that is facilitated by the extraction of fluid from the underlying agar substrate. Motility develops behind a moving front of fluid that propagates from the boundary of the biofilm towards the interior. The extent of proliferation is strongly modulated by the presence of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). We trace the origin of this moving front of fluid to the production of PGA. We find that PGA production is correlated with higher temperatures, resulting in a mature biofilm morphology that is distinct from the biofilm architecture typically associated with B. subtilis. Our results suggest that B. subtilis NCIB 3610 produces distinct biofilm matrices in response to environmental conditions. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://datashare.ed.ac.uk/handle/10283/4451 |
| Title | Design and evaluation of new quinazolin-4(3H)-one derived PqsR antagonists as quorum sensing quenchers in Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Description | A study focused on the design, synthesis and evaluation of pqs quorum sensing inhibitors |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not yet known. |
| URL | https://rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/internal/9508 |
| Title | Development of a polymicrobial colony biofilm model |
| Description | The main aim of this study was to develop and optimise a polymicrobial colony biofilm model to test commercial wound dressings |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known. |
| URL | https://rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/internal/10533 |
| Title | Efficacy dataset for antimicrobial coatings |
| Description | NBIC-funded FTMA3_21_019 project "Screening the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticle coatings" generated a dataset on the activity of novel antimicrobial nanoparticle coatings. The antimicrobial coatings wre screened against environmental and medical pathogens to evaluate the potential application of these materials on surfaces including handles, pipes, and medical device materials. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The work demonstrated that the antimicrobial nanoparticles mixed into paint had a significant reduction of the bacterial viability. This enables the industry partner to demonstrate the efficiacy of their formulation and to move forward with antiviral testing of the paint. |
| Title | Efficacy dataset for plasma for the prevention and management of chronic wound biofilms |
| Description | NBIC-funded POC 02POC19129 project "Plasma for the prevention and management of chronic wound biofilms" generated a dataset for the industrial partner that demonstrated that remotely delivered cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) delivers substantial anti-microbial efficacy against nosocomial wound pathogens. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Led to follow on funding from Innovate UK to further develop the technology (project title: "Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds") |
| Title | Efficiacy data for plasma technology for prevention and management of biofilms |
| Description | Efficacy dataset generated from NBIC-funded project POC 01POC18021 that evaluated the use of plasma technology on biofilms in model systems widely relevant to food processing. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The industry partner involved in this project were able to sign a licensing deal for use of their plasma technology in surface disinfection for a light industrial application. This opportunity built on the outcomes of the POC project in terms of efficacy data. |
| Title | Experimental model for pre-clinical screening of urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Description | The research model comprises a microfluidic-based mimic of the stented proximal urinary tract, which can be integrated with optical/fluorescence microscopy to determine the spatio-temporal evolution of encrustation in urological devices during product development. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Models could be potentially employed as an alternative to animal models, in the process of iteration and pre-clinical assessment of innovative ureteric stent designs. It specifically enables investigation of the effect of urinary flow dynamics, stent's architecture, and material properties on the initiation of bacteria/crystal deposition and biofilm formation. |
| URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/4/408 |
| Title | Grant data from 01POC18027 (Samantha McLean) |
| Description | Data arising from the PoC grant, raw data files have been uploaded to Zenodo.org. This is a closed dataset until publication, at which time it will be published in accordance with the journal requirements. Access to this data can be requested by contacting samantha.mclean@ntu.ac.uk. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | Marine biofilm modelling was developed from 03POC20-015 |
| Description | We have developed marine biofilm modelling Dataset was generated about how materials properties will affect marine biofilm formation and detachment. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impacts yet. |
| Title | Microbiome profiling following selective depletion of S. aureus in skin and wounds |
| Description | This long-read metagenomic sequencing data is from minipigs treated with a vehicle control or an endolysin targeted against S. aureus. Swabs were taken at baseline (day 0) and days 4, 8, 12 and 16 post-injury with fresh treatments applied at each time point. Swabs were taken from peri-wound and wound sites to assess the effect of endolysin on staphylococcal contribution. Generated by NBIC-funded projects 04POC21-228 and NBIC_FTMA3_21_007. The paper published alongside these datasets can be accessed here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.01.018. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not known. |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA1032892 |
| Title | Model for reaction in a rotating spiral bioreactor (Jordan MacInnes) |
| Description | The mathematical model provides a consistent detailed representation of the mass transfer and reaction within a microbial bed in a rotating spiral channel. The model allows rapid determination of optimum reactor operation once a small number of bed properties are determined empirically. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We are currently using the model to understand optimisation of catalytic particle reaction in our prototype spiral bioreactor. |
| Title | Molecular nanomachines for photoactivated biofilm disruption |
| Description | Data embargoed until publication of associated journal article |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not yet known. |
| URL | https://rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/internal/9520 |
| Title | Mushroom-shaped structures formed in Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms grown in a roller bioreactor are associated with quorum sensing dependent Csu-pilus assembly |
| Description | Study on the influence of quorum sensing regulation on biofilm maturation in Acinetobacter baumannii |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Not yet known. |
| URL | https://rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/internal/9519 |
| Title | National Biofilms Innovation Centre Data and Resource Index |
| Description | Most Universities within the NBIC consortium already have large data storage facilities and the capacity to assign unique and permanent Digital Object Identifiers. The NBIC Universities will provide mechanisms and services for storage, backup, registration, deposit, retention and preservation of research data assets in support of current and future access, during and after completion of research projects. All NBIC partners will be required to agree to store all data, whether published or unpublished, in their institutional repositories or authorised storage facilities. NBIC are in a unique position to create data sharing policies and workflows for biofilm data. Metadata records for the data (and published outputs) generated by the consortium will be maintained by NBIC. In accordance with this, the data will be archived from a minimum of ten years after publication or last access, whichever is longer. This register includes reference to the relevant DOIs and points of contact to ensure data access is easily managed. Data will be accompanied by contextual information to enable secondary users to gain access to details on the origin or manipulation of the data to avoid misinterpretation or misuse. Future users of the data will be bound by data sharing agreements. Where suitable a licence (for example Creative Commons) can be applied to data deposited in the repository. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We are continuing to develop a cultural shift towards ensuring the availability of unpublished data across the NBIC consortium. We have held a workshop on data and software sustainability and are moving towards developing a community platform available to all partners. https://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2019-12-16-2019-national-biofilms-innovation-centre-workshop |
| Title | Novel data analysis technique from 02POC19126 |
| Description | We have developed a novel data analysis technique based on coupled air-jet indenter with OCT. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Title | OM model development (Angela Oates) |
| Description | 1. Development and Validation of Osteomyelitis Biofilm Infection Model-stable and reproducible growth of S.aureus biofilm on HA discs 2. Optimisation of porous bone cement-rations of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) gel and smartset bone cement to generate porous bone barriers |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Development of static model which stimulated porous bone in osteo enabled the exploration of plasma penetration through this barrier and measure its efficacy against propergated biofilms. Parameters of plasma doing could then be optimised. |
| Title | Organo-metallic HIPIMS-coated antibiofilm advanced wound dressing |
| Description | This study explores the application of antibiofilm nanoscale organo-metallic coatings to advanced wound care dressing substrates using the low environmental impact processes of HIPIMS and aqueous application. This new class of wound dressings would have the potential to greatly enhance patient outcomes and significantly reduce healthcare costs. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This study explores the application of antibiofilm nanoscale organo-metallic coatings to advanced wound care dressing substrates using the low environmental impact processes of HIPIMS and aqueous application. This new class of wound dressings would have the potential to greatly enhance patient outcomes and significantly reduce healthcare costs. |
| URL | https://shurda.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/145 |
| Title | PlasmaTec Plasma testing data (Angela Oates) |
| Description | Viable count data or zone of inhibition size on s. aureus planktonic and biofilm populations 1.Treatment Time and Flow Rate Parameter Testing on Planktonic Populations-s. aureus 1,3 and 5 mins at 15w and flow 5slm 2. Flow rate optimisation -1cm distance 15w power settings 300s treatment-2.5,3.7,5 slm flow rate 3. PlasmaTec testing against Colony biofilms-biofilm age 1hr, 2hr, 4hr,6hr and 24hr 4. Hydroxyapatite Disk Biofilms Direct Dosing-biofilm age 2,4,6and24hr treated for 300s 15w, 5slm flow at 1cm distance 5. Hydroxyapatite Disk Biofilms Direct Dosing. pulses of 1min for a treatment of 5 mins 6. Treatment Time and Flow Rate Parameter Testing on Planktonic Populations (5cm distance) 7. Temperature evaluation |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Evaluation of the efficacy of plasma from the device and identification of temperature effect. |
| Title | Raw sequence data: Influence of phosphate dosing on biofilms development on lead in chlorinated drinking water bioreactors (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Description | Raw sequence data that support the findings of this study have been deposited in NCBI library as a Sequence Read Archive (SRA) with the accession code PRJNA663268 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/study/?acc=PRJNA663268). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Better understanding of the practice of phosphate dosing for water companies in the UK. |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7585443/ |
| Title | Steriplas Penetration and Efficacy Plasma in the OM Biofilm Infection Model and Bone (Angela Oates) |
| Description | Viable counts 1. Penetration and Efficacy Plasma in the OM Biofilm Infection Model-24hr biofilms + porous bone cement. Plasma dosing occurred at 24hr (10 minutes) which was repeated after 2hr. single v double dosing 2.Temperature changes in response to plasma -evaluation of additional parameter to assess if this is contributing to effect seen 3.Demonstration of Plasma Penetration Through Porous Bone Cement-comparison between porous bone cement, bone cement and plastic barrier 4.Preliminary Testing of the Efficacy of Plasma Treatment on Osteomyelitis Biofilms-Bone used in place of porous bone cement barrier in OM infection model 5. Preliminary Testing of the Efficacy of Plasma Treatment on Osteomyelitis Biofilms-Drilled bone used in place of porous bone cement barrier in OM infection model |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Understanding of of the role biological mater in plasma penetration and efficacy. |
| Title | Steriplas Plasma doing optimisation (Angela Oates) |
| Description | Viable counts of 1. Effect of Plasma on Planktonic Populations and Hydroxyapatite Biofilms using current treatment settings-against 0hr, 5hr and 24hr biofilms 2.Evaluation of the frequency of Treatment: 10 Minute Dosing vs Multiple Dosing against 24hr biofilms. (1) single dose: 10 minutes plasma dosing at 24hrs, (2) Double dose: 10 minutes plasma dosing at 24hrs, repeated 2 hours later and (3) Triple dose: 10 minutes plasma dosing at 24hrs, repeated 2hr and 4hr. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Optimisation of dosing strategy to be testing in model and bone. Data shared with partner company. |
| Title | Wound biofilm volatile compound database (Robin Thorn) |
| Description | The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the sensor response of the Altered Carbon sensor array to key microbial volatiles emanating from wound biofilms. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting, and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. |
| Description | 20ALERT Live 3D Confocal Imaging in real time with high throughput, multipoint, targeted acquisition and AI-assisted quantification (Kim Hardie and Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC funding reference BB/V019414/1. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint funding. |
| Impact | Capabilities in cell, tissue and material engineering and bioprinting in 2D and 3D require next level analytical platforms. These span the length-scales of macro- (cell behaviours, physical attributes) to micro- and nano-scale. The latter includes protein crystallisation and high field NMR optimised for challenging systems (proteins / RNA / lipids etc). Our systems have capabilities such as high sensitivity cryogenically cooled probes, solid-state magic angle spinning (Ultrafast spinning upto 65 KHz), reaction monitoring and automaton for screening. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | 20ALERT Live 3D Confocal Imaging in real time with high throughput, multipoint, targeted acquisition and AI-assisted quantification (Kim Hardie and Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | BBSRC funding reference BB/V019414/1. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint funding. |
| Impact | Capabilities in cell, tissue and material engineering and bioprinting in 2D and 3D require next level analytical platforms. These span the length-scales of macro- (cell behaviours, physical attributes) to micro- and nano-scale. The latter includes protein crystallisation and high field NMR optimised for challenging systems (proteins / RNA / lipids etc). Our systems have capabilities such as high sensitivity cryogenically cooled probes, solid-state magic angle spinning (Ultrafast spinning upto 65 KHz), reaction monitoring and automaton for screening. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | 3M collaborative research project (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | 3M |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Confidential |
| Collaborator Contribution | Confidential |
| Impact | Ongoing research |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Medicines Discovery Catapult |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | NovaBiotics Ltd, UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Ghana |
| Department | West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens |
| Country | Ghana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A joint workshop between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This award will allow us to establish a new synergistic partnership between the UK's National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Ghana. Biofilms are implicated in some of the most critical global challenges and have significant economic impact across multiple sectors. They are a leading cause of chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), described in June 2021 by G7 Health Ministers as a "silent pandemic"1 and the cause of at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. This is predicated to rise to 10M deaths a year and cost US$100Tn in world GDP by 2050 if no action is taken2. In the UK, biofilm-mediated chronic infections are estimated to cost the NHS £7.2Bn per annum3. NBIC represents a fusion of world-class research and industry to deliver breakthrough technologies in the control and exploitation of biofilms. Established in 2017, it is an interdisciplinary centre, bringing together 4 lead and 59 associate UK universities and their infrastructure, and support from a growing industry hub of over 250 companies (SME to multinational) across multiple sectors where biofilms offer both problems and opportunities. Given their global importance, NBIC is strongly committed to establishing new international partnerships to bring together the wide and diverse range of perspectives, needs and expertise required to address biofilm-related challenges. WACCBIP is one of the World Bank's Centres of Excellence at the University of Ghana. It was founded in 2013 and is led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) The centre conducts applied research into the biology and pathogenesis of tropical diseases and aims to increase research and innovation by enhancing collaboration among biomedical scientists and industry leaders across Africa. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partnership. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Agent Energy and HVB PoC (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Argent Energy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Through this collaboration, the aim of this research is to develop an optimised MES process with enhanced selectivity for high-value long-chain carbohydrates (C4-C8) production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Argent Energy will contribute in several ways for this project as a research partner. This includes providing: • Information on effluent waste gas enriched with CO2, and effluent organic waste streams; • Advice on research questions and directions for the project; • Staff time in project evaluation and taking part in project review meetings, • Access to site visits and relevant on-site data. |
| Impact | Secured a BBSRC High value Biorenewables PoC funding with the project Enhance selectivity for high value bioproducts from CO2 and waste organics through microbial electrosynthesis. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Agent Energy and HVB PoC (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Through this collaboration, the aim of this research is to develop an optimised MES process with enhanced selectivity for high-value long-chain carbohydrates (C4-C8) production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Argent Energy will contribute in several ways for this project as a research partner. This includes providing: • Information on effluent waste gas enriched with CO2, and effluent organic waste streams; • Advice on research questions and directions for the project; • Staff time in project evaluation and taking part in project review meetings, • Access to site visits and relevant on-site data. |
| Impact | Secured a BBSRC High value Biorenewables PoC funding with the project Enhance selectivity for high value bioproducts from CO2 and waste organics through microbial electrosynthesis. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Alphasonics |
| Organisation | Alphasonics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Provided electron microscopy of coupons cleaned by the new ultrasonic cleaning system which is used for sanitising surgical and dental instruments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner created the product and identified market need. |
| Impact | Allowed the company to add to their product claims. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | AlgiPharma |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Medicines Discovery Catapult |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Laval |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | An evidence-based preclinical framework for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics in cystic fibrosis (PIPE-CF). (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NBIC core partners, the Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham, are leading on a Strategic Research Centre as part of a new international collaboration to accelerate the development of much needed antibiotics for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. Supported by £750,000 of funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the CF Foundation in the United States, the Strategic Research Centre will develop new laboratory methods to make it quicker and easier for researchers to test new medicines for CF. New Treatments Cystic Fibrosis Most people with CF will develop lung infections throughout their lifetimes. Once the bugs that cause the infections adapt to the environment of CF lungs they can be extremely difficult to treat. In some cases, the bugs are becoming resistant to the strongest medicines that are available. Left untreated, these infections can trigger permanent lung damage, meaning people are more breathless and have less energy to do day-to-day activities. More effective treatments with fewer side effects are urgently needed. Researchers around the world are currently working on the development of new medicines to treat CF lung infections. However, there are differences and gaps in how different researchers test new CF medicines in the laboratory meaning that the results are not comparable, which slows down progress. In addition, the tests that are used were not originally designed specifically to test CF medicines. For example, the tests don't mimic the effects of the thick sticky mucus found in the lungs of people with CF. This makes it hard to assess whether a potential medicine will work. The new four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) led by Dr Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool with Professor Miguel Cámara from the University of Nottingham as the deputy lead will develop a new set of laboratory methods specifically designed for testing new medicines for CF. The SRC will combine expertise in understanding the infection-causing bugs Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM and Burkholderia cepacia complex, with expertise in developing new lab methods. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SRC also involves co-investigators from Cambridge, Cardiff and Warwick; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust; Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA and the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systems in Quebec, Canada. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Areas of energy and resource recovery during environmental processes such as wastewater treatment and reuse (Mohamed Mamlouk) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Ideas and discussion of possible joint projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Host visitor and materials supply. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary linking biology , electrochemistry and civil engineering. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Areas of energy and resource recovery during environmental processes such as wastewater treatment and reuse (Mohamed Mamlouk) |
| Organisation | Princeton University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Ideas and discussion of possible joint projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Host visitor and materials supply. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary linking biology , electrochemistry and civil engineering. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Assessment and optimisation of probiotic therapeutics against bacterial vaginosis biofilms (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | Ferring Pharmaceuticals |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The data generated from NBIC POC 04POC21-235 has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contract research. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Assessment and optimisation of probiotic therapeutics against bacterial vaginosis biofilms (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The data generated from NBIC POC 04POC21-235 has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contract research. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | BP (British Petroleum) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Chilled Food Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Kohler Co |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC CTP application (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application to BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership scheme, where the lead applicant and industry partner is Smith & Nephew PLC, acting as a member of and on behalf of the NBICs Industry Advisory Board, supported by NBIC operational Team, who will supply the infrastructure to manage this programme and will coordinate the delivery of the cohort training. Grant value: over £1,500,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBICs Industry Advisory Board (Smith&Nephew, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Chilled Food Association, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd, Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and Kohler Co), are the full partner on the proposal. The NBIC AIB co-developed the proposal by providing advise and direction to the shape of the CTP. Smith & Nephew is the main applicant, acting on behalf of the NBIC AIB. |
| Impact | Consortium awarded funds for 15 PhDs. Award around £1.5 million. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Global Partnering Award - collaborative proposal between NBIC and India Biofilm Society (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Regional Centre for Biotechnology |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Developed and submitted collaborative proposal to the BBSRC International Partnering Awards: India Partnering Award: Building globally leading partnership between India and UK's biofilm innovation centres. Collaboration between NBIC and India Biofilms Society. funding sought: £30000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-developed the proposal with intended in-kind contribution of £30000. |
| Impact | Submitted proposal - unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Global Partnering Award - collaborative proposal between NBIC and India Biofilm Society (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | SASTRA University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed and submitted collaborative proposal to the BBSRC International Partnering Awards: India Partnering Award: Building globally leading partnership between India and UK's biofilm innovation centres. Collaboration between NBIC and India Biofilms Society. funding sought: £30000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-developed the proposal with intended in-kind contribution of £30000. |
| Impact | Submitted proposal - unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Global Partnering Award - collaborative proposal between NBIC and India Biofilm Society (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Savitribai Phule Pune University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed and submitted collaborative proposal to the BBSRC International Partnering Awards: India Partnering Award: Building globally leading partnership between India and UK's biofilm innovation centres. Collaboration between NBIC and India Biofilms Society. funding sought: £30000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-developed the proposal with intended in-kind contribution of £30000. |
| Impact | Submitted proposal - unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Global Partnering Award - collaborative proposal between NBIC and India Biofilm Society (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Tripura University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed and submitted collaborative proposal to the BBSRC International Partnering Awards: India Partnering Award: Building globally leading partnership between India and UK's biofilm innovation centres. Collaboration between NBIC and India Biofilms Society. funding sought: £30000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-developed the proposal with intended in-kind contribution of £30000. |
| Impact | Submitted proposal - unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC and MRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Networks (Peter Smith) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC funded project reference BB/W018284/1. MyAge will break down the silos associated with reductionist research and bring together non-overlapping expertise of researchers, industrialists and stakeholders from muscle research, me-tabolism, regenerative medicine, genomics, epigenetics, maths, data and social sciences, health inequity, biotech and pharma to understand the mechanistic pathways of muscle development, differentiation and decline. Although considerable research has focused on the better understand-ing of the determinants of muscle ageing, the complexity of the ageing process itself requires an innovative research approach that shifts away from studying single systems in isolation towards an integrative and holistic understanding of muscle ageing where multidimensional molecular, physio-logical, organism and population level research is combined. This approach aligns strongly with rec-ommendations in The Physiological Society's report, "Growing older, better". MyAge will develop a ROADMAP that seeks to inform policy and UKRI funding calls. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In partnership with stakeholders and industry partners we will explore interventions as well as therapeutic and lifestyle modifications that impact the progression of muscle differentiation and decline from a cellular and functional perspective. MyAge will gather researchers with expertise in regenerative biology, epigenetics, single cell analysis, nanotechnology, electrophysiology, molecular phenotyping, mitochondrial function, inflammation, endocrinology, organoid culture, performance, human ageing cohorts, and social impact. Using various model systems from nematodes to humans, the network will uncover how the molecular and metabolic landscape of myofibers, SC and non-SC progenitors and muscle tissue architecture change with ageing and through exposures to different environmental stimuli. We will integrate this knowledge with epidemiological, nutritional, societal and health inequity and inequality data. Using fMRI to image muscle during exercise will allow us to investigate the physiological basis of anabolic resistance With the latest advances in topological analysis, we will integrate complex, high dimensional data sets to unravel the fundamental mecha-nisms of muscle ageing and to define how the environmental factors though the life course affect muscle cell physiology, ageing and life course trajectory. MyAge is a new network of individual members, organisations and partners who have not previously worked together in this manner. It represents a new synthesis of disciplines. Within our membership there are pre-existing networks dealing with particular specialties, for exam-ple CMAR, (29 members from Birmingham and 22 from Nottingham). Additional networks of inves-tigators are CIMA, the Southampton Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the BRC Nutrition and Lifecourse theme and the IfLS. The latter has a membership of 350 investigators crossing the STEM subjects, Medicine, Health and Sociology. Bringing these groups together, alongside our individual members and partners, societies and enterprise, has never been done before. This novelty of inter-action will expedite the generation of new insights, pathways and strategies to address the chal-lenges of ageing. Although MyAge will focus on muscle ageing, our members and approach will add value to, and learn from, the proposed macro-coordination of the Ageing networks. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC and MRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Networks (Peter Smith) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC funded project reference BB/W018284/1. MyAge will break down the silos associated with reductionist research and bring together non-overlapping expertise of researchers, industrialists and stakeholders from muscle research, me-tabolism, regenerative medicine, genomics, epigenetics, maths, data and social sciences, health inequity, biotech and pharma to understand the mechanistic pathways of muscle development, differentiation and decline. Although considerable research has focused on the better understand-ing of the determinants of muscle ageing, the complexity of the ageing process itself requires an innovative research approach that shifts away from studying single systems in isolation towards an integrative and holistic understanding of muscle ageing where multidimensional molecular, physio-logical, organism and population level research is combined. This approach aligns strongly with rec-ommendations in The Physiological Society's report, "Growing older, better". MyAge will develop a ROADMAP that seeks to inform policy and UKRI funding calls. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In partnership with stakeholders and industry partners we will explore interventions as well as therapeutic and lifestyle modifications that impact the progression of muscle differentiation and decline from a cellular and functional perspective. MyAge will gather researchers with expertise in regenerative biology, epigenetics, single cell analysis, nanotechnology, electrophysiology, molecular phenotyping, mitochondrial function, inflammation, endocrinology, organoid culture, performance, human ageing cohorts, and social impact. Using various model systems from nematodes to humans, the network will uncover how the molecular and metabolic landscape of myofibers, SC and non-SC progenitors and muscle tissue architecture change with ageing and through exposures to different environmental stimuli. We will integrate this knowledge with epidemiological, nutritional, societal and health inequity and inequality data. Using fMRI to image muscle during exercise will allow us to investigate the physiological basis of anabolic resistance With the latest advances in topological analysis, we will integrate complex, high dimensional data sets to unravel the fundamental mecha-nisms of muscle ageing and to define how the environmental factors though the life course affect muscle cell physiology, ageing and life course trajectory. MyAge is a new network of individual members, organisations and partners who have not previously worked together in this manner. It represents a new synthesis of disciplines. Within our membership there are pre-existing networks dealing with particular specialties, for exam-ple CMAR, (29 members from Birmingham and 22 from Nottingham). Additional networks of inves-tigators are CIMA, the Southampton Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the BRC Nutrition and Lifecourse theme and the IfLS. The latter has a membership of 350 investigators crossing the STEM subjects, Medicine, Health and Sociology. Bringing these groups together, alongside our individual members and partners, societies and enterprise, has never been done before. This novelty of inter-action will expedite the generation of new insights, pathways and strategies to address the chal-lenges of ageing. Although MyAge will focus on muscle ageing, our members and approach will add value to, and learn from, the proposed macro-coordination of the Ageing networks. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC and MRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Networks (Peter Smith) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC funded project reference BB/W018284/1. MyAge will break down the silos associated with reductionist research and bring together non-overlapping expertise of researchers, industrialists and stakeholders from muscle research, me-tabolism, regenerative medicine, genomics, epigenetics, maths, data and social sciences, health inequity, biotech and pharma to understand the mechanistic pathways of muscle development, differentiation and decline. Although considerable research has focused on the better understand-ing of the determinants of muscle ageing, the complexity of the ageing process itself requires an innovative research approach that shifts away from studying single systems in isolation towards an integrative and holistic understanding of muscle ageing where multidimensional molecular, physio-logical, organism and population level research is combined. This approach aligns strongly with rec-ommendations in The Physiological Society's report, "Growing older, better". MyAge will develop a ROADMAP that seeks to inform policy and UKRI funding calls. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In partnership with stakeholders and industry partners we will explore interventions as well as therapeutic and lifestyle modifications that impact the progression of muscle differentiation and decline from a cellular and functional perspective. MyAge will gather researchers with expertise in regenerative biology, epigenetics, single cell analysis, nanotechnology, electrophysiology, molecular phenotyping, mitochondrial function, inflammation, endocrinology, organoid culture, performance, human ageing cohorts, and social impact. Using various model systems from nematodes to humans, the network will uncover how the molecular and metabolic landscape of myofibers, SC and non-SC progenitors and muscle tissue architecture change with ageing and through exposures to different environmental stimuli. We will integrate this knowledge with epidemiological, nutritional, societal and health inequity and inequality data. Using fMRI to image muscle during exercise will allow us to investigate the physiological basis of anabolic resistance With the latest advances in topological analysis, we will integrate complex, high dimensional data sets to unravel the fundamental mecha-nisms of muscle ageing and to define how the environmental factors though the life course affect muscle cell physiology, ageing and life course trajectory. MyAge is a new network of individual members, organisations and partners who have not previously worked together in this manner. It represents a new synthesis of disciplines. Within our membership there are pre-existing networks dealing with particular specialties, for exam-ple CMAR, (29 members from Birmingham and 22 from Nottingham). Additional networks of inves-tigators are CIMA, the Southampton Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the BRC Nutrition and Lifecourse theme and the IfLS. The latter has a membership of 350 investigators crossing the STEM subjects, Medicine, Health and Sociology. Bringing these groups together, alongside our individual members and partners, societies and enterprise, has never been done before. This novelty of inter-action will expedite the generation of new insights, pathways and strategies to address the chal-lenges of ageing. Although MyAge will focus on muscle ageing, our members and approach will add value to, and learn from, the proposed macro-coordination of the Ageing networks. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC and MRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Networks (Peter Smith) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC funded project reference BB/W018284/1. MyAge will break down the silos associated with reductionist research and bring together non-overlapping expertise of researchers, industrialists and stakeholders from muscle research, me-tabolism, regenerative medicine, genomics, epigenetics, maths, data and social sciences, health inequity, biotech and pharma to understand the mechanistic pathways of muscle development, differentiation and decline. Although considerable research has focused on the better understand-ing of the determinants of muscle ageing, the complexity of the ageing process itself requires an innovative research approach that shifts away from studying single systems in isolation towards an integrative and holistic understanding of muscle ageing where multidimensional molecular, physio-logical, organism and population level research is combined. This approach aligns strongly with rec-ommendations in The Physiological Society's report, "Growing older, better". MyAge will develop a ROADMAP that seeks to inform policy and UKRI funding calls. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In partnership with stakeholders and industry partners we will explore interventions as well as therapeutic and lifestyle modifications that impact the progression of muscle differentiation and decline from a cellular and functional perspective. MyAge will gather researchers with expertise in regenerative biology, epigenetics, single cell analysis, nanotechnology, electrophysiology, molecular phenotyping, mitochondrial function, inflammation, endocrinology, organoid culture, performance, human ageing cohorts, and social impact. Using various model systems from nematodes to humans, the network will uncover how the molecular and metabolic landscape of myofibers, SC and non-SC progenitors and muscle tissue architecture change with ageing and through exposures to different environmental stimuli. We will integrate this knowledge with epidemiological, nutritional, societal and health inequity and inequality data. Using fMRI to image muscle during exercise will allow us to investigate the physiological basis of anabolic resistance With the latest advances in topological analysis, we will integrate complex, high dimensional data sets to unravel the fundamental mecha-nisms of muscle ageing and to define how the environmental factors though the life course affect muscle cell physiology, ageing and life course trajectory. MyAge is a new network of individual members, organisations and partners who have not previously worked together in this manner. It represents a new synthesis of disciplines. Within our membership there are pre-existing networks dealing with particular specialties, for exam-ple CMAR, (29 members from Birmingham and 22 from Nottingham). Additional networks of inves-tigators are CIMA, the Southampton Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the BRC Nutrition and Lifecourse theme and the IfLS. The latter has a membership of 350 investigators crossing the STEM subjects, Medicine, Health and Sociology. Bringing these groups together, alongside our individual members and partners, societies and enterprise, has never been done before. This novelty of inter-action will expedite the generation of new insights, pathways and strategies to address the chal-lenges of ageing. Although MyAge will focus on muscle ageing, our members and approach will add value to, and learn from, the proposed macro-coordination of the Ageing networks. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC and MRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Networks (Peter Smith) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC funded project reference BB/W018284/1. MyAge will break down the silos associated with reductionist research and bring together non-overlapping expertise of researchers, industrialists and stakeholders from muscle research, me-tabolism, regenerative medicine, genomics, epigenetics, maths, data and social sciences, health inequity, biotech and pharma to understand the mechanistic pathways of muscle development, differentiation and decline. Although considerable research has focused on the better understand-ing of the determinants of muscle ageing, the complexity of the ageing process itself requires an innovative research approach that shifts away from studying single systems in isolation towards an integrative and holistic understanding of muscle ageing where multidimensional molecular, physio-logical, organism and population level research is combined. This approach aligns strongly with rec-ommendations in The Physiological Society's report, "Growing older, better". MyAge will develop a ROADMAP that seeks to inform policy and UKRI funding calls. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In partnership with stakeholders and industry partners we will explore interventions as well as therapeutic and lifestyle modifications that impact the progression of muscle differentiation and decline from a cellular and functional perspective. MyAge will gather researchers with expertise in regenerative biology, epigenetics, single cell analysis, nanotechnology, electrophysiology, molecular phenotyping, mitochondrial function, inflammation, endocrinology, organoid culture, performance, human ageing cohorts, and social impact. Using various model systems from nematodes to humans, the network will uncover how the molecular and metabolic landscape of myofibers, SC and non-SC progenitors and muscle tissue architecture change with ageing and through exposures to different environmental stimuli. We will integrate this knowledge with epidemiological, nutritional, societal and health inequity and inequality data. Using fMRI to image muscle during exercise will allow us to investigate the physiological basis of anabolic resistance With the latest advances in topological analysis, we will integrate complex, high dimensional data sets to unravel the fundamental mecha-nisms of muscle ageing and to define how the environmental factors though the life course affect muscle cell physiology, ageing and life course trajectory. MyAge is a new network of individual members, organisations and partners who have not previously worked together in this manner. It represents a new synthesis of disciplines. Within our membership there are pre-existing networks dealing with particular specialties, for exam-ple CMAR, (29 members from Birmingham and 22 from Nottingham). Additional networks of inves-tigators are CIMA, the Southampton Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, the BRC Nutrition and Lifecourse theme and the IfLS. The latter has a membership of 350 investigators crossing the STEM subjects, Medicine, Health and Sociology. Bringing these groups together, alongside our individual members and partners, societies and enterprise, has never been done before. This novelty of inter-action will expedite the generation of new insights, pathways and strategies to address the chal-lenges of ageing. Although MyAge will focus on muscle ageing, our members and approach will add value to, and learn from, the proposed macro-coordination of the Ageing networks. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Biofilms ICURe Sprint programme |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding to support 6 early career researchers through the ICURe program to develop their commercially promising research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training to enable the teams to 'get out of the lab' and validate their commercially promising research over eight weeks. |
| Impact | So far, two research teams that took part in the Biofilms ICURe Sprint have been awarded spin-out funding to transform their innovations into market-ready businesses. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Biofilms ICURe Sprint programme |
| Organisation | SETsquared Partnership |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding to support 6 early career researchers through the ICURe program to develop their commercially promising research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training to enable the teams to 'get out of the lab' and validate their commercially promising research over eight weeks. |
| Impact | So far, two research teams that took part in the Biofilms ICURe Sprint have been awarded spin-out funding to transform their innovations into market-ready businesses. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Britest collaboration on cleaning (William Zimmerman) |
| Organisation | Britest |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Britest is a non-profit service company set up by it industrial consortium membership for the intensification of batch processing, drawing from biopharma, fine chemicals, agrichemicals and other process industries for its base. Britest has an ongoing initiative for better process cleaning, decontamination, disinfection and related technologies. Professor Joan Cordiner who joined the University of Sheffield and I presented our portfolio of cleaning related research activities to the Britest Symposium 21,22 January 2021 this year. The acting MD of Britest is liaising with the membership on our behalf to collaborate on EPSRC and InnovateUK grant proposals. Professor Cordiner's industrial background includes building expert systems for scheduling industrial plant / unit operation cleaning regimes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are currently consortium building. We have a two page executive summary of the advances and research goals for the joint industry-academe programme, including the possibility of testing on the University of Sheffield unique £2m pilot plant tabletting facility for pharmaceutical engineering. In exchanges with industrial contacts, this is a facility that they would like to access for improving their cleaning regimes offline, i.e. not on their own production facility with valuable pharmaceuticals at full scale. |
| Impact | Dissemination at the moment. Next major activity will be publication of the results of the NBIC funded feasibility study on biofilm removal. The final report is an excellent starting point. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Britest collaboration on cleaning (William Zimmerman) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Britest is a non-profit service company set up by it industrial consortium membership for the intensification of batch processing, drawing from biopharma, fine chemicals, agrichemicals and other process industries for its base. Britest has an ongoing initiative for better process cleaning, decontamination, disinfection and related technologies. Professor Joan Cordiner who joined the University of Sheffield and I presented our portfolio of cleaning related research activities to the Britest Symposium 21,22 January 2021 this year. The acting MD of Britest is liaising with the membership on our behalf to collaborate on EPSRC and InnovateUK grant proposals. Professor Cordiner's industrial background includes building expert systems for scheduling industrial plant / unit operation cleaning regimes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are currently consortium building. We have a two page executive summary of the advances and research goals for the joint industry-academe programme, including the possibility of testing on the University of Sheffield unique £2m pilot plant tabletting facility for pharmaceutical engineering. In exchanges with industrial contacts, this is a facility that they would like to access for improving their cleaning regimes offline, i.e. not on their own production facility with valuable pharmaceuticals at full scale. |
| Impact | Dissemination at the moment. Next major activity will be publication of the results of the NBIC funded feasibility study on biofilm removal. The final report is an excellent starting point. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Argentine Chamber of Bioinputs |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Institute of Agricultural Technology |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina) |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National University of Rosario |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National University of RÃo Cuarto |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Building a globally leading partnership between the UK National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of La Plata |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microbes are key in sustainable crop production but there are many unknowns on how populations of bacteria and fungi communities known as biofilms influence plant behaviour and impact on plant nutrition and protection, soil quality,bioremediation and climate change. This award brings together researchers/industry from the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre and Argentina to address this knowledge gap and improve agricultural productivity in both countries reducing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. The objectives are to:-Bring together complementary academic/industrial expertise from these countries on the exploitation of biofilms in agriculture-Identify the key knowledge gaps and research challenges in this area of agricultural impact.-Develop a white paper that establishes priority research areas to address these gaps.-Create future research collaborations for the use of biofilms in crop production between the Uk and Argentina. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specific activities that will arise as outcomes from this collaborative programme include: •A joint UK-Argentine forumto share knowledge and facilitate future collaborations•Production and publication ofa 'white paper'on the current state of art, practices, challenges and research priority areasin the utilisation of plant -microbe interactionsin crop production in the UK, Argentina and globally.•Research internships for UK early career researchersto visitArgentinian institutions. These will be achieved through targeted calls subsidised by this award and based on the research priorities outlined in the white paper. The UKand Argentinianinstitutions will seekfurther funding to host Argentinian early career researchers. •Ajoint NBIC-SAMIGE/SAIB webinar seriesopenedto the international research community with talks from academic and industrial representatives to increase awareness of the research and innovation activities carried out within this collaborative partnership.•The establishment of a long-term strategic research programmebetween NBIC and the Argentinian partners enabling theco-development of jointfunding proposals. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | CF AMR Syndicate |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Prof. Miguel Camara is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis AMR Syndicate Steering Committee as NBIC representative. His role has been to represent the areas of unmet needs in biofilm research and innovation in the area of antimicrobials in cystic fibrosis contributing to the agenda of this committee. The committee meets an average of 3 times a year. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Through this CF AMR Syndicate we have designed a proposal for an in vitro drug discovery pipeline to tackle biofilms in CF. This has enable us to put together a unique consortium of researchers which has been funded to carry out this work. |
| Impact | Successful grant proposal for further collaborative work, Establishment of a UK Cystic Fibrosis Infection biorepository, Establishment of a therapeutic and a diagnostic TPP |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | CF AMR Syndicate |
| Organisation | Medicines Discovery Catapult |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Prof. Miguel Camara is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis AMR Syndicate Steering Committee as NBIC representative. His role has been to represent the areas of unmet needs in biofilm research and innovation in the area of antimicrobials in cystic fibrosis contributing to the agenda of this committee. The committee meets an average of 3 times a year. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Through this CF AMR Syndicate we have designed a proposal for an in vitro drug discovery pipeline to tackle biofilms in CF. This has enable us to put together a unique consortium of researchers which has been funded to carry out this work. |
| Impact | Successful grant proposal for further collaborative work, Establishment of a UK Cystic Fibrosis Infection biorepository, Establishment of a therapeutic and a diagnostic TPP |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | CF AMR Syndicate |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Prof. Miguel Camara is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis AMR Syndicate Steering Committee as NBIC representative. His role has been to represent the areas of unmet needs in biofilm research and innovation in the area of antimicrobials in cystic fibrosis contributing to the agenda of this committee. The committee meets an average of 3 times a year. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Through this CF AMR Syndicate we have designed a proposal for an in vitro drug discovery pipeline to tackle biofilms in CF. This has enable us to put together a unique consortium of researchers which has been funded to carry out this work. |
| Impact | Successful grant proposal for further collaborative work, Establishment of a UK Cystic Fibrosis Infection biorepository, Establishment of a therapeutic and a diagnostic TPP |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | COST action |
| Organisation | BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Cost-Action Euro-MIC has been accepted. We seems to have scored full marks in all categories. There were a total of 90 co-applicants worldwide and from all disciplines. This is the product of an interdisciplinary collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Committed to join the European MIC Network-New paths for science, sustainability and standards, when proposal will be successful. Proposal Reference OC-2020-1-24906. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 (Paired Studentship) PhD Identifying novel bacteriophage endolysins to rarget S. aureus in chronic wound biofilms |
| Organisation | Cica Biomedical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 (Paired Studentship) PhD Identifying novel bacteriophage endolysins to rarget S. aureus in chronic wound biofilms |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 (Paired Studentship) PhD Identifying novel bacteriophage endolysins to rarget S. aureus in chronic wound biofilms |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 PhD Novel Endolysin to Selectively Manage Antimicrobial Resistant S. aureus in Wound Biofilms |
| Organisation | Cica Biomedical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 PhD Novel Endolysin to Selectively Manage Antimicrobial Resistant S. aureus in Wound Biofilms |
| Organisation | Micreos |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 PhD Novel Endolysin to Selectively Manage Antimicrobial Resistant S. aureus in Wound Biofilms |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP 2022_010 PhD Novel Endolysin to Selectively Manage Antimicrobial Resistant S. aureus in Wound Biofilms |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 (Paired Studentship) PhD Engineering biocontrol biofilms for improved protection against fungal pathogens on strawberry |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 (Paired Studentship) PhD Engineering biocontrol biofilms for improved protection against fungal pathogens on strawberry |
| Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
| Department | Syngenta Crop Protection |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 (Paired Studentship) PhD Engineering biocontrol biofilms for improved protection against fungal pathogens on strawberry |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 PhD High resolution determination of multi-species biofilm development on tracheostomy tubing |
| Organisation | Intelligent Imaging Innovations Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 PhD High resolution determination of multi-species biofilm development on tracheostomy tubing |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_009 PhD High resolution determination of multi-species biofilm development on tracheostomy tubing |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_017 (Paired Studentship) PhD Mapping microbial interactions on highly defined biomimetic surfaces |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_017 (Paired Studentship) PhD Mapping microbial interactions on highly defined biomimetic surfaces |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_021 (Paired Studentship) PhD Real-time integrated diagnosis and antimicrobial resistance profiling of infection by Raman spec-troscopy and machine learning |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_021 (Paired Studentship) PhD Real-time integrated diagnosis and antimicrobial resistance profiling of infection by Raman spec-troscopy and machine learning |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_021 PhD Novel multi-excitation Raman (ME-Ramen) technologies for clinical identification of respiratory biofilms in ventillator associated pnumonia (VAP) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_021 PhD Novel multi-excitation Raman (ME-Ramen) technologies for clinical identification of respiratory biofilms in ventillator associated pnumonia (VAP) |
| Organisation | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CTP_2022_021 PhD Novel multi-excitation Raman (ME-Ramen) technologies for clinical identification of respiratory biofilms in ventillator associated pnumonia (VAP) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Clinical collaboration with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Mohamed El Mohtadi) |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Securing the FTMA has allowed me to strengthen my collaboration with 5D Health Protection Group Ltd and Manchester Metropolitan University which resulted in me obtaining a Visiting Lecturer position at MMU. The in vitro work carried out during the fellowship has attracted clinical collaborations as we are now replicating the experiments using clinical samples obtained from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust operated Salford Royal Hospital. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The role of collaborators (i.e. Dr Ashworth) involves the conceptualisation of project ideas and supervision of students. This will ultimately lead to increased research outcomes and the publication of several original research articles in the near future. |
| Impact | Submission of a grant bid to the Academy of Medical Sciences. The application is currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Clinical collaboration with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Mohamed El Mohtadi) |
| Organisation | Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Securing the FTMA has allowed me to strengthen my collaboration with 5D Health Protection Group Ltd and Manchester Metropolitan University which resulted in me obtaining a Visiting Lecturer position at MMU. The in vitro work carried out during the fellowship has attracted clinical collaborations as we are now replicating the experiments using clinical samples obtained from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust operated Salford Royal Hospital. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The role of collaborators (i.e. Dr Ashworth) involves the conceptualisation of project ideas and supervision of students. This will ultimately lead to increased research outcomes and the publication of several original research articles in the near future. |
| Impact | Submission of a grant bid to the Academy of Medical Sciences. The application is currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration on Bioinformatics with the University of Glasgow (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Organisation | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The experiments run to study climate change at the U. of Sheffield will be used to develop new bioinformatics tools by Dr Umer Ijaz (Reader in bioinformtics) at the U. of Glasgow. for drinking water systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Ijaz will studied the use of different bioinformatics tools to study the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems using DNA sequencing data from Sheffield experiments. |
| Impact | Two PhD studentships have been advertised at the University of Glasgow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration on Bioinformatics with the University of Glasgow (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The experiments run to study climate change at the U. of Sheffield will be used to develop new bioinformatics tools by Dr Umer Ijaz (Reader in bioinformtics) at the U. of Glasgow. for drinking water systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Ijaz will studied the use of different bioinformatics tools to study the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems using DNA sequencing data from Sheffield experiments. |
| Impact | Two PhD studentships have been advertised at the University of Glasgow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration on Bioinformatics with the University of Glasgow (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The experiments run to study climate change at the U. of Sheffield will be used to develop new bioinformatics tools by Dr Umer Ijaz (Reader in bioinformtics) at the U. of Glasgow. for drinking water systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Ijaz will studied the use of different bioinformatics tools to study the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems using DNA sequencing data from Sheffield experiments. |
| Impact | Two PhD studentships have been advertised at the University of Glasgow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Cortexyme |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Carry out contract research into the role of periodontitis in AD |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide funding for contract research |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration with TopMD |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration Eureka Healthy Ageing Innovate UK and joint PhD studentship |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide research data sets and research reagents |
| Impact | ARUK pump prime award (£5000) |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Unilever for antibacterial surface (Xinyi Zhu) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project is confidentially, the details cannot be shared. Material surface characterisation has been done, and the application part is now in process. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Input into the project. |
| Impact | Details cannot be provided. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain. (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Organisation | Polytechnic University of Valencia |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration between Isabel Douterelo with Prof Joaquin Izquierdo and Dr Silvia Carpitella, on decision making tools regarding the management of drinking water systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Application of decision making tools to microbiological data from drinking water systems. |
| Impact | One publication submitted: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051247 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain. (Isabel Doutelero) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration between Isabel Douterelo with Prof Joaquin Izquierdo and Dr Silvia Carpitella, on decision making tools regarding the management of drinking water systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Application of decision making tools to microbiological data from drinking water systems. |
| Impact | One publication submitted: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051247 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Continued collaboration with ARM (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | Arm Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of current generation from algal biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Application of current generation from algal biofilms. |
| Impact | None to date. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Continued collaboration with ARM (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of current generation from algal biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Application of current generation from algal biofilms. |
| Impact | None to date. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Controlling bacterial aggregation |
| Organisation | Fujifilm |
| Department | Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have made an intellectual contribution to the project and contributed a new experimental system for further investigation and potential exploitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborative team have brought intellectual and commercial expertise to the project, and have also linked us up to a wider collaborative group. |
| Impact | This is an interdisciplinary project combining microbiology and molecular biology expertise with insights from soft matter physics and colloidal aggregation/self-assembly. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Creating of a working partnership between Valeport and PML (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PML aims to develop a novel laboratory testing rig to allow Valeport to remotely quantify marine biofouling on a test panel. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Valeport has provided the infrastructure for PML. |
| Impact | The main outcome of the project so far has been significant external commercial interest from several multinational marine industrial organisations. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Creating of a working partnership between Valeport and PML (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Valeport |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | PML aims to develop a novel laboratory testing rig to allow Valeport to remotely quantify marine biofouling on a test panel. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Valeport has provided the infrastructure for PML. |
| Impact | The main outcome of the project so far has been significant external commercial interest from several multinational marine industrial organisations. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Creation of working partnership between PML and Unilever (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PML was able to provide the infrastructure and capability to test a product developed by Unilever in the marine environment with the aim of determining if it could be used as a means of deterring fouling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unilever sought a partner who could test a product they had developed within the marine environment to prevent biofouling. |
| Impact | PML has generated several data sets describing the ability of our partner's compound to prevent biofouling or biofouling related organisms from growing on a range of artificial surfaces. Also generated are several data sets describing the ability of the compound to inhibit growth of unicellular algae when the compound was in suspension in seawater. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Creation of working partnership between PML and Unilever (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | PML was able to provide the infrastructure and capability to test a product developed by Unilever in the marine environment with the aim of determining if it could be used as a means of deterring fouling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unilever sought a partner who could test a product they had developed within the marine environment to prevent biofouling. |
| Impact | PML has generated several data sets describing the ability of our partner's compound to prevent biofouling or biofouling related organisms from growing on a range of artificial surfaces. Also generated are several data sets describing the ability of the compound to inhibit growth of unicellular algae when the compound was in suspension in seawater. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds (Thomas Harle) |
| Organisation | Fourth State Medicine Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Impact | Continued work from the NBIC funded POC project (reference 02POC19129) |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds (Thomas Harle) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Impact | Continued work from the NBIC funded POC project (reference 02POC19129) |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds (Thomas Harle) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners. |
| Impact | Continued work from the NBIC funded POC project (reference 02POC19129) |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Development of Surgihoney and other compositions comprising an enzyme that is able to convert a substrate to release hydrogen peroxide as a novel biofilm-targeted topical therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Matoke Holdings |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and collaboration. |
| Impact | Research outputs, please refer to https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1945892419874700. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Development of Surgihoney and other compositions comprising an enzyme that is able to convert a substrate to release hydrogen peroxide as a novel biofilm-targeted topical therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and collaboration. |
| Impact | Research outputs, please refer to https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1945892419874700. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Doctoral Training Partnership in Translational Biomedical Sciences (Mark Cragg) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Doctoral Training Partnership in Translational Biomedical Sciences (Mark Cragg) |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Doctoral Training Partnership in Translational Biomedical Sciences (Mark Cragg) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Medical Research Council (MCR) funded DTP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Programme Grant Application (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative writing EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Programme Grant Application. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative writing EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Programme Grant Application. |
| Impact | EP/V026623/1 (the grant application is still under review). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | EPSRC IAA - Anti-Viral Surfaces and Materials (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Gencoa |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developing anti-microbial technologies via knowledge-based design. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gencoa: The preparation of a range of novel antiviral surface coatings, production / test facilities and technical staff input. UKRI: Funding. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: Surface science, Chemistry, Imaging science, Microbiology. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | EPSRC IAA - Anti-Viral Surfaces and Materials (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Developing anti-microbial technologies via knowledge-based design. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gencoa: The preparation of a range of novel antiviral surface coatings, production / test facilities and technical staff input. UKRI: Funding. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: Surface science, Chemistry, Imaging science, Microbiology. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Edinburgh South Community Engagement (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | Edinburgh bioQuarter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Contributed with funds, contacts and time for the delivery of community engagement activities to multi-deprived areas in the South of Edinburgh. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed with funds, contacts and time for the delivery of community engagement activities to multi-deprived areas in the South of Edinburgh. |
| Impact | Delivery of multiple engagement activities. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Efficacy testing of CytaCoat antimicrobial catheter (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | CytaCoat |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Consultancy work for CytaCoat using advanced biofilm analysis tools to demonstrate efficacy of their antimicrobial coating technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided antimicrobial catheter for testing. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Embedding biofilm inhibitors in coating or urinary catheters |
| Organisation | BioInteractions |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A potential use of our biofilm inhibitors is in coating or urinary catheters to prevent biofilm build up and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. We have the microbiology and biofilm expertise and were looking for a partner with catheter coating expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BioInteractions is exert in coating of medical devices, including urinary catheters. Under a CDA, they analysed the suitability of three of our biofilm inhibitors to be embedded in their TridAnt urinary catheter coating. |
| Impact | A collaborative work package has been drafted to secure funding. We are currently looking out for funding to cover the cost and initiate the work. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Exploring the disease-modifying potential of probiotic Bacillus subtilis in Parkinson's disease (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | Johns Hopkins University |
| Department | School of Medicine Johns Hopkins |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Exploring the disease-modifying potential of probiotic Bacillus subtilis in Parkinson's disease (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Exploring the disease-modifying potential of probiotic Bacillus subtilis in Parkinson's disease (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | Stavanger University Hospital |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Exploring the disease-modifying potential of probiotic Bacillus subtilis in Parkinson's disease (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Exploring the disease-modifying potential of probiotic Bacillus subtilis in Parkinson's disease (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant and clinical trial paid for by grant issued by Reta Lila Weston Trust For Medical Research. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Feasibility test for large scale Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MEC) (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Organisation | Veolia Water Technologies |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The modelling data generated here has helped predict performances for our actual pilot scale reactor, and we have secured further funding from Newcastle University impact acceleration accounts to trial the reactor set ups that were modelled. This will both validate the model outcomes and lead to a publication, but aslo provide real data on the performance of these reactors. We have partnered with Veolia who will use this performance data to input into their company software to analyse the impact that MEC technologies could have ont he energy use and resource recovery of wastewater treatment sites. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Veolia has made a site visit to us and the pilot scale reactors to discuss the opportunities for this technology. We have had two zoom conference calls with the company to illustrate the capabilities of this modelling software, and the company have committed to doing several days of modelling for us when we have the data from the real systems to model. |
| Impact | The original project was between maths and engineering We have secured University IAA funding. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Fellowship Enhancing the Effect of Antibiotics released from HA/ß-TCP bone grafts on Biofilm Mediated Osteomyelitis Using Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (Anirban Jyoti) |
| Organisation | Ceramisys |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Fellowship Enhancing the Effect of Antibiotics released from HA/ß-TCP bone grafts on Biofilm Mediated Osteomyelitis Using Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (Anirban Jyoti) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Fellowship Enhancing the Effect of Antibiotics released from HA/ß-TCP bone grafts on Biofilm Mediated Osteomyelitis Using Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (Anirban Jyoti) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Department | Daphne Jackson Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding for this fellowship. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Formulated Materials for Infectious Diseases (Prof. Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Surface bioassays to drive innovation for regional companies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing specialist surface analysis and facilities to drive innovation and TRL levels. To provide information for knowledge based product development for the companies involved in the project. |
| Impact | Drive innovation for regional companies allowing companies to add to their product claims and understand product performance. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Formulated Materials for Infectious Diseases (Prof. Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Surface bioassays to drive innovation for regional companies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing specialist surface analysis and facilities to drive innovation and TRL levels. To provide information for knowledge based product development for the companies involved in the project. |
| Impact | Drive innovation for regional companies allowing companies to add to their product claims and understand product performance. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF): Global-NAMRIP workshop (Kampala, Uganda) (Tim Leighton) |
| Organisation | Makerere University |
| Country | Uganda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funding was secured by Tim Leighton to hold the 2nd Global Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention Symposium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A jointly run symposium between Global-NAMRIP and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. |
| Impact | The theme of the conference is 'Innovations towards combating antimicrobial resistance: a whole society engagement'. Delegates across a range of disciplines (healthcare, animal husbandry, food supply, water suppliers, and chemists and engineers researching new rapid diagnostic tools and therapies, and social scientists who examine our behaviour in responding to the AMR crisis) will present this 'whole society engagement'. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF): Global-NAMRIP workshop (Kampala, Uganda) (Tim Leighton) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funding was secured by Tim Leighton to hold the 2nd Global Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention Symposium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A jointly run symposium between Global-NAMRIP and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. |
| Impact | The theme of the conference is 'Innovations towards combating antimicrobial resistance: a whole society engagement'. Delegates across a range of disciplines (healthcare, animal husbandry, food supply, water suppliers, and chemists and engineers researching new rapid diagnostic tools and therapies, and social scientists who examine our behaviour in responding to the AMR crisis) will present this 'whole society engagement'. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF): Global-NAMRIP workshop (Kampala, Uganda) (Tim Leighton) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funding was secured by Tim Leighton to hold the 2nd Global Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention Symposium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A jointly run symposium between Global-NAMRIP and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. |
| Impact | The theme of the conference is 'Innovations towards combating antimicrobial resistance: a whole society engagement'. Delegates across a range of disciplines (healthcare, animal husbandry, food supply, water suppliers, and chemists and engineers researching new rapid diagnostic tools and therapies, and social scientists who examine our behaviour in responding to the AMR crisis) will present this 'whole society engagement'. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Holographic microscopy to investigate the impact of CPC on bacterial swimming motility (Morgan Alexander and Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research project titled Holographic microscopy to investigate the impact of CPC on bacterial swimming motility. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and access to facilities. |
| Impact | Confidential |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Holographic microscopy to investigate the impact of CPC on bacterial swimming motility (Morgan Alexander and Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research project titled Holographic microscopy to investigate the impact of CPC on bacterial swimming motility. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and access to facilities. |
| Impact | Confidential |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Account 2020-22: Bioinspired Antimicrobial Surfaces (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Collaborator Contribution | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Impact | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Impact Acceleration Account 2020-22: Bioinspired Antimicrobial Surfaces (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Collaborator Contribution | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Impact | EPSRC provided funding for this project which is a continuation of work from the NBIC funded FTMA project (reference FTMA_20_IF_070). |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Industry partnership with LGC |
| Organisation | Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | LGC Group, formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, is an international life sciences measurement and tools company. It provides the role and duties of the UK Government Chemist, a statutory role and adviser to the government. We are working together in the metrology of biofilms, to understand the feasibility of developing new standards for molecular and 'omics approaches to measuring biofilms. We are providing the biofilm models and culture systems in order to generate biological material for the studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LGC are applying in-house analytical measurements and approaches in order to understand the variability and reproducibility of biofilm assays, and the feasibility to develop new standards. |
| Impact | Knowledge exchange in use of the CDC biofilm reactor model and in biofilm metrology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Informal supervisor to EPSRC ICASE project (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Informal supervisor to EPSRC ICASE project: Profiling the mycobacteria biofilm: a multidisciplinary mix of mutants and mass spectrometry. Collaboration between NPL (my previous employer) and the university of Surrey (Dr Suzie Hingley-wilson and Prof. Mark Chambers). Student - Winnifred Akwani. Developed collaborative programme for the studentship. Co-authored proposal and formally supervised the student as industrial supervisor until moving to NBIC. Remaining as Informal supervisor until the end of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developed collaborative project for the studentship. Co-authored proposal and formally supervised the student as academic supervisor. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Informal supervisor to EPSRC ICASE project (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Informal supervisor to EPSRC ICASE project: Profiling the mycobacteria biofilm: a multidisciplinary mix of mutants and mass spectrometry. Collaboration between NPL (my previous employer) and the university of Surrey (Dr Suzie Hingley-wilson and Prof. Mark Chambers). Student - Winnifred Akwani. Developed collaborative programme for the studentship. Co-authored proposal and formally supervised the student as industrial supervisor until moving to NBIC. Remaining as Informal supervisor until the end of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developed collaborative project for the studentship. Co-authored proposal and formally supervised the student as academic supervisor. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - anti microbials in plastics (Steve Law) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners on this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - anti microbials in plastics (Steve Law) |
| Organisation | Extronics Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners on this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - anti microbials in plastics (Steve Law) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners on this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - anti microbials in plastics (Steve Law) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners on this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - cold plasma (Marcus Swann) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - cold plasma (Marcus Swann) |
| Organisation | Extronics Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - cold plasma (Marcus Swann) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI Phase 2: Covid-19 worker safety tag with social distancing warnings and contact tracing functionality - cold plasma (Marcus Swann) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Create test pieces of the X30 substrate with the AM additive and test that the additive does not affect the hazardous area material properties - in particular surface resistivity. This is an innovative step as there are no hazardous area approved materials with AM additives on the market. Eliminating the virus from the surface of the X30 will help prevent its spread. Additionally, dispensing Cold Plasma whilst the X30 is held within a multicharger will also help prevent virus spread. Innovate UK funding reference: 10004577. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this research project. In kind contribution from 5D Health Protection relates to internal labour and microbiology consumables. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Innovate UK: Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Emerson & Renwick Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Innovate UK: Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Gencoa |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Innovate UK: Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Innovate UK: Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Innovate UK: Anti-viral transparent adhesive protection for Touch Screens to help in the fight against COVID-19 (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Intelligent Imaging Innovations, Inc. (3i) |
| Organisation | Intelligent Imaging Innovations Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | As a result of the BBSRC/NBIC funding (NBIC_FTMA_P_19_2_47 and NBIC_FTMA_20_IF_083) we have established a working relationship with 3i and now have a NBIC DTP iCASE studentship that will take forward promising results from these pump priming projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 3i will provide access to advanced instrumentation and placment training for the iCASE student |
| Impact | None to date |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical) (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biological testing and guidance Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: chemistry, material science, biological science SME engagement and intern programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical) (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | High Value Manufacturing Catapult |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biological testing and guidance Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: chemistry, material science, biological science SME engagement and intern programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical) (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive Potential application areas (non-medical). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biological testing and guidance Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: chemistry, material science, biological science SME engagement and intern programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Links with Science Centres of Excellence (Mark Richardson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We worked with NPL to establish links and collaborations. Together we submitted a project BID to BEIS to sreengthen science links with Singapore on Standards and anticipated hearing the outcome in January 2021. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developing project plans. |
| Impact | Awaited. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Links with Science Centres of Excellence (Mark Richardson) |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We worked with NPL to establish links and collaborations. Together we submitted a project BID to BEIS to sreengthen science links with Singapore on Standards and anticipated hearing the outcome in January 2021. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Developing project plans. |
| Impact | Awaited. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Loughborough University - Smith & Nephew Collaboration (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided Smith & Nephew with validation data from our rapid single-step bacterial detection assay in a wound-mimic buffer provided by Smith & Nephew. We also shared the data on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test with response time and minimum inhibitory concentration using antimicrobial products of Smith & Nephew. These data encouraged Smith & Nephew to consider investing in a market analysis exercise for a rapid point-of-care wound diagnostic test to determine the key functional specifications needed and cost targets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Smith & Nephew helped by giving an industry steer. They advised on what could be the potential functional requirement specs of a rapid point-of-care wound test and shared wound-mimic buffer and their commercial antimicrobial products for evaluating our test under development. |
| Impact | Research report has been written. A journal publication is planned in 2022. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Loughborough University - Smith & Nephew Collaboration (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We provided Smith & Nephew with validation data from our rapid single-step bacterial detection assay in a wound-mimic buffer provided by Smith & Nephew. We also shared the data on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test with response time and minimum inhibitory concentration using antimicrobial products of Smith & Nephew. These data encouraged Smith & Nephew to consider investing in a market analysis exercise for a rapid point-of-care wound diagnostic test to determine the key functional specifications needed and cost targets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Smith & Nephew helped by giving an industry steer. They advised on what could be the potential functional requirement specs of a rapid point-of-care wound test and shared wound-mimic buffer and their commercial antimicrobial products for evaluating our test under development. |
| Impact | Research report has been written. A journal publication is planned in 2022. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | MPhil Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-supervision of this MPhil. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of this MPhil. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | MPhil Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-supervision of this MPhil. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of this MPhil. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation Continuation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Continuation of work started in NBIC POC 01POC18034. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in continuation of this work. |
| Impact | The results are inconclusive and at this stage there is no further funding and the project is completed. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation Continuation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Continuation of work started in NBIC POC 01POC18034. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in continuation of this work. |
| Impact | The results are inconclusive and at this stage there is no further funding and the project is completed. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Multi-user Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (Robert Kelsh) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We wish to add an important cutting-edge instrument to the University of Bath's microscopy facilities. Many aspects of physiology, cell and developmental biology are dynamic, including those on second (e.g. heart-beat), minute (e.g. cell migration) and hour or even day timescales (e.g. embryonic development and plant growth). Likewise, biological systems are frequently 3-dimensional, with structural arrangements being integral to their function (e.g. cardiovascular systems, brain, embryos). Thus, to study biological processes in detail, we need microscopy that can allow us to image biological processes on this range of timescales, and in intact 3-D samples (whole organisms, or tissues). A new technique, Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscopy (LSFM), allows all of these and promises to revolutionise these areas. Key aspects of the LSFM design ensure fast imaging, so that changes on time-scales of seconds-minutes can be resolved; gentle imaging, so that specimens are not damaged over long-term study for minutes, hours or even days; and deeper imaging, so that thicker specimens and whole living organisms become accessible. It means that we can study changes in response to drugs or pathogens over long timescales; that we can monitor cells as they migrate through complex tissues or even whole organisms, detecting changes in their behaviour as their environment alters; and that we can study processes in living cells organised into 3-D structures that more accurately mimic a physiological environment. In Bath, we propose using the LSFM for seven initial projects, each utilising one or more key features of LSFM: to study stem cells in developing zebrafish embryos, fat development in mouse models of body mass control, cell environment on cartilage properties, how bacterial communities (biofilms) become more efficient at evading antibiotic treatment, plant root responses to infection, how to make reproducible organoid cultures, and mapping neuronal activation in mouse brains. The instrument will be integrated into the Microscopy and Analysis Suite in the University of Bath, ensuring expert user training and equipment support. It will support a broad, interdisciplinary research community within the University of Bath and our collaborator institutions/organisations.. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We wish to expand the state-of-the-art microscopy facilities at the University of Bath by acquiring a highly capable, but user-friendly Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscope (LSFM). Modern biological studies must take account of the timescales (seconds-days) of physiological, cellular and developmental processes, and of the 3-D organisation of organisms and tissues (often, micrometre-centimetre scales). The LSFM allows imaging on these temporal and spatial scales, and is ideally suited to prolonged timelapse of living organisms, e.g. zebrafish and Arabidopsis roots, and 3-D cultures (organoids and spheroids). The approach is further enhanced when combined with new clearing approaches, allowing significant tissue/organ samples (e.g. mouse brains) to be imaged intact at high resolution. An instrument capable of all these In Bath, the team of applicants will use the LSFM to investigate stem cell and adipose tissue development, antibiotic resistance in biofilms, plant responses to pathogen infection, and neuronal activation in mouse brains, and to develop reproducible organoid culture processes. The integration of the LSFM into the Microscopy and Analysis Suite at the University of Bath, will ensuring expert equipment support and maintenance and user training. It will support a broad, interdisciplinary research community within the University of Bath and our collaborator institutions/organisations. |
| Impact | Provision of Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscopy to the University of Bath will enable numerous multi-disciplinary studies in biosciences and bioengineering, as witnessed by the diversity of initial projects and breadth of user community brought together by this bid. These will in turn impact upon the competitiveness of the UK research base, and so to the UK knowledge economy. Our proposal aligns most closely to the BBSRC's 'Healthy ageing across the lifecourse', 'Technology development for the biosciences', 'Sustainably enhancing agricultural production' and 'Combatting microbial resistance' strategic priority areas, but also concerns 'Food, nutrition and health', 'International Partnerships', 'Reducing waste in the food chain', and 'Welfare of managed animals'. By providing novel imaging capability, the user consortium will be able to be able to investigate their model systems in ways allowing direct observation of dynamic processes and 3-D structures on scales outside of current capability. These observations will then have direct application to the strategic priority areas listed. Our work will have significant impact on 1) the academic community by allowing them to study living, 3-D models with much greater physiological relevance; 2) the private sector, including charities and pharmaceutical companies by developing new assays and new insights into biology, for example of drug resistance in tumours and biofilms; 3) skills training of post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers, enhancing their employability in academe, industry and elsewhere; 4) inter-disciplinary research, including mathematical biology which will be enhance by the quantitative data that may be extracted from LSFM data-sets. The data produced by the LSFM will often be best-presented as movies, and consequently they are often readily accessible to the public, not to mention exciting to watch. Our BBSRC ALERT18 bid will be announced to the public and research outputs disseminated through a range of public engagement activities. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Multi-user Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (Robert Kelsh) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We wish to add an important cutting-edge instrument to the University of Bath's microscopy facilities. Many aspects of physiology, cell and developmental biology are dynamic, including those on second (e.g. heart-beat), minute (e.g. cell migration) and hour or even day timescales (e.g. embryonic development and plant growth). Likewise, biological systems are frequently 3-dimensional, with structural arrangements being integral to their function (e.g. cardiovascular systems, brain, embryos). Thus, to study biological processes in detail, we need microscopy that can allow us to image biological processes on this range of timescales, and in intact 3-D samples (whole organisms, or tissues). A new technique, Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscopy (LSFM), allows all of these and promises to revolutionise these areas. Key aspects of the LSFM design ensure fast imaging, so that changes on time-scales of seconds-minutes can be resolved; gentle imaging, so that specimens are not damaged over long-term study for minutes, hours or even days; and deeper imaging, so that thicker specimens and whole living organisms become accessible. It means that we can study changes in response to drugs or pathogens over long timescales; that we can monitor cells as they migrate through complex tissues or even whole organisms, detecting changes in their behaviour as their environment alters; and that we can study processes in living cells organised into 3-D structures that more accurately mimic a physiological environment. In Bath, we propose using the LSFM for seven initial projects, each utilising one or more key features of LSFM: to study stem cells in developing zebrafish embryos, fat development in mouse models of body mass control, cell environment on cartilage properties, how bacterial communities (biofilms) become more efficient at evading antibiotic treatment, plant root responses to infection, how to make reproducible organoid cultures, and mapping neuronal activation in mouse brains. The instrument will be integrated into the Microscopy and Analysis Suite in the University of Bath, ensuring expert user training and equipment support. It will support a broad, interdisciplinary research community within the University of Bath and our collaborator institutions/organisations.. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We wish to expand the state-of-the-art microscopy facilities at the University of Bath by acquiring a highly capable, but user-friendly Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscope (LSFM). Modern biological studies must take account of the timescales (seconds-days) of physiological, cellular and developmental processes, and of the 3-D organisation of organisms and tissues (often, micrometre-centimetre scales). The LSFM allows imaging on these temporal and spatial scales, and is ideally suited to prolonged timelapse of living organisms, e.g. zebrafish and Arabidopsis roots, and 3-D cultures (organoids and spheroids). The approach is further enhanced when combined with new clearing approaches, allowing significant tissue/organ samples (e.g. mouse brains) to be imaged intact at high resolution. An instrument capable of all these In Bath, the team of applicants will use the LSFM to investigate stem cell and adipose tissue development, antibiotic resistance in biofilms, plant responses to pathogen infection, and neuronal activation in mouse brains, and to develop reproducible organoid culture processes. The integration of the LSFM into the Microscopy and Analysis Suite at the University of Bath, will ensuring expert equipment support and maintenance and user training. It will support a broad, interdisciplinary research community within the University of Bath and our collaborator institutions/organisations. |
| Impact | Provision of Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscopy to the University of Bath will enable numerous multi-disciplinary studies in biosciences and bioengineering, as witnessed by the diversity of initial projects and breadth of user community brought together by this bid. These will in turn impact upon the competitiveness of the UK research base, and so to the UK knowledge economy. Our proposal aligns most closely to the BBSRC's 'Healthy ageing across the lifecourse', 'Technology development for the biosciences', 'Sustainably enhancing agricultural production' and 'Combatting microbial resistance' strategic priority areas, but also concerns 'Food, nutrition and health', 'International Partnerships', 'Reducing waste in the food chain', and 'Welfare of managed animals'. By providing novel imaging capability, the user consortium will be able to be able to investigate their model systems in ways allowing direct observation of dynamic processes and 3-D structures on scales outside of current capability. These observations will then have direct application to the strategic priority areas listed. Our work will have significant impact on 1) the academic community by allowing them to study living, 3-D models with much greater physiological relevance; 2) the private sector, including charities and pharmaceutical companies by developing new assays and new insights into biology, for example of drug resistance in tumours and biofilms; 3) skills training of post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers, enhancing their employability in academe, industry and elsewhere; 4) inter-disciplinary research, including mathematical biology which will be enhance by the quantitative data that may be extracted from LSFM data-sets. The data produced by the LSFM will often be best-presented as movies, and consequently they are often readily accessible to the public, not to mention exciting to watch. Our BBSRC ALERT18 bid will be announced to the public and research outputs disseminated through a range of public engagement activities. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 1 (May 2018) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Sixteen Research Institutions joined the NBIC consortium. University of Southampton University of Nottingham University of Liverpool University of Edinburgh Quadram Institute Bioscience University of Portsmouth University of Leeds Plymouth Marine Laboratory University of the West of England, Bristol University of Sheffield University of Dundee Imperial College London University of Birmingham University of Hull Queens University Belfast University of Cambridge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | James Hutton Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | Swansea University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 2 (August 2018) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We welcomed 15 new Research Institutions to the NBIC consortium, bringing NBIC acceded Research Institutions to a total of 31 and increasing our coverage across the UK. Our new joiners are: University of St Andrews Newcastle University Cardiff University Manchester Metropolitan University University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Swansea University of Warwick University of Kent University of Bath University of Glasgow The University of Surrey Nottingham Trent University Liverpool John Moore's University James Hutton Institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | Earlham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (30 January 2020) |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are delighted to share that NBIC is now a consortium of 52 UK Research Institutes. On 30th January 2020 we had our 4th Accession Day. This is when new Research Institutes/Universities and current Partners sign the NBIC Accession Agreement, and in doing, so agree to be bound by the Consortium Agreement. Our new partners are: Canterbury Christ Church University De Montfort University University of Exeter Lancaster University Earlham Institute University of Keele The University of Sussex |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Barts Health NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Department | The University Court of Edinburgh Napier University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 3 (June 2019) |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team along with the relevant members of our research partner's organisations have completed our 3rd wave of accession to NBIC and we are excited that an additional 14 research institutions are joining NBIC. This will bring us to 45 members in total! We warmly welcome all our new members. We are proud to have such a broad, collaborative and supportive community, all of whom are aiming to move ahead with industry in the exploitation of strengths in biofilm research to the benefit of the UK. Our 14 new joiners are: British Geological Survey Cranfield University Loughborough University Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust University of Bradford University of Bristol University of Huddersfield University of York University of Aston University of East Anglia Aberystwyth University Heriot-Watt University The Court of Edinburgh Napier University King's College London We are now 45 Research Institutions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Sheffield Hallam University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | Teesside University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of Lincoln |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of Strathclyde |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Accession 4 (23 February 2021) |
| Organisation | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 12 institutions acceded to NBIC in February 2021 bringing the consortium to 64 partner research institutions. Brunel University London Durham University Glasgow Caledonian University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Sheffield Hallam University Teesside University University of Aberdeen University of Essex University of Hertfordshire University of Lincoln University of Strathclyde University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. |
| Impact | Contributions to our network of stakeholders. We anticipate applications for our fourth proof of concept funding call. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_070 Bioinspired Antimicrobial Surfaces (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | Farapack Polymers |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Cicada wing surfaces [a] use some as yet unknown physical-mechanical property of the wing surface nanostructure to make them bactericidal. The surface nanostructure is actively killing the bacteria, without the release of a chemical, possibly by puncturing the Bacterial wall. We plan to use this same physical mechanism as a way to kill bacteria and limit the spread of bacteria. Our approach is to use low cost plastic materials that are patterned with a similar surface as is on the cicada. We have already made suitable nano-patterned negative print surfaces in our labs at Sheffield. Our aims in this FTMA fellowship are 1) To test a number of polymer materials as nanostructured surfaces to see if they are effective against colonisation by clinically relevant bacterial strains. This will be using colony forming unit (CFU) counts and live-dead stain fluorescence imaging. This is in collaboration with my colleague Dr Rebecca Corrigan also at Sheffield. Our project is in collaboration with Farapack Polymers Ltd, the PDRA will work with Farapack for the duration of the project. 2) Farapack will help in the development of a prototype nanostructured polymer surface, primarily by helping to screen a number of potential commercial polymer materials that can be manufactured at scale. They have committed £7000 on their side as part of this proof of concept project (see supporting letter), this will involve ongoing development meetings and supply of materials. In later stages they will help by using their extensive existing industrial network to setup and facilitate commercial links. Our project aligns with the NIBIC themes of preventing and managing biofilms, and the themes of transforming foundation industries and leading-edge healthcare. Ivanova, E. P. et al. Natural Bactericidal Surfaces: Mechanical Rupture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells by Cicada Wings. Small 8, 2489-2494 (2012). |
| Collaborator Contribution | We plan to demonstrate the efficacy of antibacterial polymer surfaces that can be made at scale using existing FDA approved materials which mean that this technology could be adopted in a number of clinical settings. We hope to generate IP as one outcome, Dr Parnell has done this before, so has experience of not disclosing information into the public domain along with keeping an audited track of the invention process. The new venture with Farapack will hopefully lead to a number of potential large multinational companies that have the appropriate manufacturing capability to make such a surface. Dr Parnell is currently preparing a UKRI future leaders fellowship in the area of bio-inspired technologies. Studying the mechanism underlying bacterial death on nano-structured surfaces from a fundamental level forms a major part of the fellowship. Publications will stem from a number of different aspects: 1) Firstly understanding the mechanism of action on cicada wings, this will involve a series of in-situ experiments constantly monitoring the membrane and lipid layers. Using naturally fluorescent bacteria will make it possible to see if there is a single burst response or if the mechanism is more subtle. 2) Replication of the biological nanostructure on optimised nano-structured polymer surfaces, provided that we have first patent protected a number of key findings that will help to validate how these surfaces work when they interact with bacteria along with how to optimise them further. |
| Impact | We now have a much better insight into how polymer stiffness plays a role in modulating the killing efficiency. It is an important parameter that must be optimised by the appropriate choice of polymer used to make the nanostructured surface. The link between stiffness and can alter the killing efficiency from near ~ 50-60% down to 20%. This knowledge is important and has helped the team to open discussions with suitable potential commercial partners about this work with the aim of taking it from the lab to a more technology ready state and hopefully to becoming a product. Our discussions with companies are ongoing and may lead to further funding or testing of specific materials. We have also received Impact acceleration account (IAA) funding to further progress the work, this is via the University of Sheffield. Dr Parnell has also applied for a UKRI future leaders fellowship (round 6) part of which concerns further development and commercialisation of antibacterial nanostructured surfaces, this will be decided upon by Jan/Feb 2022. The team also plan to apply for subsequent funding from either the MRC or the BBSRC. Subject to IP considerations we intend to publish this work and will give credit to the NBIC funding for its pivotal role in helping us to understand the role of materials mechanics in making more effective antibacterial surfaces. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_070 Bioinspired Antimicrobial Surfaces (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Cicada wing surfaces [a] use some as yet unknown physical-mechanical property of the wing surface nanostructure to make them bactericidal. The surface nanostructure is actively killing the bacteria, without the release of a chemical, possibly by puncturing the Bacterial wall. We plan to use this same physical mechanism as a way to kill bacteria and limit the spread of bacteria. Our approach is to use low cost plastic materials that are patterned with a similar surface as is on the cicada. We have already made suitable nano-patterned negative print surfaces in our labs at Sheffield. Our aims in this FTMA fellowship are 1) To test a number of polymer materials as nanostructured surfaces to see if they are effective against colonisation by clinically relevant bacterial strains. This will be using colony forming unit (CFU) counts and live-dead stain fluorescence imaging. This is in collaboration with my colleague Dr Rebecca Corrigan also at Sheffield. Our project is in collaboration with Farapack Polymers Ltd, the PDRA will work with Farapack for the duration of the project. 2) Farapack will help in the development of a prototype nanostructured polymer surface, primarily by helping to screen a number of potential commercial polymer materials that can be manufactured at scale. They have committed £7000 on their side as part of this proof of concept project (see supporting letter), this will involve ongoing development meetings and supply of materials. In later stages they will help by using their extensive existing industrial network to setup and facilitate commercial links. Our project aligns with the NIBIC themes of preventing and managing biofilms, and the themes of transforming foundation industries and leading-edge healthcare. Ivanova, E. P. et al. Natural Bactericidal Surfaces: Mechanical Rupture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells by Cicada Wings. Small 8, 2489-2494 (2012). |
| Collaborator Contribution | We plan to demonstrate the efficacy of antibacterial polymer surfaces that can be made at scale using existing FDA approved materials which mean that this technology could be adopted in a number of clinical settings. We hope to generate IP as one outcome, Dr Parnell has done this before, so has experience of not disclosing information into the public domain along with keeping an audited track of the invention process. The new venture with Farapack will hopefully lead to a number of potential large multinational companies that have the appropriate manufacturing capability to make such a surface. Dr Parnell is currently preparing a UKRI future leaders fellowship in the area of bio-inspired technologies. Studying the mechanism underlying bacterial death on nano-structured surfaces from a fundamental level forms a major part of the fellowship. Publications will stem from a number of different aspects: 1) Firstly understanding the mechanism of action on cicada wings, this will involve a series of in-situ experiments constantly monitoring the membrane and lipid layers. Using naturally fluorescent bacteria will make it possible to see if there is a single burst response or if the mechanism is more subtle. 2) Replication of the biological nanostructure on optimised nano-structured polymer surfaces, provided that we have first patent protected a number of key findings that will help to validate how these surfaces work when they interact with bacteria along with how to optimise them further. |
| Impact | We now have a much better insight into how polymer stiffness plays a role in modulating the killing efficiency. It is an important parameter that must be optimised by the appropriate choice of polymer used to make the nanostructured surface. The link between stiffness and can alter the killing efficiency from near ~ 50-60% down to 20%. This knowledge is important and has helped the team to open discussions with suitable potential commercial partners about this work with the aim of taking it from the lab to a more technology ready state and hopefully to becoming a product. Our discussions with companies are ongoing and may lead to further funding or testing of specific materials. We have also received Impact acceleration account (IAA) funding to further progress the work, this is via the University of Sheffield. Dr Parnell has also applied for a UKRI future leaders fellowship (round 6) part of which concerns further development and commercialisation of antibacterial nanostructured surfaces, this will be decided upon by Jan/Feb 2022. The team also plan to apply for subsequent funding from either the MRC or the BBSRC. Subject to IP considerations we intend to publish this work and will give credit to the NBIC funding for its pivotal role in helping us to understand the role of materials mechanics in making more effective antibacterial surfaces. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_070 Bioinspired Antimicrobial Surfaces (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Cicada wing surfaces [a] use some as yet unknown physical-mechanical property of the wing surface nanostructure to make them bactericidal. The surface nanostructure is actively killing the bacteria, without the release of a chemical, possibly by puncturing the Bacterial wall. We plan to use this same physical mechanism as a way to kill bacteria and limit the spread of bacteria. Our approach is to use low cost plastic materials that are patterned with a similar surface as is on the cicada. We have already made suitable nano-patterned negative print surfaces in our labs at Sheffield. Our aims in this FTMA fellowship are 1) To test a number of polymer materials as nanostructured surfaces to see if they are effective against colonisation by clinically relevant bacterial strains. This will be using colony forming unit (CFU) counts and live-dead stain fluorescence imaging. This is in collaboration with my colleague Dr Rebecca Corrigan also at Sheffield. Our project is in collaboration with Farapack Polymers Ltd, the PDRA will work with Farapack for the duration of the project. 2) Farapack will help in the development of a prototype nanostructured polymer surface, primarily by helping to screen a number of potential commercial polymer materials that can be manufactured at scale. They have committed £7000 on their side as part of this proof of concept project (see supporting letter), this will involve ongoing development meetings and supply of materials. In later stages they will help by using their extensive existing industrial network to setup and facilitate commercial links. Our project aligns with the NIBIC themes of preventing and managing biofilms, and the themes of transforming foundation industries and leading-edge healthcare. Ivanova, E. P. et al. Natural Bactericidal Surfaces: Mechanical Rupture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells by Cicada Wings. Small 8, 2489-2494 (2012). |
| Collaborator Contribution | We plan to demonstrate the efficacy of antibacterial polymer surfaces that can be made at scale using existing FDA approved materials which mean that this technology could be adopted in a number of clinical settings. We hope to generate IP as one outcome, Dr Parnell has done this before, so has experience of not disclosing information into the public domain along with keeping an audited track of the invention process. The new venture with Farapack will hopefully lead to a number of potential large multinational companies that have the appropriate manufacturing capability to make such a surface. Dr Parnell is currently preparing a UKRI future leaders fellowship in the area of bio-inspired technologies. Studying the mechanism underlying bacterial death on nano-structured surfaces from a fundamental level forms a major part of the fellowship. Publications will stem from a number of different aspects: 1) Firstly understanding the mechanism of action on cicada wings, this will involve a series of in-situ experiments constantly monitoring the membrane and lipid layers. Using naturally fluorescent bacteria will make it possible to see if there is a single burst response or if the mechanism is more subtle. 2) Replication of the biological nanostructure on optimised nano-structured polymer surfaces, provided that we have first patent protected a number of key findings that will help to validate how these surfaces work when they interact with bacteria along with how to optimise them further. |
| Impact | We now have a much better insight into how polymer stiffness plays a role in modulating the killing efficiency. It is an important parameter that must be optimised by the appropriate choice of polymer used to make the nanostructured surface. The link between stiffness and can alter the killing efficiency from near ~ 50-60% down to 20%. This knowledge is important and has helped the team to open discussions with suitable potential commercial partners about this work with the aim of taking it from the lab to a more technology ready state and hopefully to becoming a product. Our discussions with companies are ongoing and may lead to further funding or testing of specific materials. We have also received Impact acceleration account (IAA) funding to further progress the work, this is via the University of Sheffield. Dr Parnell has also applied for a UKRI future leaders fellowship (round 6) part of which concerns further development and commercialisation of antibacterial nanostructured surfaces, this will be decided upon by Jan/Feb 2022. The team also plan to apply for subsequent funding from either the MRC or the BBSRC. Subject to IP considerations we intend to publish this work and will give credit to the NBIC funding for its pivotal role in helping us to understand the role of materials mechanics in making more effective antibacterial surfaces. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_074 Engineering synthetic biofilm for improving energy efficiency in wastewater treatment (Yuxiu Chen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this secondment is to explore the potential application of our newly developed material, called biocoating, in wastewater treatment. Biocoating is an engineered biofilm that consists of a synthetic polymeric matrix combined with encapsulated bacteria. The two major advantages of biocoating are that the bacterial population is controlled and there is good diffusion through the matrix, which potentially offers a solution to some of the challenges in conventional biofilm bioreactors. This project will act as a proof-of-concept study and initiate a potential long-term collaboration with Novozymes, a global leader in providing biological solutions for wastewater treatment. This project offers a potential means to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the wastewater industry by facilitating significant energy savings. Wastewater treatment is responsible for approximately 2% of a country's total electricity consumption with most of this energy used for aeration and solids separation with centrifugation, both of which are related to the biological wastewater treatment process. Therefore, there is considerable interest from the industry to develop and employ new technologies to reduce the overall energy consumption of wastewater treatment. My initial research focused on developing and characterising new biocoating materials. As this progressed, I recognised the potential application for biocoatings in wastewater treatment. However, as our research team consists only of physicists and microbiologists, we do not have a strong connection to the wastewater industry. As the postdoctoral researcher of the team, I am eagerly exploring this application in wastewater treatment by seeking collaboration with a strong industrial partner. This potential collaboration with Novozymes provides a perfect opportunity for me to work with experts in wastewater treatment and understand the state-of-the-art of the industry. The valuable knowledge and potential long-term collaboration gained from this secondment will guide me in my future research in developing biocoatings for real-world applications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There are two key results that we want to achieve in this three-month project. Firstly, we will, for the first time, encapsulate commercial bacterial products in our biocoating. Previously, we have only had experience with encapsulating E.coli, which acted as a model system for our research. In this project, mixed-culture bacteria that are commercially used for wastewater treatment bioaugmentation will be encapsulated. The bacteria will be provided by Novozymes. This would represent a huge step in the research of our biocoating as it would represent not only the application of commercially interesting bacteria, but would also provide experience around the viability of mixed culture communities in the biocoating. The viability and reactivity of the bacteria in the biocoating will be a key measure for this part of the study, which will be characterised both in our lab and in Novozymes' lab. Secondly, we will coat our biocoatings on large substrates that can be tested directly in a lab-scale bioreactor. The bioreactor used for this study will be a 1 L lab-scale model of a rotating biological contactor (RBC) in Novozymes' lab. The reason RBC is chosen for this study is because it is commercially available, easily scalable and most importantly, energy efficient (as no aeration is needed). Fibrous substrates will be used to provide good diffusion from both sides of our biocoatings. Disc-shape substrates will be coated with biocoatings in our lab and shipped to Novozymes' lab for testing the reactivity of the encapsulated bacterial products using RBC. In this three-month period of collaboration, Novozymes will share their knowledge on wastewater treatment as well as their lab facilities for testing the reactivity of our biocoatings. We will share our knowledge on bacteria encapsulation and prepare samples for them for testing. We will maintain regular contact through video-meetings. I plan to visit Novozymes' lab for demonstrations and discussions, provided that the Covid pandemic eases before the end of the project. If the results of this proof-of-concept study are promising, that is to say our biocoating has a reasonable reactivity when tested in the RBC, Novozymes will be very likely to establish a long-term collaboration with us to further investigate the application of biocoating in wastewater treatment. While an agreement is still under discussion, it is also possible that we will be able develop collaborative IP and publish this work in a relevant journal if the results are positive. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Surrey: 1. The project team from Surrey and Novozymes met bi-weekly to track progress and to make plans. Novozymes made two shipments of Prawnbac bacteria to the Surrey labs. We learnt from Novozymes their standard procedure of characterising the reactivity of the nitrifying bacteria (in suspension). We adapted this procedure for characterising the reactivity of nitrifying bacteria immobilised in our biocoatings. Dr Chen built a small lab-scale bioreactor, which he used to study the reactivity of our biocoatings. Using the bacteria and characterisation method provided by Novozymes, he characterised the biocoatings according to an industrial standard. 2. Using the procedure described above, Dr Chen characterised the reactivity of biocoatings fabricated with six different combinations of porous substrates and film formation processes. One trial with carbon paper substrates and a short film formation time showed promising reactivity (181 mg NH4-N produced/L/h). SEM study showed that bacteria were embedded inside the biocoatings after the film formation. Once rehydrated, these embedded bacteria acted as anchoring/initiation sites for natural biofilm growth on the surface of the biocoatings (Figure 1). This study validated the concept of applying our biocoatings to immobilise a commercial nitrifier and opened up possibilities for future commercial biocoating bioreactors. The potential benefits of biocoating bioreactors include a shortened process start-up stage, protection against the failure of biofilms, protection of sensitive nitrifier populations to inhibition, and the potential to intensify wastewater nitrification processes, all of which are of great interest to Novozymes. 3. We realised that the poor desiccation tolerance of Prawnbac limited the survivability of bacteria during the film formation process of the biocoating, which is conventionally a desiccation process. We proposed a new concept of film formation via the method of "wet sintering", which does not require desiccation during polymer particle coalescence as part of the film formation process. This proof-of-concept experiment started near the end of this NBIC fellowship, and is still ongoing at the time this report is being written. Our collaborator from Novozymes was impressed by the versatility of our biocoatings and the ability we have to adapt our biocoatings. 4. Novozymes has gained a better insight into the characteristics of their own product and how it responds under the conditions of film formation. They had not previously performed scanning electron microscopy on their product and its biofilm. Hence, the characterisation gave them a valuable insight. Next steps: We will continue our collaboration with Novozymes, to study our biocoatings using the bacteria Novozymes provided us. We plan to ship biocoatings from Surrey to Novozymes for them to analyse in their application, using specialised microbial analysis methods such as FISH and qPCR. Our current focus is to develop our concept of film formation of biocoatings without desiccation, which aligns perfectly with our ongoing project on biocoatings and fits our expertise as materials physicists. Novozymes also shows interest in this concept, as it offers a unique solution to immobilise their desiccation sensitive bacteria. We will apply for grants together with Novozymes to continue our research on this project. We have identified the Novo Nordisk Foundation as a possible source of follow-on funding. An alternative source of funding is through the BBSRC Engineering Biology programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_074 Engineering synthetic biofilm for improving energy efficiency in wastewater treatment (Yuxiu Chen) |
| Organisation | Novonesis |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this secondment is to explore the potential application of our newly developed material, called biocoating, in wastewater treatment. Biocoating is an engineered biofilm that consists of a synthetic polymeric matrix combined with encapsulated bacteria. The two major advantages of biocoating are that the bacterial population is controlled and there is good diffusion through the matrix, which potentially offers a solution to some of the challenges in conventional biofilm bioreactors. This project will act as a proof-of-concept study and initiate a potential long-term collaboration with Novozymes, a global leader in providing biological solutions for wastewater treatment. This project offers a potential means to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the wastewater industry by facilitating significant energy savings. Wastewater treatment is responsible for approximately 2% of a country's total electricity consumption with most of this energy used for aeration and solids separation with centrifugation, both of which are related to the biological wastewater treatment process. Therefore, there is considerable interest from the industry to develop and employ new technologies to reduce the overall energy consumption of wastewater treatment. My initial research focused on developing and characterising new biocoating materials. As this progressed, I recognised the potential application for biocoatings in wastewater treatment. However, as our research team consists only of physicists and microbiologists, we do not have a strong connection to the wastewater industry. As the postdoctoral researcher of the team, I am eagerly exploring this application in wastewater treatment by seeking collaboration with a strong industrial partner. This potential collaboration with Novozymes provides a perfect opportunity for me to work with experts in wastewater treatment and understand the state-of-the-art of the industry. The valuable knowledge and potential long-term collaboration gained from this secondment will guide me in my future research in developing biocoatings for real-world applications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There are two key results that we want to achieve in this three-month project. Firstly, we will, for the first time, encapsulate commercial bacterial products in our biocoating. Previously, we have only had experience with encapsulating E.coli, which acted as a model system for our research. In this project, mixed-culture bacteria that are commercially used for wastewater treatment bioaugmentation will be encapsulated. The bacteria will be provided by Novozymes. This would represent a huge step in the research of our biocoating as it would represent not only the application of commercially interesting bacteria, but would also provide experience around the viability of mixed culture communities in the biocoating. The viability and reactivity of the bacteria in the biocoating will be a key measure for this part of the study, which will be characterised both in our lab and in Novozymes' lab. Secondly, we will coat our biocoatings on large substrates that can be tested directly in a lab-scale bioreactor. The bioreactor used for this study will be a 1 L lab-scale model of a rotating biological contactor (RBC) in Novozymes' lab. The reason RBC is chosen for this study is because it is commercially available, easily scalable and most importantly, energy efficient (as no aeration is needed). Fibrous substrates will be used to provide good diffusion from both sides of our biocoatings. Disc-shape substrates will be coated with biocoatings in our lab and shipped to Novozymes' lab for testing the reactivity of the encapsulated bacterial products using RBC. In this three-month period of collaboration, Novozymes will share their knowledge on wastewater treatment as well as their lab facilities for testing the reactivity of our biocoatings. We will share our knowledge on bacteria encapsulation and prepare samples for them for testing. We will maintain regular contact through video-meetings. I plan to visit Novozymes' lab for demonstrations and discussions, provided that the Covid pandemic eases before the end of the project. If the results of this proof-of-concept study are promising, that is to say our biocoating has a reasonable reactivity when tested in the RBC, Novozymes will be very likely to establish a long-term collaboration with us to further investigate the application of biocoating in wastewater treatment. While an agreement is still under discussion, it is also possible that we will be able develop collaborative IP and publish this work in a relevant journal if the results are positive. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Surrey: 1. The project team from Surrey and Novozymes met bi-weekly to track progress and to make plans. Novozymes made two shipments of Prawnbac bacteria to the Surrey labs. We learnt from Novozymes their standard procedure of characterising the reactivity of the nitrifying bacteria (in suspension). We adapted this procedure for characterising the reactivity of nitrifying bacteria immobilised in our biocoatings. Dr Chen built a small lab-scale bioreactor, which he used to study the reactivity of our biocoatings. Using the bacteria and characterisation method provided by Novozymes, he characterised the biocoatings according to an industrial standard. 2. Using the procedure described above, Dr Chen characterised the reactivity of biocoatings fabricated with six different combinations of porous substrates and film formation processes. One trial with carbon paper substrates and a short film formation time showed promising reactivity (181 mg NH4-N produced/L/h). SEM study showed that bacteria were embedded inside the biocoatings after the film formation. Once rehydrated, these embedded bacteria acted as anchoring/initiation sites for natural biofilm growth on the surface of the biocoatings (Figure 1). This study validated the concept of applying our biocoatings to immobilise a commercial nitrifier and opened up possibilities for future commercial biocoating bioreactors. The potential benefits of biocoating bioreactors include a shortened process start-up stage, protection against the failure of biofilms, protection of sensitive nitrifier populations to inhibition, and the potential to intensify wastewater nitrification processes, all of which are of great interest to Novozymes. 3. We realised that the poor desiccation tolerance of Prawnbac limited the survivability of bacteria during the film formation process of the biocoating, which is conventionally a desiccation process. We proposed a new concept of film formation via the method of "wet sintering", which does not require desiccation during polymer particle coalescence as part of the film formation process. This proof-of-concept experiment started near the end of this NBIC fellowship, and is still ongoing at the time this report is being written. Our collaborator from Novozymes was impressed by the versatility of our biocoatings and the ability we have to adapt our biocoatings. 4. Novozymes has gained a better insight into the characteristics of their own product and how it responds under the conditions of film formation. They had not previously performed scanning electron microscopy on their product and its biofilm. Hence, the characterisation gave them a valuable insight. Next steps: We will continue our collaboration with Novozymes, to study our biocoatings using the bacteria Novozymes provided us. We plan to ship biocoatings from Surrey to Novozymes for them to analyse in their application, using specialised microbial analysis methods such as FISH and qPCR. Our current focus is to develop our concept of film formation of biocoatings without desiccation, which aligns perfectly with our ongoing project on biocoatings and fits our expertise as materials physicists. Novozymes also shows interest in this concept, as it offers a unique solution to immobilise their desiccation sensitive bacteria. We will apply for grants together with Novozymes to continue our research on this project. We have identified the Novo Nordisk Foundation as a possible source of follow-on funding. An alternative source of funding is through the BBSRC Engineering Biology programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_074 Engineering synthetic biofilm for improving energy efficiency in wastewater treatment (Yuxiu Chen) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this secondment is to explore the potential application of our newly developed material, called biocoating, in wastewater treatment. Biocoating is an engineered biofilm that consists of a synthetic polymeric matrix combined with encapsulated bacteria. The two major advantages of biocoating are that the bacterial population is controlled and there is good diffusion through the matrix, which potentially offers a solution to some of the challenges in conventional biofilm bioreactors. This project will act as a proof-of-concept study and initiate a potential long-term collaboration with Novozymes, a global leader in providing biological solutions for wastewater treatment. This project offers a potential means to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the wastewater industry by facilitating significant energy savings. Wastewater treatment is responsible for approximately 2% of a country's total electricity consumption with most of this energy used for aeration and solids separation with centrifugation, both of which are related to the biological wastewater treatment process. Therefore, there is considerable interest from the industry to develop and employ new technologies to reduce the overall energy consumption of wastewater treatment. My initial research focused on developing and characterising new biocoating materials. As this progressed, I recognised the potential application for biocoatings in wastewater treatment. However, as our research team consists only of physicists and microbiologists, we do not have a strong connection to the wastewater industry. As the postdoctoral researcher of the team, I am eagerly exploring this application in wastewater treatment by seeking collaboration with a strong industrial partner. This potential collaboration with Novozymes provides a perfect opportunity for me to work with experts in wastewater treatment and understand the state-of-the-art of the industry. The valuable knowledge and potential long-term collaboration gained from this secondment will guide me in my future research in developing biocoatings for real-world applications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There are two key results that we want to achieve in this three-month project. Firstly, we will, for the first time, encapsulate commercial bacterial products in our biocoating. Previously, we have only had experience with encapsulating E.coli, which acted as a model system for our research. In this project, mixed-culture bacteria that are commercially used for wastewater treatment bioaugmentation will be encapsulated. The bacteria will be provided by Novozymes. This would represent a huge step in the research of our biocoating as it would represent not only the application of commercially interesting bacteria, but would also provide experience around the viability of mixed culture communities in the biocoating. The viability and reactivity of the bacteria in the biocoating will be a key measure for this part of the study, which will be characterised both in our lab and in Novozymes' lab. Secondly, we will coat our biocoatings on large substrates that can be tested directly in a lab-scale bioreactor. The bioreactor used for this study will be a 1 L lab-scale model of a rotating biological contactor (RBC) in Novozymes' lab. The reason RBC is chosen for this study is because it is commercially available, easily scalable and most importantly, energy efficient (as no aeration is needed). Fibrous substrates will be used to provide good diffusion from both sides of our biocoatings. Disc-shape substrates will be coated with biocoatings in our lab and shipped to Novozymes' lab for testing the reactivity of the encapsulated bacterial products using RBC. In this three-month period of collaboration, Novozymes will share their knowledge on wastewater treatment as well as their lab facilities for testing the reactivity of our biocoatings. We will share our knowledge on bacteria encapsulation and prepare samples for them for testing. We will maintain regular contact through video-meetings. I plan to visit Novozymes' lab for demonstrations and discussions, provided that the Covid pandemic eases before the end of the project. If the results of this proof-of-concept study are promising, that is to say our biocoating has a reasonable reactivity when tested in the RBC, Novozymes will be very likely to establish a long-term collaboration with us to further investigate the application of biocoating in wastewater treatment. While an agreement is still under discussion, it is also possible that we will be able develop collaborative IP and publish this work in a relevant journal if the results are positive. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Surrey: 1. The project team from Surrey and Novozymes met bi-weekly to track progress and to make plans. Novozymes made two shipments of Prawnbac bacteria to the Surrey labs. We learnt from Novozymes their standard procedure of characterising the reactivity of the nitrifying bacteria (in suspension). We adapted this procedure for characterising the reactivity of nitrifying bacteria immobilised in our biocoatings. Dr Chen built a small lab-scale bioreactor, which he used to study the reactivity of our biocoatings. Using the bacteria and characterisation method provided by Novozymes, he characterised the biocoatings according to an industrial standard. 2. Using the procedure described above, Dr Chen characterised the reactivity of biocoatings fabricated with six different combinations of porous substrates and film formation processes. One trial with carbon paper substrates and a short film formation time showed promising reactivity (181 mg NH4-N produced/L/h). SEM study showed that bacteria were embedded inside the biocoatings after the film formation. Once rehydrated, these embedded bacteria acted as anchoring/initiation sites for natural biofilm growth on the surface of the biocoatings (Figure 1). This study validated the concept of applying our biocoatings to immobilise a commercial nitrifier and opened up possibilities for future commercial biocoating bioreactors. The potential benefits of biocoating bioreactors include a shortened process start-up stage, protection against the failure of biofilms, protection of sensitive nitrifier populations to inhibition, and the potential to intensify wastewater nitrification processes, all of which are of great interest to Novozymes. 3. We realised that the poor desiccation tolerance of Prawnbac limited the survivability of bacteria during the film formation process of the biocoating, which is conventionally a desiccation process. We proposed a new concept of film formation via the method of "wet sintering", which does not require desiccation during polymer particle coalescence as part of the film formation process. This proof-of-concept experiment started near the end of this NBIC fellowship, and is still ongoing at the time this report is being written. Our collaborator from Novozymes was impressed by the versatility of our biocoatings and the ability we have to adapt our biocoatings. 4. Novozymes has gained a better insight into the characteristics of their own product and how it responds under the conditions of film formation. They had not previously performed scanning electron microscopy on their product and its biofilm. Hence, the characterisation gave them a valuable insight. Next steps: We will continue our collaboration with Novozymes, to study our biocoatings using the bacteria Novozymes provided us. We plan to ship biocoatings from Surrey to Novozymes for them to analyse in their application, using specialised microbial analysis methods such as FISH and qPCR. Our current focus is to develop our concept of film formation of biocoatings without desiccation, which aligns perfectly with our ongoing project on biocoatings and fits our expertise as materials physicists. Novozymes also shows interest in this concept, as it offers a unique solution to immobilise their desiccation sensitive bacteria. We will apply for grants together with Novozymes to continue our research on this project. We have identified the Novo Nordisk Foundation as a possible source of follow-on funding. An alternative source of funding is through the BBSRC Engineering Biology programme. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_079 Development of biofilm inhibition testing to the ASTM standard for implanted medical devices (Vanina Garcia Altamirano) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The primary ambition of this project is to develop biofilm testing capabilities in the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF) to develop their portfolio to include standardised biofilm testing services for academics and industrial clients that wish to test developing medical device materials for biofilm inhibition properties to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard for implanted medical devices. Secondary aims are to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for several simple biofilm assays that can be utilised by MTIF as further services. This will support my personal development by providing experience of grant capture as well as working in the industrial sector. This fellowship will develop my commercial awareness, through my involvement in setting up a commercial laboratory and SOPs to the ASTM standard. This is experience that is difficult to gain through academic research alone and will mean that I am able to work effectively within these environments and in collaborations with industrial partners in the future, which is a vital part of bridging the gap between fundamental research and real-world application. This project aligns to the challenges "Leading-edge healthcare" and the "Healthy Ageing" outlined in the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Aging populations increasingly require implantable medical devices for improved quality of life and in treatment of disease. As biofilm infection is a leading cause of failure of these devices, the development of anti-biofilm medical materials is critical for the improvement of quality life for millions, having standardised biofilm testing services available in the region to test developing medical device materials provides researchers and commercial developers access to reliable and robust testing of new medical device materials to recognised standards without the costs associated with setting this up in-house. Consequently, the manufacture and commercialisation of antibiofilm materials will be expedited by these services. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biofilm contamination is a leading cause of failure of medical implant devices that costs lives, reduces quality of life and costs millions of pounds globally. Therefore, development of medical implant device materials that can inhibit the formation of biofilms is critical to the efficacy of such devices. There are few facilities that can offer access to robust standardised biofilm testing within the region. Development of this service within MTIF will provide wide ranging impact as manufacturers, developers and academic researchers of implantable medical device materials and other anti-biofilm materials will be able to gain access to these facilities and expertise to test their products to the recognised ASTM standards (e.g. E2562/E3161) at low cost. There is a recognised lack of standardisation of biofilm testing, linking MTIF to NBIC via fellowships such as this ensures that MTIF is situated at the forefront of the biofilm field ensuring that the testing services developed are appropriate, relevant and useful to the wider community of industrial companies and academic researchers that have interests in biofilm testing. This allows MTIF to provide a biofilm testing service that they currently do not have and will allow them to expand their portfolio. Biofilm testing in a CDC Biofilm Reactor to the ASTM standard is a recognised standard for materials testing and will allow MTIF to provide a robust and reliable service. This fellowship provides MTIF with the expertise of an experienced biofilm researcher able to develop biofilm models to ASTM standards. I have over five years of experience in biofilm research, developing models to study biofilm formation of human pathogens and host-pathogen interactions. I am currently working on a Proof of Concept NBIC grant, developing SOPs to produce novel Vascular Access Grafts and subsequent evaluation of grafts coated with antimicrobials to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available grafts and their potential for future commercialisation. This fellowship will benefit me as a researcher by providing experience of setting up a commercial biofilm inhibition testing laboratory to the ASTM standard, knowledge that can only be acquired in an industrial setting like MTIF, a dual site research and development facility available to industry and academic institutions to support and accelerate the development of innovative medical technologies. This will provide me with the skills and experience of working with industrial partners and working to industrial standards, which will allow me to develop industrial collaborations for future funding applications. |
| Impact | The achievements of this fellowship were as follow: • The development of a robust SOP for biofilm testing in a CDC Reactor to the internationally recognised ASTM standards to test new materials used in the manufacture of medical devices. • The development of an SOP for Salmonella testing from feed material. • The development of an SOP to test Salmonella on industry surfaces (swabs). These three SOPs have helped to extended MTIF's portfolio. This fellowship has supported my personal development by providing experience of grant capture. It also helped to develop my commercial awareness, through my involvement in setting up a commercial laboratory, developing SOPs to industrial standards, and provided me with the skills and experience of working with industrial partners which will allow me to develop industrial collaborations for future funding applications. A standardised biofilm testing was developed to the well-known ASTM standards, a biofilm testing service that MTIF did not have, and now they can provide it to manufacturers, developers and academic researchers of implantable medical device materials and other anti-biofilm materials within the region and at low cost. Additionally, food industries can also benefit with the new SOPs developed during this placement for Salmonella testing in feed material and swabs. For the next steps, MTIF and NTU are fully supportive and seeking opportunities to support applications for Early Career Fellowships, to continue with the development of methodologies to continue transferring my skills to business. In the meantime, it would be beneficial to have an economical support to develop more biofilm testing methodologies to offer more services to the wider community of industrial companies and academic researchers that have interests in biofilm testing in order to have a continuity in my career whilst the application process for fellowships proceeds. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_079 Development of biofilm inhibition testing to the ASTM standard for implanted medical devices (Vanina Garcia Altamirano) |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The primary ambition of this project is to develop biofilm testing capabilities in the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF) to develop their portfolio to include standardised biofilm testing services for academics and industrial clients that wish to test developing medical device materials for biofilm inhibition properties to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard for implanted medical devices. Secondary aims are to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for several simple biofilm assays that can be utilised by MTIF as further services. This will support my personal development by providing experience of grant capture as well as working in the industrial sector. This fellowship will develop my commercial awareness, through my involvement in setting up a commercial laboratory and SOPs to the ASTM standard. This is experience that is difficult to gain through academic research alone and will mean that I am able to work effectively within these environments and in collaborations with industrial partners in the future, which is a vital part of bridging the gap between fundamental research and real-world application. This project aligns to the challenges "Leading-edge healthcare" and the "Healthy Ageing" outlined in the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Aging populations increasingly require implantable medical devices for improved quality of life and in treatment of disease. As biofilm infection is a leading cause of failure of these devices, the development of anti-biofilm medical materials is critical for the improvement of quality life for millions, having standardised biofilm testing services available in the region to test developing medical device materials provides researchers and commercial developers access to reliable and robust testing of new medical device materials to recognised standards without the costs associated with setting this up in-house. Consequently, the manufacture and commercialisation of antibiofilm materials will be expedited by these services. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biofilm contamination is a leading cause of failure of medical implant devices that costs lives, reduces quality of life and costs millions of pounds globally. Therefore, development of medical implant device materials that can inhibit the formation of biofilms is critical to the efficacy of such devices. There are few facilities that can offer access to robust standardised biofilm testing within the region. Development of this service within MTIF will provide wide ranging impact as manufacturers, developers and academic researchers of implantable medical device materials and other anti-biofilm materials will be able to gain access to these facilities and expertise to test their products to the recognised ASTM standards (e.g. E2562/E3161) at low cost. There is a recognised lack of standardisation of biofilm testing, linking MTIF to NBIC via fellowships such as this ensures that MTIF is situated at the forefront of the biofilm field ensuring that the testing services developed are appropriate, relevant and useful to the wider community of industrial companies and academic researchers that have interests in biofilm testing. This allows MTIF to provide a biofilm testing service that they currently do not have and will allow them to expand their portfolio. Biofilm testing in a CDC Biofilm Reactor to the ASTM standard is a recognised standard for materials testing and will allow MTIF to provide a robust and reliable service. This fellowship provides MTIF with the expertise of an experienced biofilm researcher able to develop biofilm models to ASTM standards. I have over five years of experience in biofilm research, developing models to study biofilm formation of human pathogens and host-pathogen interactions. I am currently working on a Proof of Concept NBIC grant, developing SOPs to produce novel Vascular Access Grafts and subsequent evaluation of grafts coated with antimicrobials to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available grafts and their potential for future commercialisation. This fellowship will benefit me as a researcher by providing experience of setting up a commercial biofilm inhibition testing laboratory to the ASTM standard, knowledge that can only be acquired in an industrial setting like MTIF, a dual site research and development facility available to industry and academic institutions to support and accelerate the development of innovative medical technologies. This will provide me with the skills and experience of working with industrial partners and working to industrial standards, which will allow me to develop industrial collaborations for future funding applications. |
| Impact | The achievements of this fellowship were as follow: • The development of a robust SOP for biofilm testing in a CDC Reactor to the internationally recognised ASTM standards to test new materials used in the manufacture of medical devices. • The development of an SOP for Salmonella testing from feed material. • The development of an SOP to test Salmonella on industry surfaces (swabs). These three SOPs have helped to extended MTIF's portfolio. This fellowship has supported my personal development by providing experience of grant capture. It also helped to develop my commercial awareness, through my involvement in setting up a commercial laboratory, developing SOPs to industrial standards, and provided me with the skills and experience of working with industrial partners which will allow me to develop industrial collaborations for future funding applications. A standardised biofilm testing was developed to the well-known ASTM standards, a biofilm testing service that MTIF did not have, and now they can provide it to manufacturers, developers and academic researchers of implantable medical device materials and other anti-biofilm materials within the region and at low cost. Additionally, food industries can also benefit with the new SOPs developed during this placement for Salmonella testing in feed material and swabs. For the next steps, MTIF and NTU are fully supportive and seeking opportunities to support applications for Early Career Fellowships, to continue with the development of methodologies to continue transferring my skills to business. In the meantime, it would be beneficial to have an economical support to develop more biofilm testing methodologies to offer more services to the wider community of industrial companies and academic researchers that have interests in biofilm testing in order to have a continuity in my career whilst the application process for fellowships proceeds. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_083 Rapid, multi-dimension, long term lightsheet imaging of fungal biofilms under conditions of minimal phototoxicity (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | Intelligent Imaging Innovations Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We seek funds to support a 3 month fellowship to support Dr. Daniel Pentland, who recently completed his PhD, to collaborate with the instrument manufacturing company Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i). The company produces a unique and highly versatile light-sheet microscope platform, the Marianas lightsheet that Dr. Pentland will use to generate the first 4D, long term fungal biofilms data gathered under conditions of minimal phototoxicity. The fellowship will greatly extend findings obtained from an NBIC funded FTMA award to Dr. Daniel Pentland (02POC19105) who worked with Carin Scientific to successfully establish light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to image fungal biofilms. The development of such imaging technology will allow us to perfect, for the first time, accurate methods for biomarker identification in complex biofilms, an essential step to enable early diagnosis of the many diseases caused by fungal biofilms and provide new insights to enable eradication. The project therefore falls within the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund areas of "Accelerated detection of disease" and "From data to early diagnosis and precision medicine". The fellowship will enable exchange Dr Pentland's of biological skills, technical expertise, background knowledge and experience in using light sheet to image biofilms obtained within the FTMA award at Cairn Scientific with 3i scientists. Dr. Pentland will work with the 3i team, in consultation with Dr Laissue (Essex) to perfect image analysis of fungal biofilm dynamics using this remarkable technique. As Dr. Pentland will be trained on the Marianas Lightsheet system and software at 3i he will develop a deep understanding of industrial application, product design and market demands. He will receive support and technical advice throughout from applications scientist and Marianasâ„¢ Lightsheet product manager, Dr Hella Baumann. Dr. Baumann's time and access to 3i's facility are equivalent to an in-kind support in excess of £5,000 in value. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main output arises from the design, experimental testing and validation of light sheet microscopy methods in a new area of application: The developmental imaging of fungal biofilms are of medical, environmental and industrial relevance but is a research area that is currently unexplored. This fellowship will enable a step change in the imaging of fungal biofilms by coupling the fellows academic expertise with cutting edge advanced low-light fluorescence microscopy knowledge at 3i. An key output is therefore the transfer of knowledge between industry and academia to develop a new area of research, business opportunity and return to UK Plc. A key industrial output of this research will be to test and develop protocols for the Marianas Light Sheet system so that these can be distributed and used by multiple users, within a range of disciplines, to image fungal biofilms without inflicting photodamage. The fellow will work with 3i to develop protocols that can be rapidly adapted to different fungal biofilm applications, thus extending the applicability of this technology to research groups within medical, environmental and industrial fields. The research will allow development of integrated hardware and software control, creating a seamless user experience with comprehensive control of acquisition and rendering, ideal for a multi-user setting. The expected outputs are reliant on the exchange of skills and knowledge between the fellow and 3i scientists and will lead to tangible benefits to both parties. |
| Impact | Di-SPIM light sheet microscopy is ideal for monitoring the development of a dense fungal biofilm. Our approaches will lead to this technology being applied to a new field and opens a new customer base 3i as was planned within this application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_083 Rapid, multi-dimension, long term lightsheet imaging of fungal biofilms under conditions of minimal phototoxicity (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We seek funds to support a 3 month fellowship to support Dr. Daniel Pentland, who recently completed his PhD, to collaborate with the instrument manufacturing company Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i). The company produces a unique and highly versatile light-sheet microscope platform, the Marianas lightsheet that Dr. Pentland will use to generate the first 4D, long term fungal biofilms data gathered under conditions of minimal phototoxicity. The fellowship will greatly extend findings obtained from an NBIC funded FTMA award to Dr. Daniel Pentland (02POC19105) who worked with Carin Scientific to successfully establish light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to image fungal biofilms. The development of such imaging technology will allow us to perfect, for the first time, accurate methods for biomarker identification in complex biofilms, an essential step to enable early diagnosis of the many diseases caused by fungal biofilms and provide new insights to enable eradication. The project therefore falls within the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund areas of "Accelerated detection of disease" and "From data to early diagnosis and precision medicine". The fellowship will enable exchange Dr Pentland's of biological skills, technical expertise, background knowledge and experience in using light sheet to image biofilms obtained within the FTMA award at Cairn Scientific with 3i scientists. Dr. Pentland will work with the 3i team, in consultation with Dr Laissue (Essex) to perfect image analysis of fungal biofilm dynamics using this remarkable technique. As Dr. Pentland will be trained on the Marianas Lightsheet system and software at 3i he will develop a deep understanding of industrial application, product design and market demands. He will receive support and technical advice throughout from applications scientist and Marianasâ„¢ Lightsheet product manager, Dr Hella Baumann. Dr. Baumann's time and access to 3i's facility are equivalent to an in-kind support in excess of £5,000 in value. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main output arises from the design, experimental testing and validation of light sheet microscopy methods in a new area of application: The developmental imaging of fungal biofilms are of medical, environmental and industrial relevance but is a research area that is currently unexplored. This fellowship will enable a step change in the imaging of fungal biofilms by coupling the fellows academic expertise with cutting edge advanced low-light fluorescence microscopy knowledge at 3i. An key output is therefore the transfer of knowledge between industry and academia to develop a new area of research, business opportunity and return to UK Plc. A key industrial output of this research will be to test and develop protocols for the Marianas Light Sheet system so that these can be distributed and used by multiple users, within a range of disciplines, to image fungal biofilms without inflicting photodamage. The fellow will work with 3i to develop protocols that can be rapidly adapted to different fungal biofilm applications, thus extending the applicability of this technology to research groups within medical, environmental and industrial fields. The research will allow development of integrated hardware and software control, creating a seamless user experience with comprehensive control of acquisition and rendering, ideal for a multi-user setting. The expected outputs are reliant on the exchange of skills and knowledge between the fellow and 3i scientists and will lead to tangible benefits to both parties. |
| Impact | Di-SPIM light sheet microscopy is ideal for monitoring the development of a dense fungal biofilm. Our approaches will lead to this technology being applied to a new field and opens a new customer base 3i as was planned within this application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_083 Rapid, multi-dimension, long term lightsheet imaging of fungal biofilms under conditions of minimal phototoxicity (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | University of Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We seek funds to support a 3 month fellowship to support Dr. Daniel Pentland, who recently completed his PhD, to collaborate with the instrument manufacturing company Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i). The company produces a unique and highly versatile light-sheet microscope platform, the Marianas lightsheet that Dr. Pentland will use to generate the first 4D, long term fungal biofilms data gathered under conditions of minimal phototoxicity. The fellowship will greatly extend findings obtained from an NBIC funded FTMA award to Dr. Daniel Pentland (02POC19105) who worked with Carin Scientific to successfully establish light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to image fungal biofilms. The development of such imaging technology will allow us to perfect, for the first time, accurate methods for biomarker identification in complex biofilms, an essential step to enable early diagnosis of the many diseases caused by fungal biofilms and provide new insights to enable eradication. The project therefore falls within the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund areas of "Accelerated detection of disease" and "From data to early diagnosis and precision medicine". The fellowship will enable exchange Dr Pentland's of biological skills, technical expertise, background knowledge and experience in using light sheet to image biofilms obtained within the FTMA award at Cairn Scientific with 3i scientists. Dr. Pentland will work with the 3i team, in consultation with Dr Laissue (Essex) to perfect image analysis of fungal biofilm dynamics using this remarkable technique. As Dr. Pentland will be trained on the Marianas Lightsheet system and software at 3i he will develop a deep understanding of industrial application, product design and market demands. He will receive support and technical advice throughout from applications scientist and Marianasâ„¢ Lightsheet product manager, Dr Hella Baumann. Dr. Baumann's time and access to 3i's facility are equivalent to an in-kind support in excess of £5,000 in value. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main output arises from the design, experimental testing and validation of light sheet microscopy methods in a new area of application: The developmental imaging of fungal biofilms are of medical, environmental and industrial relevance but is a research area that is currently unexplored. This fellowship will enable a step change in the imaging of fungal biofilms by coupling the fellows academic expertise with cutting edge advanced low-light fluorescence microscopy knowledge at 3i. An key output is therefore the transfer of knowledge between industry and academia to develop a new area of research, business opportunity and return to UK Plc. A key industrial output of this research will be to test and develop protocols for the Marianas Light Sheet system so that these can be distributed and used by multiple users, within a range of disciplines, to image fungal biofilms without inflicting photodamage. The fellow will work with 3i to develop protocols that can be rapidly adapted to different fungal biofilm applications, thus extending the applicability of this technology to research groups within medical, environmental and industrial fields. The research will allow development of integrated hardware and software control, creating a seamless user experience with comprehensive control of acquisition and rendering, ideal for a multi-user setting. The expected outputs are reliant on the exchange of skills and knowledge between the fellow and 3i scientists and will lead to tangible benefits to both parties. |
| Impact | Di-SPIM light sheet microscopy is ideal for monitoring the development of a dense fungal biofilm. Our approaches will lead to this technology being applied to a new field and opens a new customer base 3i as was planned within this application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 20_IF_083 Rapid, multi-dimension, long term lightsheet imaging of fungal biofilms under conditions of minimal phototoxicity (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | We seek funds to support a 3 month fellowship to support Dr. Daniel Pentland, who recently completed his PhD, to collaborate with the instrument manufacturing company Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i). The company produces a unique and highly versatile light-sheet microscope platform, the Marianas lightsheet that Dr. Pentland will use to generate the first 4D, long term fungal biofilms data gathered under conditions of minimal phototoxicity. The fellowship will greatly extend findings obtained from an NBIC funded FTMA award to Dr. Daniel Pentland (02POC19105) who worked with Carin Scientific to successfully establish light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to image fungal biofilms. The development of such imaging technology will allow us to perfect, for the first time, accurate methods for biomarker identification in complex biofilms, an essential step to enable early diagnosis of the many diseases caused by fungal biofilms and provide new insights to enable eradication. The project therefore falls within the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund areas of "Accelerated detection of disease" and "From data to early diagnosis and precision medicine". The fellowship will enable exchange Dr Pentland's of biological skills, technical expertise, background knowledge and experience in using light sheet to image biofilms obtained within the FTMA award at Cairn Scientific with 3i scientists. Dr. Pentland will work with the 3i team, in consultation with Dr Laissue (Essex) to perfect image analysis of fungal biofilm dynamics using this remarkable technique. As Dr. Pentland will be trained on the Marianas Lightsheet system and software at 3i he will develop a deep understanding of industrial application, product design and market demands. He will receive support and technical advice throughout from applications scientist and Marianasâ„¢ Lightsheet product manager, Dr Hella Baumann. Dr. Baumann's time and access to 3i's facility are equivalent to an in-kind support in excess of £5,000 in value. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main output arises from the design, experimental testing and validation of light sheet microscopy methods in a new area of application: The developmental imaging of fungal biofilms are of medical, environmental and industrial relevance but is a research area that is currently unexplored. This fellowship will enable a step change in the imaging of fungal biofilms by coupling the fellows academic expertise with cutting edge advanced low-light fluorescence microscopy knowledge at 3i. An key output is therefore the transfer of knowledge between industry and academia to develop a new area of research, business opportunity and return to UK Plc. A key industrial output of this research will be to test and develop protocols for the Marianas Light Sheet system so that these can be distributed and used by multiple users, within a range of disciplines, to image fungal biofilms without inflicting photodamage. The fellow will work with 3i to develop protocols that can be rapidly adapted to different fungal biofilm applications, thus extending the applicability of this technology to research groups within medical, environmental and industrial fields. The research will allow development of integrated hardware and software control, creating a seamless user experience with comprehensive control of acquisition and rendering, ideal for a multi-user setting. The expected outputs are reliant on the exchange of skills and knowledge between the fellow and 3i scientists and will lead to tangible benefits to both parties. |
| Impact | Di-SPIM light sheet microscopy is ideal for monitoring the development of a dense fungal biofilm. Our approaches will lead to this technology being applied to a new field and opens a new customer base 3i as was planned within this application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_086 Developing cutting-edge "Biofilms adventures" for children and families. (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | Atorika |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Atorika is a French science engagement start-up, established 1.5 years ago. Currently, the start-up growth relies on the development and sales of science boxes for children, which are either sent regularly to their subscribers, or used in schools alongside an Atorika's employee. Longer term, the start-up will possess physical science centres which will host their activities. As an experienced creator of science activities for school-aged children, I will partner with Atorika to develop a series of science kits about biofilms. This is mutually beneficial for all parties: while Atorika will have access to my expertise, I will benefit from the experience of the team at Atorika, which includes another science outreach professional alongside graphic designers and virtual reality professionals - domains I currently have very little experience of, but which are central to the "Audience of the future" challenge highlighted in the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Longer terms, the activities and virtual reality assets developed could also be part of the science centres they will build. I will also gain a good understanding of the French outreach landscape and related challenges, and improve my professional practice, exploring new routes and techniques for my own work. The activities which I will develop with Atorika will engage around research conducted at NBIC, which covers the following challenges identified by the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund: Transforming food production and leading-edge healthcare. We have identified that these challenges, addressed by some of NBIC research, are particularly relevant to engage the public with. NBIC will benefit from using virtual reality and other modern digital engagement techniques, a capacity that NBIC does not currently have access to. Working with the Atorika team will enable to develop better activities, and will enable to deploy NBIC reach more internationally, with new activities blending "traditional" and technological approaches thanks to Atorika's expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We will develop a series of 10 activity boxes ("one adventure", in Atorika's terminology) which will be ready to be produced at scale at the end of the mobility. These science activities will include virtual reality or other contemporary digital tools to increase the user's experience. I have very little experience of these technologies and will learn how to include them successfully alongside more traditional science activities. The activities will be produced in both French and English, enabling a wider international exposure of them and the work undertaken by NBIC. I do not have experience of producing science activities for a commercial purpose; this will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about commercialising my skills, in addition to discovering how a small start-up company operates. Most of the work will be conducted remotely, from the UK, but we will test the developed resources in schools both in the UK and in France. In the future, as the start-up develops, following its business plans, which includes the opening of science centres across the whole French territory, collaboration would be very desirable. We could also imagine replicating a possible similar model in the UK. The activities developed will be used by NBIC once the mobility is over, through the NBIC outreach and public engagement programme (which I coordinate), leaving a long-lasting product, featuring innovative engagement technologies, with the potential to reach thousands of school aged children and their families, raise science aspirations and engage them with NBIC research and some of the Industry Strategy Challenges. University of Edinburgh: Development of company and products, and activities for NBIC. Atorika: Providing tools for creating outreach activities to do at home. |
| Impact | I developed two new activities boxes, and reviewed and adapted 5 of their existing activities. I provided input on the overall company strategy, including the overall content of the boxes, the communication strategy, the design, their app, etc. The outcomes are quite different from what was originally planned as most collaborators left the company before or shortly after I started, and I also suffered from health issues the last two months of the grant. This means I did not achieve as much as I was hoping. However, I have now a much better sense of how to run a start-up company, how to make is successful, and how I could monetise my skills and expertise through commercialising my regular academic work. Next steps: I would like to keep developing further biofilms activities for the company, and also investigate how to setup a similar company in the UK through the University, or agree on a deal to be the UK branch of the French company. I would need help to understand what is required to do this. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_086 Developing cutting-edge "Biofilms adventures" for children and families. (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Atorika is a French science engagement start-up, established 1.5 years ago. Currently, the start-up growth relies on the development and sales of science boxes for children, which are either sent regularly to their subscribers, or used in schools alongside an Atorika's employee. Longer term, the start-up will possess physical science centres which will host their activities. As an experienced creator of science activities for school-aged children, I will partner with Atorika to develop a series of science kits about biofilms. This is mutually beneficial for all parties: while Atorika will have access to my expertise, I will benefit from the experience of the team at Atorika, which includes another science outreach professional alongside graphic designers and virtual reality professionals - domains I currently have very little experience of, but which are central to the "Audience of the future" challenge highlighted in the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Longer terms, the activities and virtual reality assets developed could also be part of the science centres they will build. I will also gain a good understanding of the French outreach landscape and related challenges, and improve my professional practice, exploring new routes and techniques for my own work. The activities which I will develop with Atorika will engage around research conducted at NBIC, which covers the following challenges identified by the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund: Transforming food production and leading-edge healthcare. We have identified that these challenges, addressed by some of NBIC research, are particularly relevant to engage the public with. NBIC will benefit from using virtual reality and other modern digital engagement techniques, a capacity that NBIC does not currently have access to. Working with the Atorika team will enable to develop better activities, and will enable to deploy NBIC reach more internationally, with new activities blending "traditional" and technological approaches thanks to Atorika's expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We will develop a series of 10 activity boxes ("one adventure", in Atorika's terminology) which will be ready to be produced at scale at the end of the mobility. These science activities will include virtual reality or other contemporary digital tools to increase the user's experience. I have very little experience of these technologies and will learn how to include them successfully alongside more traditional science activities. The activities will be produced in both French and English, enabling a wider international exposure of them and the work undertaken by NBIC. I do not have experience of producing science activities for a commercial purpose; this will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about commercialising my skills, in addition to discovering how a small start-up company operates. Most of the work will be conducted remotely, from the UK, but we will test the developed resources in schools both in the UK and in France. In the future, as the start-up develops, following its business plans, which includes the opening of science centres across the whole French territory, collaboration would be very desirable. We could also imagine replicating a possible similar model in the UK. The activities developed will be used by NBIC once the mobility is over, through the NBIC outreach and public engagement programme (which I coordinate), leaving a long-lasting product, featuring innovative engagement technologies, with the potential to reach thousands of school aged children and their families, raise science aspirations and engage them with NBIC research and some of the Industry Strategy Challenges. University of Edinburgh: Development of company and products, and activities for NBIC. Atorika: Providing tools for creating outreach activities to do at home. |
| Impact | I developed two new activities boxes, and reviewed and adapted 5 of their existing activities. I provided input on the overall company strategy, including the overall content of the boxes, the communication strategy, the design, their app, etc. The outcomes are quite different from what was originally planned as most collaborators left the company before or shortly after I started, and I also suffered from health issues the last two months of the grant. This means I did not achieve as much as I was hoping. However, I have now a much better sense of how to run a start-up company, how to make is successful, and how I could monetise my skills and expertise through commercialising my regular academic work. Next steps: I would like to keep developing further biofilms activities for the company, and also investigate how to setup a similar company in the UK through the University, or agree on a deal to be the UK branch of the French company. I would need help to understand what is required to do this. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_086 Developing cutting-edge "Biofilms adventures" for children and families. (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Atorika is a French science engagement start-up, established 1.5 years ago. Currently, the start-up growth relies on the development and sales of science boxes for children, which are either sent regularly to their subscribers, or used in schools alongside an Atorika's employee. Longer term, the start-up will possess physical science centres which will host their activities. As an experienced creator of science activities for school-aged children, I will partner with Atorika to develop a series of science kits about biofilms. This is mutually beneficial for all parties: while Atorika will have access to my expertise, I will benefit from the experience of the team at Atorika, which includes another science outreach professional alongside graphic designers and virtual reality professionals - domains I currently have very little experience of, but which are central to the "Audience of the future" challenge highlighted in the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Longer terms, the activities and virtual reality assets developed could also be part of the science centres they will build. I will also gain a good understanding of the French outreach landscape and related challenges, and improve my professional practice, exploring new routes and techniques for my own work. The activities which I will develop with Atorika will engage around research conducted at NBIC, which covers the following challenges identified by the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund: Transforming food production and leading-edge healthcare. We have identified that these challenges, addressed by some of NBIC research, are particularly relevant to engage the public with. NBIC will benefit from using virtual reality and other modern digital engagement techniques, a capacity that NBIC does not currently have access to. Working with the Atorika team will enable to develop better activities, and will enable to deploy NBIC reach more internationally, with new activities blending "traditional" and technological approaches thanks to Atorika's expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We will develop a series of 10 activity boxes ("one adventure", in Atorika's terminology) which will be ready to be produced at scale at the end of the mobility. These science activities will include virtual reality or other contemporary digital tools to increase the user's experience. I have very little experience of these technologies and will learn how to include them successfully alongside more traditional science activities. The activities will be produced in both French and English, enabling a wider international exposure of them and the work undertaken by NBIC. I do not have experience of producing science activities for a commercial purpose; this will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about commercialising my skills, in addition to discovering how a small start-up company operates. Most of the work will be conducted remotely, from the UK, but we will test the developed resources in schools both in the UK and in France. In the future, as the start-up develops, following its business plans, which includes the opening of science centres across the whole French territory, collaboration would be very desirable. We could also imagine replicating a possible similar model in the UK. The activities developed will be used by NBIC once the mobility is over, through the NBIC outreach and public engagement programme (which I coordinate), leaving a long-lasting product, featuring innovative engagement technologies, with the potential to reach thousands of school aged children and their families, raise science aspirations and engage them with NBIC research and some of the Industry Strategy Challenges. University of Edinburgh: Development of company and products, and activities for NBIC. Atorika: Providing tools for creating outreach activities to do at home. |
| Impact | I developed two new activities boxes, and reviewed and adapted 5 of their existing activities. I provided input on the overall company strategy, including the overall content of the boxes, the communication strategy, the design, their app, etc. The outcomes are quite different from what was originally planned as most collaborators left the company before or shortly after I started, and I also suffered from health issues the last two months of the grant. This means I did not achieve as much as I was hoping. However, I have now a much better sense of how to run a start-up company, how to make is successful, and how I could monetise my skills and expertise through commercialising my regular academic work. Next steps: I would like to keep developing further biofilms activities for the company, and also investigate how to setup a similar company in the UK through the University, or agree on a deal to be the UK branch of the French company. I would need help to understand what is required to do this. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_087 In situ AFM of Bio-inspired Antimicrobial Surfaces. (Peng Bao) |
| Organisation | Bruker Corporation |
| Department | Bruker (United Kingdom) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The search for new, functional antimicrobial surfaces is becoming more urgent as prevention of biofilms becomes an underpinning strategy for preventing biofilms that are implicated in AMR and significant economic costs across multiple industry sectors. Bioinspired materials and surfaces are emerging as an important class of antimicrobial surfaces. In this research, we will utilize the self-assembly of proteins to form a novel kind of well-controlled, nanostructured, and bio-compatible surface with antimicrobial functions. This smart surface will help us fight against the increasing threats from antibiotic resistance of bacteria, aligning well with the NBIC themes to prevent biofilms. This research fits well to the priorities outlined within the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) - developing a leading-edge healthcare solution. However, knowledge based discovery of successful systems requires two-fold ambitions: (i) imaging and probing the nature and performance of this surfaces in in situ environments, i.e. the liquid phase, and (ii) mapping the actual interaction of bacterial cells with these surfaces. This placement will enable the applicant to work with the leading instrument company in this field to optimise operating instrumental conditions to enable us to operate our AFM instruments at the highest levels. With the support from this fellowship, I will collaborate closely with Bruker. With their experience and expertise in AFM, I will be able to speed up the progress of my research and train other researchers in the group. I will also learn how to collaborate effectively/ productively with industry partners. This will help me establish a new or long-term collaborative relationship with industry partners. By leading this collaborative project, I will also gain/enhance my communication, leadership, and project management skills. All of these will benefit greatly my career development. This could be an essential step for me to enter the next stage as an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | With the support of the fellowship, I will further enhance my skills in the use of Bruker AFM, especially in the area of high-resolution in situ imaging of biological systems in the liquid. I will also get good training on the single-molecule force spectrum measurement with Bio-AFM. This exchange will not only improve my experimental skills in AFM but also will benefit other AFM users in our Surface Science Research Centre by bringing back new experimental skills/knowledge from our industry partner - Bruker. My expertise in many fields such as biophysics, microfluidics, biosensors, and antimicrobial surfaces will also benefit my collaborator in Bruker, by inspiring them to find wider applications of AFM in new research areas and open up market opportunities. In this secondment, I will collaborate with the researchers in Bruker to enable high level instrument operation to enable my project on "Probing microbial interaction at nanofabricated smart surfaces". Clear objectives are identified. In objective (1), we will study the self assembly/ dissociation of S-layer proteins at a liquid-solid interface using AFM. As S-layer proteins could be the target of many antibiotics or antimicrobial peptides, this research will help improve the efficiency of these drugs. The important part of objective (1) is to optimise experimental parameters of our AFM instrument to realize the high-resolution imaging in-situ. In objective (2), we will use bio-AFM technique to study the interaction between the S-layer and the surface of a bacterial cell and will benefit us in the design of novel, bio-inspired, and smart antifouling and antimicrobial surfaces. This research will provide critical proof-of-concept data for a new grant application on anti-biofouling, which has a wide societal and economic impact. |
| Impact | Achievements: 1) We have improved the quality of high-resolution images of 2D crystal of membrane protein (Bacteriorhodopsin), especially in the high-eigenmode tapping, a mode we used for imaging membrane proteins in liquid for the first time. These results have been drafted as a paper and will be submitted soon to the appropriate journal, such as J of Biophysics or APL. This ability is also very important for the following studies in our main project employing S-layer protein 2D crystals. The new high-eigenmode tapping mode we demonstrated here will benefit researchers in the AFM community who are working on high-resolution imaging of biological samples in an aqueous environment. 2) We have upgraded our multimode AFM by introducing a new noise isolation box, which will facilitate the following research of our projects, as well as other projects in our lab that need AFM. 3) We have developed a robust cleaning protocol for AFM tips used for imaging in liquid. Future work: In the next step, we will start the self-assembly of S-layer proteins onto various substrates and image them using AFM, TEM, and STM. We will also try to modify the surface properties of S-layer protein arrays and use them as an antimicrobial surface to prevent the formation of biofilms. We will continue to collaborate with Bruker on our project. Further finance support is welcomed. With the success of the project, we might need further support in the commercialization of our technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_087 In situ AFM of Bio-inspired Antimicrobial Surfaces. (Peng Bao) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The search for new, functional antimicrobial surfaces is becoming more urgent as prevention of biofilms becomes an underpinning strategy for preventing biofilms that are implicated in AMR and significant economic costs across multiple industry sectors. Bioinspired materials and surfaces are emerging as an important class of antimicrobial surfaces. In this research, we will utilize the self-assembly of proteins to form a novel kind of well-controlled, nanostructured, and bio-compatible surface with antimicrobial functions. This smart surface will help us fight against the increasing threats from antibiotic resistance of bacteria, aligning well with the NBIC themes to prevent biofilms. This research fits well to the priorities outlined within the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) - developing a leading-edge healthcare solution. However, knowledge based discovery of successful systems requires two-fold ambitions: (i) imaging and probing the nature and performance of this surfaces in in situ environments, i.e. the liquid phase, and (ii) mapping the actual interaction of bacterial cells with these surfaces. This placement will enable the applicant to work with the leading instrument company in this field to optimise operating instrumental conditions to enable us to operate our AFM instruments at the highest levels. With the support from this fellowship, I will collaborate closely with Bruker. With their experience and expertise in AFM, I will be able to speed up the progress of my research and train other researchers in the group. I will also learn how to collaborate effectively/ productively with industry partners. This will help me establish a new or long-term collaborative relationship with industry partners. By leading this collaborative project, I will also gain/enhance my communication, leadership, and project management skills. All of these will benefit greatly my career development. This could be an essential step for me to enter the next stage as an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | With the support of the fellowship, I will further enhance my skills in the use of Bruker AFM, especially in the area of high-resolution in situ imaging of biological systems in the liquid. I will also get good training on the single-molecule force spectrum measurement with Bio-AFM. This exchange will not only improve my experimental skills in AFM but also will benefit other AFM users in our Surface Science Research Centre by bringing back new experimental skills/knowledge from our industry partner - Bruker. My expertise in many fields such as biophysics, microfluidics, biosensors, and antimicrobial surfaces will also benefit my collaborator in Bruker, by inspiring them to find wider applications of AFM in new research areas and open up market opportunities. In this secondment, I will collaborate with the researchers in Bruker to enable high level instrument operation to enable my project on "Probing microbial interaction at nanofabricated smart surfaces". Clear objectives are identified. In objective (1), we will study the self assembly/ dissociation of S-layer proteins at a liquid-solid interface using AFM. As S-layer proteins could be the target of many antibiotics or antimicrobial peptides, this research will help improve the efficiency of these drugs. The important part of objective (1) is to optimise experimental parameters of our AFM instrument to realize the high-resolution imaging in-situ. In objective (2), we will use bio-AFM technique to study the interaction between the S-layer and the surface of a bacterial cell and will benefit us in the design of novel, bio-inspired, and smart antifouling and antimicrobial surfaces. This research will provide critical proof-of-concept data for a new grant application on anti-biofouling, which has a wide societal and economic impact. |
| Impact | Achievements: 1) We have improved the quality of high-resolution images of 2D crystal of membrane protein (Bacteriorhodopsin), especially in the high-eigenmode tapping, a mode we used for imaging membrane proteins in liquid for the first time. These results have been drafted as a paper and will be submitted soon to the appropriate journal, such as J of Biophysics or APL. This ability is also very important for the following studies in our main project employing S-layer protein 2D crystals. The new high-eigenmode tapping mode we demonstrated here will benefit researchers in the AFM community who are working on high-resolution imaging of biological samples in an aqueous environment. 2) We have upgraded our multimode AFM by introducing a new noise isolation box, which will facilitate the following research of our projects, as well as other projects in our lab that need AFM. 3) We have developed a robust cleaning protocol for AFM tips used for imaging in liquid. Future work: In the next step, we will start the self-assembly of S-layer proteins onto various substrates and image them using AFM, TEM, and STM. We will also try to modify the surface properties of S-layer protein arrays and use them as an antimicrobial surface to prevent the formation of biofilms. We will continue to collaborate with Bruker on our project. Further finance support is welcomed. With the success of the project, we might need further support in the commercialization of our technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship 21_IF_087 In situ AFM of Bio-inspired Antimicrobial Surfaces. (Peng Bao) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The search for new, functional antimicrobial surfaces is becoming more urgent as prevention of biofilms becomes an underpinning strategy for preventing biofilms that are implicated in AMR and significant economic costs across multiple industry sectors. Bioinspired materials and surfaces are emerging as an important class of antimicrobial surfaces. In this research, we will utilize the self-assembly of proteins to form a novel kind of well-controlled, nanostructured, and bio-compatible surface with antimicrobial functions. This smart surface will help us fight against the increasing threats from antibiotic resistance of bacteria, aligning well with the NBIC themes to prevent biofilms. This research fits well to the priorities outlined within the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) - developing a leading-edge healthcare solution. However, knowledge based discovery of successful systems requires two-fold ambitions: (i) imaging and probing the nature and performance of this surfaces in in situ environments, i.e. the liquid phase, and (ii) mapping the actual interaction of bacterial cells with these surfaces. This placement will enable the applicant to work with the leading instrument company in this field to optimise operating instrumental conditions to enable us to operate our AFM instruments at the highest levels. With the support from this fellowship, I will collaborate closely with Bruker. With their experience and expertise in AFM, I will be able to speed up the progress of my research and train other researchers in the group. I will also learn how to collaborate effectively/ productively with industry partners. This will help me establish a new or long-term collaborative relationship with industry partners. By leading this collaborative project, I will also gain/enhance my communication, leadership, and project management skills. All of these will benefit greatly my career development. This could be an essential step for me to enter the next stage as an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | With the support of the fellowship, I will further enhance my skills in the use of Bruker AFM, especially in the area of high-resolution in situ imaging of biological systems in the liquid. I will also get good training on the single-molecule force spectrum measurement with Bio-AFM. This exchange will not only improve my experimental skills in AFM but also will benefit other AFM users in our Surface Science Research Centre by bringing back new experimental skills/knowledge from our industry partner - Bruker. My expertise in many fields such as biophysics, microfluidics, biosensors, and antimicrobial surfaces will also benefit my collaborator in Bruker, by inspiring them to find wider applications of AFM in new research areas and open up market opportunities. In this secondment, I will collaborate with the researchers in Bruker to enable high level instrument operation to enable my project on "Probing microbial interaction at nanofabricated smart surfaces". Clear objectives are identified. In objective (1), we will study the self assembly/ dissociation of S-layer proteins at a liquid-solid interface using AFM. As S-layer proteins could be the target of many antibiotics or antimicrobial peptides, this research will help improve the efficiency of these drugs. The important part of objective (1) is to optimise experimental parameters of our AFM instrument to realize the high-resolution imaging in-situ. In objective (2), we will use bio-AFM technique to study the interaction between the S-layer and the surface of a bacterial cell and will benefit us in the design of novel, bio-inspired, and smart antifouling and antimicrobial surfaces. This research will provide critical proof-of-concept data for a new grant application on anti-biofouling, which has a wide societal and economic impact. |
| Impact | Achievements: 1) We have improved the quality of high-resolution images of 2D crystal of membrane protein (Bacteriorhodopsin), especially in the high-eigenmode tapping, a mode we used for imaging membrane proteins in liquid for the first time. These results have been drafted as a paper and will be submitted soon to the appropriate journal, such as J of Biophysics or APL. This ability is also very important for the following studies in our main project employing S-layer protein 2D crystals. The new high-eigenmode tapping mode we demonstrated here will benefit researchers in the AFM community who are working on high-resolution imaging of biological samples in an aqueous environment. 2) We have upgraded our multimode AFM by introducing a new noise isolation box, which will facilitate the following research of our projects, as well as other projects in our lab that need AFM. 3) We have developed a robust cleaning protocol for AFM tips used for imaging in liquid. Future work: In the next step, we will start the self-assembly of S-layer proteins onto various substrates and image them using AFM, TEM, and STM. We will also try to modify the surface properties of S-layer protein arrays and use them as an antimicrobial surface to prevent the formation of biofilms. We will continue to collaborate with Bruker on our project. Further finance support is welcomed. With the success of the project, we might need further support in the commercialization of our technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_01 Impact of the potential interfering of Azospirillum brasilense Az39, one of the most used strains in agriculture inoculants in Argentina in polymicrobial biofilms and their interaction with the plant.(Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | NOVA SA |
| Country | Argentina |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Studies in crop production require using novel strategies with low environmental impact. Some bacterial biofilms when associated with plant roots promote crop production (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria or PGPR) protecting them against environmental stress and diseases. Key for these interactions are small bacterial signal molecules which control the production of traits beneficial to the plant by a process known as quorum sensing (QS). Some bacterial plant pathogens also produce QS signals to trigger disease processes. Azospirillum brasilense Az39 is a key PGPR which can fix nitrogen for the plant and produce hormones which affect plant growth. It can degrade QS molecules and hence has potential to inactivate plant pathogens but also has the machinery to detect QS molecules although we still do not know how this affects the interaction with the plant. This fellowship will provide the required training to Dr. Gaston Lopez working at Rio Cuarto University (Argentina) in collaboration with the company NOVA SA to unravel how QS signal sensing and degradation 'impacts on the relationship between NOVA'S inoculant with Az39 (named Promozion), polymicrobial biofilms and the plant. This is paramount to understand the mechanisms behind the positive impact it has on crop production providing the stepping-stone required to improve natural inoculants using this bacterium for a wider use in agriculture in Argentina and other countries. The project will provide Dr. Gaston Lopez the know-how for the characterisation of QS inhibitory bacteria and the impact this has on plant growth and protection against diseases which he would take back to NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University for the optimisation of inoculants for field trials. This project aligns with the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund on Transforming Food Production through exploitation of natural inoculants and 101C Engineer theme. The long-term aims will be to improve agricultural productivity reducing the use of chemical treatments and hence their impact in the environment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Benefits to the Researcher: Dr. Gaston Lopez will gain know-how on the characterisation of quorum quenching bacteria including analytical chemistry techniques, construction of transcriptional fusions, tagging of bacteria for polymicrobial biofilms analysis, use of biofilms models and confocal microscopy, and determination of the specificity of QS receptors. Benefits to NBIC 1. Research in food security is at the heart of NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University through their research expertise on bacterial-plant interactions and the optimisation of inoculants. NBIC will benefit through the delivery of sustainable solutions to global food challenges increasing the international research portfolio of this Centre. 2. It will lead to long-term collaborations between NBIC and the Argentinian applicants through applications to emerging calls from UKRI to enhance links with Argentina and the GCRF in the strategic area of sustainable agriculture. 3. Dr. Gaston Lopez will be giving seminars to NBIC researchers during his visit to Nottingham and explore future collaborations between NOVA SA the University of Rio Cuarto and NBIC. Benefits to the UK It will strengthen links with Argentina through access to the unique infrastructure for research on maize, wheat and soybean production, being one of the largest producers in the world. Especially as the PGPR studied in this project is a major inoculant for both crops used by NOVA SA. This project will contribute to the UK cross-government programme on Global Food Security research and the outcomes are likely to be translated into UK crops to reduce the use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Benefits to Argentina The benefits to NOVA SA in particular and more generally to Argentina will be directly related to aiding the improvement of biofertilizers and biostimulants formulated with Azospirillum brasilense Az39 for the biological treatment of maize, wheat and soybean seeds or seedlings. The understanding of how the "cell to cell" communication mechanisms mediated by "quorum" signals modify the behaviour of this bacterium under agronomic conditions will become a "key tool" to improve the formulation of current commercial products with improved bacterial inoculant combinations, making them more efficient to promote plant growth under field conditions. The benefits will be reflected in the consolidation of an experimental line for this Argentinian team (NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University), which yea entail an increase in the timber of specific joint publications with Nottingham University and the establishment of inks with NBIC for longer term collaborations. |
| Impact | Although covid-19 reduced the time of my stay at Nottingham, I was able to make progress in the generation of some of the recombinant clones required to advance the understanding of the quorum sensing(QS)-quorum quenching (QS) system present in the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) A. brasilense Az39 with a view to study the impact of this system in crops inoculants. This was my trip outside Argentina and my stay at the Nottingham NBIC labs enabled me to acquire expertise in new molecular biology and analytical chemistry techniques. It also gave me the exposure to a very distinct way of working with opportunities to interact with scientists working in many disciplines but specially on biofilm research. This has also strengthened my CV and enabled me to apply for a permanent position as a CONICET researcher at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (application still under evaluation). Furthermore, the experience acquired during my stay allowed me to take on a part-time job as junior researcher in NOVA SA, the partner company who supported my FTMA application and work on the production of biofertilizers and in particular the strain I used in this project. NOVA SA is very interested in the project that I carried out during my stay at Nottingham. To enable me to continue with this project I have been given a PhD student, Sofía Nievas, who received a PhD scholarship from CONICET at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. This will ensure the continuation of the collaboration with Nottingham. Overall, my stay at an NBIC institution through this FTMA award, has allowed to lay the foundations to consolidate a longer-term international collaboration between Argentina (CONICET and UNRC) and the UK. We will continue to study how the QQ capacity of A. brasilense Az39 plays a role in the rhizosphere of crops and how this capacity can be exploited to develop new biofertilizers. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_01 Impact of the potential interfering of Azospirillum brasilense Az39, one of the most used strains in agriculture inoculants in Argentina in polymicrobial biofilms and their interaction with the plant.(Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Studies in crop production require using novel strategies with low environmental impact. Some bacterial biofilms when associated with plant roots promote crop production (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria or PGPR) protecting them against environmental stress and diseases. Key for these interactions are small bacterial signal molecules which control the production of traits beneficial to the plant by a process known as quorum sensing (QS). Some bacterial plant pathogens also produce QS signals to trigger disease processes. Azospirillum brasilense Az39 is a key PGPR which can fix nitrogen for the plant and produce hormones which affect plant growth. It can degrade QS molecules and hence has potential to inactivate plant pathogens but also has the machinery to detect QS molecules although we still do not know how this affects the interaction with the plant. This fellowship will provide the required training to Dr. Gaston Lopez working at Rio Cuarto University (Argentina) in collaboration with the company NOVA SA to unravel how QS signal sensing and degradation 'impacts on the relationship between NOVA'S inoculant with Az39 (named Promozion), polymicrobial biofilms and the plant. This is paramount to understand the mechanisms behind the positive impact it has on crop production providing the stepping-stone required to improve natural inoculants using this bacterium for a wider use in agriculture in Argentina and other countries. The project will provide Dr. Gaston Lopez the know-how for the characterisation of QS inhibitory bacteria and the impact this has on plant growth and protection against diseases which he would take back to NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University for the optimisation of inoculants for field trials. This project aligns with the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund on Transforming Food Production through exploitation of natural inoculants and 101C Engineer theme. The long-term aims will be to improve agricultural productivity reducing the use of chemical treatments and hence their impact in the environment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Benefits to the Researcher: Dr. Gaston Lopez will gain know-how on the characterisation of quorum quenching bacteria including analytical chemistry techniques, construction of transcriptional fusions, tagging of bacteria for polymicrobial biofilms analysis, use of biofilms models and confocal microscopy, and determination of the specificity of QS receptors. Benefits to NBIC 1. Research in food security is at the heart of NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University through their research expertise on bacterial-plant interactions and the optimisation of inoculants. NBIC will benefit through the delivery of sustainable solutions to global food challenges increasing the international research portfolio of this Centre. 2. It will lead to long-term collaborations between NBIC and the Argentinian applicants through applications to emerging calls from UKRI to enhance links with Argentina and the GCRF in the strategic area of sustainable agriculture. 3. Dr. Gaston Lopez will be giving seminars to NBIC researchers during his visit to Nottingham and explore future collaborations between NOVA SA the University of Rio Cuarto and NBIC. Benefits to the UK It will strengthen links with Argentina through access to the unique infrastructure for research on maize, wheat and soybean production, being one of the largest producers in the world. Especially as the PGPR studied in this project is a major inoculant for both crops used by NOVA SA. This project will contribute to the UK cross-government programme on Global Food Security research and the outcomes are likely to be translated into UK crops to reduce the use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Benefits to Argentina The benefits to NOVA SA in particular and more generally to Argentina will be directly related to aiding the improvement of biofertilizers and biostimulants formulated with Azospirillum brasilense Az39 for the biological treatment of maize, wheat and soybean seeds or seedlings. The understanding of how the "cell to cell" communication mechanisms mediated by "quorum" signals modify the behaviour of this bacterium under agronomic conditions will become a "key tool" to improve the formulation of current commercial products with improved bacterial inoculant combinations, making them more efficient to promote plant growth under field conditions. The benefits will be reflected in the consolidation of an experimental line for this Argentinian team (NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University), which yea entail an increase in the timber of specific joint publications with Nottingham University and the establishment of inks with NBIC for longer term collaborations. |
| Impact | Although covid-19 reduced the time of my stay at Nottingham, I was able to make progress in the generation of some of the recombinant clones required to advance the understanding of the quorum sensing(QS)-quorum quenching (QS) system present in the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) A. brasilense Az39 with a view to study the impact of this system in crops inoculants. This was my trip outside Argentina and my stay at the Nottingham NBIC labs enabled me to acquire expertise in new molecular biology and analytical chemistry techniques. It also gave me the exposure to a very distinct way of working with opportunities to interact with scientists working in many disciplines but specially on biofilm research. This has also strengthened my CV and enabled me to apply for a permanent position as a CONICET researcher at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (application still under evaluation). Furthermore, the experience acquired during my stay allowed me to take on a part-time job as junior researcher in NOVA SA, the partner company who supported my FTMA application and work on the production of biofertilizers and in particular the strain I used in this project. NOVA SA is very interested in the project that I carried out during my stay at Nottingham. To enable me to continue with this project I have been given a PhD student, Sofía Nievas, who received a PhD scholarship from CONICET at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. This will ensure the continuation of the collaboration with Nottingham. Overall, my stay at an NBIC institution through this FTMA award, has allowed to lay the foundations to consolidate a longer-term international collaboration between Argentina (CONICET and UNRC) and the UK. We will continue to study how the QQ capacity of A. brasilense Az39 plays a role in the rhizosphere of crops and how this capacity can be exploited to develop new biofertilizers. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_01 Impact of the potential interfering of Azospirillum brasilense Az39, one of the most used strains in agriculture inoculants in Argentina in polymicrobial biofilms and their interaction with the plant.(Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Studies in crop production require using novel strategies with low environmental impact. Some bacterial biofilms when associated with plant roots promote crop production (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria or PGPR) protecting them against environmental stress and diseases. Key for these interactions are small bacterial signal molecules which control the production of traits beneficial to the plant by a process known as quorum sensing (QS). Some bacterial plant pathogens also produce QS signals to trigger disease processes. Azospirillum brasilense Az39 is a key PGPR which can fix nitrogen for the plant and produce hormones which affect plant growth. It can degrade QS molecules and hence has potential to inactivate plant pathogens but also has the machinery to detect QS molecules although we still do not know how this affects the interaction with the plant. This fellowship will provide the required training to Dr. Gaston Lopez working at Rio Cuarto University (Argentina) in collaboration with the company NOVA SA to unravel how QS signal sensing and degradation 'impacts on the relationship between NOVA'S inoculant with Az39 (named Promozion), polymicrobial biofilms and the plant. This is paramount to understand the mechanisms behind the positive impact it has on crop production providing the stepping-stone required to improve natural inoculants using this bacterium for a wider use in agriculture in Argentina and other countries. The project will provide Dr. Gaston Lopez the know-how for the characterisation of QS inhibitory bacteria and the impact this has on plant growth and protection against diseases which he would take back to NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University for the optimisation of inoculants for field trials. This project aligns with the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund on Transforming Food Production through exploitation of natural inoculants and 101C Engineer theme. The long-term aims will be to improve agricultural productivity reducing the use of chemical treatments and hence their impact in the environment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Benefits to the Researcher: Dr. Gaston Lopez will gain know-how on the characterisation of quorum quenching bacteria including analytical chemistry techniques, construction of transcriptional fusions, tagging of bacteria for polymicrobial biofilms analysis, use of biofilms models and confocal microscopy, and determination of the specificity of QS receptors. Benefits to NBIC 1. Research in food security is at the heart of NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University through their research expertise on bacterial-plant interactions and the optimisation of inoculants. NBIC will benefit through the delivery of sustainable solutions to global food challenges increasing the international research portfolio of this Centre. 2. It will lead to long-term collaborations between NBIC and the Argentinian applicants through applications to emerging calls from UKRI to enhance links with Argentina and the GCRF in the strategic area of sustainable agriculture. 3. Dr. Gaston Lopez will be giving seminars to NBIC researchers during his visit to Nottingham and explore future collaborations between NOVA SA the University of Rio Cuarto and NBIC. Benefits to the UK It will strengthen links with Argentina through access to the unique infrastructure for research on maize, wheat and soybean production, being one of the largest producers in the world. Especially as the PGPR studied in this project is a major inoculant for both crops used by NOVA SA. This project will contribute to the UK cross-government programme on Global Food Security research and the outcomes are likely to be translated into UK crops to reduce the use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Benefits to Argentina The benefits to NOVA SA in particular and more generally to Argentina will be directly related to aiding the improvement of biofertilizers and biostimulants formulated with Azospirillum brasilense Az39 for the biological treatment of maize, wheat and soybean seeds or seedlings. The understanding of how the "cell to cell" communication mechanisms mediated by "quorum" signals modify the behaviour of this bacterium under agronomic conditions will become a "key tool" to improve the formulation of current commercial products with improved bacterial inoculant combinations, making them more efficient to promote plant growth under field conditions. The benefits will be reflected in the consolidation of an experimental line for this Argentinian team (NOVA SA and Rio Cuarto University), which yea entail an increase in the timber of specific joint publications with Nottingham University and the establishment of inks with NBIC for longer term collaborations. |
| Impact | Although covid-19 reduced the time of my stay at Nottingham, I was able to make progress in the generation of some of the recombinant clones required to advance the understanding of the quorum sensing(QS)-quorum quenching (QS) system present in the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) A. brasilense Az39 with a view to study the impact of this system in crops inoculants. This was my trip outside Argentina and my stay at the Nottingham NBIC labs enabled me to acquire expertise in new molecular biology and analytical chemistry techniques. It also gave me the exposure to a very distinct way of working with opportunities to interact with scientists working in many disciplines but specially on biofilm research. This has also strengthened my CV and enabled me to apply for a permanent position as a CONICET researcher at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (application still under evaluation). Furthermore, the experience acquired during my stay allowed me to take on a part-time job as junior researcher in NOVA SA, the partner company who supported my FTMA application and work on the production of biofertilizers and in particular the strain I used in this project. NOVA SA is very interested in the project that I carried out during my stay at Nottingham. To enable me to continue with this project I have been given a PhD student, Sofía Nievas, who received a PhD scholarship from CONICET at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. This will ensure the continuation of the collaboration with Nottingham. Overall, my stay at an NBIC institution through this FTMA award, has allowed to lay the foundations to consolidate a longer-term international collaboration between Argentina (CONICET and UNRC) and the UK. We will continue to study how the QQ capacity of A. brasilense Az39 plays a role in the rhizosphere of crops and how this capacity can be exploited to develop new biofertilizers. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_17 Organoids-on-a-chip for detecting and understanding biofilm formation in polymicrobial cystic fibrosis infections (José Juan-Colás) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Identifying and quantifying virulence, communication and antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial communities is crucial for understanding infection, improving diagnostics and for the development of targeted, personalised therapies. While current standardised Omics methods provide taxonomic specificity, they are destructive and lack spatiotemporal resolution for dynamically mapping early-biofilm formation in living bacterial communities. New technology is required that can non-destructively and rapidly quantify biofilm formation within the host-specific ecological conditions. This technology would enable testing of fundamental microbiological and clinically relevant questions, inform new diagnostic tools and enable screening of antimicrobial therapies, ultimately accelerating the detection of disease and developing leading-edge healthcare. By combining multi-modal spectroscopy (optical and electrochemical) and microfluidics, I am currently developing technology to spatiotemporally map early-biofilm formation in a system that mimics the ecological and environmental conditions of the Cystic Fibrosis(CF) lung. However, due to the absence of bacterial-host interactions, the phenotypic response of these CF-polymicrobial cultures differs from that observed in CF-patients. To fully understand communities in CF it is thus necessary to recreate the precise niche conditions, including interactions with host-cells. To achieve this, I will visit Prof. Molin in DTU(Denmark), who is an established international leader in the field of infectious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prof. Molin is currently developing miniature organ models (organoids) in order to accurately mimic the natural environment of the CF-lung more closely than current 'test-tube' models of infection. This NBIC funding will allow me to engage with Prof. Molin and his team and to develop expertise in culturing epithelial stem cells into organoid models of human lung tissue. This expertise will subsequently be transferred to York to enhance on-going research in CF-biofilms. The know-how developed through this project would underpin follow-on research with foci in (a)novel tools to improve diagnosis and treatment of CF-bacterial infections and (b)understanding biofilm formation and bacteria-host interactions in CF-lungs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project will provide a number of quantitative and qualitative benefits to my research, professional development and ultimately to different people at the University of York and the university itself. The successful realisation of this award will complement my expertise in engineering and physical sciences by allowing me to immerse myself in a clinically focussed research group specialising in experimental microbiology. This NBIC award will also help to position York at the forefront of clinical research and create new links between York and DTU through a long-lasting collaboration. The integration of organoid models of lung tissue with my novel analytical technologies will provide a new approach to study and understand CF in a realistic mimic of lung environments This will greatly enhance the clinical relevance of my current research on early-biofilm formation of model CF polymicrobial communities (which comprise Pseudomonas aureginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), and allow my research to be published in high impact factor journals. Moreover, it would pave the way to generate the first publication, if not the first one of this kind that shows how realistic biofilm formation naturally occurs in a controlled system that reproduces the CF patients' microbiota and pathogen-host interactions. Upon completion of this award, the knowledge and skillset acquired to culture organoids, control the biochemical microenvironment of lung organoids, optimise the required nutrient supply and tailor the biophysical microenvironment would ultimately be transferred to York. Bringing this expertise to my current institution will directly enhance the activities of my local collaborators, Ville Friman and Michael Bottery, and expose them to new areas of research. The Friman and Bottery groups have already expressed an interest in employing the lung CF organoid in their research focussed on understanding how the CF focal pathogen (P. aeruginosa) evolves and adapts in the CF lung due to local microbiota and nutrient availability. This collaboration would be mutually beneficial, as my developed multi-modal sensing technology optimised for polymicrobial communities will complement the Molin group experimental capabilities. Specifically, it will allow his group to assess the mechanism and efficacy of novel targeted treatments of respiratory CF infections, in real-time and non-invasively. Thus, a visit to his lab would help establish a long-lasting collaboration and enable detailed and lengthy discussions with the group's members in order to support my upcoming Sir Henry Dale fellowship application with him as the principal collaborator, grounded in challenges in the field. |
| Impact | We generated preliminary data and initially explored the viability of human enteroids to investigate early-biofilm formation in cystic fibrosis lung infections. We aim to use this data to (i) apply for a responsive mode grant with myself as the technical collaborator (lead by Soren Molin at DTU) and (ii) underpin a Sir Henry Dale fellowship application focused on developing a real-time, localised phenotyping technology based on a combination of Raman microscopy, machine learning and microfluidics. I also plan to further strengthen this preliminary data and carry out follow-up experiments in York to produce a joint publication that demonstrates how this technology that can spatiotemporally map pyocyanin regulation in realistic CF lung infections. Moreover, I engaged with individuals from a number of DTU health technology research groups to share expertise in developing different fluidic systems. This was very insightful to critically assess the viability of complementary microfluidic techniques (namely 3D printing and the in-house developed spin-disk approach) for studying biofilm formation in lung CF infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_17 Organoids-on-a-chip for detecting and understanding biofilm formation in polymicrobial cystic fibrosis infections (José Juan-Colás) |
| Organisation | Technical University of Denmark |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Identifying and quantifying virulence, communication and antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial communities is crucial for understanding infection, improving diagnostics and for the development of targeted, personalised therapies. While current standardised Omics methods provide taxonomic specificity, they are destructive and lack spatiotemporal resolution for dynamically mapping early-biofilm formation in living bacterial communities. New technology is required that can non-destructively and rapidly quantify biofilm formation within the host-specific ecological conditions. This technology would enable testing of fundamental microbiological and clinically relevant questions, inform new diagnostic tools and enable screening of antimicrobial therapies, ultimately accelerating the detection of disease and developing leading-edge healthcare. By combining multi-modal spectroscopy (optical and electrochemical) and microfluidics, I am currently developing technology to spatiotemporally map early-biofilm formation in a system that mimics the ecological and environmental conditions of the Cystic Fibrosis(CF) lung. However, due to the absence of bacterial-host interactions, the phenotypic response of these CF-polymicrobial cultures differs from that observed in CF-patients. To fully understand communities in CF it is thus necessary to recreate the precise niche conditions, including interactions with host-cells. To achieve this, I will visit Prof. Molin in DTU(Denmark), who is an established international leader in the field of infectious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prof. Molin is currently developing miniature organ models (organoids) in order to accurately mimic the natural environment of the CF-lung more closely than current 'test-tube' models of infection. This NBIC funding will allow me to engage with Prof. Molin and his team and to develop expertise in culturing epithelial stem cells into organoid models of human lung tissue. This expertise will subsequently be transferred to York to enhance on-going research in CF-biofilms. The know-how developed through this project would underpin follow-on research with foci in (a)novel tools to improve diagnosis and treatment of CF-bacterial infections and (b)understanding biofilm formation and bacteria-host interactions in CF-lungs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project will provide a number of quantitative and qualitative benefits to my research, professional development and ultimately to different people at the University of York and the university itself. The successful realisation of this award will complement my expertise in engineering and physical sciences by allowing me to immerse myself in a clinically focussed research group specialising in experimental microbiology. This NBIC award will also help to position York at the forefront of clinical research and create new links between York and DTU through a long-lasting collaboration. The integration of organoid models of lung tissue with my novel analytical technologies will provide a new approach to study and understand CF in a realistic mimic of lung environments This will greatly enhance the clinical relevance of my current research on early-biofilm formation of model CF polymicrobial communities (which comprise Pseudomonas aureginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), and allow my research to be published in high impact factor journals. Moreover, it would pave the way to generate the first publication, if not the first one of this kind that shows how realistic biofilm formation naturally occurs in a controlled system that reproduces the CF patients' microbiota and pathogen-host interactions. Upon completion of this award, the knowledge and skillset acquired to culture organoids, control the biochemical microenvironment of lung organoids, optimise the required nutrient supply and tailor the biophysical microenvironment would ultimately be transferred to York. Bringing this expertise to my current institution will directly enhance the activities of my local collaborators, Ville Friman and Michael Bottery, and expose them to new areas of research. The Friman and Bottery groups have already expressed an interest in employing the lung CF organoid in their research focussed on understanding how the CF focal pathogen (P. aeruginosa) evolves and adapts in the CF lung due to local microbiota and nutrient availability. This collaboration would be mutually beneficial, as my developed multi-modal sensing technology optimised for polymicrobial communities will complement the Molin group experimental capabilities. Specifically, it will allow his group to assess the mechanism and efficacy of novel targeted treatments of respiratory CF infections, in real-time and non-invasively. Thus, a visit to his lab would help establish a long-lasting collaboration and enable detailed and lengthy discussions with the group's members in order to support my upcoming Sir Henry Dale fellowship application with him as the principal collaborator, grounded in challenges in the field. |
| Impact | We generated preliminary data and initially explored the viability of human enteroids to investigate early-biofilm formation in cystic fibrosis lung infections. We aim to use this data to (i) apply for a responsive mode grant with myself as the technical collaborator (lead by Soren Molin at DTU) and (ii) underpin a Sir Henry Dale fellowship application focused on developing a real-time, localised phenotyping technology based on a combination of Raman microscopy, machine learning and microfluidics. I also plan to further strengthen this preliminary data and carry out follow-up experiments in York to produce a joint publication that demonstrates how this technology that can spatiotemporally map pyocyanin regulation in realistic CF lung infections. Moreover, I engaged with individuals from a number of DTU health technology research groups to share expertise in developing different fluidic systems. This was very insightful to critically assess the viability of complementary microfluidic techniques (namely 3D printing and the in-house developed spin-disk approach) for studying biofilm formation in lung CF infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_17 Organoids-on-a-chip for detecting and understanding biofilm formation in polymicrobial cystic fibrosis infections (José Juan-Colás) |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Identifying and quantifying virulence, communication and antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial communities is crucial for understanding infection, improving diagnostics and for the development of targeted, personalised therapies. While current standardised Omics methods provide taxonomic specificity, they are destructive and lack spatiotemporal resolution for dynamically mapping early-biofilm formation in living bacterial communities. New technology is required that can non-destructively and rapidly quantify biofilm formation within the host-specific ecological conditions. This technology would enable testing of fundamental microbiological and clinically relevant questions, inform new diagnostic tools and enable screening of antimicrobial therapies, ultimately accelerating the detection of disease and developing leading-edge healthcare. By combining multi-modal spectroscopy (optical and electrochemical) and microfluidics, I am currently developing technology to spatiotemporally map early-biofilm formation in a system that mimics the ecological and environmental conditions of the Cystic Fibrosis(CF) lung. However, due to the absence of bacterial-host interactions, the phenotypic response of these CF-polymicrobial cultures differs from that observed in CF-patients. To fully understand communities in CF it is thus necessary to recreate the precise niche conditions, including interactions with host-cells. To achieve this, I will visit Prof. Molin in DTU(Denmark), who is an established international leader in the field of infectious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prof. Molin is currently developing miniature organ models (organoids) in order to accurately mimic the natural environment of the CF-lung more closely than current 'test-tube' models of infection. This NBIC funding will allow me to engage with Prof. Molin and his team and to develop expertise in culturing epithelial stem cells into organoid models of human lung tissue. This expertise will subsequently be transferred to York to enhance on-going research in CF-biofilms. The know-how developed through this project would underpin follow-on research with foci in (a)novel tools to improve diagnosis and treatment of CF-bacterial infections and (b)understanding biofilm formation and bacteria-host interactions in CF-lungs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project will provide a number of quantitative and qualitative benefits to my research, professional development and ultimately to different people at the University of York and the university itself. The successful realisation of this award will complement my expertise in engineering and physical sciences by allowing me to immerse myself in a clinically focussed research group specialising in experimental microbiology. This NBIC award will also help to position York at the forefront of clinical research and create new links between York and DTU through a long-lasting collaboration. The integration of organoid models of lung tissue with my novel analytical technologies will provide a new approach to study and understand CF in a realistic mimic of lung environments This will greatly enhance the clinical relevance of my current research on early-biofilm formation of model CF polymicrobial communities (which comprise Pseudomonas aureginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), and allow my research to be published in high impact factor journals. Moreover, it would pave the way to generate the first publication, if not the first one of this kind that shows how realistic biofilm formation naturally occurs in a controlled system that reproduces the CF patients' microbiota and pathogen-host interactions. Upon completion of this award, the knowledge and skillset acquired to culture organoids, control the biochemical microenvironment of lung organoids, optimise the required nutrient supply and tailor the biophysical microenvironment would ultimately be transferred to York. Bringing this expertise to my current institution will directly enhance the activities of my local collaborators, Ville Friman and Michael Bottery, and expose them to new areas of research. The Friman and Bottery groups have already expressed an interest in employing the lung CF organoid in their research focussed on understanding how the CF focal pathogen (P. aeruginosa) evolves and adapts in the CF lung due to local microbiota and nutrient availability. This collaboration would be mutually beneficial, as my developed multi-modal sensing technology optimised for polymicrobial communities will complement the Molin group experimental capabilities. Specifically, it will allow his group to assess the mechanism and efficacy of novel targeted treatments of respiratory CF infections, in real-time and non-invasively. Thus, a visit to his lab would help establish a long-lasting collaboration and enable detailed and lengthy discussions with the group's members in order to support my upcoming Sir Henry Dale fellowship application with him as the principal collaborator, grounded in challenges in the field. |
| Impact | We generated preliminary data and initially explored the viability of human enteroids to investigate early-biofilm formation in cystic fibrosis lung infections. We aim to use this data to (i) apply for a responsive mode grant with myself as the technical collaborator (lead by Soren Molin at DTU) and (ii) underpin a Sir Henry Dale fellowship application focused on developing a real-time, localised phenotyping technology based on a combination of Raman microscopy, machine learning and microfluidics. I also plan to further strengthen this preliminary data and carry out follow-up experiments in York to produce a joint publication that demonstrates how this technology that can spatiotemporally map pyocyanin regulation in realistic CF lung infections. Moreover, I engaged with individuals from a number of DTU health technology research groups to share expertise in developing different fluidic systems. This was very insightful to critically assess the viability of complementary microfluidic techniques (namely 3D printing and the in-house developed spin-disk approach) for studying biofilm formation in lung CF infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_31 Engineering cyanobacteria biofilms to transform production of aqua- and agri-culture feedstocks (Sarah Rouse) |
| Organisation | Cyanofeed Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of the partnership is to optimise a new method for aqua- and agri-culture feedstock production, by using engineered biofilm-forming cyanobacteria as a food source. This 2 month industry-based project will bring together elements of academic research and industrial processes. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. Production of animal feed is ecologically damaging, and expensive. Fishmeal is usually derived from ocean prey fish and their stocks are being depleted. Using cyanobacteria and micro algae has been attempted in the past but farmed fish including salmon and trout are unable to digest large quantities because of the exopolysaccharides - important components of biofilm. Cyanofeed are engineering new strains to keep the beneficial aspects of biofilm whilst making them readily digestible to the fish. I will work with them to optimise these variants, using on site testing to determine microbial composition and the best methods to improve efficiency in harvesting and downstream processing. In the longer term, these same processes could potentially be used to make renewable protein sources for human consumption. Being awarded this NBIC Innovation Fellowship would pave the way for future translational research partnerships with industry. It will provide a foundation in the steps required for successful commercialisation of lab based work. I have a deep understanding of the underlying science of biofilm formation, but have limited experience of working in an industrial environment, in particular, the challenges associated with large scale production. Furthermore, being based at an early-stage biotech startup will involve exposure to more varied aspects of working within industry that I may not experience at a larger company. |
| Collaborator Contribution | within a start-up will also allow me to be involved in company expansion and provides potential for long-term partnership. • Immediate potential collaboration: The 2 month secondment is expected to be the beginning of a longterm partnership. • Joint publications: Expect to publish a white paper on this method and present outcomes at research conferences. • Societal and economic impact: This fellowship will have both societal and economic impact. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. • Translational applications will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. |
| Impact | We have designed a robust testing approach which will benefit the production of modified feedstocks. This is the first, measurable step within an important area of research which will have both societal and economic impact in the medium to long-term. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. We also expect to develop our testing protocols for translational applications that will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. The protocols designed during the FTMA Innovation Fellowship will be implemented in the next round of feeding trials. This Innovation Fellowship was intended to lay the groundwork for a longer-term partnership. The resources and support available from NBIC will be beneficial going forwards, and we hope to be able to attend any future training workshops. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_31 Engineering cyanobacteria biofilms to transform production of aqua- and agri-culture feedstocks (Sarah Rouse) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of the partnership is to optimise a new method for aqua- and agri-culture feedstock production, by using engineered biofilm-forming cyanobacteria as a food source. This 2 month industry-based project will bring together elements of academic research and industrial processes. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. Production of animal feed is ecologically damaging, and expensive. Fishmeal is usually derived from ocean prey fish and their stocks are being depleted. Using cyanobacteria and micro algae has been attempted in the past but farmed fish including salmon and trout are unable to digest large quantities because of the exopolysaccharides - important components of biofilm. Cyanofeed are engineering new strains to keep the beneficial aspects of biofilm whilst making them readily digestible to the fish. I will work with them to optimise these variants, using on site testing to determine microbial composition and the best methods to improve efficiency in harvesting and downstream processing. In the longer term, these same processes could potentially be used to make renewable protein sources for human consumption. Being awarded this NBIC Innovation Fellowship would pave the way for future translational research partnerships with industry. It will provide a foundation in the steps required for successful commercialisation of lab based work. I have a deep understanding of the underlying science of biofilm formation, but have limited experience of working in an industrial environment, in particular, the challenges associated with large scale production. Furthermore, being based at an early-stage biotech startup will involve exposure to more varied aspects of working within industry that I may not experience at a larger company. |
| Collaborator Contribution | within a start-up will also allow me to be involved in company expansion and provides potential for long-term partnership. • Immediate potential collaboration: The 2 month secondment is expected to be the beginning of a longterm partnership. • Joint publications: Expect to publish a white paper on this method and present outcomes at research conferences. • Societal and economic impact: This fellowship will have both societal and economic impact. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. • Translational applications will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. |
| Impact | We have designed a robust testing approach which will benefit the production of modified feedstocks. This is the first, measurable step within an important area of research which will have both societal and economic impact in the medium to long-term. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. We also expect to develop our testing protocols for translational applications that will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. The protocols designed during the FTMA Innovation Fellowship will be implemented in the next round of feeding trials. This Innovation Fellowship was intended to lay the groundwork for a longer-term partnership. The resources and support available from NBIC will be beneficial going forwards, and we hope to be able to attend any future training workshops. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_31 Engineering cyanobacteria biofilms to transform production of aqua- and agri-culture feedstocks (Sarah Rouse) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of the partnership is to optimise a new method for aqua- and agri-culture feedstock production, by using engineered biofilm-forming cyanobacteria as a food source. This 2 month industry-based project will bring together elements of academic research and industrial processes. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. Production of animal feed is ecologically damaging, and expensive. Fishmeal is usually derived from ocean prey fish and their stocks are being depleted. Using cyanobacteria and micro algae has been attempted in the past but farmed fish including salmon and trout are unable to digest large quantities because of the exopolysaccharides - important components of biofilm. Cyanofeed are engineering new strains to keep the beneficial aspects of biofilm whilst making them readily digestible to the fish. I will work with them to optimise these variants, using on site testing to determine microbial composition and the best methods to improve efficiency in harvesting and downstream processing. In the longer term, these same processes could potentially be used to make renewable protein sources for human consumption. Being awarded this NBIC Innovation Fellowship would pave the way for future translational research partnerships with industry. It will provide a foundation in the steps required for successful commercialisation of lab based work. I have a deep understanding of the underlying science of biofilm formation, but have limited experience of working in an industrial environment, in particular, the challenges associated with large scale production. Furthermore, being based at an early-stage biotech startup will involve exposure to more varied aspects of working within industry that I may not experience at a larger company. |
| Collaborator Contribution | within a start-up will also allow me to be involved in company expansion and provides potential for long-term partnership. • Immediate potential collaboration: The 2 month secondment is expected to be the beginning of a longterm partnership. • Joint publications: Expect to publish a white paper on this method and present outcomes at research conferences. • Societal and economic impact: This fellowship will have both societal and economic impact. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. • Translational applications will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. |
| Impact | We have designed a robust testing approach which will benefit the production of modified feedstocks. This is the first, measurable step within an important area of research which will have both societal and economic impact in the medium to long-term. Finding new ways to make renewable protein sources in feedstock production is a high priority area of research. We also expect to develop our testing protocols for translational applications that will arise from our understanding of how the engineered biofilm strains behave, and new insight into which properties of biofilm are beneficial for nutrition. This project is aligned to the UKRI Transforming Food Production Industry Challenge. The protocols designed during the FTMA Innovation Fellowship will be implemented in the next round of feeding trials. This Innovation Fellowship was intended to lay the groundwork for a longer-term partnership. The resources and support available from NBIC will be beneficial going forwards, and we hope to be able to attend any future training workshops. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | Fixed phage limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | King's College Hospital |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | University of Helsinki |
| Country | Finland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_41 Developing a clinically relevant phage cocktail against Klebsiella to prevent biofilm formation (Eleanor Jameson) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Klebsiella are WHO Priority Pathogens, with a high incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, which can be transmitted to other bacteria. I have supplied phages for use in compassionate phagetherapy, and developed a phage-cocktail that prevents Klebsiella biofilm formation in a catheter model. My Innovation Fellowship aims: 1) I will work with clinical scientists to fully characterise my phage cocktail. The biggest obstacle in compassionate use of phage to treat infection is time: testing the efficacy of large numbers of phages, followed by characterisation, takes 4-6 months so it is not a viable treatment option in most cases. By developing a characterised phage-cocktail, pre-tested on clinical Klebsiella isolates, I will provide a broadspectrum, safe, resource that will speed up the time it takes patients to get effective treatment. 2) Working with Fixed-phage Ltd (specialising in human health) I will develop a method to stably bind the phage cocktail to medical devices (e.g. catheters) and use in transmission hot-spots (hospital sinks), stabalising the phages to prevent life-threatening Klebsiella infections. 3) I will develop knowledge of clinical issues and hurdles to translate my current Klebsiella phage cocktail research, and future phage research, to a medical setting. Current hurdles to phage-therapy include: reproducible Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard phage is difficult (available through JAFRAL, Slovenia); few clinical trials have been undertaken (<20); and ~80% of phage genes are unknown, making it challenging to exclude AMR, toxicity or integrase genes (no side-effects observed in compassionate phage-therapy involving my pre-screened phages). Therefore, I will focus on infection prevention and compassionate phage-therapy to circumvent the issues associated with using phages as a drug. This work fits the "leading edge healthcare" challenge, by allowing me to develop a broad-spectrum, safe, effective resource to prevent Klebsiella biofilms on medical devices and transmission hotspots, and for future compassionate phage-therapy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The expected outcomes of this mobility fellowship will take my current Klebsiella phage research into a clinical setting and increase my understanding of the hurdles involved. I will obtain currently circulating clinical Klebsiella isolates through collaborators Tim Felton and Stephanie Thomas, Wythenshawe Hospital and Surabhi Taori, Kings College Hospital. I will sequence these Klebsiella to analyse the diversity of the strains and understand their relatedness and origins. These isolates will allow me to determine the range and effectiveness of my phage-cocktail on circulating Klebsiella strains. By collaborating directly with clinicians and clinical scientists, I will gain a greater understanding of the challenges within hospitals involved in identifying Klebsiella. Such as the high frequency of coliform infections and time/budgeting constraints that limit pathogen identification, AMR carriage and outbreak strains, in addition to the constraints/restrictions related to AMR Klebsiella control measures. I will further develop my phage-cocktail into a robust, characterised phage-cocktail, rigorously tested against a wide range of circulating clinical Klebsiella. This work will build on my compassionate phagetherapy collaboration with Prof Mikael Skurnik, University of Helsinki. During our collaboration it has become clear that obtaining phages, screening phages against patient's Klebsiella strains, characterising phages, sequencing, checking genomes (for integrases, AMR and toxins) before designing a cocktail of 2-3 phages delays the application of phage-therapy to patients. I will collaborate with Fixed-phage to develop and test a cost-effective solution to fix my phage-cocktail to medical devices and transmission hot-spots. Together we will determine if the method can add value or will cause further hurdles and complications in preventing Klebsiella transmission. Initial testing will fix my phage-cocktail being fixed to the catheters, prior to optimisation. This will establish all components of the phage-cocktail remain viable for long enough to be effective after fixing. The pre-tested cocktail will be made available for compassionate phage-therapy to reduce the lead time between identifying a suitable patient and providing the patient with an effective treatment. More traditional academic outputs including publication of the Klebsiella strain diversity and efficacy of my initial phage-cocktail in catheters in high-impact open access journals e.g. Scientific reports, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings will also be presented at an international conference, e.g. Phage Futures Europe 2020. The findings of this work will contribute to future grant applications to commercialise the optimised phage-cocktail for use of an infection-control agent, such as CARB-X. University of Warwick: My expertise on phage therapy and potential against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. I am currently sequencing the bacterial strains they sent me and will provide them information on the genomes of the clinical bacterial isolates. Fixed phage limited: Fixed-Phage are providing staff time and resources for the preparation and testing of solid materials, including catheters with phages immobilised onto the surface. King's College Hospital: They have provided 20 strains each of E. coli and Klebsiella isolated from patients at King's College Hospital. Manchester Royal Infirmary: They have provided 75 strains of Klebsiella isolated from patients in Manchester. |
| Impact | I have published the work showing that my phage isolates can prevent Klebsiella biofilms in catheters with a simple phage cocktail (crediting NBIC FMTA): E. Townsend, J. Moat, E. Jameson (2020) CAUTI's Next Top Model - model dependent Klebsiella biofilm inhibition by bacteriophages and antimicrobials. Biofilm doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100038 The funding has enabled me to make connections with Wythenshawe and King's College Hospital which have been helpful to understand what Klebsiella strains are currently circulating and obtain expert advice on what is possible in hospitals. The working relationship with Fixed-phage Ltd has been fruitful and we have identified some potential stumbling blocks. The preliminary data will be vital in applying for the next stage of funding to use phages on medical devices. Funding will be sort to protect the IP for the phage cocktail and phage coated catheter. The cocktail will be patentable as the optimised phage cocktail will not be published at the time (previous published work has included some inefficient phage cocktails, therefore I have not compromised the IP). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_45 Superior Anti-biofilm Coatings for Urinary Catheters (Paolo Pantalone) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project aims to provide novel insights regarding the interactions of bacterial urinary tract pathogens with anti-fouling polymers (Nottingham) combined with a novel anti-biofilm technology (lactams - Unilever). This creates a potential opportunity to develop superior catheter materials for preventing catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI's). Various physical techniques will be employed to characterise the surfaces of lactam-treated materials using established techniques (supported by the Materials Innovation Factory). Single-cell tracking via multimode 2D-3D imaging and confocal microscopy will used to investigate bacteria-lactam surface interactions and multi-species biofilm formation in artificial urine. The project will facilitate development of my current knowledge surrounding lactam anti-biofilm by expanding to alternative mixed species biofilms. I will be using my intellectual abilities to translate into a previously unexplored area - combining fouling resistant polymers with the lactam material. This will require creative thought and problem solving on my part to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner. Freedom to manage the project will require working to deadlines within a multidisciplinary team. My professional network will be enhanced leading to future industrial collaborations. Alignment to ISC: Leading Edge Healthcare - Recognising the demands of an aging population and delivering superior technologies and products. Urinary tract catheters are the most commonly used prosthetic medical devices, with 15-25% of patients requiring bladder catheterisation during hospitalization. They are used to manage urine retention or incontinence for short and extended periods. Long-term catheter users with permanent disability will need a catheter change after 2-3 months for the rest of their lives. Catheters promote CAUTIs that, if left untreated, may lead to kidney infection, sepsis and death. Treatment requires antibiotic therapy and catheter removal. CAUTIs cost the NHS £99M pa and require an extra 638,000 extra bed days (House of Commons Select Committee Report). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The primary deliverable would be demonstration of the superior efficacy of a novel catheter material that could be exploited and developed further in the future by both parties through ongoing collaboration. A key practical output from the project would be the application of multimode 2D-3D imaging to complex microbial systems. The work may also result in the generation of joint intellectual property and a publication output. Unilever will gain access to skills they require to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use, for which they have recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd). Output from this project will be fed back into Penrhos which could lead to advances in their business. This is an opportunity to deepen the ties they already have with University of Nottingham. Work from this project will further their aim to move towards a more environmentally friendly manufacturer of medical devices and other products. With funding for this placement, they gain the benefits of a skilled worker on their project who has the opportunity to dedicate the time and skills learned to a focused area of research. This project would also showcase Unilever's ability to work with NBIC with a wider scope. The University of Nottingham will deepen its ties with Unilever via a reciprocal relationship. This project could also lead to future student placements at Unilever. This is then further publicity that the University and NBIC are collectively providing further opportunities for students to realise their career ambitions. This project would also showcase Nottingham's active engagement in the government's Industrial Strategy as highlighted in the Universities' UK green paper of January 2017, and University Strategic Plan 2013-2018. NBIC Case Study: In early 2020 Dr Paolo Pantalone was an NBIC Associate Doctoral Researcher at the University of Nottingham and had been working in association with Unilever on elucidating the mechanism of action of novel agents (Unilever's Lactam Technology) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm prevention. The opportunity arose via the NBIC FTMA scheme to exploit potential novel applications of the Lactam compounds beyond the Unilever core sectors. Paolo worked on their use in combination with unique coatings for the prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infections developed at Nottingham. Also called CAUTI's, these cost the NHS £99m per year. According to a House of Commons Select Committee Report, these require an extra 638,000 extra bed days. Various physical techniques were employed at both Nottingham and in Unilever's Materials Innovation Factory based at Liverpool University. These aimed to characterise the anti-fouling properties of lactam-treated materials using established techniques such as Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and confocal microscopy on a state-of-the-art biofilm model. Paolo said, "The project facilitated development of my current knowledge surrounding the lactam anti-biofilm technology and helped me to translate these agents into a previously unexplored area - applying the lactam material to commercial catheters. This required creative thought and problem solving to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner". Paolo's work also allowed his professional network to be enhanced and to work more closely with Unilever development teams and in their facilities. The project allowed Unilever to gain access to skills they required to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use. Unilever recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd) as a joint venture with the life sciences investment group Innova Partnerships to market the technology outside its normal market sectors. Paolo has now been successful in securing a job with Unilever, demonstrating not just his ability, but also the opportunities offered by collaborative programmes such as the FTMA for researchers to work alongside industry. Lactams, rather than killing bacteria, prevent micro-organisms from forming biofilms on surfaces by disrupting their communications systems. Through Proof of Concept funding, NBIC has funded other projects to allow Penrhos Bio Ltd to explore and prove, or disprove, other Lactam applications, for example marine antifouling with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. |
| Impact | The catheters treated with Unilever's compounds showed excellent catheter release and biofilm prevention properties on both CAUTI species tested during the project. The data generated by this study will unlock new applications for Unilever's lactam technology in the biomedical and industrial sectors. I will benefit by authorship of any future publications. In addition, Unilever have offered me a permanent position as a research scientist and so I will be able to continue the lactam work. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_45 Superior Anti-biofilm Coatings for Urinary Catheters (Paolo Pantalone) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project aims to provide novel insights regarding the interactions of bacterial urinary tract pathogens with anti-fouling polymers (Nottingham) combined with a novel anti-biofilm technology (lactams - Unilever). This creates a potential opportunity to develop superior catheter materials for preventing catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI's). Various physical techniques will be employed to characterise the surfaces of lactam-treated materials using established techniques (supported by the Materials Innovation Factory). Single-cell tracking via multimode 2D-3D imaging and confocal microscopy will used to investigate bacteria-lactam surface interactions and multi-species biofilm formation in artificial urine. The project will facilitate development of my current knowledge surrounding lactam anti-biofilm by expanding to alternative mixed species biofilms. I will be using my intellectual abilities to translate into a previously unexplored area - combining fouling resistant polymers with the lactam material. This will require creative thought and problem solving on my part to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner. Freedom to manage the project will require working to deadlines within a multidisciplinary team. My professional network will be enhanced leading to future industrial collaborations. Alignment to ISC: Leading Edge Healthcare - Recognising the demands of an aging population and delivering superior technologies and products. Urinary tract catheters are the most commonly used prosthetic medical devices, with 15-25% of patients requiring bladder catheterisation during hospitalization. They are used to manage urine retention or incontinence for short and extended periods. Long-term catheter users with permanent disability will need a catheter change after 2-3 months for the rest of their lives. Catheters promote CAUTIs that, if left untreated, may lead to kidney infection, sepsis and death. Treatment requires antibiotic therapy and catheter removal. CAUTIs cost the NHS £99M pa and require an extra 638,000 extra bed days (House of Commons Select Committee Report). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The primary deliverable would be demonstration of the superior efficacy of a novel catheter material that could be exploited and developed further in the future by both parties through ongoing collaboration. A key practical output from the project would be the application of multimode 2D-3D imaging to complex microbial systems. The work may also result in the generation of joint intellectual property and a publication output. Unilever will gain access to skills they require to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use, for which they have recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd). Output from this project will be fed back into Penrhos which could lead to advances in their business. This is an opportunity to deepen the ties they already have with University of Nottingham. Work from this project will further their aim to move towards a more environmentally friendly manufacturer of medical devices and other products. With funding for this placement, they gain the benefits of a skilled worker on their project who has the opportunity to dedicate the time and skills learned to a focused area of research. This project would also showcase Unilever's ability to work with NBIC with a wider scope. The University of Nottingham will deepen its ties with Unilever via a reciprocal relationship. This project could also lead to future student placements at Unilever. This is then further publicity that the University and NBIC are collectively providing further opportunities for students to realise their career ambitions. This project would also showcase Nottingham's active engagement in the government's Industrial Strategy as highlighted in the Universities' UK green paper of January 2017, and University Strategic Plan 2013-2018. NBIC Case Study: In early 2020 Dr Paolo Pantalone was an NBIC Associate Doctoral Researcher at the University of Nottingham and had been working in association with Unilever on elucidating the mechanism of action of novel agents (Unilever's Lactam Technology) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm prevention. The opportunity arose via the NBIC FTMA scheme to exploit potential novel applications of the Lactam compounds beyond the Unilever core sectors. Paolo worked on their use in combination with unique coatings for the prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infections developed at Nottingham. Also called CAUTI's, these cost the NHS £99m per year. According to a House of Commons Select Committee Report, these require an extra 638,000 extra bed days. Various physical techniques were employed at both Nottingham and in Unilever's Materials Innovation Factory based at Liverpool University. These aimed to characterise the anti-fouling properties of lactam-treated materials using established techniques such as Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and confocal microscopy on a state-of-the-art biofilm model. Paolo said, "The project facilitated development of my current knowledge surrounding the lactam anti-biofilm technology and helped me to translate these agents into a previously unexplored area - applying the lactam material to commercial catheters. This required creative thought and problem solving to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner". Paolo's work also allowed his professional network to be enhanced and to work more closely with Unilever development teams and in their facilities. The project allowed Unilever to gain access to skills they required to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use. Unilever recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd) as a joint venture with the life sciences investment group Innova Partnerships to market the technology outside its normal market sectors. Paolo has now been successful in securing a job with Unilever, demonstrating not just his ability, but also the opportunities offered by collaborative programmes such as the FTMA for researchers to work alongside industry. Lactams, rather than killing bacteria, prevent micro-organisms from forming biofilms on surfaces by disrupting their communications systems. Through Proof of Concept funding, NBIC has funded other projects to allow Penrhos Bio Ltd to explore and prove, or disprove, other Lactam applications, for example marine antifouling with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. |
| Impact | The catheters treated with Unilever's compounds showed excellent catheter release and biofilm prevention properties on both CAUTI species tested during the project. The data generated by this study will unlock new applications for Unilever's lactam technology in the biomedical and industrial sectors. I will benefit by authorship of any future publications. In addition, Unilever have offered me a permanent position as a research scientist and so I will be able to continue the lactam work. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_45 Superior Anti-biofilm Coatings for Urinary Catheters (Paolo Pantalone) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project aims to provide novel insights regarding the interactions of bacterial urinary tract pathogens with anti-fouling polymers (Nottingham) combined with a novel anti-biofilm technology (lactams - Unilever). This creates a potential opportunity to develop superior catheter materials for preventing catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI's). Various physical techniques will be employed to characterise the surfaces of lactam-treated materials using established techniques (supported by the Materials Innovation Factory). Single-cell tracking via multimode 2D-3D imaging and confocal microscopy will used to investigate bacteria-lactam surface interactions and multi-species biofilm formation in artificial urine. The project will facilitate development of my current knowledge surrounding lactam anti-biofilm by expanding to alternative mixed species biofilms. I will be using my intellectual abilities to translate into a previously unexplored area - combining fouling resistant polymers with the lactam material. This will require creative thought and problem solving on my part to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner. Freedom to manage the project will require working to deadlines within a multidisciplinary team. My professional network will be enhanced leading to future industrial collaborations. Alignment to ISC: Leading Edge Healthcare - Recognising the demands of an aging population and delivering superior technologies and products. Urinary tract catheters are the most commonly used prosthetic medical devices, with 15-25% of patients requiring bladder catheterisation during hospitalization. They are used to manage urine retention or incontinence for short and extended periods. Long-term catheter users with permanent disability will need a catheter change after 2-3 months for the rest of their lives. Catheters promote CAUTIs that, if left untreated, may lead to kidney infection, sepsis and death. Treatment requires antibiotic therapy and catheter removal. CAUTIs cost the NHS £99M pa and require an extra 638,000 extra bed days (House of Commons Select Committee Report). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The primary deliverable would be demonstration of the superior efficacy of a novel catheter material that could be exploited and developed further in the future by both parties through ongoing collaboration. A key practical output from the project would be the application of multimode 2D-3D imaging to complex microbial systems. The work may also result in the generation of joint intellectual property and a publication output. Unilever will gain access to skills they require to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use, for which they have recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd). Output from this project will be fed back into Penrhos which could lead to advances in their business. This is an opportunity to deepen the ties they already have with University of Nottingham. Work from this project will further their aim to move towards a more environmentally friendly manufacturer of medical devices and other products. With funding for this placement, they gain the benefits of a skilled worker on their project who has the opportunity to dedicate the time and skills learned to a focused area of research. This project would also showcase Unilever's ability to work with NBIC with a wider scope. The University of Nottingham will deepen its ties with Unilever via a reciprocal relationship. This project could also lead to future student placements at Unilever. This is then further publicity that the University and NBIC are collectively providing further opportunities for students to realise their career ambitions. This project would also showcase Nottingham's active engagement in the government's Industrial Strategy as highlighted in the Universities' UK green paper of January 2017, and University Strategic Plan 2013-2018. NBIC Case Study: In early 2020 Dr Paolo Pantalone was an NBIC Associate Doctoral Researcher at the University of Nottingham and had been working in association with Unilever on elucidating the mechanism of action of novel agents (Unilever's Lactam Technology) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm prevention. The opportunity arose via the NBIC FTMA scheme to exploit potential novel applications of the Lactam compounds beyond the Unilever core sectors. Paolo worked on their use in combination with unique coatings for the prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infections developed at Nottingham. Also called CAUTI's, these cost the NHS £99m per year. According to a House of Commons Select Committee Report, these require an extra 638,000 extra bed days. Various physical techniques were employed at both Nottingham and in Unilever's Materials Innovation Factory based at Liverpool University. These aimed to characterise the anti-fouling properties of lactam-treated materials using established techniques such as Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and confocal microscopy on a state-of-the-art biofilm model. Paolo said, "The project facilitated development of my current knowledge surrounding the lactam anti-biofilm technology and helped me to translate these agents into a previously unexplored area - applying the lactam material to commercial catheters. This required creative thought and problem solving to deliver insights and areas for opportunities in an efficient manner". Paolo's work also allowed his professional network to be enhanced and to work more closely with Unilever development teams and in their facilities. The project allowed Unilever to gain access to skills they required to develop their technology in an area outside of their current fields of use. Unilever recently created a spin-out company (Penrhos Bio Ltd) as a joint venture with the life sciences investment group Innova Partnerships to market the technology outside its normal market sectors. Paolo has now been successful in securing a job with Unilever, demonstrating not just his ability, but also the opportunities offered by collaborative programmes such as the FTMA for researchers to work alongside industry. Lactams, rather than killing bacteria, prevent micro-organisms from forming biofilms on surfaces by disrupting their communications systems. Through Proof of Concept funding, NBIC has funded other projects to allow Penrhos Bio Ltd to explore and prove, or disprove, other Lactam applications, for example marine antifouling with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. |
| Impact | The catheters treated with Unilever's compounds showed excellent catheter release and biofilm prevention properties on both CAUTI species tested during the project. The data generated by this study will unlock new applications for Unilever's lactam technology in the biomedical and industrial sectors. I will benefit by authorship of any future publications. In addition, Unilever have offered me a permanent position as a research scientist and so I will be able to continue the lactam work. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_49 Stimulating Host-Pathogen Interactions in Wound Biofilms using Poloxamer Surfactants (Mohamed El Mohtadi) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Innovation Fellowship will enable me to take a three month secondment with 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited at the Centre of Excellence in Biofilm Science and Technologies in Liverpool. The secondment will pump-prime a new biofilm collaboration between academia and 5D HPG. Chronic wounds are common in the elderly and lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Biofilm formation is a major problem in chronic wounds, resulting in chronic inflammation and delayed wound closure. The recalcitrance of biofilms to the host immune system and antimicrobial agents, together with the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria, typically leads to poor resolution and increased risk of infection. The aim of this project is to combine the use of poloxamer surfactants with targeted stimulation of innate immune responses as a novel strategy to resolve wound biofilms and promote healing. This novel therapeutic approach to prevent/treat wound infections in the elderly whilst reducing the reliance on antibiotics aligns to two key challenges outlined in the Industry Strategic Challenge Fund, Healthy Ageing and Leading-Edge Healthcare. My hypothesis is that the prevention of biofilms and/or the dispersal of existing biofilms using poloxamer surfactants will provide an environment that promotes bacterial clearance through enhanced host inflammatory cell migration and interaction with bacteria. The poloxamer surfactants will be investigated alone and in combination with immunomodulatory agents investigated during my PhD (awarded 2019) that dampen inflammation but promote phagocytosis and healing. As a non-British, early career postdoctoral research scientist with expertise in host-pathogen interactions, this opportunity to work in biofilm research and gain experience of an industrial research environment will grow my skills in the field. Successful completion of the fellowship will enhance my research profile and attractiveness to UK employers/funders, thereby supporting my career plans to remain in the UK and eventually become an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This secondment will extend my expertise of host-pathogen interactions into the field of biofilm management and control. It will give me an insight in industry developments and technologies, and provide me with industry perspective that will enhance my career aspirations and prospects. The Innovation Fellowship will pump-prime an exciting new biofilm collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and the 5D HPG industry partner. The project will generate sufficient data to substantially contribute to one subsequent joint research publication (submission to Biofilms and Microbiomes proposed) and kick-start larger funding bids (BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award/Responsive Mode Research Grant under consideration) to sustain an ongoing income stream and build the research capacity as the collaboration develops beyond this current application. This initial collaborative project will focus predominantly on stimulation of macrophage-mediated host inflammatory cell activity but future work will explore a wider range of host-pathogen interactions and wound healing processes. The 5D HPG industry partner already has patent-protected antibiofilm technologies in relation to its surfactant agents and this collaboration with academia is intended to lead to a long-lasting partnership where further, potential game-changing therapeutic interventions with commercial exploitability become realised. The use of poloxamer surfactants alongside stimulation of host immunity represents an emergent strategy to combat biofilms in impaired wound healing states, leading to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. The NHS spends over £5 billion per year treating chronic wounds and associated comorbidities. However, wound treatments often fail and have been largely limited to debridement of non-viable (necrotic) tissues, application of routine wound dressings and use of antibiotics to clear wound infections. Biofilm formation can impede antibiotic delivery and impair bacterial clearance by host immunity. Moreover, antibiotic resistance is commonplace so there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies to resolve infections with reduced reliance on antibiotics. This project will foster a close partnership to develop and optimise novel, commercially viable therapies in the future that simultaneously prevent/control biofilm formation and promote host-mediated clearance of bacteria, with impacts that include • Reduced antibiotic use [thereby helping to tackle antibiotic resistance and emergence of new resistant strains]. • Prophylactic use to prevent wound infections in patients with ulcer development. • Enhanced healing and reduced wound infection rates in the elderly. • Reduced healthcare costs and treatment times. • Improved health, longevity and wellbeing in the elderly. • Reduced morbidity (e.g. impaired mobility, pain and anxiety/depression) and issues of social isolation/exclusion associated with chronic wounds. |
| Impact | This short (3-month) fellowship project has generated a substantial amount of high quality, novel data that can be used to write a research manuscript for publication and form the basis for further funding opportunities and a growing collaboration between researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University and 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited. The award enabled the named fellow (Mohamed El Mohtadi) to work in close partnership with 5D HPG Limited, gaining invaluable expertise in biofilm investigations at their laboratories, experience of working within an external company setting and fostering a strong collaborative link between academia and industry. This opportunity has also contributed to the fellow subsequently securing a permanent academic post in the UK with the ability to set up a new research group in this particular field. The findings of this study confirmed that dual sequential use of poloxamers followed by estradiol therapy substantially enhances both the disruption of Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial biofilms in vitro and their subsequent targeted clearance by host inflammatory cells when compared to either poloxamer or estradiol application alone. Moreover, this combined therapeutic strategy not only promoted biofilm disruption and host-mediated clearance without the need for antibiotics but also stimulated rapid wound repair, thereby providing multiple beneficial advantages that could be exploited in clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds in the elderly. These initial findings using in vitro biofilm and wound models are extremely promising but future work needs to determine whether the results can be extrapolated into in vivo wound settings. Successful future development of topical wound therapies using this focussed strategy and reduced reliance on antibiotics could revolutionise wound healing and anti-biofilm technologies, leading to substantial clinical and economic impact for the management and treatment of chronic wounds in the elderly. The potential development of game-changing therapies arising from this project may lead to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_49 Stimulating Host-Pathogen Interactions in Wound Biofilms using Poloxamer Surfactants (Mohamed El Mohtadi) |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Innovation Fellowship will enable me to take a three month secondment with 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited at the Centre of Excellence in Biofilm Science and Technologies in Liverpool. The secondment will pump-prime a new biofilm collaboration between academia and 5D HPG. Chronic wounds are common in the elderly and lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Biofilm formation is a major problem in chronic wounds, resulting in chronic inflammation and delayed wound closure. The recalcitrance of biofilms to the host immune system and antimicrobial agents, together with the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria, typically leads to poor resolution and increased risk of infection. The aim of this project is to combine the use of poloxamer surfactants with targeted stimulation of innate immune responses as a novel strategy to resolve wound biofilms and promote healing. This novel therapeutic approach to prevent/treat wound infections in the elderly whilst reducing the reliance on antibiotics aligns to two key challenges outlined in the Industry Strategic Challenge Fund, Healthy Ageing and Leading-Edge Healthcare. My hypothesis is that the prevention of biofilms and/or the dispersal of existing biofilms using poloxamer surfactants will provide an environment that promotes bacterial clearance through enhanced host inflammatory cell migration and interaction with bacteria. The poloxamer surfactants will be investigated alone and in combination with immunomodulatory agents investigated during my PhD (awarded 2019) that dampen inflammation but promote phagocytosis and healing. As a non-British, early career postdoctoral research scientist with expertise in host-pathogen interactions, this opportunity to work in biofilm research and gain experience of an industrial research environment will grow my skills in the field. Successful completion of the fellowship will enhance my research profile and attractiveness to UK employers/funders, thereby supporting my career plans to remain in the UK and eventually become an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This secondment will extend my expertise of host-pathogen interactions into the field of biofilm management and control. It will give me an insight in industry developments and technologies, and provide me with industry perspective that will enhance my career aspirations and prospects. The Innovation Fellowship will pump-prime an exciting new biofilm collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and the 5D HPG industry partner. The project will generate sufficient data to substantially contribute to one subsequent joint research publication (submission to Biofilms and Microbiomes proposed) and kick-start larger funding bids (BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award/Responsive Mode Research Grant under consideration) to sustain an ongoing income stream and build the research capacity as the collaboration develops beyond this current application. This initial collaborative project will focus predominantly on stimulation of macrophage-mediated host inflammatory cell activity but future work will explore a wider range of host-pathogen interactions and wound healing processes. The 5D HPG industry partner already has patent-protected antibiofilm technologies in relation to its surfactant agents and this collaboration with academia is intended to lead to a long-lasting partnership where further, potential game-changing therapeutic interventions with commercial exploitability become realised. The use of poloxamer surfactants alongside stimulation of host immunity represents an emergent strategy to combat biofilms in impaired wound healing states, leading to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. The NHS spends over £5 billion per year treating chronic wounds and associated comorbidities. However, wound treatments often fail and have been largely limited to debridement of non-viable (necrotic) tissues, application of routine wound dressings and use of antibiotics to clear wound infections. Biofilm formation can impede antibiotic delivery and impair bacterial clearance by host immunity. Moreover, antibiotic resistance is commonplace so there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies to resolve infections with reduced reliance on antibiotics. This project will foster a close partnership to develop and optimise novel, commercially viable therapies in the future that simultaneously prevent/control biofilm formation and promote host-mediated clearance of bacteria, with impacts that include • Reduced antibiotic use [thereby helping to tackle antibiotic resistance and emergence of new resistant strains]. • Prophylactic use to prevent wound infections in patients with ulcer development. • Enhanced healing and reduced wound infection rates in the elderly. • Reduced healthcare costs and treatment times. • Improved health, longevity and wellbeing in the elderly. • Reduced morbidity (e.g. impaired mobility, pain and anxiety/depression) and issues of social isolation/exclusion associated with chronic wounds. |
| Impact | This short (3-month) fellowship project has generated a substantial amount of high quality, novel data that can be used to write a research manuscript for publication and form the basis for further funding opportunities and a growing collaboration between researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University and 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited. The award enabled the named fellow (Mohamed El Mohtadi) to work in close partnership with 5D HPG Limited, gaining invaluable expertise in biofilm investigations at their laboratories, experience of working within an external company setting and fostering a strong collaborative link between academia and industry. This opportunity has also contributed to the fellow subsequently securing a permanent academic post in the UK with the ability to set up a new research group in this particular field. The findings of this study confirmed that dual sequential use of poloxamers followed by estradiol therapy substantially enhances both the disruption of Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial biofilms in vitro and their subsequent targeted clearance by host inflammatory cells when compared to either poloxamer or estradiol application alone. Moreover, this combined therapeutic strategy not only promoted biofilm disruption and host-mediated clearance without the need for antibiotics but also stimulated rapid wound repair, thereby providing multiple beneficial advantages that could be exploited in clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds in the elderly. These initial findings using in vitro biofilm and wound models are extremely promising but future work needs to determine whether the results can be extrapolated into in vivo wound settings. Successful future development of topical wound therapies using this focussed strategy and reduced reliance on antibiotics could revolutionise wound healing and anti-biofilm technologies, leading to substantial clinical and economic impact for the management and treatment of chronic wounds in the elderly. The potential development of game-changing therapies arising from this project may lead to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Fellowship F_19_2_49 Stimulating Host-Pathogen Interactions in Wound Biofilms using Poloxamer Surfactants (Mohamed El Mohtadi) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Innovation Fellowship will enable me to take a three month secondment with 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited at the Centre of Excellence in Biofilm Science and Technologies in Liverpool. The secondment will pump-prime a new biofilm collaboration between academia and 5D HPG. Chronic wounds are common in the elderly and lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Biofilm formation is a major problem in chronic wounds, resulting in chronic inflammation and delayed wound closure. The recalcitrance of biofilms to the host immune system and antimicrobial agents, together with the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria, typically leads to poor resolution and increased risk of infection. The aim of this project is to combine the use of poloxamer surfactants with targeted stimulation of innate immune responses as a novel strategy to resolve wound biofilms and promote healing. This novel therapeutic approach to prevent/treat wound infections in the elderly whilst reducing the reliance on antibiotics aligns to two key challenges outlined in the Industry Strategic Challenge Fund, Healthy Ageing and Leading-Edge Healthcare. My hypothesis is that the prevention of biofilms and/or the dispersal of existing biofilms using poloxamer surfactants will provide an environment that promotes bacterial clearance through enhanced host inflammatory cell migration and interaction with bacteria. The poloxamer surfactants will be investigated alone and in combination with immunomodulatory agents investigated during my PhD (awarded 2019) that dampen inflammation but promote phagocytosis and healing. As a non-British, early career postdoctoral research scientist with expertise in host-pathogen interactions, this opportunity to work in biofilm research and gain experience of an industrial research environment will grow my skills in the field. Successful completion of the fellowship will enhance my research profile and attractiveness to UK employers/funders, thereby supporting my career plans to remain in the UK and eventually become an independent researcher. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This secondment will extend my expertise of host-pathogen interactions into the field of biofilm management and control. It will give me an insight in industry developments and technologies, and provide me with industry perspective that will enhance my career aspirations and prospects. The Innovation Fellowship will pump-prime an exciting new biofilm collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and the 5D HPG industry partner. The project will generate sufficient data to substantially contribute to one subsequent joint research publication (submission to Biofilms and Microbiomes proposed) and kick-start larger funding bids (BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award/Responsive Mode Research Grant under consideration) to sustain an ongoing income stream and build the research capacity as the collaboration develops beyond this current application. This initial collaborative project will focus predominantly on stimulation of macrophage-mediated host inflammatory cell activity but future work will explore a wider range of host-pathogen interactions and wound healing processes. The 5D HPG industry partner already has patent-protected antibiofilm technologies in relation to its surfactant agents and this collaboration with academia is intended to lead to a long-lasting partnership where further, potential game-changing therapeutic interventions with commercial exploitability become realised. The use of poloxamer surfactants alongside stimulation of host immunity represents an emergent strategy to combat biofilms in impaired wound healing states, leading to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. The NHS spends over £5 billion per year treating chronic wounds and associated comorbidities. However, wound treatments often fail and have been largely limited to debridement of non-viable (necrotic) tissues, application of routine wound dressings and use of antibiotics to clear wound infections. Biofilm formation can impede antibiotic delivery and impair bacterial clearance by host immunity. Moreover, antibiotic resistance is commonplace so there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies to resolve infections with reduced reliance on antibiotics. This project will foster a close partnership to develop and optimise novel, commercially viable therapies in the future that simultaneously prevent/control biofilm formation and promote host-mediated clearance of bacteria, with impacts that include • Reduced antibiotic use [thereby helping to tackle antibiotic resistance and emergence of new resistant strains]. • Prophylactic use to prevent wound infections in patients with ulcer development. • Enhanced healing and reduced wound infection rates in the elderly. • Reduced healthcare costs and treatment times. • Improved health, longevity and wellbeing in the elderly. • Reduced morbidity (e.g. impaired mobility, pain and anxiety/depression) and issues of social isolation/exclusion associated with chronic wounds. |
| Impact | This short (3-month) fellowship project has generated a substantial amount of high quality, novel data that can be used to write a research manuscript for publication and form the basis for further funding opportunities and a growing collaboration between researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University and 5D Health Protection Group (5D HPG) Limited. The award enabled the named fellow (Mohamed El Mohtadi) to work in close partnership with 5D HPG Limited, gaining invaluable expertise in biofilm investigations at their laboratories, experience of working within an external company setting and fostering a strong collaborative link between academia and industry. This opportunity has also contributed to the fellow subsequently securing a permanent academic post in the UK with the ability to set up a new research group in this particular field. The findings of this study confirmed that dual sequential use of poloxamers followed by estradiol therapy substantially enhances both the disruption of Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial biofilms in vitro and their subsequent targeted clearance by host inflammatory cells when compared to either poloxamer or estradiol application alone. Moreover, this combined therapeutic strategy not only promoted biofilm disruption and host-mediated clearance without the need for antibiotics but also stimulated rapid wound repair, thereby providing multiple beneficial advantages that could be exploited in clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds in the elderly. These initial findings using in vitro biofilm and wound models are extremely promising but future work needs to determine whether the results can be extrapolated into in vivo wound settings. Successful future development of topical wound therapies using this focussed strategy and reduced reliance on antibiotics could revolutionise wound healing and anti-biofilm technologies, leading to substantial clinical and economic impact for the management and treatment of chronic wounds in the elderly. The potential development of game-changing therapies arising from this project may lead to far-reaching societal, economic and healthcare impact. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement 20_IP_085 Novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity (Praveen Kaveri) |
| Organisation | Cromerix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My PhD research experience at Loughborough University showed that while it is possible to detect bacteria in principle in a single step using an aptamer probe, there are several challenges to address before this can be successfully applied in practice. In this project, I aim to explore some novel approaches that can address the fundamental challenges around rapid aptamer probe-based detection and make the approach reliable and broadly applicable against any microbe (WP1 and WP2). I will also explore a novel approach for the detection of microbial activity (WP3). The experience of working in Cromerix, a start-up, will be the first of its kind for me as I have never worked in a commercial environment. Unique personal development will be achieved through interactions with client organisations, who bring in specific requirements around the detection of microbes, biofilms and microbial activity. Initial interactions with them have helped in shaping up the problem definition and inspired the novel methods of addressing those problems that I will explore through this project. I also look forward to gaining an exposure of the Alderley Park facilities where Cromerix has been offered a hotdesk. Success of this project will establish the proof of concept of novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity for the first time. These methods have wide applicability in industry, clinic and home. Thus, this project aligns well with three of the four themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The following outcomes are expected as a result of this visit/placement. 1. New Skills and Knowledge - I will develop new knowledge around the feasibility of some novel generic methods for rapid broad detection of microbes and microbial activity using a. single aptamer probe (WP1), b. dual aptamer probe (WP1), c. catalytic transduction (WP2), and d. enzymatic cleavage (WP3). - I will learn how to liaise, communicate, present and submit reports to industrial clients. - As I aim to progress to the next phase of development working on the successful outcomes of this project, I will gain experience of writing collaborative proposals to funders such as Innovate-UK by working together with the clients. - As an early member of the start-up, I will gain exposure to the key small business operations, including purchase ordering, safety, and intellectual property management. 2. Collaborations This project proposal is guided by the "problem definition" discussions (scoping meetings) Cromerix has had with two established global players in the field of air transport (for microbial biofilms detection) and personal care (for microbial activity detection), where I have participated. The work I will carry out in this project will strengthen these collaborations and potentially lead to investments from these organisations for further technology development, an interest for which has been expressed by these organisations. Successful validation of the proposed generic methods will also allow me to approach organisations in other sectors of industry and clinic to develop new collaborations. 3. Impact Successful validation in this project will lead to further technology development to progress along the TRL and produce workable prototypes in collaboration with the industry partners. The methods being explored have broad applications. The chosen applications are based on interests received from industry players in niche sectors and can be extended to broader sectors of industry, clinic and consumer market. Thus, successful validation and TRL progression based on these methods can be potentially deliver a broad socio-economic impact through new product development around the detection of microbes and microbial activity. I look forward to working with the Alderley Park network as part of Cromerix in creating these translational impacts. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: I have met and exceeded my objectives of the FTMA project through the following outcomes. Skills and Knowledge The FTMA project gave me a unique experience of working in a start-up environment, which I found different from the academic research experience in many ways. The projects here are more industrial problem-driven rather than curiosity-driven as in a university. There is a greater importance on freedom to operate check before working on an idea. I helped the company Director with background IP search for discussion with the IP attorney, which helped ascertain the freedom to operate of the research I conducted in FTMA. My attending of the client meetings with the Director helped me understand how professionally these meetings are conducted, how NDAs are prepared and signed prior to the first meeting, how presentations are done, and how a problem is defined that is of importance to the client and deliverable within the required timeline, costs, and capacities of a start-up company. Working with the Director, I also learnt how to write industry-focused technical consulting and development proposals, two of which were submitted to clients, and one was submitted to Innovate UK. I have also gained some insights into the importance and challenges of contract negotiations before a project can actually start. The company was supported by NBIC's Accelerator funding for participating in the Alderley Park Accelerator. The Director primarily attended this, but I had the opportunity of getting introduced to the concepts of customer discovery, business plan proposition, and Lean innovation as these are now part of the company's knowledge base and have defined how we as a company approach business development. As an early member of the start-up, I have also gained exposure to the purchase and sales processes and setting up safety and risk assessment documents. Research outcomes For bacterial detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes for bacteria and novel aptamer beacon probes for broad detection of gram-negative bacteria that are applicable in various fields, including but not restricted to bacterial contamination in industry and environment, and clinical diagnostics of bacterial infections. • A novel method to detect viable bacteria using dual aptamer probes that is applicable for viability detection of other microbes, including fungi. • Conserved proteases and peptide probe for detection of bacterial activity. • A novel colorimetric transduction method for reader-less visual detection using peptide and aptamer probes. This method can be extended to detection of targets beyond bacteria. For fungal detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes and aptamers against these conserved epitopes with information on regions of interactions, which is now being used to design aptamer beacons for broad fungal detection as part of a client-funded project. For malodour detection and inhibition, the key outcomes included • Identifying the mechanism of malodour production by bacteria secreted from the human axillary glands. • Methods of detection of PatB, an enzyme associated with malodour production, detection of PatB activity and detection of malodour molecules produced by the bacteria. • A method and aptamer for inhibition of production of malodour molecules. Collaborations The outcomes of this FTMA project supported the progression of discussions with two clients, one in a niche field of microbial detection and another in personal care/microbiome. This involved submission of proposals to these organisations. The proposal to the first client (microbial detection) has been accepted after several rounds of discussion and has progressed towards contract negotiation phase. The project is scheduled to commence in August 2022 and will employ me. Progression with the proposal submitted to the second client (personal care/microbiome) has been put on hold by them, reportedly due to their organisational changes. Even if the second client is unable to progress, the outcome should help Cromerix to progress a collaboration on this topic with another organisation in the field of personal care/microbiome. In addition to the abovementioned collaboration, the outcomes of the project have also helped the company to engage with a wider network of stakeholders in the field of microbial detection, which is expected to drive more innovation-led projects supporting technology and business development. Impact The work done in the FTMA project is creating impact through multiple channels. The research outcomes have helped establish a client project in a niche field of microbial contamination detection, which is going to commence from August 2022, and has set strong foundations for a project in the field of personal care/microbiome. The outcomes also formed the basis of a recent application to the Fast Start Innovate-UK grant in the field of diabetic foot ulcer prognostic. All these projects have technology and business plan development in scope to support the eventual commercial success of the company. The outcomes are also supporting the growth in network and visibility of the company among the relevant stakeholders. Eventual adoption of the developed microbial detection technologies by the industry or clinic will address multiple themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, some of these being Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). With an outstanding support from the Director, the project has helped my personal development through the first and rich exposure to working in a business environment. The varied professional skills and knowledge gained around business case preparation, product development, IP, legal, safety and operations will help me contribute much better than before in my role as a "Scientist - Technology Development" in Cromerix. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY In the near future, I will work closely with the IP attorney on patent filing around the method and materials developed within the FTMA project after doing a patentability assessment and IP strategy development together with the Director. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? As mentioned above, the immediate next step is to work on a client project for microbial detection technology development in a niche space. Through this project, I will keep working with the team Cromerix on microbial detection technology development and progression towards commercialisation. Any support through direct funding from NBIC in a future proof of concept (POC) project or cash/in-kind support towards a funding application to another organisation for advancing the TRL of the technology will be vitally important and gratefully received. This FTMA funding was a unique support towards my gaining exposure in a technology start-up environment, which as an innovator I was aiming to get straight after my PhD. In addition to that, I am also getting a position in the company as a full-time employee. The funding also helped the company generate its own IP, which is acting as a foundation to its first projects and proposals. However, further data need to be generated before these IP can be filed as a patent. I hope we can apply for funding support from NBIC for patent filing at the time when it is needed. Also, any support towards my continued professional development (CPD), either through courses within NBIC or funding support to attend these externally will be very helpful and much appreciated. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the FTMA funding, which has helped unleash the potential in me and the company to take the first steps towards creating valuable impact to UK's society, economy, and environment. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement 20_IP_085 Novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity (Praveen Kaveri) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My PhD research experience at Loughborough University showed that while it is possible to detect bacteria in principle in a single step using an aptamer probe, there are several challenges to address before this can be successfully applied in practice. In this project, I aim to explore some novel approaches that can address the fundamental challenges around rapid aptamer probe-based detection and make the approach reliable and broadly applicable against any microbe (WP1 and WP2). I will also explore a novel approach for the detection of microbial activity (WP3). The experience of working in Cromerix, a start-up, will be the first of its kind for me as I have never worked in a commercial environment. Unique personal development will be achieved through interactions with client organisations, who bring in specific requirements around the detection of microbes, biofilms and microbial activity. Initial interactions with them have helped in shaping up the problem definition and inspired the novel methods of addressing those problems that I will explore through this project. I also look forward to gaining an exposure of the Alderley Park facilities where Cromerix has been offered a hotdesk. Success of this project will establish the proof of concept of novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity for the first time. These methods have wide applicability in industry, clinic and home. Thus, this project aligns well with three of the four themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The following outcomes are expected as a result of this visit/placement. 1. New Skills and Knowledge - I will develop new knowledge around the feasibility of some novel generic methods for rapid broad detection of microbes and microbial activity using a. single aptamer probe (WP1), b. dual aptamer probe (WP1), c. catalytic transduction (WP2), and d. enzymatic cleavage (WP3). - I will learn how to liaise, communicate, present and submit reports to industrial clients. - As I aim to progress to the next phase of development working on the successful outcomes of this project, I will gain experience of writing collaborative proposals to funders such as Innovate-UK by working together with the clients. - As an early member of the start-up, I will gain exposure to the key small business operations, including purchase ordering, safety, and intellectual property management. 2. Collaborations This project proposal is guided by the "problem definition" discussions (scoping meetings) Cromerix has had with two established global players in the field of air transport (for microbial biofilms detection) and personal care (for microbial activity detection), where I have participated. The work I will carry out in this project will strengthen these collaborations and potentially lead to investments from these organisations for further technology development, an interest for which has been expressed by these organisations. Successful validation of the proposed generic methods will also allow me to approach organisations in other sectors of industry and clinic to develop new collaborations. 3. Impact Successful validation in this project will lead to further technology development to progress along the TRL and produce workable prototypes in collaboration with the industry partners. The methods being explored have broad applications. The chosen applications are based on interests received from industry players in niche sectors and can be extended to broader sectors of industry, clinic and consumer market. Thus, successful validation and TRL progression based on these methods can be potentially deliver a broad socio-economic impact through new product development around the detection of microbes and microbial activity. I look forward to working with the Alderley Park network as part of Cromerix in creating these translational impacts. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: I have met and exceeded my objectives of the FTMA project through the following outcomes. Skills and Knowledge The FTMA project gave me a unique experience of working in a start-up environment, which I found different from the academic research experience in many ways. The projects here are more industrial problem-driven rather than curiosity-driven as in a university. There is a greater importance on freedom to operate check before working on an idea. I helped the company Director with background IP search for discussion with the IP attorney, which helped ascertain the freedom to operate of the research I conducted in FTMA. My attending of the client meetings with the Director helped me understand how professionally these meetings are conducted, how NDAs are prepared and signed prior to the first meeting, how presentations are done, and how a problem is defined that is of importance to the client and deliverable within the required timeline, costs, and capacities of a start-up company. Working with the Director, I also learnt how to write industry-focused technical consulting and development proposals, two of which were submitted to clients, and one was submitted to Innovate UK. I have also gained some insights into the importance and challenges of contract negotiations before a project can actually start. The company was supported by NBIC's Accelerator funding for participating in the Alderley Park Accelerator. The Director primarily attended this, but I had the opportunity of getting introduced to the concepts of customer discovery, business plan proposition, and Lean innovation as these are now part of the company's knowledge base and have defined how we as a company approach business development. As an early member of the start-up, I have also gained exposure to the purchase and sales processes and setting up safety and risk assessment documents. Research outcomes For bacterial detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes for bacteria and novel aptamer beacon probes for broad detection of gram-negative bacteria that are applicable in various fields, including but not restricted to bacterial contamination in industry and environment, and clinical diagnostics of bacterial infections. • A novel method to detect viable bacteria using dual aptamer probes that is applicable for viability detection of other microbes, including fungi. • Conserved proteases and peptide probe for detection of bacterial activity. • A novel colorimetric transduction method for reader-less visual detection using peptide and aptamer probes. This method can be extended to detection of targets beyond bacteria. For fungal detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes and aptamers against these conserved epitopes with information on regions of interactions, which is now being used to design aptamer beacons for broad fungal detection as part of a client-funded project. For malodour detection and inhibition, the key outcomes included • Identifying the mechanism of malodour production by bacteria secreted from the human axillary glands. • Methods of detection of PatB, an enzyme associated with malodour production, detection of PatB activity and detection of malodour molecules produced by the bacteria. • A method and aptamer for inhibition of production of malodour molecules. Collaborations The outcomes of this FTMA project supported the progression of discussions with two clients, one in a niche field of microbial detection and another in personal care/microbiome. This involved submission of proposals to these organisations. The proposal to the first client (microbial detection) has been accepted after several rounds of discussion and has progressed towards contract negotiation phase. The project is scheduled to commence in August 2022 and will employ me. Progression with the proposal submitted to the second client (personal care/microbiome) has been put on hold by them, reportedly due to their organisational changes. Even if the second client is unable to progress, the outcome should help Cromerix to progress a collaboration on this topic with another organisation in the field of personal care/microbiome. In addition to the abovementioned collaboration, the outcomes of the project have also helped the company to engage with a wider network of stakeholders in the field of microbial detection, which is expected to drive more innovation-led projects supporting technology and business development. Impact The work done in the FTMA project is creating impact through multiple channels. The research outcomes have helped establish a client project in a niche field of microbial contamination detection, which is going to commence from August 2022, and has set strong foundations for a project in the field of personal care/microbiome. The outcomes also formed the basis of a recent application to the Fast Start Innovate-UK grant in the field of diabetic foot ulcer prognostic. All these projects have technology and business plan development in scope to support the eventual commercial success of the company. The outcomes are also supporting the growth in network and visibility of the company among the relevant stakeholders. Eventual adoption of the developed microbial detection technologies by the industry or clinic will address multiple themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, some of these being Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). With an outstanding support from the Director, the project has helped my personal development through the first and rich exposure to working in a business environment. The varied professional skills and knowledge gained around business case preparation, product development, IP, legal, safety and operations will help me contribute much better than before in my role as a "Scientist - Technology Development" in Cromerix. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY In the near future, I will work closely with the IP attorney on patent filing around the method and materials developed within the FTMA project after doing a patentability assessment and IP strategy development together with the Director. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? As mentioned above, the immediate next step is to work on a client project for microbial detection technology development in a niche space. Through this project, I will keep working with the team Cromerix on microbial detection technology development and progression towards commercialisation. Any support through direct funding from NBIC in a future proof of concept (POC) project or cash/in-kind support towards a funding application to another organisation for advancing the TRL of the technology will be vitally important and gratefully received. This FTMA funding was a unique support towards my gaining exposure in a technology start-up environment, which as an innovator I was aiming to get straight after my PhD. In addition to that, I am also getting a position in the company as a full-time employee. The funding also helped the company generate its own IP, which is acting as a foundation to its first projects and proposals. However, further data need to be generated before these IP can be filed as a patent. I hope we can apply for funding support from NBIC for patent filing at the time when it is needed. Also, any support towards my continued professional development (CPD), either through courses within NBIC or funding support to attend these externally will be very helpful and much appreciated. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the FTMA funding, which has helped unleash the potential in me and the company to take the first steps towards creating valuable impact to UK's society, economy, and environment. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement 20_IP_085 Novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity (Praveen Kaveri) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My PhD research experience at Loughborough University showed that while it is possible to detect bacteria in principle in a single step using an aptamer probe, there are several challenges to address before this can be successfully applied in practice. In this project, I aim to explore some novel approaches that can address the fundamental challenges around rapid aptamer probe-based detection and make the approach reliable and broadly applicable against any microbe (WP1 and WP2). I will also explore a novel approach for the detection of microbial activity (WP3). The experience of working in Cromerix, a start-up, will be the first of its kind for me as I have never worked in a commercial environment. Unique personal development will be achieved through interactions with client organisations, who bring in specific requirements around the detection of microbes, biofilms and microbial activity. Initial interactions with them have helped in shaping up the problem definition and inspired the novel methods of addressing those problems that I will explore through this project. I also look forward to gaining an exposure of the Alderley Park facilities where Cromerix has been offered a hotdesk. Success of this project will establish the proof of concept of novel rapid methods for broad detection of microbes and microbial activity for the first time. These methods have wide applicability in industry, clinic and home. Thus, this project aligns well with three of the four themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The following outcomes are expected as a result of this visit/placement. 1. New Skills and Knowledge - I will develop new knowledge around the feasibility of some novel generic methods for rapid broad detection of microbes and microbial activity using a. single aptamer probe (WP1), b. dual aptamer probe (WP1), c. catalytic transduction (WP2), and d. enzymatic cleavage (WP3). - I will learn how to liaise, communicate, present and submit reports to industrial clients. - As I aim to progress to the next phase of development working on the successful outcomes of this project, I will gain experience of writing collaborative proposals to funders such as Innovate-UK by working together with the clients. - As an early member of the start-up, I will gain exposure to the key small business operations, including purchase ordering, safety, and intellectual property management. 2. Collaborations This project proposal is guided by the "problem definition" discussions (scoping meetings) Cromerix has had with two established global players in the field of air transport (for microbial biofilms detection) and personal care (for microbial activity detection), where I have participated. The work I will carry out in this project will strengthen these collaborations and potentially lead to investments from these organisations for further technology development, an interest for which has been expressed by these organisations. Successful validation of the proposed generic methods will also allow me to approach organisations in other sectors of industry and clinic to develop new collaborations. 3. Impact Successful validation in this project will lead to further technology development to progress along the TRL and produce workable prototypes in collaboration with the industry partners. The methods being explored have broad applications. The chosen applications are based on interests received from industry players in niche sectors and can be extended to broader sectors of industry, clinic and consumer market. Thus, successful validation and TRL progression based on these methods can be potentially deliver a broad socio-economic impact through new product development around the detection of microbes and microbial activity. I look forward to working with the Alderley Park network as part of Cromerix in creating these translational impacts. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: I have met and exceeded my objectives of the FTMA project through the following outcomes. Skills and Knowledge The FTMA project gave me a unique experience of working in a start-up environment, which I found different from the academic research experience in many ways. The projects here are more industrial problem-driven rather than curiosity-driven as in a university. There is a greater importance on freedom to operate check before working on an idea. I helped the company Director with background IP search for discussion with the IP attorney, which helped ascertain the freedom to operate of the research I conducted in FTMA. My attending of the client meetings with the Director helped me understand how professionally these meetings are conducted, how NDAs are prepared and signed prior to the first meeting, how presentations are done, and how a problem is defined that is of importance to the client and deliverable within the required timeline, costs, and capacities of a start-up company. Working with the Director, I also learnt how to write industry-focused technical consulting and development proposals, two of which were submitted to clients, and one was submitted to Innovate UK. I have also gained some insights into the importance and challenges of contract negotiations before a project can actually start. The company was supported by NBIC's Accelerator funding for participating in the Alderley Park Accelerator. The Director primarily attended this, but I had the opportunity of getting introduced to the concepts of customer discovery, business plan proposition, and Lean innovation as these are now part of the company's knowledge base and have defined how we as a company approach business development. As an early member of the start-up, I have also gained exposure to the purchase and sales processes and setting up safety and risk assessment documents. Research outcomes For bacterial detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes for bacteria and novel aptamer beacon probes for broad detection of gram-negative bacteria that are applicable in various fields, including but not restricted to bacterial contamination in industry and environment, and clinical diagnostics of bacterial infections. • A novel method to detect viable bacteria using dual aptamer probes that is applicable for viability detection of other microbes, including fungi. • Conserved proteases and peptide probe for detection of bacterial activity. • A novel colorimetric transduction method for reader-less visual detection using peptide and aptamer probes. This method can be extended to detection of targets beyond bacteria. For fungal detection, the key outcomes included • Conserved epitopes and aptamers against these conserved epitopes with information on regions of interactions, which is now being used to design aptamer beacons for broad fungal detection as part of a client-funded project. For malodour detection and inhibition, the key outcomes included • Identifying the mechanism of malodour production by bacteria secreted from the human axillary glands. • Methods of detection of PatB, an enzyme associated with malodour production, detection of PatB activity and detection of malodour molecules produced by the bacteria. • A method and aptamer for inhibition of production of malodour molecules. Collaborations The outcomes of this FTMA project supported the progression of discussions with two clients, one in a niche field of microbial detection and another in personal care/microbiome. This involved submission of proposals to these organisations. The proposal to the first client (microbial detection) has been accepted after several rounds of discussion and has progressed towards contract negotiation phase. The project is scheduled to commence in August 2022 and will employ me. Progression with the proposal submitted to the second client (personal care/microbiome) has been put on hold by them, reportedly due to their organisational changes. Even if the second client is unable to progress, the outcome should help Cromerix to progress a collaboration on this topic with another organisation in the field of personal care/microbiome. In addition to the abovementioned collaboration, the outcomes of the project have also helped the company to engage with a wider network of stakeholders in the field of microbial detection, which is expected to drive more innovation-led projects supporting technology and business development. Impact The work done in the FTMA project is creating impact through multiple channels. The research outcomes have helped establish a client project in a niche field of microbial contamination detection, which is going to commence from August 2022, and has set strong foundations for a project in the field of personal care/microbiome. The outcomes also formed the basis of a recent application to the Fast Start Innovate-UK grant in the field of diabetic foot ulcer prognostic. All these projects have technology and business plan development in scope to support the eventual commercial success of the company. The outcomes are also supporting the growth in network and visibility of the company among the relevant stakeholders. Eventual adoption of the developed microbial detection technologies by the industry or clinic will address multiple themes of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, some of these being Ageing Society (Accelerating detection of disease, Leading-edge healthcare), Future of mobility (Future flight) and Clean Growth (Transforming food production). With an outstanding support from the Director, the project has helped my personal development through the first and rich exposure to working in a business environment. The varied professional skills and knowledge gained around business case preparation, product development, IP, legal, safety and operations will help me contribute much better than before in my role as a "Scientist - Technology Development" in Cromerix. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY In the near future, I will work closely with the IP attorney on patent filing around the method and materials developed within the FTMA project after doing a patentability assessment and IP strategy development together with the Director. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? As mentioned above, the immediate next step is to work on a client project for microbial detection technology development in a niche space. Through this project, I will keep working with the team Cromerix on microbial detection technology development and progression towards commercialisation. Any support through direct funding from NBIC in a future proof of concept (POC) project or cash/in-kind support towards a funding application to another organisation for advancing the TRL of the technology will be vitally important and gratefully received. This FTMA funding was a unique support towards my gaining exposure in a technology start-up environment, which as an innovator I was aiming to get straight after my PhD. In addition to that, I am also getting a position in the company as a full-time employee. The funding also helped the company generate its own IP, which is acting as a foundation to its first projects and proposals. However, further data need to be generated before these IP can be filed as a patent. I hope we can apply for funding support from NBIC for patent filing at the time when it is needed. Also, any support towards my continued professional development (CPD), either through courses within NBIC or funding support to attend these externally will be very helpful and much appreciated. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the FTMA funding, which has helped unleash the potential in me and the company to take the first steps towards creating valuable impact to UK's society, economy, and environment. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_05 Improving risk assessment methods for Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | DNV GL |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The cost of Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) in 2001 to the oil and gas industry was estimated to be between $3-7 Billion and therefore innovation in this area stands to provide significant economic benefit to the energy sector and better enable the UK to prosper from the energy revolution. MIC exerts its impact through damage to pipelines, equipment and products. A range of risk factors are currently used by field operators to predict when biocides and other interventions should be used to mitigate MIC. However, DNV GL and the University of Southampton currently consider the current risk factors to be insufficient to adequately predict equipment and pipeline failure. In this secondment DNV GL and the University of Southampton will further develop project plans to reduce the impact of MIC through innovative biofilm modelling and bioinformatic approaches. Applications across the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors will benefit from prolonged equipment life span, reduced product deterioration and improved biocide regimes, thereby meeting the challenge of 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. This project will build upon Robert Hull's experience in oil microbiology and industrial biofilm technologies. We will develop at least two separate research proposals during this secondment, facilitated through Robert Hull visiting plants and pipelines to identify challenges and carry out proof of concept work. Through the proof of concept work, Robert will gain further expertise in field based DNA sequencing and the use of the Nanopore sequencing platform. Furthermore, the secondment will facilitate the development of industry links, both in the UK and internationally through DNV GL's global research team. Robert would also have the opportunity to take advantage of DNV GL's extensive training program in areas including energy infrastructure and clean energy, gaining valuable expertise aligned with the 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Robert Hull will be placed with DNV GL to better understand the processes and operations impacted by biofilm associated MIC in the oil, gas and renewables industry. This will involve training in plant and pipeline operations, and taking part in equipment failure investigations linked to biocorrosion in a 'real world' setting. While at DNV GL, Robert will provide microbiological and biofilm expertise to the company. Industry and particularly DNV GL will benefit from nurturing a centre of microbial corrosion expertise located within England. At present such expertise is associated with the offshore North Sea oil and gas industry centres such as Aberdeen. However, we are increasingly encountering microbial corrosion issues due to biofilm formation within equipment such as wind turbines and onshore assets such as heat exchangers, buried pipelines and high purity water systems. There is also a concern that the utilisation of hydrogen within the UK energy mix would encourage bacterial issues in areas such as underground gas storage. It would be valuable to increase the visibility of such assets within the academic community to facilitate initiation of projects in these areas. DNV GL and the University of Southampton team intend to take forward several plans, supported through this initial FTMA2 collaboration. Future outputs will include joint grant applications and research projects to combat MIC, with the benefits of the site visits and observations made in this secondment. Future research would also look to incorporate a MIC based PhD studentship supported by the University of Southampton, DNV GL and VIA University College. Research outputs would be detailed in joint publications in academic journals. The research from these projects would contribute towards the development of new industry standards for MIC risk assessment and biocide use, leading to reduced costs and enhanced equipment lifespan. These measures have the potential to make investments in energy generation more cost effective, facilitating additional growth in the UK energy sector. Current projects are based on the UK based Oxford Nanopore sequencing platform. Should these projects lead to the adoption of new sequencing based standards by the energy sector, we would expect additional growth by Oxford Nanopore and the creation of new services companies to carry out the sequencing for energy companies. The training carried out, networking opportunities taken and grant applications produced will be detailed in the NBIC final report. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_05 Improving risk assessment methods for Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The cost of Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) in 2001 to the oil and gas industry was estimated to be between $3-7 Billion and therefore innovation in this area stands to provide significant economic benefit to the energy sector and better enable the UK to prosper from the energy revolution. MIC exerts its impact through damage to pipelines, equipment and products. A range of risk factors are currently used by field operators to predict when biocides and other interventions should be used to mitigate MIC. However, DNV GL and the University of Southampton currently consider the current risk factors to be insufficient to adequately predict equipment and pipeline failure. In this secondment DNV GL and the University of Southampton will further develop project plans to reduce the impact of MIC through innovative biofilm modelling and bioinformatic approaches. Applications across the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors will benefit from prolonged equipment life span, reduced product deterioration and improved biocide regimes, thereby meeting the challenge of 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. This project will build upon Robert Hull's experience in oil microbiology and industrial biofilm technologies. We will develop at least two separate research proposals during this secondment, facilitated through Robert Hull visiting plants and pipelines to identify challenges and carry out proof of concept work. Through the proof of concept work, Robert will gain further expertise in field based DNA sequencing and the use of the Nanopore sequencing platform. Furthermore, the secondment will facilitate the development of industry links, both in the UK and internationally through DNV GL's global research team. Robert would also have the opportunity to take advantage of DNV GL's extensive training program in areas including energy infrastructure and clean energy, gaining valuable expertise aligned with the 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Robert Hull will be placed with DNV GL to better understand the processes and operations impacted by biofilm associated MIC in the oil, gas and renewables industry. This will involve training in plant and pipeline operations, and taking part in equipment failure investigations linked to biocorrosion in a 'real world' setting. While at DNV GL, Robert will provide microbiological and biofilm expertise to the company. Industry and particularly DNV GL will benefit from nurturing a centre of microbial corrosion expertise located within England. At present such expertise is associated with the offshore North Sea oil and gas industry centres such as Aberdeen. However, we are increasingly encountering microbial corrosion issues due to biofilm formation within equipment such as wind turbines and onshore assets such as heat exchangers, buried pipelines and high purity water systems. There is also a concern that the utilisation of hydrogen within the UK energy mix would encourage bacterial issues in areas such as underground gas storage. It would be valuable to increase the visibility of such assets within the academic community to facilitate initiation of projects in these areas. DNV GL and the University of Southampton team intend to take forward several plans, supported through this initial FTMA2 collaboration. Future outputs will include joint grant applications and research projects to combat MIC, with the benefits of the site visits and observations made in this secondment. Future research would also look to incorporate a MIC based PhD studentship supported by the University of Southampton, DNV GL and VIA University College. Research outputs would be detailed in joint publications in academic journals. The research from these projects would contribute towards the development of new industry standards for MIC risk assessment and biocide use, leading to reduced costs and enhanced equipment lifespan. These measures have the potential to make investments in energy generation more cost effective, facilitating additional growth in the UK energy sector. Current projects are based on the UK based Oxford Nanopore sequencing platform. Should these projects lead to the adoption of new sequencing based standards by the energy sector, we would expect additional growth by Oxford Nanopore and the creation of new services companies to carry out the sequencing for energy companies. The training carried out, networking opportunities taken and grant applications produced will be detailed in the NBIC final report. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_05 Improving risk assessment methods for Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The cost of Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) in 2001 to the oil and gas industry was estimated to be between $3-7 Billion and therefore innovation in this area stands to provide significant economic benefit to the energy sector and better enable the UK to prosper from the energy revolution. MIC exerts its impact through damage to pipelines, equipment and products. A range of risk factors are currently used by field operators to predict when biocides and other interventions should be used to mitigate MIC. However, DNV GL and the University of Southampton currently consider the current risk factors to be insufficient to adequately predict equipment and pipeline failure. In this secondment DNV GL and the University of Southampton will further develop project plans to reduce the impact of MIC through innovative biofilm modelling and bioinformatic approaches. Applications across the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors will benefit from prolonged equipment life span, reduced product deterioration and improved biocide regimes, thereby meeting the challenge of 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. This project will build upon Robert Hull's experience in oil microbiology and industrial biofilm technologies. We will develop at least two separate research proposals during this secondment, facilitated through Robert Hull visiting plants and pipelines to identify challenges and carry out proof of concept work. Through the proof of concept work, Robert will gain further expertise in field based DNA sequencing and the use of the Nanopore sequencing platform. Furthermore, the secondment will facilitate the development of industry links, both in the UK and internationally through DNV GL's global research team. Robert would also have the opportunity to take advantage of DNV GL's extensive training program in areas including energy infrastructure and clean energy, gaining valuable expertise aligned with the 'Prospering from the energy revolution'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Robert Hull will be placed with DNV GL to better understand the processes and operations impacted by biofilm associated MIC in the oil, gas and renewables industry. This will involve training in plant and pipeline operations, and taking part in equipment failure investigations linked to biocorrosion in a 'real world' setting. While at DNV GL, Robert will provide microbiological and biofilm expertise to the company. Industry and particularly DNV GL will benefit from nurturing a centre of microbial corrosion expertise located within England. At present such expertise is associated with the offshore North Sea oil and gas industry centres such as Aberdeen. However, we are increasingly encountering microbial corrosion issues due to biofilm formation within equipment such as wind turbines and onshore assets such as heat exchangers, buried pipelines and high purity water systems. There is also a concern that the utilisation of hydrogen within the UK energy mix would encourage bacterial issues in areas such as underground gas storage. It would be valuable to increase the visibility of such assets within the academic community to facilitate initiation of projects in these areas. DNV GL and the University of Southampton team intend to take forward several plans, supported through this initial FTMA2 collaboration. Future outputs will include joint grant applications and research projects to combat MIC, with the benefits of the site visits and observations made in this secondment. Future research would also look to incorporate a MIC based PhD studentship supported by the University of Southampton, DNV GL and VIA University College. Research outputs would be detailed in joint publications in academic journals. The research from these projects would contribute towards the development of new industry standards for MIC risk assessment and biocide use, leading to reduced costs and enhanced equipment lifespan. These measures have the potential to make investments in energy generation more cost effective, facilitating additional growth in the UK energy sector. Current projects are based on the UK based Oxford Nanopore sequencing platform. Should these projects lead to the adoption of new sequencing based standards by the energy sector, we would expect additional growth by Oxford Nanopore and the creation of new services companies to carry out the sequencing for energy companies. The training carried out, networking opportunities taken and grant applications produced will be detailed in the NBIC final report. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_08 Assessment of the surface cleaning efficiency of Steam-e devices against environmental microbial contamination and biofilms (Nany Malissa Rahimi) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In this placement, I will spend three months working for Steam-e to provide a preliminary assessment of their novel and patented cleaning technology. Steam-e have developed a range of cleaning devices to enable rapid and efficient decontamination for a variety of environments. The technology works by using recirculated cold water that passes through a handheld fluent heater, which provides instant heating to 156°C. This results in directed steam production at a temperature of 115°C. To date, the portable devices have been designed to remove chewing gum, or act as a general purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Due to the safe, rapid and efficient design of the cleaning process, I will be investigating whether the technology can provide effective cleaning and decontamination of microbial populations including biofilms. To do this, I will use a series of indicator organisms to initially assess whether the steam treatment inactivates the key bacteria (Gram negative and Gram positive), including spore-forming species. The species to be focused on will include: Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA and Clostridium difficile (all important hospital pathogens); Salomonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (important in food production); and the industry standard indicator Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Following this, the action of the device on biofilms will be assessed. This work will provide experience on standard testing as required for product development and evaluation. Throughout, I will be working alongside Steam-e engineers and company representatives, providing me with commercial experience and insight into product design and improvement. I will also learn about market analysis and gain understanding on the challenges encountered with different markets; NHS, food production and other regulated industries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Steam-e has not explored antimicrobial markets and, if successful, a range of devices could be developed following this initial phase of testing. The problems of antimicrobial resistance and effective cleaning are major global challenges, with the latter having a clear impact on controlling the former by improved decontamination. Improved cleaning has implications in a wide range of industries and environments, not least food production and handling, and infection prevention both for animal husbandry and in healthcare facilities. The broad scope and potential for this technology has important socio-economic impact with global reach. Considering infection prevention in healthcare facilities and hospitals, we know environmental contamination is a key driver in continued healthcare associated infections, and a technology which provides rapid and effective cleaning would be highly beneficial. The ability to effectively clean following bacterial (including spore-forming), viral and fungal outbreaks, in a simple way, minimizing ward closure times would improve patient outcomes as well as having considerable financial savings. Following this project, the team would apply for further funding to allow more detailed testing and scaleup. Depending on the application, this funding could be from the NIHR i4i programme, allowing clinical evaluation and testing. The team has strong links to University Hospital Southampton and the Infection Prevention team, as well as Wessex Academic Health Services Network. Within the food and agri-tech industries, the team have further links to facilities that could offer subsequent pilot testing, with funding potential from BBSRC and Innovate identified. Initially, the placement results will be used to produce a final report to inform product design and development. With the consent of all parties, if appropriate, data will be used for a scientific paper and presented at appropriate conferences. The intention is for the placement to lead to a programme of collaborative work between Steam-e, the University of Southampton and NBIC. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project has given insight from the research conducted against biofilms, which added value to their market analysis. It has expanded my commercial experience in also providing feedbacks into decontamination product development. To date, the Steam-E which have been designed to remove chewing gum and used as a general-purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Therefore, the study evaluates the antibacterial potential of Gum-E as a disinfection machine in managing and preventing biofilm infection. The testing was conducted on three different biofilm ages (24h, 48h and 7d) and further categorised into clean and dirty. These biofilm parameters were used to see if there would be any log reduction after treatment times of 5mins, 10s, 5s, 3s, and 1s with Gum-E. The preliminary study on harvested biofilm from the control SS coupons (without steam treatment) when analysed using two-way ANOVA showed that there are significant differences between clean and dirty biofilm aged 24h (p < 0.0001) and 7d (P=0.0003), but not for 48h (p=0.2820). Overall, all biofilm types and ages showed total reduction (100%) with 10s and 5mins of Gum-E treatment. The 5s treatment were able to give total reduction (100%) in the 24h dirty biofilm sample compared to 24h clean biofilm which showed 4-log reduction (99.99%). In 48h sample, the 5s treatment were able to give 3.9-log reduction in clean compared to dirty with 4.4-log reduction. In 7d sample, total reduction (100%) were achieved with 5s treatment for both dirty and clean biofilm sample. Overall, for each treatment of 1s, 3s and 5s showed no significant differences on the log reduction between clean and dirty samples (p>0.9999). The 1s of Gum-E treatment showed a minimum of 2-log reduction (99%) in the 7d dirty sample and a maximum of 3-log reduction (99.9%) in the 24h dirty sample. This shows that Gum-E is an effective and rapid cleaning device that is not affected by the presence of organic matter. Biofilms has been a major prevalent cause in hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and this research has shown that Gum-E machine is able to eliminate if not reduce this risk if used by health partners like the NHS as well as it being useful in food production and other regulated industries. This is also in addition to the recent global COVID19, the Gum-E has the potential in being a portable decontamination machine. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_08 Assessment of the surface cleaning efficiency of Steam-e devices against environmental microbial contamination and biofilms (Nany Malissa Rahimi) |
| Organisation | Steam-e Holdings Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In this placement, I will spend three months working for Steam-e to provide a preliminary assessment of their novel and patented cleaning technology. Steam-e have developed a range of cleaning devices to enable rapid and efficient decontamination for a variety of environments. The technology works by using recirculated cold water that passes through a handheld fluent heater, which provides instant heating to 156°C. This results in directed steam production at a temperature of 115°C. To date, the portable devices have been designed to remove chewing gum, or act as a general purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Due to the safe, rapid and efficient design of the cleaning process, I will be investigating whether the technology can provide effective cleaning and decontamination of microbial populations including biofilms. To do this, I will use a series of indicator organisms to initially assess whether the steam treatment inactivates the key bacteria (Gram negative and Gram positive), including spore-forming species. The species to be focused on will include: Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA and Clostridium difficile (all important hospital pathogens); Salomonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (important in food production); and the industry standard indicator Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Following this, the action of the device on biofilms will be assessed. This work will provide experience on standard testing as required for product development and evaluation. Throughout, I will be working alongside Steam-e engineers and company representatives, providing me with commercial experience and insight into product design and improvement. I will also learn about market analysis and gain understanding on the challenges encountered with different markets; NHS, food production and other regulated industries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Steam-e has not explored antimicrobial markets and, if successful, a range of devices could be developed following this initial phase of testing. The problems of antimicrobial resistance and effective cleaning are major global challenges, with the latter having a clear impact on controlling the former by improved decontamination. Improved cleaning has implications in a wide range of industries and environments, not least food production and handling, and infection prevention both for animal husbandry and in healthcare facilities. The broad scope and potential for this technology has important socio-economic impact with global reach. Considering infection prevention in healthcare facilities and hospitals, we know environmental contamination is a key driver in continued healthcare associated infections, and a technology which provides rapid and effective cleaning would be highly beneficial. The ability to effectively clean following bacterial (including spore-forming), viral and fungal outbreaks, in a simple way, minimizing ward closure times would improve patient outcomes as well as having considerable financial savings. Following this project, the team would apply for further funding to allow more detailed testing and scaleup. Depending on the application, this funding could be from the NIHR i4i programme, allowing clinical evaluation and testing. The team has strong links to University Hospital Southampton and the Infection Prevention team, as well as Wessex Academic Health Services Network. Within the food and agri-tech industries, the team have further links to facilities that could offer subsequent pilot testing, with funding potential from BBSRC and Innovate identified. Initially, the placement results will be used to produce a final report to inform product design and development. With the consent of all parties, if appropriate, data will be used for a scientific paper and presented at appropriate conferences. The intention is for the placement to lead to a programme of collaborative work between Steam-e, the University of Southampton and NBIC. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project has given insight from the research conducted against biofilms, which added value to their market analysis. It has expanded my commercial experience in also providing feedbacks into decontamination product development. To date, the Steam-E which have been designed to remove chewing gum and used as a general-purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Therefore, the study evaluates the antibacterial potential of Gum-E as a disinfection machine in managing and preventing biofilm infection. The testing was conducted on three different biofilm ages (24h, 48h and 7d) and further categorised into clean and dirty. These biofilm parameters were used to see if there would be any log reduction after treatment times of 5mins, 10s, 5s, 3s, and 1s with Gum-E. The preliminary study on harvested biofilm from the control SS coupons (without steam treatment) when analysed using two-way ANOVA showed that there are significant differences between clean and dirty biofilm aged 24h (p < 0.0001) and 7d (P=0.0003), but not for 48h (p=0.2820). Overall, all biofilm types and ages showed total reduction (100%) with 10s and 5mins of Gum-E treatment. The 5s treatment were able to give total reduction (100%) in the 24h dirty biofilm sample compared to 24h clean biofilm which showed 4-log reduction (99.99%). In 48h sample, the 5s treatment were able to give 3.9-log reduction in clean compared to dirty with 4.4-log reduction. In 7d sample, total reduction (100%) were achieved with 5s treatment for both dirty and clean biofilm sample. Overall, for each treatment of 1s, 3s and 5s showed no significant differences on the log reduction between clean and dirty samples (p>0.9999). The 1s of Gum-E treatment showed a minimum of 2-log reduction (99%) in the 7d dirty sample and a maximum of 3-log reduction (99.9%) in the 24h dirty sample. This shows that Gum-E is an effective and rapid cleaning device that is not affected by the presence of organic matter. Biofilms has been a major prevalent cause in hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and this research has shown that Gum-E machine is able to eliminate if not reduce this risk if used by health partners like the NHS as well as it being useful in food production and other regulated industries. This is also in addition to the recent global COVID19, the Gum-E has the potential in being a portable decontamination machine. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_08 Assessment of the surface cleaning efficiency of Steam-e devices against environmental microbial contamination and biofilms (Nany Malissa Rahimi) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In this placement, I will spend three months working for Steam-e to provide a preliminary assessment of their novel and patented cleaning technology. Steam-e have developed a range of cleaning devices to enable rapid and efficient decontamination for a variety of environments. The technology works by using recirculated cold water that passes through a handheld fluent heater, which provides instant heating to 156°C. This results in directed steam production at a temperature of 115°C. To date, the portable devices have been designed to remove chewing gum, or act as a general purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Due to the safe, rapid and efficient design of the cleaning process, I will be investigating whether the technology can provide effective cleaning and decontamination of microbial populations including biofilms. To do this, I will use a series of indicator organisms to initially assess whether the steam treatment inactivates the key bacteria (Gram negative and Gram positive), including spore-forming species. The species to be focused on will include: Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA and Clostridium difficile (all important hospital pathogens); Salomonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (important in food production); and the industry standard indicator Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Following this, the action of the device on biofilms will be assessed. This work will provide experience on standard testing as required for product development and evaluation. Throughout, I will be working alongside Steam-e engineers and company representatives, providing me with commercial experience and insight into product design and improvement. I will also learn about market analysis and gain understanding on the challenges encountered with different markets; NHS, food production and other regulated industries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Steam-e has not explored antimicrobial markets and, if successful, a range of devices could be developed following this initial phase of testing. The problems of antimicrobial resistance and effective cleaning are major global challenges, with the latter having a clear impact on controlling the former by improved decontamination. Improved cleaning has implications in a wide range of industries and environments, not least food production and handling, and infection prevention both for animal husbandry and in healthcare facilities. The broad scope and potential for this technology has important socio-economic impact with global reach. Considering infection prevention in healthcare facilities and hospitals, we know environmental contamination is a key driver in continued healthcare associated infections, and a technology which provides rapid and effective cleaning would be highly beneficial. The ability to effectively clean following bacterial (including spore-forming), viral and fungal outbreaks, in a simple way, minimizing ward closure times would improve patient outcomes as well as having considerable financial savings. Following this project, the team would apply for further funding to allow more detailed testing and scaleup. Depending on the application, this funding could be from the NIHR i4i programme, allowing clinical evaluation and testing. The team has strong links to University Hospital Southampton and the Infection Prevention team, as well as Wessex Academic Health Services Network. Within the food and agri-tech industries, the team have further links to facilities that could offer subsequent pilot testing, with funding potential from BBSRC and Innovate identified. Initially, the placement results will be used to produce a final report to inform product design and development. With the consent of all parties, if appropriate, data will be used for a scientific paper and presented at appropriate conferences. The intention is for the placement to lead to a programme of collaborative work between Steam-e, the University of Southampton and NBIC. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project has given insight from the research conducted against biofilms, which added value to their market analysis. It has expanded my commercial experience in also providing feedbacks into decontamination product development. To date, the Steam-E which have been designed to remove chewing gum and used as a general-purpose steam cleaner for commercial cleaning. Therefore, the study evaluates the antibacterial potential of Gum-E as a disinfection machine in managing and preventing biofilm infection. The testing was conducted on three different biofilm ages (24h, 48h and 7d) and further categorised into clean and dirty. These biofilm parameters were used to see if there would be any log reduction after treatment times of 5mins, 10s, 5s, 3s, and 1s with Gum-E. The preliminary study on harvested biofilm from the control SS coupons (without steam treatment) when analysed using two-way ANOVA showed that there are significant differences between clean and dirty biofilm aged 24h (p < 0.0001) and 7d (P=0.0003), but not for 48h (p=0.2820). Overall, all biofilm types and ages showed total reduction (100%) with 10s and 5mins of Gum-E treatment. The 5s treatment were able to give total reduction (100%) in the 24h dirty biofilm sample compared to 24h clean biofilm which showed 4-log reduction (99.99%). In 48h sample, the 5s treatment were able to give 3.9-log reduction in clean compared to dirty with 4.4-log reduction. In 7d sample, total reduction (100%) were achieved with 5s treatment for both dirty and clean biofilm sample. Overall, for each treatment of 1s, 3s and 5s showed no significant differences on the log reduction between clean and dirty samples (p>0.9999). The 1s of Gum-E treatment showed a minimum of 2-log reduction (99%) in the 7d dirty sample and a maximum of 3-log reduction (99.9%) in the 24h dirty sample. This shows that Gum-E is an effective and rapid cleaning device that is not affected by the presence of organic matter. Biofilms has been a major prevalent cause in hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and this research has shown that Gum-E machine is able to eliminate if not reduce this risk if used by health partners like the NHS as well as it being useful in food production and other regulated industries. This is also in addition to the recent global COVID19, the Gum-E has the potential in being a portable decontamination machine. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_38 Removal of Oral Biofilm by Activated Oxygen: A Targeted Study (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This industrial placement will provide an outstanding opportunity to apply all the knowledge and findings acquired during my EngD research degree at UCL. The aims and objectives of this project are to perform real time imaging of the removal of oral biofilm by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in denture cleansers. By employing scanning laser confocal microscopy with a three-dye combination, that will allow the visualization of the biofilm sugary matrix and its microorganisms and therefore, access which structures are being targeted by the ROS produced. In this research project, we aim to develop a dual species biofilm using Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Both microorganisms are part of our microflora, C. albicans is the most prevalent cause of fungal infections in humans and when out of control, in the oral cavity, can cause several complications including candidiasis and stomatitis, Streptococcus mutans is a early colonizer of the mouth cavity, known to produce a polysaccharide matrix that acts as scaffolding for microorganisms that make the oral biofilm. This industrial placement is an excellent opportunity to carry out a set of unique inter-linking activities with private industry, allowing me to develop my research skills as an independent researcher to apply for further funding. This research project will provide new insights on the mode of action of ROS in the removal of biofilms and the killing of bacteria to prevent recurring oral complications plaguing denture wearers. Thus, this project is expected to have a remarkable international impact, attracting a wide interdisciplinary recognition and opening the door to future collaborations between GSK-CH and UCL by promoting the use of combined resources and knowledge exchange. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In the initial stage of this project an oral presentation will be delivered, to share the major findings and techniques used throughout my EngD studies, to the relevant teams at the GSK-CH. I will be showing the effectiveness and advantages in the use of H-NMR and fluorimetry to screen existing and future formulations of denture cleansers. And at the same time show the capabilities of the equipment available at UCL and promote the exchange of resources and expertise between both institutions. On the societal aspect the relevance of this project arises from the fact that dentures are not only a concern for the elderly people. Recently the Oral Health Foundation has reported that 16% of the UK population wear dentures, including a million of people aged between 16 to 44. According with the Special Eurobarometer Oral Health denture wearers experience complications such as toothache, painful gums and sore spots that lead to chewing and biting problems affecting their diet and nutrition, as well as the aesthetic point of view, mainly cause by the growth of biofilm in dentures. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that the number of patients requiring dentures worldwide will increase in the future years. In addition, recent studies suggests that the oral cavity microflora can contribute to systemic and chronic diseases but also more commonly for denture wearers denture associated stomatitis, caused mainly by an increase in Candida albicans, and mal odour caused by other microorganisms. Therefore, there is a significant need to improve the cleaning and disinfection mechanisms in oral care products for dentures. The main agent of our product is peracetic acid that is known to be a powerful bleaching and antimicrobial agent with a proven track of success. It has several applications ranging from disinfectant in hospitals to bleaching agent in household laundry. Therefore, in a near future the findings of this project can effectively impact other relevant areas where disinfection and removal of bacteria are a major concern. The development of this technology will provide fresh insight into existing infrastructure, attracting industrial interest that could lead to the development of commercial pathways for the promising formulations that will be developed in this industrial placement. Furthermore, a joint publication between UCL and GSK-CH on a peer reviewed journal will be drafted and the findings of this study will also be presented at a major international meeting. |
| Impact | The main outcome of the project was the data concerning the effects of the pH on the generation of ROS in a simple formulation. This knowledge can be relevant when considering the development of novel formulations. The current formulations operate at a pH close to neutral that is within the optimal range for the reaction to take place in a effective way but a more acidic pH seemed to contribute for the stability of peracetic acid. As result of the work being conducted at UCL, the industrial partner GSK had more questions that needed answers and another project was funded and set up to study other formulations using the techniques developed throughout my EngD studies a UCL. A clear indicator of the success of the initial project and the advantages and quality of work conducted within the Department of Chemistry of UCL. Ideally the project must evolve for the next step that will be to observe how the pH effects towards the stability of peracetic acid will contribute to biofilm removal. In the case that it is more effective than the current formulations, that use neutral pH, a closer look and further investigations will be necessary. The fact that peracetic acid is widely used to sanitize and clean surfaces there is also the potential develop the product for other applications. I have recently left UCL therefore will not be possible for me to continue with this project but I am happy to contribute with my knowledge and expertise in the field if anyone in the future is willing to take up on this research. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_38 Removal of Oral Biofilm by Activated Oxygen: A Targeted Study (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This industrial placement will provide an outstanding opportunity to apply all the knowledge and findings acquired during my EngD research degree at UCL. The aims and objectives of this project are to perform real time imaging of the removal of oral biofilm by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in denture cleansers. By employing scanning laser confocal microscopy with a three-dye combination, that will allow the visualization of the biofilm sugary matrix and its microorganisms and therefore, access which structures are being targeted by the ROS produced. In this research project, we aim to develop a dual species biofilm using Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Both microorganisms are part of our microflora, C. albicans is the most prevalent cause of fungal infections in humans and when out of control, in the oral cavity, can cause several complications including candidiasis and stomatitis, Streptococcus mutans is a early colonizer of the mouth cavity, known to produce a polysaccharide matrix that acts as scaffolding for microorganisms that make the oral biofilm. This industrial placement is an excellent opportunity to carry out a set of unique inter-linking activities with private industry, allowing me to develop my research skills as an independent researcher to apply for further funding. This research project will provide new insights on the mode of action of ROS in the removal of biofilms and the killing of bacteria to prevent recurring oral complications plaguing denture wearers. Thus, this project is expected to have a remarkable international impact, attracting a wide interdisciplinary recognition and opening the door to future collaborations between GSK-CH and UCL by promoting the use of combined resources and knowledge exchange. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In the initial stage of this project an oral presentation will be delivered, to share the major findings and techniques used throughout my EngD studies, to the relevant teams at the GSK-CH. I will be showing the effectiveness and advantages in the use of H-NMR and fluorimetry to screen existing and future formulations of denture cleansers. And at the same time show the capabilities of the equipment available at UCL and promote the exchange of resources and expertise between both institutions. On the societal aspect the relevance of this project arises from the fact that dentures are not only a concern for the elderly people. Recently the Oral Health Foundation has reported that 16% of the UK population wear dentures, including a million of people aged between 16 to 44. According with the Special Eurobarometer Oral Health denture wearers experience complications such as toothache, painful gums and sore spots that lead to chewing and biting problems affecting their diet and nutrition, as well as the aesthetic point of view, mainly cause by the growth of biofilm in dentures. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that the number of patients requiring dentures worldwide will increase in the future years. In addition, recent studies suggests that the oral cavity microflora can contribute to systemic and chronic diseases but also more commonly for denture wearers denture associated stomatitis, caused mainly by an increase in Candida albicans, and mal odour caused by other microorganisms. Therefore, there is a significant need to improve the cleaning and disinfection mechanisms in oral care products for dentures. The main agent of our product is peracetic acid that is known to be a powerful bleaching and antimicrobial agent with a proven track of success. It has several applications ranging from disinfectant in hospitals to bleaching agent in household laundry. Therefore, in a near future the findings of this project can effectively impact other relevant areas where disinfection and removal of bacteria are a major concern. The development of this technology will provide fresh insight into existing infrastructure, attracting industrial interest that could lead to the development of commercial pathways for the promising formulations that will be developed in this industrial placement. Furthermore, a joint publication between UCL and GSK-CH on a peer reviewed journal will be drafted and the findings of this study will also be presented at a major international meeting. |
| Impact | The main outcome of the project was the data concerning the effects of the pH on the generation of ROS in a simple formulation. This knowledge can be relevant when considering the development of novel formulations. The current formulations operate at a pH close to neutral that is within the optimal range for the reaction to take place in a effective way but a more acidic pH seemed to contribute for the stability of peracetic acid. As result of the work being conducted at UCL, the industrial partner GSK had more questions that needed answers and another project was funded and set up to study other formulations using the techniques developed throughout my EngD studies a UCL. A clear indicator of the success of the initial project and the advantages and quality of work conducted within the Department of Chemistry of UCL. Ideally the project must evolve for the next step that will be to observe how the pH effects towards the stability of peracetic acid will contribute to biofilm removal. In the case that it is more effective than the current formulations, that use neutral pH, a closer look and further investigations will be necessary. The fact that peracetic acid is widely used to sanitize and clean surfaces there is also the potential develop the product for other applications. I have recently left UCL therefore will not be possible for me to continue with this project but I am happy to contribute with my knowledge and expertise in the field if anyone in the future is willing to take up on this research. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_38 Removal of Oral Biofilm by Activated Oxygen: A Targeted Study (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This industrial placement will provide an outstanding opportunity to apply all the knowledge and findings acquired during my EngD research degree at UCL. The aims and objectives of this project are to perform real time imaging of the removal of oral biofilm by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in denture cleansers. By employing scanning laser confocal microscopy with a three-dye combination, that will allow the visualization of the biofilm sugary matrix and its microorganisms and therefore, access which structures are being targeted by the ROS produced. In this research project, we aim to develop a dual species biofilm using Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Both microorganisms are part of our microflora, C. albicans is the most prevalent cause of fungal infections in humans and when out of control, in the oral cavity, can cause several complications including candidiasis and stomatitis, Streptococcus mutans is a early colonizer of the mouth cavity, known to produce a polysaccharide matrix that acts as scaffolding for microorganisms that make the oral biofilm. This industrial placement is an excellent opportunity to carry out a set of unique inter-linking activities with private industry, allowing me to develop my research skills as an independent researcher to apply for further funding. This research project will provide new insights on the mode of action of ROS in the removal of biofilms and the killing of bacteria to prevent recurring oral complications plaguing denture wearers. Thus, this project is expected to have a remarkable international impact, attracting a wide interdisciplinary recognition and opening the door to future collaborations between GSK-CH and UCL by promoting the use of combined resources and knowledge exchange. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In the initial stage of this project an oral presentation will be delivered, to share the major findings and techniques used throughout my EngD studies, to the relevant teams at the GSK-CH. I will be showing the effectiveness and advantages in the use of H-NMR and fluorimetry to screen existing and future formulations of denture cleansers. And at the same time show the capabilities of the equipment available at UCL and promote the exchange of resources and expertise between both institutions. On the societal aspect the relevance of this project arises from the fact that dentures are not only a concern for the elderly people. Recently the Oral Health Foundation has reported that 16% of the UK population wear dentures, including a million of people aged between 16 to 44. According with the Special Eurobarometer Oral Health denture wearers experience complications such as toothache, painful gums and sore spots that lead to chewing and biting problems affecting their diet and nutrition, as well as the aesthetic point of view, mainly cause by the growth of biofilm in dentures. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that the number of patients requiring dentures worldwide will increase in the future years. In addition, recent studies suggests that the oral cavity microflora can contribute to systemic and chronic diseases but also more commonly for denture wearers denture associated stomatitis, caused mainly by an increase in Candida albicans, and mal odour caused by other microorganisms. Therefore, there is a significant need to improve the cleaning and disinfection mechanisms in oral care products for dentures. The main agent of our product is peracetic acid that is known to be a powerful bleaching and antimicrobial agent with a proven track of success. It has several applications ranging from disinfectant in hospitals to bleaching agent in household laundry. Therefore, in a near future the findings of this project can effectively impact other relevant areas where disinfection and removal of bacteria are a major concern. The development of this technology will provide fresh insight into existing infrastructure, attracting industrial interest that could lead to the development of commercial pathways for the promising formulations that will be developed in this industrial placement. Furthermore, a joint publication between UCL and GSK-CH on a peer reviewed journal will be drafted and the findings of this study will also be presented at a major international meeting. |
| Impact | The main outcome of the project was the data concerning the effects of the pH on the generation of ROS in a simple formulation. This knowledge can be relevant when considering the development of novel formulations. The current formulations operate at a pH close to neutral that is within the optimal range for the reaction to take place in a effective way but a more acidic pH seemed to contribute for the stability of peracetic acid. As result of the work being conducted at UCL, the industrial partner GSK had more questions that needed answers and another project was funded and set up to study other formulations using the techniques developed throughout my EngD studies a UCL. A clear indicator of the success of the initial project and the advantages and quality of work conducted within the Department of Chemistry of UCL. Ideally the project must evolve for the next step that will be to observe how the pH effects towards the stability of peracetic acid will contribute to biofilm removal. In the case that it is more effective than the current formulations, that use neutral pH, a closer look and further investigations will be necessary. The fact that peracetic acid is widely used to sanitize and clean surfaces there is also the potential develop the product for other applications. I have recently left UCL therefore will not be possible for me to continue with this project but I am happy to contribute with my knowledge and expertise in the field if anyone in the future is willing to take up on this research. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_44 Mechanical properties of biofilm on complex substrate (Zhenyu Zhang) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to place Maria Masoura, a PhD student with microbiology background, in a world-leading chemical company, Procter & Gamble to: 1. establish appreciation of industrial perspectives of biofilm; 2. develop industrial links with P&G; 3. identify key parameters that manage and engineer biofilms on complex substrates. During the three months placement period, Maria plans to systematically investigate and measure microbial adhesion to model soils and the mechanical properties of the biofilm/soil complex consequently formed. The scientific nature of the proposal is aligned with at least two areas outlined in the ISCF: accelerating detection of disease, and healthy ageing. Biofilms represent a major concern in industry and hospital healthcare settings where they cause severe structural and health problems (Jose Luis Del Pozo 2017; Gibson et al. 1997). Nowadays, the majority of efforts to treat biofilms are based on antimicrobial agents, which has led to one of the biggest issue in the world that is the bacteria and microorganisms antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The decrease of the effectiveness of these agents poses a serious concern and new ways for tackling biofilms without using antimicrobials are needed. The quantification of adhesion and cohesion forces is crucial in understanding, predicting and modelling biofilm development and removal. The primary objective for the placement is to identify the models and characterize the system as a function of the environment, such as pH, Relative Humidity, temperature, ionic strength, and time. We wish to use the opportunity to exchange both personnel and knowledge between academic (UoB) and industrial sectors (P&G). The placement holder will be exposed to a modern cooperate training package such as management skills, technical skills such as bacteria growth and monitoring for chemical industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | It is anticipated that the outcomes of the planned exchange include the following: 1. New skills: to be transferred between the University of Birmingham to P&G. Maria will use her expertise in microbiology to analyse the presence of biofilms on substrates that are of interest to both industrial and household related applications. In return, Maria will have the opportunity to be trained on a variety of industrial protocols that are not available under an academic research settings. 2. Personal development: Maria will establish in-depth appreciation of industrial perspective on engineering and managing biofilm. Furthermore, she will develop connections with colleagues at P&G, which is tremendously invaluable to an early career researcher. Furthermore, Maria will be offered to attend a number of bespoke training courses by P&G to develop her transferrable skills such as Project Management. 3. New knowledge: concerning the presence and mechanical integrity of biofilms will be generated, which bears fundamental importance to both academic research and industrial impact. This links the past work over different length scales (Goode 2013, Pen 2011), alongside the industrial R&D work. 4. Immediate collaboration: upon success of the placement, whereby key parameters that influence the mechanical properties of biofilm are identified, P&G will commit a further £60k to systematically expand the investigation, as indicated in the supporting letter. This would also strengthen the connection between Maria and colleagues at P&G developed through the placement. 5. Future partnership: University of Birmingham has a strategic partnership with P&G, for the past two decades, with a focus on the Formulation Engineering related work. The proposed work is closely related to the development of new formulated products or processes, and opens new avenues for future collaboration. 6. Societal impact: The learning outcome will help to design new strategies in addressing biofilm related issues in household and healthcare environment. Its impact to our society will be amplified and implemented through large organisation such as P&G who has an established and closed loop in transferring knowledge to real time. We will also engage with other potential partners through the National Biofilm Innovation Centre, to not only disseminate the findings, but to prompt the protocols and techniques developed. |
| Impact | Together with the industrial partners, Dr Masoura identified the skin microbes that are of interest to the particular end applications, and developed the corresponding biofilms on fabrics, which provided invaluable insight to the company in understanding the influence of microbiological activities on the development of fabric care products. A key outcome of the project was to identify the factor(s) that control the adhesion and cohesion of such biofilms - this could be used for the development of new technologies in preventing and removing biofilms from fabrics. Our industrial partner, P&G, was delighted by the initial results generated by Dr Masoura and committed a follow-on fund of £60k to support Maria as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham continuing her investigation with a systematic manner. No other support is required from the NBIC for this project. Dr Masoura had subsequently developed her connection with another SME using natural materials for food packaging, and plans to submit a research proposal in the upcoming round of funding call. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_44 Mechanical properties of biofilm on complex substrate (Zhenyu Zhang) |
| Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to place Maria Masoura, a PhD student with microbiology background, in a world-leading chemical company, Procter & Gamble to: 1. establish appreciation of industrial perspectives of biofilm; 2. develop industrial links with P&G; 3. identify key parameters that manage and engineer biofilms on complex substrates. During the three months placement period, Maria plans to systematically investigate and measure microbial adhesion to model soils and the mechanical properties of the biofilm/soil complex consequently formed. The scientific nature of the proposal is aligned with at least two areas outlined in the ISCF: accelerating detection of disease, and healthy ageing. Biofilms represent a major concern in industry and hospital healthcare settings where they cause severe structural and health problems (Jose Luis Del Pozo 2017; Gibson et al. 1997). Nowadays, the majority of efforts to treat biofilms are based on antimicrobial agents, which has led to one of the biggest issue in the world that is the bacteria and microorganisms antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The decrease of the effectiveness of these agents poses a serious concern and new ways for tackling biofilms without using antimicrobials are needed. The quantification of adhesion and cohesion forces is crucial in understanding, predicting and modelling biofilm development and removal. The primary objective for the placement is to identify the models and characterize the system as a function of the environment, such as pH, Relative Humidity, temperature, ionic strength, and time. We wish to use the opportunity to exchange both personnel and knowledge between academic (UoB) and industrial sectors (P&G). The placement holder will be exposed to a modern cooperate training package such as management skills, technical skills such as bacteria growth and monitoring for chemical industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | It is anticipated that the outcomes of the planned exchange include the following: 1. New skills: to be transferred between the University of Birmingham to P&G. Maria will use her expertise in microbiology to analyse the presence of biofilms on substrates that are of interest to both industrial and household related applications. In return, Maria will have the opportunity to be trained on a variety of industrial protocols that are not available under an academic research settings. 2. Personal development: Maria will establish in-depth appreciation of industrial perspective on engineering and managing biofilm. Furthermore, she will develop connections with colleagues at P&G, which is tremendously invaluable to an early career researcher. Furthermore, Maria will be offered to attend a number of bespoke training courses by P&G to develop her transferrable skills such as Project Management. 3. New knowledge: concerning the presence and mechanical integrity of biofilms will be generated, which bears fundamental importance to both academic research and industrial impact. This links the past work over different length scales (Goode 2013, Pen 2011), alongside the industrial R&D work. 4. Immediate collaboration: upon success of the placement, whereby key parameters that influence the mechanical properties of biofilm are identified, P&G will commit a further £60k to systematically expand the investigation, as indicated in the supporting letter. This would also strengthen the connection between Maria and colleagues at P&G developed through the placement. 5. Future partnership: University of Birmingham has a strategic partnership with P&G, for the past two decades, with a focus on the Formulation Engineering related work. The proposed work is closely related to the development of new formulated products or processes, and opens new avenues for future collaboration. 6. Societal impact: The learning outcome will help to design new strategies in addressing biofilm related issues in household and healthcare environment. Its impact to our society will be amplified and implemented through large organisation such as P&G who has an established and closed loop in transferring knowledge to real time. We will also engage with other potential partners through the National Biofilm Innovation Centre, to not only disseminate the findings, but to prompt the protocols and techniques developed. |
| Impact | Together with the industrial partners, Dr Masoura identified the skin microbes that are of interest to the particular end applications, and developed the corresponding biofilms on fabrics, which provided invaluable insight to the company in understanding the influence of microbiological activities on the development of fabric care products. A key outcome of the project was to identify the factor(s) that control the adhesion and cohesion of such biofilms - this could be used for the development of new technologies in preventing and removing biofilms from fabrics. Our industrial partner, P&G, was delighted by the initial results generated by Dr Masoura and committed a follow-on fund of £60k to support Maria as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham continuing her investigation with a systematic manner. No other support is required from the NBIC for this project. Dr Masoura had subsequently developed her connection with another SME using natural materials for food packaging, and plans to submit a research proposal in the upcoming round of funding call. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_44 Mechanical properties of biofilm on complex substrate (Zhenyu Zhang) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to place Maria Masoura, a PhD student with microbiology background, in a world-leading chemical company, Procter & Gamble to: 1. establish appreciation of industrial perspectives of biofilm; 2. develop industrial links with P&G; 3. identify key parameters that manage and engineer biofilms on complex substrates. During the three months placement period, Maria plans to systematically investigate and measure microbial adhesion to model soils and the mechanical properties of the biofilm/soil complex consequently formed. The scientific nature of the proposal is aligned with at least two areas outlined in the ISCF: accelerating detection of disease, and healthy ageing. Biofilms represent a major concern in industry and hospital healthcare settings where they cause severe structural and health problems (Jose Luis Del Pozo 2017; Gibson et al. 1997). Nowadays, the majority of efforts to treat biofilms are based on antimicrobial agents, which has led to one of the biggest issue in the world that is the bacteria and microorganisms antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The decrease of the effectiveness of these agents poses a serious concern and new ways for tackling biofilms without using antimicrobials are needed. The quantification of adhesion and cohesion forces is crucial in understanding, predicting and modelling biofilm development and removal. The primary objective for the placement is to identify the models and characterize the system as a function of the environment, such as pH, Relative Humidity, temperature, ionic strength, and time. We wish to use the opportunity to exchange both personnel and knowledge between academic (UoB) and industrial sectors (P&G). The placement holder will be exposed to a modern cooperate training package such as management skills, technical skills such as bacteria growth and monitoring for chemical industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | It is anticipated that the outcomes of the planned exchange include the following: 1. New skills: to be transferred between the University of Birmingham to P&G. Maria will use her expertise in microbiology to analyse the presence of biofilms on substrates that are of interest to both industrial and household related applications. In return, Maria will have the opportunity to be trained on a variety of industrial protocols that are not available under an academic research settings. 2. Personal development: Maria will establish in-depth appreciation of industrial perspective on engineering and managing biofilm. Furthermore, she will develop connections with colleagues at P&G, which is tremendously invaluable to an early career researcher. Furthermore, Maria will be offered to attend a number of bespoke training courses by P&G to develop her transferrable skills such as Project Management. 3. New knowledge: concerning the presence and mechanical integrity of biofilms will be generated, which bears fundamental importance to both academic research and industrial impact. This links the past work over different length scales (Goode 2013, Pen 2011), alongside the industrial R&D work. 4. Immediate collaboration: upon success of the placement, whereby key parameters that influence the mechanical properties of biofilm are identified, P&G will commit a further £60k to systematically expand the investigation, as indicated in the supporting letter. This would also strengthen the connection between Maria and colleagues at P&G developed through the placement. 5. Future partnership: University of Birmingham has a strategic partnership with P&G, for the past two decades, with a focus on the Formulation Engineering related work. The proposed work is closely related to the development of new formulated products or processes, and opens new avenues for future collaboration. 6. Societal impact: The learning outcome will help to design new strategies in addressing biofilm related issues in household and healthcare environment. Its impact to our society will be amplified and implemented through large organisation such as P&G who has an established and closed loop in transferring knowledge to real time. We will also engage with other potential partners through the National Biofilm Innovation Centre, to not only disseminate the findings, but to prompt the protocols and techniques developed. |
| Impact | Together with the industrial partners, Dr Masoura identified the skin microbes that are of interest to the particular end applications, and developed the corresponding biofilms on fabrics, which provided invaluable insight to the company in understanding the influence of microbiological activities on the development of fabric care products. A key outcome of the project was to identify the factor(s) that control the adhesion and cohesion of such biofilms - this could be used for the development of new technologies in preventing and removing biofilms from fabrics. Our industrial partner, P&G, was delighted by the initial results generated by Dr Masoura and committed a follow-on fund of £60k to support Maria as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham continuing her investigation with a systematic manner. No other support is required from the NBIC for this project. Dr Masoura had subsequently developed her connection with another SME using natural materials for food packaging, and plans to submit a research proposal in the upcoming round of funding call. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_47 Developing Light Sheet Imaging to Detect and Monitor Biofilm Growth (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | CAIRN Research Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overarching aim is to establish light sheet microscopy as a powerful tool that can be used to detect and monitor the formation of biofilms. To date such technology, which can image large surface areas in high resolution rapidly and with low phototoxicity has not been implemented to monitor and detect biofilm growth. The student will receive training in the use of two complementary light-sheet systems produced by Cairn Scientific. Training will take place within their scientific R & D labs in Faversham, Kent, with additional provided by Dr. Laissue (Essex). Both Cairn and Dr. Laissue have significant expertise in the design and implementation of light microscopy solutions. The student will be trained to use two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Both systems cause very low phototoxicity and can be used for non-invasive, long-term time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. The student will explore their evident potential for the use for detection and monitoring of biofilm growth within industrial settings that are highly relevant to the BBSRC Industry Strategy Challenges a) acceleration of detection of disease and b) precision agriculture. The first aim will be to monitor the development of algal biofilms on plastic tubing used to deliver nutrition within controlled growth precision agricultural facilities. In this case it will be of interest to monitor large areas of tubing at intermediate, cellular resolution to help detect early biofilm formation and to examine the effects of decontamination processes. The second aim will be to examine more complex biofilms at high resolution, revealing subcellular details to help dissect the composition of complex biofilm formation in real time. Such experiments will allow researchers to determine how multi-species biofilms assemble in real time, opening the door to new research-driven approaches to early disease detection and treatment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research aims to extend the use of cutting edge microscopy technology into a new field of research that has direct relevance to the BBSRC Industrial Strategy Challenges. Main outputs will arise from the capture of the first comprehensive light sheet microscopy live cell imaging data of algal, bacterial and fungal biofilms developing on industrially relevant materials at high resolution. The data will validate the use of light sheet microscopy for biofilm detection. It will also show that high resolution live cell imaging data can be rapidly acquired over large surface areas, which lends the technique to rapid monitoring of biofilm formation in a variety of automated industrial settings, such as in precision agriculture feeding assemblies that are prone to contamination. The project will lead to the production of protocols that can be used to image biofilms for extended periods of time with limited photo-damage that will contribute to many future publications. We anticipate that the success of the project will lead to further collaborative work between the applicants, Cairn Scientific and a customer base with interests in using rapid cost effective imaging to monitor biofilm contamination or the effectiveness of anti-fouling treatments. Examples of such applications lie within the "smart agriculture" sector where constant monitoring systems play an important role in plant pathogen control or on the surfaces of medical equipment such as IV lines or catheter tubing. A significant output will be the training of the researcher to use cutting edge technology within an industrial R and D environment. The project offers an exciting opportunity for the student to gain experience not only in the development and application of a cutting edge microscopy technique, but in product development and marketing. Experience and results gained from developing new light sheet biofilm detection applications, and results obtained with them, will feed directly into the further collaborative research and research-led teaching done by the investigators at the Universities of Kent and Essex. The instruments and techniques will also be applied within future practical courses run by Dr. Laissue (e.g. NERC course for environmental imaging and joint imaging courses being developed by the Universities of Kent and Essex). |
| Impact | The student gained experience using two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Use of both systems allowed long term imaging of biofilms and experiments focussed on optomising experimental conditions to reduce photoxicity using mitochondrial fragmentation as a sensitive marker. While the student gained experience working within an industrial setting and in new technology the company also gained new data that can be used to develop new protocols for their instruments. Certain limitations were encountered with the Cairn light sheet instruments that led to a follow on application for an FTMA fellowship within a second imaging company. This application was successful. The company, 3i, has agreed to the student (now a postdoc) to undertake studies within their facility to introduce AI software approaches in combination with their innovative light sheet instruments. It is hoped these experiments will yield unprecedented images of growing fungal biofilms under negligible levels of photoxicity. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_47 Developing Light Sheet Imaging to Detect and Monitor Biofilm Growth (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overarching aim is to establish light sheet microscopy as a powerful tool that can be used to detect and monitor the formation of biofilms. To date such technology, which can image large surface areas in high resolution rapidly and with low phototoxicity has not been implemented to monitor and detect biofilm growth. The student will receive training in the use of two complementary light-sheet systems produced by Cairn Scientific. Training will take place within their scientific R & D labs in Faversham, Kent, with additional provided by Dr. Laissue (Essex). Both Cairn and Dr. Laissue have significant expertise in the design and implementation of light microscopy solutions. The student will be trained to use two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Both systems cause very low phototoxicity and can be used for non-invasive, long-term time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. The student will explore their evident potential for the use for detection and monitoring of biofilm growth within industrial settings that are highly relevant to the BBSRC Industry Strategy Challenges a) acceleration of detection of disease and b) precision agriculture. The first aim will be to monitor the development of algal biofilms on plastic tubing used to deliver nutrition within controlled growth precision agricultural facilities. In this case it will be of interest to monitor large areas of tubing at intermediate, cellular resolution to help detect early biofilm formation and to examine the effects of decontamination processes. The second aim will be to examine more complex biofilms at high resolution, revealing subcellular details to help dissect the composition of complex biofilm formation in real time. Such experiments will allow researchers to determine how multi-species biofilms assemble in real time, opening the door to new research-driven approaches to early disease detection and treatment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research aims to extend the use of cutting edge microscopy technology into a new field of research that has direct relevance to the BBSRC Industrial Strategy Challenges. Main outputs will arise from the capture of the first comprehensive light sheet microscopy live cell imaging data of algal, bacterial and fungal biofilms developing on industrially relevant materials at high resolution. The data will validate the use of light sheet microscopy for biofilm detection. It will also show that high resolution live cell imaging data can be rapidly acquired over large surface areas, which lends the technique to rapid monitoring of biofilm formation in a variety of automated industrial settings, such as in precision agriculture feeding assemblies that are prone to contamination. The project will lead to the production of protocols that can be used to image biofilms for extended periods of time with limited photo-damage that will contribute to many future publications. We anticipate that the success of the project will lead to further collaborative work between the applicants, Cairn Scientific and a customer base with interests in using rapid cost effective imaging to monitor biofilm contamination or the effectiveness of anti-fouling treatments. Examples of such applications lie within the "smart agriculture" sector where constant monitoring systems play an important role in plant pathogen control or on the surfaces of medical equipment such as IV lines or catheter tubing. A significant output will be the training of the researcher to use cutting edge technology within an industrial R and D environment. The project offers an exciting opportunity for the student to gain experience not only in the development and application of a cutting edge microscopy technique, but in product development and marketing. Experience and results gained from developing new light sheet biofilm detection applications, and results obtained with them, will feed directly into the further collaborative research and research-led teaching done by the investigators at the Universities of Kent and Essex. The instruments and techniques will also be applied within future practical courses run by Dr. Laissue (e.g. NERC course for environmental imaging and joint imaging courses being developed by the Universities of Kent and Essex). |
| Impact | The student gained experience using two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Use of both systems allowed long term imaging of biofilms and experiments focussed on optomising experimental conditions to reduce photoxicity using mitochondrial fragmentation as a sensitive marker. While the student gained experience working within an industrial setting and in new technology the company also gained new data that can be used to develop new protocols for their instruments. Certain limitations were encountered with the Cairn light sheet instruments that led to a follow on application for an FTMA fellowship within a second imaging company. This application was successful. The company, 3i, has agreed to the student (now a postdoc) to undertake studies within their facility to introduce AI software approaches in combination with their innovative light sheet instruments. It is hoped these experiments will yield unprecedented images of growing fungal biofilms under negligible levels of photoxicity. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placement P_19_2_47 Developing Light Sheet Imaging to Detect and Monitor Biofilm Growth (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | The overarching aim is to establish light sheet microscopy as a powerful tool that can be used to detect and monitor the formation of biofilms. To date such technology, which can image large surface areas in high resolution rapidly and with low phototoxicity has not been implemented to monitor and detect biofilm growth. The student will receive training in the use of two complementary light-sheet systems produced by Cairn Scientific. Training will take place within their scientific R & D labs in Faversham, Kent, with additional provided by Dr. Laissue (Essex). Both Cairn and Dr. Laissue have significant expertise in the design and implementation of light microscopy solutions. The student will be trained to use two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Both systems cause very low phototoxicity and can be used for non-invasive, long-term time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. The student will explore their evident potential for the use for detection and monitoring of biofilm growth within industrial settings that are highly relevant to the BBSRC Industry Strategy Challenges a) acceleration of detection of disease and b) precision agriculture. The first aim will be to monitor the development of algal biofilms on plastic tubing used to deliver nutrition within controlled growth precision agricultural facilities. In this case it will be of interest to monitor large areas of tubing at intermediate, cellular resolution to help detect early biofilm formation and to examine the effects of decontamination processes. The second aim will be to examine more complex biofilms at high resolution, revealing subcellular details to help dissect the composition of complex biofilm formation in real time. Such experiments will allow researchers to determine how multi-species biofilms assemble in real time, opening the door to new research-driven approaches to early disease detection and treatment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research aims to extend the use of cutting edge microscopy technology into a new field of research that has direct relevance to the BBSRC Industrial Strategy Challenges. Main outputs will arise from the capture of the first comprehensive light sheet microscopy live cell imaging data of algal, bacterial and fungal biofilms developing on industrially relevant materials at high resolution. The data will validate the use of light sheet microscopy for biofilm detection. It will also show that high resolution live cell imaging data can be rapidly acquired over large surface areas, which lends the technique to rapid monitoring of biofilm formation in a variety of automated industrial settings, such as in precision agriculture feeding assemblies that are prone to contamination. The project will lead to the production of protocols that can be used to image biofilms for extended periods of time with limited photo-damage that will contribute to many future publications. We anticipate that the success of the project will lead to further collaborative work between the applicants, Cairn Scientific and a customer base with interests in using rapid cost effective imaging to monitor biofilm contamination or the effectiveness of anti-fouling treatments. Examples of such applications lie within the "smart agriculture" sector where constant monitoring systems play an important role in plant pathogen control or on the surfaces of medical equipment such as IV lines or catheter tubing. A significant output will be the training of the researcher to use cutting edge technology within an industrial R and D environment. The project offers an exciting opportunity for the student to gain experience not only in the development and application of a cutting edge microscopy technique, but in product development and marketing. Experience and results gained from developing new light sheet biofilm detection applications, and results obtained with them, will feed directly into the further collaborative research and research-led teaching done by the investigators at the Universities of Kent and Essex. The instruments and techniques will also be applied within future practical courses run by Dr. Laissue (e.g. NERC course for environmental imaging and joint imaging courses being developed by the Universities of Kent and Essex). |
| Impact | The student gained experience using two light sheet instruments, an L-SPI for large sample imaging, and a MizarTILT system for high-resolution imaging. Use of both systems allowed long term imaging of biofilms and experiments focussed on optomising experimental conditions to reduce photoxicity using mitochondrial fragmentation as a sensitive marker. While the student gained experience working within an industrial setting and in new technology the company also gained new data that can be used to develop new protocols for their instruments. Certain limitations were encountered with the Cairn light sheet instruments that led to a follow on application for an FTMA fellowship within a second imaging company. This application was successful. The company, 3i, has agreed to the student (now a postdoc) to undertake studies within their facility to introduce AI software approaches in combination with their innovative light sheet instruments. It is hoped these experiments will yield unprecedented images of growing fungal biofilms under negligible levels of photoxicity. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placements P_19_01 and P_19_01_2 16S Metagenomics product development (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I will be spending 3 months working at YouSeq Ltd. YouSeq is a new company that develops Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) kits. YouSeq was founded by the team behind PrimerDesign Ltd (a successful qPCR product business spun out of the University of Southampton), that I have purchased product from and was previously successful in winning a sponsorship award from. Youseq have a new 16S metagenomics product with the power to identify (to a species level) complex bacteria populations from environmental and clinical samples. YouSeq are also developing a novel sampling tool for quick and easy sampling and simultaneous DNA extraction from environmental bacteria (including biofilms). I will be working to develop this new product further through a programme of laboratory work, field testing and market research. I will use my existing knowledge of 16S bacterial metagenomics alongside my in depth understanding of biofilm formation to help advise the team in the development of the product further. I will test the product extensively with real world samples to help validate the product and identify areas for further improvement. I will also spend time talking to clinicians and researchers to understand in more detail the challenges and pain points that they face in order to understand best how to develop the product for maximum societal impact. The secondment will allow me to experience the fast-paced commercial start-up environment and apply my knowledge in a tangible and very direct manner. I will have the opportunity to learn new commercial skills in product development, market research and commercialisation of scientific knowledge. All of which, I believe, offers me a rich and exciting opportunity to experience the commercial world of Science at this pivotal moment in my personal and professional development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The 16S Metagenomics kit that I will be working to develop will have enormous societal and economic benefit. Microbial infection of environmental surfaces in hospitals has a massive impact on patient outcome and is known to be a reservoir for clinical infection. Accurate, cost effect, routine identification of complex bacteria populations from environmental samples will be a powerful tool in the fight against hospital acquired infection. As well as improved patient outcomes, this has the potential to provide enormous cost savings by preventing infection before it occurs. The key measurable outcome from my visit will be the commercial launch of the 16S metagenomics product of which I will be an integral part of the launch team. The product is in beta testing and requires some final development and a body of scientific and market research data behind it. I will produce/collate this data in to a final report. This data will be used to make any final improvements to the product ahead of launch. I hope to be able to use my own network of clinical contacts at Southampton General Hospital to perform a small-scale collaboration/testing programme during the secondment. I will also write a "white paper" centred around the use of the 16S Metagenomics kit for marketing and communication purposes. My current academic department also have a requirement for more 16S metagenomic testing in future so there is potential for further collaboration between YouSeq and the University of Southampton beyond the duration of my secondment. Further developments: After completing his project with YouSeq in early January 2019, Dr Winnard successfully found employment with Novagene, a global NGS service provider. YouSeq are currently undertaking a marketing drive for the product with great hopes for significant commercial success that will bring further income and employment to the local community. |
| Impact | The outcome has been a successful product launch. Chris has been successful in taking the prototype product, identifying final issues and implement improvements to make the kit robust for commercial use. He has performed detailed studies on sensitivity and specificity and produced good quality data to satisfy the company's quality standards as well as for use in marketing purposes. Chris has also been involved in various marketing related tasks associated with product launch including developing the product instructions-for-use further as well as website and printed marketing content. Chris has also been involved in the beta version of product launch with trials of the kit occurring in the US, South Africa, Portugal and the UK. Chris also took part in commercial and technical discussions with the company's first significant customer for the product signing an agreement with YouSeq this week. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placements P_19_01 and P_19_01_2 16S Metagenomics product development (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I will be spending 3 months working at YouSeq Ltd. YouSeq is a new company that develops Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) kits. YouSeq was founded by the team behind PrimerDesign Ltd (a successful qPCR product business spun out of the University of Southampton), that I have purchased product from and was previously successful in winning a sponsorship award from. Youseq have a new 16S metagenomics product with the power to identify (to a species level) complex bacteria populations from environmental and clinical samples. YouSeq are also developing a novel sampling tool for quick and easy sampling and simultaneous DNA extraction from environmental bacteria (including biofilms). I will be working to develop this new product further through a programme of laboratory work, field testing and market research. I will use my existing knowledge of 16S bacterial metagenomics alongside my in depth understanding of biofilm formation to help advise the team in the development of the product further. I will test the product extensively with real world samples to help validate the product and identify areas for further improvement. I will also spend time talking to clinicians and researchers to understand in more detail the challenges and pain points that they face in order to understand best how to develop the product for maximum societal impact. The secondment will allow me to experience the fast-paced commercial start-up environment and apply my knowledge in a tangible and very direct manner. I will have the opportunity to learn new commercial skills in product development, market research and commercialisation of scientific knowledge. All of which, I believe, offers me a rich and exciting opportunity to experience the commercial world of Science at this pivotal moment in my personal and professional development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The 16S Metagenomics kit that I will be working to develop will have enormous societal and economic benefit. Microbial infection of environmental surfaces in hospitals has a massive impact on patient outcome and is known to be a reservoir for clinical infection. Accurate, cost effect, routine identification of complex bacteria populations from environmental samples will be a powerful tool in the fight against hospital acquired infection. As well as improved patient outcomes, this has the potential to provide enormous cost savings by preventing infection before it occurs. The key measurable outcome from my visit will be the commercial launch of the 16S metagenomics product of which I will be an integral part of the launch team. The product is in beta testing and requires some final development and a body of scientific and market research data behind it. I will produce/collate this data in to a final report. This data will be used to make any final improvements to the product ahead of launch. I hope to be able to use my own network of clinical contacts at Southampton General Hospital to perform a small-scale collaboration/testing programme during the secondment. I will also write a "white paper" centred around the use of the 16S Metagenomics kit for marketing and communication purposes. My current academic department also have a requirement for more 16S metagenomic testing in future so there is potential for further collaboration between YouSeq and the University of Southampton beyond the duration of my secondment. Further developments: After completing his project with YouSeq in early January 2019, Dr Winnard successfully found employment with Novagene, a global NGS service provider. YouSeq are currently undertaking a marketing drive for the product with great hopes for significant commercial success that will bring further income and employment to the local community. |
| Impact | The outcome has been a successful product launch. Chris has been successful in taking the prototype product, identifying final issues and implement improvements to make the kit robust for commercial use. He has performed detailed studies on sensitivity and specificity and produced good quality data to satisfy the company's quality standards as well as for use in marketing purposes. Chris has also been involved in various marketing related tasks associated with product launch including developing the product instructions-for-use further as well as website and printed marketing content. Chris has also been involved in the beta version of product launch with trials of the kit occurring in the US, South Africa, Portugal and the UK. Chris also took part in commercial and technical discussions with the company's first significant customer for the product signing an agreement with YouSeq this week. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA Placements P_19_01 and P_19_01_2 16S Metagenomics product development (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | YouSeq Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I will be spending 3 months working at YouSeq Ltd. YouSeq is a new company that develops Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) kits. YouSeq was founded by the team behind PrimerDesign Ltd (a successful qPCR product business spun out of the University of Southampton), that I have purchased product from and was previously successful in winning a sponsorship award from. Youseq have a new 16S metagenomics product with the power to identify (to a species level) complex bacteria populations from environmental and clinical samples. YouSeq are also developing a novel sampling tool for quick and easy sampling and simultaneous DNA extraction from environmental bacteria (including biofilms). I will be working to develop this new product further through a programme of laboratory work, field testing and market research. I will use my existing knowledge of 16S bacterial metagenomics alongside my in depth understanding of biofilm formation to help advise the team in the development of the product further. I will test the product extensively with real world samples to help validate the product and identify areas for further improvement. I will also spend time talking to clinicians and researchers to understand in more detail the challenges and pain points that they face in order to understand best how to develop the product for maximum societal impact. The secondment will allow me to experience the fast-paced commercial start-up environment and apply my knowledge in a tangible and very direct manner. I will have the opportunity to learn new commercial skills in product development, market research and commercialisation of scientific knowledge. All of which, I believe, offers me a rich and exciting opportunity to experience the commercial world of Science at this pivotal moment in my personal and professional development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The 16S Metagenomics kit that I will be working to develop will have enormous societal and economic benefit. Microbial infection of environmental surfaces in hospitals has a massive impact on patient outcome and is known to be a reservoir for clinical infection. Accurate, cost effect, routine identification of complex bacteria populations from environmental samples will be a powerful tool in the fight against hospital acquired infection. As well as improved patient outcomes, this has the potential to provide enormous cost savings by preventing infection before it occurs. The key measurable outcome from my visit will be the commercial launch of the 16S metagenomics product of which I will be an integral part of the launch team. The product is in beta testing and requires some final development and a body of scientific and market research data behind it. I will produce/collate this data in to a final report. This data will be used to make any final improvements to the product ahead of launch. I hope to be able to use my own network of clinical contacts at Southampton General Hospital to perform a small-scale collaboration/testing programme during the secondment. I will also write a "white paper" centred around the use of the 16S Metagenomics kit for marketing and communication purposes. My current academic department also have a requirement for more 16S metagenomic testing in future so there is potential for further collaboration between YouSeq and the University of Southampton beyond the duration of my secondment. Further developments: After completing his project with YouSeq in early January 2019, Dr Winnard successfully found employment with Novagene, a global NGS service provider. YouSeq are currently undertaking a marketing drive for the product with great hopes for significant commercial success that will bring further income and employment to the local community. |
| Impact | The outcome has been a successful product launch. Chris has been successful in taking the prototype product, identifying final issues and implement improvements to make the kit robust for commercial use. He has performed detailed studies on sensitivity and specificity and produced good quality data to satisfy the company's quality standards as well as for use in marketing purposes. Chris has also been involved in various marketing related tasks associated with product launch including developing the product instructions-for-use further as well as website and printed marketing content. Chris has also been involved in the beta version of product launch with trials of the kit occurring in the US, South Africa, Portugal and the UK. Chris also took part in commercial and technical discussions with the company's first significant customer for the product signing an agreement with YouSeq this week. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_003 Understanding the antimicrobial efficacy of copper coatings on dry surface biofilms (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In this placement, the antimicrobial efficacy of the Copper Cover novel coatings on polymicrobial dry biofilms, including antiviral activity, will be investigated. The Copper Cover coating is intended for use on high touchpoint areas such as door handles, push plates and lift buttons - all of which are at risk of continuous contamination and could be impacted by dry biofilm development. The coatings show strong antimicrobial activity against both single species of bacterial and viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 but there have been no studies looking in detail at the action of antimicrobial copper against mixed, dry biofilms. In light of the pandemic and to improve infection prevention and control strategies, the efficacy on such complex communities needs to be understood. The study will test coated coupons against controls such as stainless steel, using simple batch testing and a drip flow reactor to generate dry surface biofilms against key bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and also allow incorporation of viruses - using a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. The viability of these will be assessed using culture and imaging for bacterial pathogens, and a cell culture assay for the virus. This work will provide experience on standard testing as required for product development and evaluation. Throughout the researcher will be working alongside Copper Cover engineers and company representatives, who will provide commercial experience and insight into product design and improvement, this will include knowledge on market analysis and understanding on the challenges encountered in different markets; NHS, food production and other regulated industries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_003 Understanding the antimicrobial efficacy of copper coatings on dry surface biofilms (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In this placement, the antimicrobial efficacy of the Copper Cover novel coatings on polymicrobial dry biofilms, including antiviral activity, will be investigated. The Copper Cover coating is intended for use on high touchpoint areas such as door handles, push plates and lift buttons - all of which are at risk of continuous contamination and could be impacted by dry biofilm development. The coatings show strong antimicrobial activity against both single species of bacterial and viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 but there have been no studies looking in detail at the action of antimicrobial copper against mixed, dry biofilms. In light of the pandemic and to improve infection prevention and control strategies, the efficacy on such complex communities needs to be understood. The study will test coated coupons against controls such as stainless steel, using simple batch testing and a drip flow reactor to generate dry surface biofilms against key bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and also allow incorporation of viruses - using a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. The viability of these will be assessed using culture and imaging for bacterial pathogens, and a cell culture assay for the virus. This work will provide experience on standard testing as required for product development and evaluation. Throughout the researcher will be working alongside Copper Cover engineers and company representatives, who will provide commercial experience and insight into product design and improvement, this will include knowledge on market analysis and understanding on the challenges encountered in different markets; NHS, food production and other regulated industries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_004 Advanced imaging of biofilms formed by urinary tract infections: training and Nanocin technology evaluation (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent infections in humans and account for a significant global healthcare and economic burden. This is particularly true within an ageing society and therefore this project aligns to the UKRI's Industry Strategy challenge funds ageing society challenge. 25-35% of women suffering from a UTI will fail standard antibiotic treatment protocols. This, in part, can be explained by the well documented ability for uropathogens to form biofilms within bladder cells and on the surface of urinary catheters. In these circumstances, antibiotics are unable to penetrate and kill offending microbes leading to recurrent infections, hospitalisation and potentially sepsis. More efficacious treatments are desperately needed. Therefore, Tecrea is interested in applications of its innovative technology in the area of UTI control. Aims: 1. Imaging of biofilms, through training from the UCL team, with a Leica SP8 deconvolution super-resolution laser scanning confocal microscope. Static (fixed) and live imaging will be performed over a series of hours under physiological conditions. 2. Evaluate the morphological effects of Tecrea's Nanocin technology on biofilms formed by UTI pathogens, using clinical isolated and established in vitro biofilm models. Training provided by UCL in morphometric analysis using super resolution 3D image analysis using Leica LASX, Image pro 10 3D and FIJI (Comstat2). 3. Further develop the SME-academic collaboration, building on past successful collaboration. 4. Expand and develop my skill set. Personal Development: Completing the secondment will allow me to learn a range of novel imaging techniques and in vitro models for the assessment of biofilm morphology. This will further develop my technical skill set which I can apply in my work at Tecrea. Collaborating with UCL, the NHS and BIIG will enable me to expand my collaboration network as well as observing research from lab bench into a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Overall, uropathogenic E. coli biofilm was successfully grown and stained in vitro and visualised by CLSM. NanocinTM treatment was evaluated by CLSM of uropathogenic E. coli biofilm which has not previously been studied before. Results and conclusions: • NanocinTM penetrated uropathogenic E. coli biofilm at concentrations above the MIC. • NanocinTM inhibited growth of uropathogenic E. coli. • Greater NanocinTM-FITC fluorescence was observed in the apical surface of the biofilm compared with the basal surface. The secondment has helped my personal development as a research scientist. I have learnt new transferable skills such as confocal microscopy, developed my microbiological skills further and established new connections with the bladder infection and immunity group (BIIG) at the NHS Royal Free Hospital. The secondment has benefitted Tecrea Ltd by providing funding to research the viability of its NanocinTM technology in UTI treatment. The BIIG group have also benefitted from the secondment through developing a better understanding of biofilm formation in UTI with the potential for a new treatment method with further research. Future work: The work will be submitted for abstract and presentation conference calls to allow presentation of the work to the wider community. The established collaboration between Tecrea Ltd and the BIIG group at the NHS Royal Free Hospital will continue. With the collaboration we aim to continue the in vitro research to gain further insight into the NanocinTM technologies ability to kill uropathogens (including in other species such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus mirabilis and enterococcus spp.) as well as broaden our understanding of NanocinsTM mechanism of action. Further biofilm staining techniques will be utilized as well as minimum biofilm eradication concentrations calculated. Additional grant funding opportunities will be required to advance this work further which will be applied for by both parties in the collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_004 Advanced imaging of biofilms formed by urinary tract infections: training and Nanocin technology evaluation (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | Tecrea Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent infections in humans and account for a significant global healthcare and economic burden. This is particularly true within an ageing society and therefore this project aligns to the UKRI's Industry Strategy challenge funds ageing society challenge. 25-35% of women suffering from a UTI will fail standard antibiotic treatment protocols. This, in part, can be explained by the well documented ability for uropathogens to form biofilms within bladder cells and on the surface of urinary catheters. In these circumstances, antibiotics are unable to penetrate and kill offending microbes leading to recurrent infections, hospitalisation and potentially sepsis. More efficacious treatments are desperately needed. Therefore, Tecrea is interested in applications of its innovative technology in the area of UTI control. Aims: 1. Imaging of biofilms, through training from the UCL team, with a Leica SP8 deconvolution super-resolution laser scanning confocal microscope. Static (fixed) and live imaging will be performed over a series of hours under physiological conditions. 2. Evaluate the morphological effects of Tecrea's Nanocin technology on biofilms formed by UTI pathogens, using clinical isolated and established in vitro biofilm models. Training provided by UCL in morphometric analysis using super resolution 3D image analysis using Leica LASX, Image pro 10 3D and FIJI (Comstat2). 3. Further develop the SME-academic collaboration, building on past successful collaboration. 4. Expand and develop my skill set. Personal Development: Completing the secondment will allow me to learn a range of novel imaging techniques and in vitro models for the assessment of biofilm morphology. This will further develop my technical skill set which I can apply in my work at Tecrea. Collaborating with UCL, the NHS and BIIG will enable me to expand my collaboration network as well as observing research from lab bench into a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Overall, uropathogenic E. coli biofilm was successfully grown and stained in vitro and visualised by CLSM. NanocinTM treatment was evaluated by CLSM of uropathogenic E. coli biofilm which has not previously been studied before. Results and conclusions: • NanocinTM penetrated uropathogenic E. coli biofilm at concentrations above the MIC. • NanocinTM inhibited growth of uropathogenic E. coli. • Greater NanocinTM-FITC fluorescence was observed in the apical surface of the biofilm compared with the basal surface. The secondment has helped my personal development as a research scientist. I have learnt new transferable skills such as confocal microscopy, developed my microbiological skills further and established new connections with the bladder infection and immunity group (BIIG) at the NHS Royal Free Hospital. The secondment has benefitted Tecrea Ltd by providing funding to research the viability of its NanocinTM technology in UTI treatment. The BIIG group have also benefitted from the secondment through developing a better understanding of biofilm formation in UTI with the potential for a new treatment method with further research. Future work: The work will be submitted for abstract and presentation conference calls to allow presentation of the work to the wider community. The established collaboration between Tecrea Ltd and the BIIG group at the NHS Royal Free Hospital will continue. With the collaboration we aim to continue the in vitro research to gain further insight into the NanocinTM technologies ability to kill uropathogens (including in other species such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus mirabilis and enterococcus spp.) as well as broaden our understanding of NanocinsTM mechanism of action. Further biofilm staining techniques will be utilized as well as minimum biofilm eradication concentrations calculated. Additional grant funding opportunities will be required to advance this work further which will be applied for by both parties in the collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_004 Advanced imaging of biofilms formed by urinary tract infections: training and Nanocin technology evaluation (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent infections in humans and account for a significant global healthcare and economic burden. This is particularly true within an ageing society and therefore this project aligns to the UKRI's Industry Strategy challenge funds ageing society challenge. 25-35% of women suffering from a UTI will fail standard antibiotic treatment protocols. This, in part, can be explained by the well documented ability for uropathogens to form biofilms within bladder cells and on the surface of urinary catheters. In these circumstances, antibiotics are unable to penetrate and kill offending microbes leading to recurrent infections, hospitalisation and potentially sepsis. More efficacious treatments are desperately needed. Therefore, Tecrea is interested in applications of its innovative technology in the area of UTI control. Aims: 1. Imaging of biofilms, through training from the UCL team, with a Leica SP8 deconvolution super-resolution laser scanning confocal microscope. Static (fixed) and live imaging will be performed over a series of hours under physiological conditions. 2. Evaluate the morphological effects of Tecrea's Nanocin technology on biofilms formed by UTI pathogens, using clinical isolated and established in vitro biofilm models. Training provided by UCL in morphometric analysis using super resolution 3D image analysis using Leica LASX, Image pro 10 3D and FIJI (Comstat2). 3. Further develop the SME-academic collaboration, building on past successful collaboration. 4. Expand and develop my skill set. Personal Development: Completing the secondment will allow me to learn a range of novel imaging techniques and in vitro models for the assessment of biofilm morphology. This will further develop my technical skill set which I can apply in my work at Tecrea. Collaborating with UCL, the NHS and BIIG will enable me to expand my collaboration network as well as observing research from lab bench into a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Overall, uropathogenic E. coli biofilm was successfully grown and stained in vitro and visualised by CLSM. NanocinTM treatment was evaluated by CLSM of uropathogenic E. coli biofilm which has not previously been studied before. Results and conclusions: • NanocinTM penetrated uropathogenic E. coli biofilm at concentrations above the MIC. • NanocinTM inhibited growth of uropathogenic E. coli. • Greater NanocinTM-FITC fluorescence was observed in the apical surface of the biofilm compared with the basal surface. The secondment has helped my personal development as a research scientist. I have learnt new transferable skills such as confocal microscopy, developed my microbiological skills further and established new connections with the bladder infection and immunity group (BIIG) at the NHS Royal Free Hospital. The secondment has benefitted Tecrea Ltd by providing funding to research the viability of its NanocinTM technology in UTI treatment. The BIIG group have also benefitted from the secondment through developing a better understanding of biofilm formation in UTI with the potential for a new treatment method with further research. Future work: The work will be submitted for abstract and presentation conference calls to allow presentation of the work to the wider community. The established collaboration between Tecrea Ltd and the BIIG group at the NHS Royal Free Hospital will continue. With the collaboration we aim to continue the in vitro research to gain further insight into the NanocinTM technologies ability to kill uropathogens (including in other species such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus mirabilis and enterococcus spp.) as well as broaden our understanding of NanocinsTM mechanism of action. Further biofilm staining techniques will be utilized as well as minimum biofilm eradication concentrations calculated. Additional grant funding opportunities will be required to advance this work further which will be applied for by both parties in the collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_004 Advanced imaging of biofilms formed by urinary tract infections: training and Nanocin technology evaluation (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | Whittington Health NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent infections in humans and account for a significant global healthcare and economic burden. This is particularly true within an ageing society and therefore this project aligns to the UKRI's Industry Strategy challenge funds ageing society challenge. 25-35% of women suffering from a UTI will fail standard antibiotic treatment protocols. This, in part, can be explained by the well documented ability for uropathogens to form biofilms within bladder cells and on the surface of urinary catheters. In these circumstances, antibiotics are unable to penetrate and kill offending microbes leading to recurrent infections, hospitalisation and potentially sepsis. More efficacious treatments are desperately needed. Therefore, Tecrea is interested in applications of its innovative technology in the area of UTI control. Aims: 1. Imaging of biofilms, through training from the UCL team, with a Leica SP8 deconvolution super-resolution laser scanning confocal microscope. Static (fixed) and live imaging will be performed over a series of hours under physiological conditions. 2. Evaluate the morphological effects of Tecrea's Nanocin technology on biofilms formed by UTI pathogens, using clinical isolated and established in vitro biofilm models. Training provided by UCL in morphometric analysis using super resolution 3D image analysis using Leica LASX, Image pro 10 3D and FIJI (Comstat2). 3. Further develop the SME-academic collaboration, building on past successful collaboration. 4. Expand and develop my skill set. Personal Development: Completing the secondment will allow me to learn a range of novel imaging techniques and in vitro models for the assessment of biofilm morphology. This will further develop my technical skill set which I can apply in my work at Tecrea. Collaborating with UCL, the NHS and BIIG will enable me to expand my collaboration network as well as observing research from lab bench into a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Overall, uropathogenic E. coli biofilm was successfully grown and stained in vitro and visualised by CLSM. NanocinTM treatment was evaluated by CLSM of uropathogenic E. coli biofilm which has not previously been studied before. Results and conclusions: • NanocinTM penetrated uropathogenic E. coli biofilm at concentrations above the MIC. • NanocinTM inhibited growth of uropathogenic E. coli. • Greater NanocinTM-FITC fluorescence was observed in the apical surface of the biofilm compared with the basal surface. The secondment has helped my personal development as a research scientist. I have learnt new transferable skills such as confocal microscopy, developed my microbiological skills further and established new connections with the bladder infection and immunity group (BIIG) at the NHS Royal Free Hospital. The secondment has benefitted Tecrea Ltd by providing funding to research the viability of its NanocinTM technology in UTI treatment. The BIIG group have also benefitted from the secondment through developing a better understanding of biofilm formation in UTI with the potential for a new treatment method with further research. Future work: The work will be submitted for abstract and presentation conference calls to allow presentation of the work to the wider community. The established collaboration between Tecrea Ltd and the BIIG group at the NHS Royal Free Hospital will continue. With the collaboration we aim to continue the in vitro research to gain further insight into the NanocinTM technologies ability to kill uropathogens (including in other species such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus mirabilis and enterococcus spp.) as well as broaden our understanding of NanocinsTM mechanism of action. Further biofilm staining techniques will be utilized as well as minimum biofilm eradication concentrations calculated. Additional grant funding opportunities will be required to advance this work further which will be applied for by both parties in the collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_005 Polymers for Disrupting Biofilms and Enhanced Treatment of Infection (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project involves scoping the possibilities around combining Bradford technologies with the current 5D pipeline. A number of hybrid technologies will be examined that combine polymers that respond to bacteria or fungi (or possibly also viruses) with other biofilm disrupting technologies (such as the use of EDTA). The Bradford expertise is also in hydrogel technologies and we will carry out preliminary scoping experiments on combining hydrogel carriers with the 5D pipeline technologies. Already the Bradford team have developed several devices that can be used to detect bacteria or fungi in skin, eyes, wounds or other tissues. However, progress to the market has been slow and another aspect of the programme will be to develop routes to market using the considerable experience of the 5D team in this area as we develop a range of hybrid technologies. A particular area that has been discussed between the two teams is around developing chip-based sensors for infection using fabrication expertise at 5D and smart polymer expertise from the Bradford team. This is a relatively new area for the Bradford team and we will aim to explore both practical exemplars and potential designs incorporating sensor chips into wound dressings. The project will be of great value to Prof. Rimmer in enabling an immersive research experience within the partner organisation that will underpin future substantial programmes. The project is central to the industrial strategy Grand Challenges in Ageing Society and AI and data. Treatment of infection becomes more difficult with age and non-healing wounds in the elderly (eg diabetic patents) can be difficult to treat. Smart treatments and enhanced wound dressings can be a key way of improving outcomes. Also, smart dressings incorporating chips that can provide real data on the state of wounds can facilitate an AI/data rich approach to wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | The experiments have resulted in potentially a new class of materials that have also been shown to be non-immunogenic and non-cytotoxic, in vitro. The polymers maybe be commercially useful and the pyrrole carbodithioate polymers can already be produced in 0.5 kg quantities cost-effectively. They may provide a useful adjunct to already commercialised treatments. The production of QCMB responsive chips opens the way to produce biosensors and possible wearable wound dressings with embedded technology for indicating bacterial load. We hope to further develop these technologies via Innovate UK in the coming months. Rimmer was also trained in CDC technology and this will facilitate further collaboration with 5D. Next steps: Currently, we are investigating possible funding with Innovate UK and to support this the work is being written to for publication with the possibility to protect some aspects. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_005 Polymers for Disrupting Biofilms and Enhanced Treatment of Infection (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project involves scoping the possibilities around combining Bradford technologies with the current 5D pipeline. A number of hybrid technologies will be examined that combine polymers that respond to bacteria or fungi (or possibly also viruses) with other biofilm disrupting technologies (such as the use of EDTA). The Bradford expertise is also in hydrogel technologies and we will carry out preliminary scoping experiments on combining hydrogel carriers with the 5D pipeline technologies. Already the Bradford team have developed several devices that can be used to detect bacteria or fungi in skin, eyes, wounds or other tissues. However, progress to the market has been slow and another aspect of the programme will be to develop routes to market using the considerable experience of the 5D team in this area as we develop a range of hybrid technologies. A particular area that has been discussed between the two teams is around developing chip-based sensors for infection using fabrication expertise at 5D and smart polymer expertise from the Bradford team. This is a relatively new area for the Bradford team and we will aim to explore both practical exemplars and potential designs incorporating sensor chips into wound dressings. The project will be of great value to Prof. Rimmer in enabling an immersive research experience within the partner organisation that will underpin future substantial programmes. The project is central to the industrial strategy Grand Challenges in Ageing Society and AI and data. Treatment of infection becomes more difficult with age and non-healing wounds in the elderly (eg diabetic patents) can be difficult to treat. Smart treatments and enhanced wound dressings can be a key way of improving outcomes. Also, smart dressings incorporating chips that can provide real data on the state of wounds can facilitate an AI/data rich approach to wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | The experiments have resulted in potentially a new class of materials that have also been shown to be non-immunogenic and non-cytotoxic, in vitro. The polymers maybe be commercially useful and the pyrrole carbodithioate polymers can already be produced in 0.5 kg quantities cost-effectively. They may provide a useful adjunct to already commercialised treatments. The production of QCMB responsive chips opens the way to produce biosensors and possible wearable wound dressings with embedded technology for indicating bacterial load. We hope to further develop these technologies via Innovate UK in the coming months. Rimmer was also trained in CDC technology and this will facilitate further collaboration with 5D. Next steps: Currently, we are investigating possible funding with Innovate UK and to support this the work is being written to for publication with the possibility to protect some aspects. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_005 Polymers for Disrupting Biofilms and Enhanced Treatment of Infection (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project involves scoping the possibilities around combining Bradford technologies with the current 5D pipeline. A number of hybrid technologies will be examined that combine polymers that respond to bacteria or fungi (or possibly also viruses) with other biofilm disrupting technologies (such as the use of EDTA). The Bradford expertise is also in hydrogel technologies and we will carry out preliminary scoping experiments on combining hydrogel carriers with the 5D pipeline technologies. Already the Bradford team have developed several devices that can be used to detect bacteria or fungi in skin, eyes, wounds or other tissues. However, progress to the market has been slow and another aspect of the programme will be to develop routes to market using the considerable experience of the 5D team in this area as we develop a range of hybrid technologies. A particular area that has been discussed between the two teams is around developing chip-based sensors for infection using fabrication expertise at 5D and smart polymer expertise from the Bradford team. This is a relatively new area for the Bradford team and we will aim to explore both practical exemplars and potential designs incorporating sensor chips into wound dressings. The project will be of great value to Prof. Rimmer in enabling an immersive research experience within the partner organisation that will underpin future substantial programmes. The project is central to the industrial strategy Grand Challenges in Ageing Society and AI and data. Treatment of infection becomes more difficult with age and non-healing wounds in the elderly (eg diabetic patents) can be difficult to treat. Smart treatments and enhanced wound dressings can be a key way of improving outcomes. Also, smart dressings incorporating chips that can provide real data on the state of wounds can facilitate an AI/data rich approach to wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | The experiments have resulted in potentially a new class of materials that have also been shown to be non-immunogenic and non-cytotoxic, in vitro. The polymers maybe be commercially useful and the pyrrole carbodithioate polymers can already be produced in 0.5 kg quantities cost-effectively. They may provide a useful adjunct to already commercialised treatments. The production of QCMB responsive chips opens the way to produce biosensors and possible wearable wound dressings with embedded technology for indicating bacterial load. We hope to further develop these technologies via Innovate UK in the coming months. Rimmer was also trained in CDC technology and this will facilitate further collaboration with 5D. Next steps: Currently, we are investigating possible funding with Innovate UK and to support this the work is being written to for publication with the possibility to protect some aspects. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_007 Industry Placement to Evaluate Porcine Skin as a Model for Human Biofilm Research (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | Cica Biomedical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The FTMA recipient is a talented researcher at the Hull York Medical School (HYMS) with expertise in lab-based skin microbiome/biofilm research and keen to progress to gaining insight into commercial research. The industry partner is a contract research organisation with over 20 years' experience of providing in vivo skin and wound studies yet has limited microbiological capabilities. There is significant emerging interest to understand the role of the microbiome/biofilms in skin ageing and disease, with a wide variety of clinical and cosmetic applications. Our group in HYMS have strong expertise in using in vitro biofilm models to evaluate host-microbe interactions and commercial product efficacy. Currently, there are no lab-based models that can suitably recapitulate the complex microbiological environment of living human skin. The only way to overcome current translational challenges is to create a step change from reductionist lab-based models to using living skin in vivo. Attempts to address this problem by performing skin wound microbiome/biofilm studies in mice have failed as the murine microbiome is compositionally different to human. Based on a small-scale pilot study, we believe porcine skin more faithfully represents the human skin microbiome, providing an exciting model for studying skin biofilm interactions and targeted antimicrobials. In this project, the FTMA recipient will work closely with the industry partner to: 1) Obtain unique insight into a commercial research environment. 2) Undertake training in commercial pig skin/wound studies. 3) Apply their microbiology expertise to evaluate the suitability of pig skin as a model for human-relevant microbiome/biofilm studies. The proposed placement thus aligns with the grand challenge areas of healthy ageing and personalised medicine, where development of a novel pig skin model that faithfully replicates the human skin microbiome will provide an opportunity to explore drivers of healthy ageing and deliver personalised therapies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA project has provided a crucial step change from reductionist lab-based models by formally demonstrating the suitability of in vivo pig skin as a living microbiome model which is compositionally more similar to human skin than mouse skin. Indeed, this will enable Cica to develop further partnering opportunities by providing commercial collaborators with a validated human-relevant skin microbiome model in pigs, which was previously unreported and unappreciated. Moreover, Cica (and Sammi) have begun to further expand upon this model by testing the effect of common clinical skin dressings on the microbiome. These data have provided Cica with capabilities in both sequencing and traditional culture methods that: a) can be added to current work packages with existing commercial partners and; b) can be used to attract new industry partners interested in skin microbiome research models. Moreover, the data collected from testing occlusive versus non-occlusive dressings can be used to expand the portfolio of skin microbiome models on offer. For example, testing selective antimicrobials in a normal (non-occlusive) versus pathological (occlusive) skin environment. NOTE: MinION sequencing was compared to traditional microbial culture techniques (agar) and was found to be superior in assessment of skin microbiome. We found that colonies isolated and identified via commercially available chromogenic agar were often not the "expected" species when colony specification was confirmed via MinION sequencing. HYMS has benefitted from the FTMA by enabling career development of a talented early career researcher, who has gained important industry insight that has now led to her recruitment to the skin microbiome division of a local, leading multinational (position accepted, beginning in May 2022). The FTMA has also enabled Cica and HYMS to identify new areas of collaboration. One of these is an exciting commercially funded study to assess the efficacy of selective antimicrobials without harming the resident microbiota. In addition, the lead applicant (Wilkinson) has applied for an NBIC CTP studentship in collaboration with Cica to continue this exciting work into skin microbiome and antimicrobial resistance. Cica and HYMS continue to have crucial discussions around skin microbiome and biofilm research capabilities with other industry partners. Future work: Our pilot data suggests that pigs may be a promising human-relevant model to assess the effects of commercial products on the skin microbiome. We will therefore continue to evaluate the suitability of pigs for microbiome studies by working closely with Cica to expand on our pilot data (e.g. more replicates). We also plan to assess the effects of occlusion on the pig wound microbiome as our preliminary findings suggest that the wound microbiome may be different as wounds provide a more optimal environment for pathogenic bacterial growth (e.g. moist, wound exudate, nutrients). Ultimately, these data will enable us to develop commercial microbiome/ biofilm studies collaboratively with Cica and allow us to determine key microbial factors that drive skin ageing and biofilm infection. Indeed, these studies may also pave the way to clinical wound evaluation and development of personalised antimicrobial therapies. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_007 Industry Placement to Evaluate Porcine Skin as a Model for Human Biofilm Research (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The FTMA recipient is a talented researcher at the Hull York Medical School (HYMS) with expertise in lab-based skin microbiome/biofilm research and keen to progress to gaining insight into commercial research. The industry partner is a contract research organisation with over 20 years' experience of providing in vivo skin and wound studies yet has limited microbiological capabilities. There is significant emerging interest to understand the role of the microbiome/biofilms in skin ageing and disease, with a wide variety of clinical and cosmetic applications. Our group in HYMS have strong expertise in using in vitro biofilm models to evaluate host-microbe interactions and commercial product efficacy. Currently, there are no lab-based models that can suitably recapitulate the complex microbiological environment of living human skin. The only way to overcome current translational challenges is to create a step change from reductionist lab-based models to using living skin in vivo. Attempts to address this problem by performing skin wound microbiome/biofilm studies in mice have failed as the murine microbiome is compositionally different to human. Based on a small-scale pilot study, we believe porcine skin more faithfully represents the human skin microbiome, providing an exciting model for studying skin biofilm interactions and targeted antimicrobials. In this project, the FTMA recipient will work closely with the industry partner to: 1) Obtain unique insight into a commercial research environment. 2) Undertake training in commercial pig skin/wound studies. 3) Apply their microbiology expertise to evaluate the suitability of pig skin as a model for human-relevant microbiome/biofilm studies. The proposed placement thus aligns with the grand challenge areas of healthy ageing and personalised medicine, where development of a novel pig skin model that faithfully replicates the human skin microbiome will provide an opportunity to explore drivers of healthy ageing and deliver personalised therapies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA project has provided a crucial step change from reductionist lab-based models by formally demonstrating the suitability of in vivo pig skin as a living microbiome model which is compositionally more similar to human skin than mouse skin. Indeed, this will enable Cica to develop further partnering opportunities by providing commercial collaborators with a validated human-relevant skin microbiome model in pigs, which was previously unreported and unappreciated. Moreover, Cica (and Sammi) have begun to further expand upon this model by testing the effect of common clinical skin dressings on the microbiome. These data have provided Cica with capabilities in both sequencing and traditional culture methods that: a) can be added to current work packages with existing commercial partners and; b) can be used to attract new industry partners interested in skin microbiome research models. Moreover, the data collected from testing occlusive versus non-occlusive dressings can be used to expand the portfolio of skin microbiome models on offer. For example, testing selective antimicrobials in a normal (non-occlusive) versus pathological (occlusive) skin environment. NOTE: MinION sequencing was compared to traditional microbial culture techniques (agar) and was found to be superior in assessment of skin microbiome. We found that colonies isolated and identified via commercially available chromogenic agar were often not the "expected" species when colony specification was confirmed via MinION sequencing. HYMS has benefitted from the FTMA by enabling career development of a talented early career researcher, who has gained important industry insight that has now led to her recruitment to the skin microbiome division of a local, leading multinational (position accepted, beginning in May 2022). The FTMA has also enabled Cica and HYMS to identify new areas of collaboration. One of these is an exciting commercially funded study to assess the efficacy of selective antimicrobials without harming the resident microbiota. In addition, the lead applicant (Wilkinson) has applied for an NBIC CTP studentship in collaboration with Cica to continue this exciting work into skin microbiome and antimicrobial resistance. Cica and HYMS continue to have crucial discussions around skin microbiome and biofilm research capabilities with other industry partners. Future work: Our pilot data suggests that pigs may be a promising human-relevant model to assess the effects of commercial products on the skin microbiome. We will therefore continue to evaluate the suitability of pigs for microbiome studies by working closely with Cica to expand on our pilot data (e.g. more replicates). We also plan to assess the effects of occlusion on the pig wound microbiome as our preliminary findings suggest that the wound microbiome may be different as wounds provide a more optimal environment for pathogenic bacterial growth (e.g. moist, wound exudate, nutrients). Ultimately, these data will enable us to develop commercial microbiome/ biofilm studies collaboratively with Cica and allow us to determine key microbial factors that drive skin ageing and biofilm infection. Indeed, these studies may also pave the way to clinical wound evaluation and development of personalised antimicrobial therapies. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_007 Industry Placement to Evaluate Porcine Skin as a Model for Human Biofilm Research (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FTMA recipient is a talented researcher at the Hull York Medical School (HYMS) with expertise in lab-based skin microbiome/biofilm research and keen to progress to gaining insight into commercial research. The industry partner is a contract research organisation with over 20 years' experience of providing in vivo skin and wound studies yet has limited microbiological capabilities. There is significant emerging interest to understand the role of the microbiome/biofilms in skin ageing and disease, with a wide variety of clinical and cosmetic applications. Our group in HYMS have strong expertise in using in vitro biofilm models to evaluate host-microbe interactions and commercial product efficacy. Currently, there are no lab-based models that can suitably recapitulate the complex microbiological environment of living human skin. The only way to overcome current translational challenges is to create a step change from reductionist lab-based models to using living skin in vivo. Attempts to address this problem by performing skin wound microbiome/biofilm studies in mice have failed as the murine microbiome is compositionally different to human. Based on a small-scale pilot study, we believe porcine skin more faithfully represents the human skin microbiome, providing an exciting model for studying skin biofilm interactions and targeted antimicrobials. In this project, the FTMA recipient will work closely with the industry partner to: 1) Obtain unique insight into a commercial research environment. 2) Undertake training in commercial pig skin/wound studies. 3) Apply their microbiology expertise to evaluate the suitability of pig skin as a model for human-relevant microbiome/biofilm studies. The proposed placement thus aligns with the grand challenge areas of healthy ageing and personalised medicine, where development of a novel pig skin model that faithfully replicates the human skin microbiome will provide an opportunity to explore drivers of healthy ageing and deliver personalised therapies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA project has provided a crucial step change from reductionist lab-based models by formally demonstrating the suitability of in vivo pig skin as a living microbiome model which is compositionally more similar to human skin than mouse skin. Indeed, this will enable Cica to develop further partnering opportunities by providing commercial collaborators with a validated human-relevant skin microbiome model in pigs, which was previously unreported and unappreciated. Moreover, Cica (and Sammi) have begun to further expand upon this model by testing the effect of common clinical skin dressings on the microbiome. These data have provided Cica with capabilities in both sequencing and traditional culture methods that: a) can be added to current work packages with existing commercial partners and; b) can be used to attract new industry partners interested in skin microbiome research models. Moreover, the data collected from testing occlusive versus non-occlusive dressings can be used to expand the portfolio of skin microbiome models on offer. For example, testing selective antimicrobials in a normal (non-occlusive) versus pathological (occlusive) skin environment. NOTE: MinION sequencing was compared to traditional microbial culture techniques (agar) and was found to be superior in assessment of skin microbiome. We found that colonies isolated and identified via commercially available chromogenic agar were often not the "expected" species when colony specification was confirmed via MinION sequencing. HYMS has benefitted from the FTMA by enabling career development of a talented early career researcher, who has gained important industry insight that has now led to her recruitment to the skin microbiome division of a local, leading multinational (position accepted, beginning in May 2022). The FTMA has also enabled Cica and HYMS to identify new areas of collaboration. One of these is an exciting commercially funded study to assess the efficacy of selective antimicrobials without harming the resident microbiota. In addition, the lead applicant (Wilkinson) has applied for an NBIC CTP studentship in collaboration with Cica to continue this exciting work into skin microbiome and antimicrobial resistance. Cica and HYMS continue to have crucial discussions around skin microbiome and biofilm research capabilities with other industry partners. Future work: Our pilot data suggests that pigs may be a promising human-relevant model to assess the effects of commercial products on the skin microbiome. We will therefore continue to evaluate the suitability of pigs for microbiome studies by working closely with Cica to expand on our pilot data (e.g. more replicates). We also plan to assess the effects of occlusion on the pig wound microbiome as our preliminary findings suggest that the wound microbiome may be different as wounds provide a more optimal environment for pathogenic bacterial growth (e.g. moist, wound exudate, nutrients). Ultimately, these data will enable us to develop commercial microbiome/ biofilm studies collaboratively with Cica and allow us to determine key microbial factors that drive skin ageing and biofilm infection. Indeed, these studies may also pave the way to clinical wound evaluation and development of personalised antimicrobial therapies. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_008 Plasma (ionised gas) disinfection (Jean-Yves Maillard) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will explore biofilm-related applications for an innovative technology and develop the innovation capability of the FTMA recipient to better direct and exploit the project outcomes. Fourth State's proprietary plasma technology (ionised gas, the fourth state of matter) electronically converts ambient air into gaseous chemical species (ozone and/or nitrogen oxides) with antimicrobial properties. The company's compact and user-friendly products are designed to generate defined concentrations of these chemicals in-situ, precisely and reliably. The recipient of this FTMA is Fourth State's Research & Innovation Manager, who has been directly involved in shaping the path of technology development. They have previously worked with academic partners with biofilm expertise on grant-funded projects, including 2 x NBIC POCs. This project will pump-prime a potential collaboration with Cardiff University and build the knowledge and skills of the FTMA recipient. This will have impacts on the company's wider commercialisation strategy, R&D activities and innovation processes, accelerating delivery of the potential societal, environmental and economic benefits of the technology. The project is aligned with NBIC (biofilm prevention, management) and UKRI ISCF themes (leading-edge healthcare, healthy ageing, transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Expected outcomes (from proposal): 1. List of potential use cases, based on informal discussions with Cardiff group • Achieved: supplemented by FTMA recipient's review of academic group's publications and other literature on disinfection unmet needs / market trends / limitations of current technologies and practices. • Regular face to face informal discussions took place, providing frequent results update and informing on future laboratory testing, pitfall on microbicidal testing using this technology and reflections on device applications, particularly concerning test parameters and efficacy goal for specific markets. 2. Opportunity assessment and prioritisation - considering market/impact potential, regulatory pathway and testing requirements, competitive/IP landscape and potential OEM partners Achieved: narrowed down focus to fomite disinfection, primarily in healthcare & wellbeing settings, rationale: • Complementary to other business objectives in adjacent market segments • Accessible via understood channels and existing networks, including NBIC, shareholders Wessex AHSN and US-based partners • Unmet needs recently surfaced by COVID-19 and driven by increasing rates of hospital-acquired infections, including antimicrobial-resistant, biofilm-forming strains which also spread in non-medical contexts • Exploiting patented and comprehensively validated Fourth State plasma (ionised gas) RONS generation technology, in particular current ModuNOxD products (used to generate pilot data in this project) already sold under licence for non-medical fomite disinfection purposes • Synergies with the Cardiff group's research agenda, networks and scientific/regulatory expertise 3. Draft go-to-market strategy for disinfection applications of Fourth State's technology Achieved: >30-page draft report generated drawing on best practices in B2B marketing from CIM courses, covering: • Fomite disinfection/sterilisation market drivers and current dynamics • The company's current situation in relation to the market • Target segments and rationale, in line with overall corporate strategy • Positioning of potential products versus competitors and substitutes • B2B marketing tactics to deploy given limited company resources 4. Pilot data generation using biofilm models, supporting product activity and providing case for follow-on activities Achieved, albeit not yet using real-world-representative wet/dry biofilm models • Opted to focus initially on dried Staph. aureus on stainless steel surfaces, to more efficiently explore device parameter space (relatively quick to prepare, treat and analyse assays versus more complex biofilm models) • Varied ozone/NOx modes with flow rate, contact time, surface wetting with DI water/PBS before treatment • During operation at low flow rates (production of nitrogen species), the device was unable to eradicate bacteria dried onto surfaces. However, at a flow rate of 5L/min (ozone production) a 60 min reaction time sufficiently disinfected surfaces containing dried bacteria. • Using the RONS generator in combination with a wetting step restored its bactericidal activity using flow rates of 1 and 5 L/min over 30 - 60 min. It is likely that NOx at a low flow rate and contact time was unable to penetrate layers of bacteria desiccated on surfaces. To verify this hypothesis dried bacteria were embedded in an alginate matrix that allows the penetration of gas. Results show that RONS generated at 1 and 3 L/min were bactericidal (> 4 log10 reduction, i.e., 99.99% reduction) within 60 min. • These results highlight the bactericidal potential of the RONS generator against Staphylococcus aureus but also provided valuable information on device efficacy current limitations. The alginate model provides flexibility to test other bacteria and other microorganisms that are usually susceptible to desiccation. • Overall, these results are encouraging and confirmed the microbicidal potential of the RONS generator. Additional experiments need to be performed to verify the limit of the microbicidal activity of the RONS generator (using lower flow rate, shorter contact time, and different temperature). The spectrum of microbicidal activity needs to be ascertained. Understanding the mechanisms of microbicidal activity is also recommended. Finally, hydrated condition restores microbicidal activity. With that in mind investigations combining a misting device in combination with the RONS generator should be explored. Additional outcomes: • CIM course takeaways: comprehensive knowledge of contemporary best practices in B2B marketing, feeding into company strategy, marketing materials and processes. Company website refresh in progress drawing directly on lessons learned - expect increase in enquiries and sales revenue for laboratory equipment products (NOxLab) and OEM solutions (ModuNOx). Increased confidence and capability in briefing/working with specialist B2B marketing and market research agencies, and in specifying role requirements for future internal marketing hires (product managers, marketing managers). Network of contacts in B2B marketing from relationships with course directors and attendees. • Feedback on product usability: input into new laboratory product specifications (NOxLab-D), to allow easier tuning of ModuNOxD ozone/NOx generator with a digital flow meter, improving on the analogue flow meter used in this study. • Effective SME-university working relationship established: providing a solid foundation for future collaboration, to develop new biocidal applications for Fourth State's technology platform. Future work: We are together exploring a potential Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) application, to develop new applications for Fourth State's products. Maillard has a great experience in KTP collaborations with industrial partners leading to Innovation awards, dissemination of results including customers' documentation and exploitation of results including impact case for University REF return. Initial discussion with Cardiff University KTP office and KTO adviser have already taking place. This would benefit from any help available for • conducting market research on fomite disinfection current practices, particularly in healthcare & wellbeing settings: for fomites in non-medical areas such as receptions, offices, waiting rooms, catering, toilet and washing facilities, as well as in medical areas such as GP/dental clinics, hospital wards, operating theatres • limitations of existing technologies, particularly directly competing low temperature technologies such as UV radiation, ethylene oxide, vaporised hydrogen peroxide and other plasma/ozone/NOx systems on the market • associated costs to healthcare systems e.g., health economic costs of hospital-acquired infections acquired through fomite transmission, labour cost for cleaning which may be ineffective/unreliable for certain fomites • associated costs to the environment: decentralised, in-situ ozone/NOx generation from ambient air may have sustainability benefits versus existing technologies and plastic-packaged/environmentally-harmful biocides • planning the KTP project technical work plan • preparing/reviewing the application and exploitation plan A conference paper abstract is also currently in preparation, on adapting standard testing protocols to test devices/ biocides in real world situations, drawing on data generated using Fourth State's device in ozone generation mode. The abstract will be submitted for presentation at IPS2022 in Bournemouth. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_008 Plasma (ionised gas) disinfection (Jean-Yves Maillard) |
| Organisation | Fourth State Medicine Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will explore biofilm-related applications for an innovative technology and develop the innovation capability of the FTMA recipient to better direct and exploit the project outcomes. Fourth State's proprietary plasma technology (ionised gas, the fourth state of matter) electronically converts ambient air into gaseous chemical species (ozone and/or nitrogen oxides) with antimicrobial properties. The company's compact and user-friendly products are designed to generate defined concentrations of these chemicals in-situ, precisely and reliably. The recipient of this FTMA is Fourth State's Research & Innovation Manager, who has been directly involved in shaping the path of technology development. They have previously worked with academic partners with biofilm expertise on grant-funded projects, including 2 x NBIC POCs. This project will pump-prime a potential collaboration with Cardiff University and build the knowledge and skills of the FTMA recipient. This will have impacts on the company's wider commercialisation strategy, R&D activities and innovation processes, accelerating delivery of the potential societal, environmental and economic benefits of the technology. The project is aligned with NBIC (biofilm prevention, management) and UKRI ISCF themes (leading-edge healthcare, healthy ageing, transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Expected outcomes (from proposal): 1. List of potential use cases, based on informal discussions with Cardiff group • Achieved: supplemented by FTMA recipient's review of academic group's publications and other literature on disinfection unmet needs / market trends / limitations of current technologies and practices. • Regular face to face informal discussions took place, providing frequent results update and informing on future laboratory testing, pitfall on microbicidal testing using this technology and reflections on device applications, particularly concerning test parameters and efficacy goal for specific markets. 2. Opportunity assessment and prioritisation - considering market/impact potential, regulatory pathway and testing requirements, competitive/IP landscape and potential OEM partners Achieved: narrowed down focus to fomite disinfection, primarily in healthcare & wellbeing settings, rationale: • Complementary to other business objectives in adjacent market segments • Accessible via understood channels and existing networks, including NBIC, shareholders Wessex AHSN and US-based partners • Unmet needs recently surfaced by COVID-19 and driven by increasing rates of hospital-acquired infections, including antimicrobial-resistant, biofilm-forming strains which also spread in non-medical contexts • Exploiting patented and comprehensively validated Fourth State plasma (ionised gas) RONS generation technology, in particular current ModuNOxD products (used to generate pilot data in this project) already sold under licence for non-medical fomite disinfection purposes • Synergies with the Cardiff group's research agenda, networks and scientific/regulatory expertise 3. Draft go-to-market strategy for disinfection applications of Fourth State's technology Achieved: >30-page draft report generated drawing on best practices in B2B marketing from CIM courses, covering: • Fomite disinfection/sterilisation market drivers and current dynamics • The company's current situation in relation to the market • Target segments and rationale, in line with overall corporate strategy • Positioning of potential products versus competitors and substitutes • B2B marketing tactics to deploy given limited company resources 4. Pilot data generation using biofilm models, supporting product activity and providing case for follow-on activities Achieved, albeit not yet using real-world-representative wet/dry biofilm models • Opted to focus initially on dried Staph. aureus on stainless steel surfaces, to more efficiently explore device parameter space (relatively quick to prepare, treat and analyse assays versus more complex biofilm models) • Varied ozone/NOx modes with flow rate, contact time, surface wetting with DI water/PBS before treatment • During operation at low flow rates (production of nitrogen species), the device was unable to eradicate bacteria dried onto surfaces. However, at a flow rate of 5L/min (ozone production) a 60 min reaction time sufficiently disinfected surfaces containing dried bacteria. • Using the RONS generator in combination with a wetting step restored its bactericidal activity using flow rates of 1 and 5 L/min over 30 - 60 min. It is likely that NOx at a low flow rate and contact time was unable to penetrate layers of bacteria desiccated on surfaces. To verify this hypothesis dried bacteria were embedded in an alginate matrix that allows the penetration of gas. Results show that RONS generated at 1 and 3 L/min were bactericidal (> 4 log10 reduction, i.e., 99.99% reduction) within 60 min. • These results highlight the bactericidal potential of the RONS generator against Staphylococcus aureus but also provided valuable information on device efficacy current limitations. The alginate model provides flexibility to test other bacteria and other microorganisms that are usually susceptible to desiccation. • Overall, these results are encouraging and confirmed the microbicidal potential of the RONS generator. Additional experiments need to be performed to verify the limit of the microbicidal activity of the RONS generator (using lower flow rate, shorter contact time, and different temperature). The spectrum of microbicidal activity needs to be ascertained. Understanding the mechanisms of microbicidal activity is also recommended. Finally, hydrated condition restores microbicidal activity. With that in mind investigations combining a misting device in combination with the RONS generator should be explored. Additional outcomes: • CIM course takeaways: comprehensive knowledge of contemporary best practices in B2B marketing, feeding into company strategy, marketing materials and processes. Company website refresh in progress drawing directly on lessons learned - expect increase in enquiries and sales revenue for laboratory equipment products (NOxLab) and OEM solutions (ModuNOx). Increased confidence and capability in briefing/working with specialist B2B marketing and market research agencies, and in specifying role requirements for future internal marketing hires (product managers, marketing managers). Network of contacts in B2B marketing from relationships with course directors and attendees. • Feedback on product usability: input into new laboratory product specifications (NOxLab-D), to allow easier tuning of ModuNOxD ozone/NOx generator with a digital flow meter, improving on the analogue flow meter used in this study. • Effective SME-university working relationship established: providing a solid foundation for future collaboration, to develop new biocidal applications for Fourth State's technology platform. Future work: We are together exploring a potential Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) application, to develop new applications for Fourth State's products. Maillard has a great experience in KTP collaborations with industrial partners leading to Innovation awards, dissemination of results including customers' documentation and exploitation of results including impact case for University REF return. Initial discussion with Cardiff University KTP office and KTO adviser have already taking place. This would benefit from any help available for • conducting market research on fomite disinfection current practices, particularly in healthcare & wellbeing settings: for fomites in non-medical areas such as receptions, offices, waiting rooms, catering, toilet and washing facilities, as well as in medical areas such as GP/dental clinics, hospital wards, operating theatres • limitations of existing technologies, particularly directly competing low temperature technologies such as UV radiation, ethylene oxide, vaporised hydrogen peroxide and other plasma/ozone/NOx systems on the market • associated costs to healthcare systems e.g., health economic costs of hospital-acquired infections acquired through fomite transmission, labour cost for cleaning which may be ineffective/unreliable for certain fomites • associated costs to the environment: decentralised, in-situ ozone/NOx generation from ambient air may have sustainability benefits versus existing technologies and plastic-packaged/environmentally-harmful biocides • planning the KTP project technical work plan • preparing/reviewing the application and exploitation plan A conference paper abstract is also currently in preparation, on adapting standard testing protocols to test devices/ biocides in real world situations, drawing on data generated using Fourth State's device in ozone generation mode. The abstract will be submitted for presentation at IPS2022 in Bournemouth. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_008 Plasma (ionised gas) disinfection (Jean-Yves Maillard) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will explore biofilm-related applications for an innovative technology and develop the innovation capability of the FTMA recipient to better direct and exploit the project outcomes. Fourth State's proprietary plasma technology (ionised gas, the fourth state of matter) electronically converts ambient air into gaseous chemical species (ozone and/or nitrogen oxides) with antimicrobial properties. The company's compact and user-friendly products are designed to generate defined concentrations of these chemicals in-situ, precisely and reliably. The recipient of this FTMA is Fourth State's Research & Innovation Manager, who has been directly involved in shaping the path of technology development. They have previously worked with academic partners with biofilm expertise on grant-funded projects, including 2 x NBIC POCs. This project will pump-prime a potential collaboration with Cardiff University and build the knowledge and skills of the FTMA recipient. This will have impacts on the company's wider commercialisation strategy, R&D activities and innovation processes, accelerating delivery of the potential societal, environmental and economic benefits of the technology. The project is aligned with NBIC (biofilm prevention, management) and UKRI ISCF themes (leading-edge healthcare, healthy ageing, transforming food production). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Expected outcomes (from proposal): 1. List of potential use cases, based on informal discussions with Cardiff group • Achieved: supplemented by FTMA recipient's review of academic group's publications and other literature on disinfection unmet needs / market trends / limitations of current technologies and practices. • Regular face to face informal discussions took place, providing frequent results update and informing on future laboratory testing, pitfall on microbicidal testing using this technology and reflections on device applications, particularly concerning test parameters and efficacy goal for specific markets. 2. Opportunity assessment and prioritisation - considering market/impact potential, regulatory pathway and testing requirements, competitive/IP landscape and potential OEM partners Achieved: narrowed down focus to fomite disinfection, primarily in healthcare & wellbeing settings, rationale: • Complementary to other business objectives in adjacent market segments • Accessible via understood channels and existing networks, including NBIC, shareholders Wessex AHSN and US-based partners • Unmet needs recently surfaced by COVID-19 and driven by increasing rates of hospital-acquired infections, including antimicrobial-resistant, biofilm-forming strains which also spread in non-medical contexts • Exploiting patented and comprehensively validated Fourth State plasma (ionised gas) RONS generation technology, in particular current ModuNOxD products (used to generate pilot data in this project) already sold under licence for non-medical fomite disinfection purposes • Synergies with the Cardiff group's research agenda, networks and scientific/regulatory expertise 3. Draft go-to-market strategy for disinfection applications of Fourth State's technology Achieved: >30-page draft report generated drawing on best practices in B2B marketing from CIM courses, covering: • Fomite disinfection/sterilisation market drivers and current dynamics • The company's current situation in relation to the market • Target segments and rationale, in line with overall corporate strategy • Positioning of potential products versus competitors and substitutes • B2B marketing tactics to deploy given limited company resources 4. Pilot data generation using biofilm models, supporting product activity and providing case for follow-on activities Achieved, albeit not yet using real-world-representative wet/dry biofilm models • Opted to focus initially on dried Staph. aureus on stainless steel surfaces, to more efficiently explore device parameter space (relatively quick to prepare, treat and analyse assays versus more complex biofilm models) • Varied ozone/NOx modes with flow rate, contact time, surface wetting with DI water/PBS before treatment • During operation at low flow rates (production of nitrogen species), the device was unable to eradicate bacteria dried onto surfaces. However, at a flow rate of 5L/min (ozone production) a 60 min reaction time sufficiently disinfected surfaces containing dried bacteria. • Using the RONS generator in combination with a wetting step restored its bactericidal activity using flow rates of 1 and 5 L/min over 30 - 60 min. It is likely that NOx at a low flow rate and contact time was unable to penetrate layers of bacteria desiccated on surfaces. To verify this hypothesis dried bacteria were embedded in an alginate matrix that allows the penetration of gas. Results show that RONS generated at 1 and 3 L/min were bactericidal (> 4 log10 reduction, i.e., 99.99% reduction) within 60 min. • These results highlight the bactericidal potential of the RONS generator against Staphylococcus aureus but also provided valuable information on device efficacy current limitations. The alginate model provides flexibility to test other bacteria and other microorganisms that are usually susceptible to desiccation. • Overall, these results are encouraging and confirmed the microbicidal potential of the RONS generator. Additional experiments need to be performed to verify the limit of the microbicidal activity of the RONS generator (using lower flow rate, shorter contact time, and different temperature). The spectrum of microbicidal activity needs to be ascertained. Understanding the mechanisms of microbicidal activity is also recommended. Finally, hydrated condition restores microbicidal activity. With that in mind investigations combining a misting device in combination with the RONS generator should be explored. Additional outcomes: • CIM course takeaways: comprehensive knowledge of contemporary best practices in B2B marketing, feeding into company strategy, marketing materials and processes. Company website refresh in progress drawing directly on lessons learned - expect increase in enquiries and sales revenue for laboratory equipment products (NOxLab) and OEM solutions (ModuNOx). Increased confidence and capability in briefing/working with specialist B2B marketing and market research agencies, and in specifying role requirements for future internal marketing hires (product managers, marketing managers). Network of contacts in B2B marketing from relationships with course directors and attendees. • Feedback on product usability: input into new laboratory product specifications (NOxLab-D), to allow easier tuning of ModuNOxD ozone/NOx generator with a digital flow meter, improving on the analogue flow meter used in this study. • Effective SME-university working relationship established: providing a solid foundation for future collaboration, to develop new biocidal applications for Fourth State's technology platform. Future work: We are together exploring a potential Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) application, to develop new applications for Fourth State's products. Maillard has a great experience in KTP collaborations with industrial partners leading to Innovation awards, dissemination of results including customers' documentation and exploitation of results including impact case for University REF return. Initial discussion with Cardiff University KTP office and KTO adviser have already taking place. This would benefit from any help available for • conducting market research on fomite disinfection current practices, particularly in healthcare & wellbeing settings: for fomites in non-medical areas such as receptions, offices, waiting rooms, catering, toilet and washing facilities, as well as in medical areas such as GP/dental clinics, hospital wards, operating theatres • limitations of existing technologies, particularly directly competing low temperature technologies such as UV radiation, ethylene oxide, vaporised hydrogen peroxide and other plasma/ozone/NOx systems on the market • associated costs to healthcare systems e.g., health economic costs of hospital-acquired infections acquired through fomite transmission, labour cost for cleaning which may be ineffective/unreliable for certain fomites • associated costs to the environment: decentralised, in-situ ozone/NOx generation from ambient air may have sustainability benefits versus existing technologies and plastic-packaged/environmentally-harmful biocides • planning the KTP project technical work plan • preparing/reviewing the application and exploitation plan A conference paper abstract is also currently in preparation, on adapting standard testing protocols to test devices/ biocides in real world situations, drawing on data generated using Fourth State's device in ozone generation mode. The abstract will be submitted for presentation at IPS2022 in Bournemouth. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_010 Biofilm Monitoring at Drinking Water Treatment Works: Impact of chlorine on biofilms and water quality (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | High quality, clean drinking water is the foundation of public health and hygiene. Biofilms are endemic within drinking water systems, impacting asset performance and water quality. Current microbial monitoring and management (e.g. chlorination) is restricted to analysis of (easily sampled) planktonic microorganisms in the bulk-water, which are unrepresentative of biofilms. Research in idealised systems has shown that biofilms provide protection from disinfection, supporting microbial proliferation. Although critical to managing water safety, monitoring biofilm formation and response to interventions within operational drinking water assets is neglected, primarily due to access and sampling difficulties (without disrupting supply). This FTMA aims to advance the understanding of biofilm growth in operational systems and inform sustainable microbial management approaches by providing a platform to increase porosity of, and leverage value from, interactions between The University of Sheffield (UoS; research) and Severn Trent Water (STW; industry). Specifically, a series of exchange visits will be utilised to design and implement a pilot field-project to detect and monitor biofilm growth throughout a drinking water treatment works (aligning with two NBIC themes). UoS has developed a Biofilm Monitoring Device (BMD) for rapid, sustainable and non-invasive assessment of biofilm (re)formation rates in operational systems, application of this at STW will validate its suitability for field sampling at treatment works. Ultimately, the collaborative relationships established and data generated will support a larger proposal to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, impacting the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Personal development for PI: Expanding professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA provided the opportunity to begin to address an industrial challenge by elevating the technological level of a biofilm-monitoring device that, if proven, will support further key advancements in biofilm and water quality management. Crucially, the visits, collaborative relationships established and pilot work supported by the FTMA highlighted the potential for the application of drinking water BMD to provide better understanding of the interactions between biofilms and water quality. This aligned with an operational need to change chlorine concentrations at a particular site. Subsequently, a 12-month project has been proposed to STW. The proposal aims to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration, simultaneously comparing biofilm growth rates under different chlorine concentrations. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, influencing the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. The FTMA has also supported the personal development of the early career PI via expansion and consolidation of a professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. SPECIFIC OUTPUTS/SUCCESS MEASURES INCLUDE: • Knowledge and skill transfer between sectors: Increased understanding between partners of their perspectives, specifically exchanging STW's practical challenges and expertise and UoS's world-leading research capabilities and expertise. • Successful collaborative relationship: Established foundation with collaborators (and their wider teams). • Developed trust and buy-in from STW treatment works operatives (critical for larger proposals). • Bespoke Biofilm Monitoring Devices designed, built and installed. • Optimisation of sampling methods to detect and monitor biofilms (will be included in a paper, currently in preparation). • 12 month proposal (Total Value: £135K) for a longitudinal biomonitoring project successfully pitched to Severn Trent Water, contracts are currently under negotiation with a view to starting the project May 2022. Future work: The STW (industry) funded project is due to begin in May (subject to contracts being completed). This provides an opportunity to validate the use of the BMDs at a treatment works, monitoring biofilm growth and response to a changing disinfection. The project will evidence the base-line biofilm growth in STW's water treatment works (WTW), providing comparison for assessing impact of interventions on biofilm formation/mobilisation in the WTW and downstream system, and any resulting change in risks to water quality. Thus providing confidence of the actual impacts (if any) of chlorine reduction is on microbial failures risk. Longer term plans includes the BMD uptake by industry, providing invaluable understanding of disinfection practices and their longer-term impact on biofilms and water quality downstream. This will be achieved by continued collaboration between UoS and STW, expanding to include additional water companies, academic institutions and other stakeholders, to help secure funding from UKRI sources. Drawing on NBIC's international links going forward will be invaluable for dissemination of results and developing further collaborative opportunities. FUTURE IMPACTS Outputs will have diverse impacts for water suppliers, regulators, academia and the public. Water quality failures and infrastructure maintenance are economically costly (thousands to millions of pounds) and intrinsically linked to public health - biofilm-associated pathogens cause waterborne illnesses and fatalities. Data generated will enable water utilities to improve biofilm management, rapidly analyse the biological performance of assets and prioritise microbial management in terms of risk return. This includes consideration of the trade-offs between CAPEX and OPEX interventions (within the TOTEX context Ofwat requires) and the water sector's commitment to NetZero by 2030, to ultimately protect water quality at the tap in the most sustainable way and save lives. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_010 Biofilm Monitoring at Drinking Water Treatment Works: Impact of chlorine on biofilms and water quality (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Severn Trent Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | High quality, clean drinking water is the foundation of public health and hygiene. Biofilms are endemic within drinking water systems, impacting asset performance and water quality. Current microbial monitoring and management (e.g. chlorination) is restricted to analysis of (easily sampled) planktonic microorganisms in the bulk-water, which are unrepresentative of biofilms. Research in idealised systems has shown that biofilms provide protection from disinfection, supporting microbial proliferation. Although critical to managing water safety, monitoring biofilm formation and response to interventions within operational drinking water assets is neglected, primarily due to access and sampling difficulties (without disrupting supply). This FTMA aims to advance the understanding of biofilm growth in operational systems and inform sustainable microbial management approaches by providing a platform to increase porosity of, and leverage value from, interactions between The University of Sheffield (UoS; research) and Severn Trent Water (STW; industry). Specifically, a series of exchange visits will be utilised to design and implement a pilot field-project to detect and monitor biofilm growth throughout a drinking water treatment works (aligning with two NBIC themes). UoS has developed a Biofilm Monitoring Device (BMD) for rapid, sustainable and non-invasive assessment of biofilm (re)formation rates in operational systems, application of this at STW will validate its suitability for field sampling at treatment works. Ultimately, the collaborative relationships established and data generated will support a larger proposal to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, impacting the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Personal development for PI: Expanding professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA provided the opportunity to begin to address an industrial challenge by elevating the technological level of a biofilm-monitoring device that, if proven, will support further key advancements in biofilm and water quality management. Crucially, the visits, collaborative relationships established and pilot work supported by the FTMA highlighted the potential for the application of drinking water BMD to provide better understanding of the interactions between biofilms and water quality. This aligned with an operational need to change chlorine concentrations at a particular site. Subsequently, a 12-month project has been proposed to STW. The proposal aims to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration, simultaneously comparing biofilm growth rates under different chlorine concentrations. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, influencing the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. The FTMA has also supported the personal development of the early career PI via expansion and consolidation of a professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. SPECIFIC OUTPUTS/SUCCESS MEASURES INCLUDE: • Knowledge and skill transfer between sectors: Increased understanding between partners of their perspectives, specifically exchanging STW's practical challenges and expertise and UoS's world-leading research capabilities and expertise. • Successful collaborative relationship: Established foundation with collaborators (and their wider teams). • Developed trust and buy-in from STW treatment works operatives (critical for larger proposals). • Bespoke Biofilm Monitoring Devices designed, built and installed. • Optimisation of sampling methods to detect and monitor biofilms (will be included in a paper, currently in preparation). • 12 month proposal (Total Value: £135K) for a longitudinal biomonitoring project successfully pitched to Severn Trent Water, contracts are currently under negotiation with a view to starting the project May 2022. Future work: The STW (industry) funded project is due to begin in May (subject to contracts being completed). This provides an opportunity to validate the use of the BMDs at a treatment works, monitoring biofilm growth and response to a changing disinfection. The project will evidence the base-line biofilm growth in STW's water treatment works (WTW), providing comparison for assessing impact of interventions on biofilm formation/mobilisation in the WTW and downstream system, and any resulting change in risks to water quality. Thus providing confidence of the actual impacts (if any) of chlorine reduction is on microbial failures risk. Longer term plans includes the BMD uptake by industry, providing invaluable understanding of disinfection practices and their longer-term impact on biofilms and water quality downstream. This will be achieved by continued collaboration between UoS and STW, expanding to include additional water companies, academic institutions and other stakeholders, to help secure funding from UKRI sources. Drawing on NBIC's international links going forward will be invaluable for dissemination of results and developing further collaborative opportunities. FUTURE IMPACTS Outputs will have diverse impacts for water suppliers, regulators, academia and the public. Water quality failures and infrastructure maintenance are economically costly (thousands to millions of pounds) and intrinsically linked to public health - biofilm-associated pathogens cause waterborne illnesses and fatalities. Data generated will enable water utilities to improve biofilm management, rapidly analyse the biological performance of assets and prioritise microbial management in terms of risk return. This includes consideration of the trade-offs between CAPEX and OPEX interventions (within the TOTEX context Ofwat requires) and the water sector's commitment to NetZero by 2030, to ultimately protect water quality at the tap in the most sustainable way and save lives. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_010 Biofilm Monitoring at Drinking Water Treatment Works: Impact of chlorine on biofilms and water quality (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | High quality, clean drinking water is the foundation of public health and hygiene. Biofilms are endemic within drinking water systems, impacting asset performance and water quality. Current microbial monitoring and management (e.g. chlorination) is restricted to analysis of (easily sampled) planktonic microorganisms in the bulk-water, which are unrepresentative of biofilms. Research in idealised systems has shown that biofilms provide protection from disinfection, supporting microbial proliferation. Although critical to managing water safety, monitoring biofilm formation and response to interventions within operational drinking water assets is neglected, primarily due to access and sampling difficulties (without disrupting supply). This FTMA aims to advance the understanding of biofilm growth in operational systems and inform sustainable microbial management approaches by providing a platform to increase porosity of, and leverage value from, interactions between The University of Sheffield (UoS; research) and Severn Trent Water (STW; industry). Specifically, a series of exchange visits will be utilised to design and implement a pilot field-project to detect and monitor biofilm growth throughout a drinking water treatment works (aligning with two NBIC themes). UoS has developed a Biofilm Monitoring Device (BMD) for rapid, sustainable and non-invasive assessment of biofilm (re)formation rates in operational systems, application of this at STW will validate its suitability for field sampling at treatment works. Ultimately, the collaborative relationships established and data generated will support a larger proposal to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, impacting the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. Personal development for PI: Expanding professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this Flexible Talent Mobility Account project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This FTMA provided the opportunity to begin to address an industrial challenge by elevating the technological level of a biofilm-monitoring device that, if proven, will support further key advancements in biofilm and water quality management. Crucially, the visits, collaborative relationships established and pilot work supported by the FTMA highlighted the potential for the application of drinking water BMD to provide better understanding of the interactions between biofilms and water quality. This aligned with an operational need to change chlorine concentrations at a particular site. Subsequently, a 12-month project has been proposed to STW. The proposal aims to determine water quality and biofilm responses to changes in chlorine concentration, simultaneously comparing biofilm growth rates under different chlorine concentrations. This will advance biofilm understanding and management, influencing the frequency/intensity of disinfection, thereby reducing energy consumption, time and finance costs whilst reducing quality failures, improving customer service and protecting public health. Thus aligning with the healthy aging and clean growth priorities of Industry Strategy Challenge Fund. The FTMA has also supported the personal development of the early career PI via expansion and consolidation of a professional network, providing a platform to demonstrate research independence and leadership in applied biofilm research. SPECIFIC OUTPUTS/SUCCESS MEASURES INCLUDE: • Knowledge and skill transfer between sectors: Increased understanding between partners of their perspectives, specifically exchanging STW's practical challenges and expertise and UoS's world-leading research capabilities and expertise. • Successful collaborative relationship: Established foundation with collaborators (and their wider teams). • Developed trust and buy-in from STW treatment works operatives (critical for larger proposals). • Bespoke Biofilm Monitoring Devices designed, built and installed. • Optimisation of sampling methods to detect and monitor biofilms (will be included in a paper, currently in preparation). • 12 month proposal (Total Value: £135K) for a longitudinal biomonitoring project successfully pitched to Severn Trent Water, contracts are currently under negotiation with a view to starting the project May 2022. Future work: The STW (industry) funded project is due to begin in May (subject to contracts being completed). This provides an opportunity to validate the use of the BMDs at a treatment works, monitoring biofilm growth and response to a changing disinfection. The project will evidence the base-line biofilm growth in STW's water treatment works (WTW), providing comparison for assessing impact of interventions on biofilm formation/mobilisation in the WTW and downstream system, and any resulting change in risks to water quality. Thus providing confidence of the actual impacts (if any) of chlorine reduction is on microbial failures risk. Longer term plans includes the BMD uptake by industry, providing invaluable understanding of disinfection practices and their longer-term impact on biofilms and water quality downstream. This will be achieved by continued collaboration between UoS and STW, expanding to include additional water companies, academic institutions and other stakeholders, to help secure funding from UKRI sources. Drawing on NBIC's international links going forward will be invaluable for dissemination of results and developing further collaborative opportunities. FUTURE IMPACTS Outputs will have diverse impacts for water suppliers, regulators, academia and the public. Water quality failures and infrastructure maintenance are economically costly (thousands to millions of pounds) and intrinsically linked to public health - biofilm-associated pathogens cause waterborne illnesses and fatalities. Data generated will enable water utilities to improve biofilm management, rapidly analyse the biological performance of assets and prioritise microbial management in terms of risk return. This includes consideration of the trade-offs between CAPEX and OPEX interventions (within the TOTEX context Ofwat requires) and the water sector's commitment to NetZero by 2030, to ultimately protect water quality at the tap in the most sustainable way and save lives. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_019 Screening the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticle coatings (Eden Mannix-Fisher) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The primary aim of this project is to produce data on the activity of Pharm2Farm's novel antimicrobial nanoparticle coatings that will be presented at the Nanosynth Expo in March 2022, hosted by the parent company, Nanosynth Group Plc. This will provide an opportunity for Pharm2Farm to showcase their new antimicrobial coatings to potential customers and to seek financial backing for the scale up and registration of the end products. Pharm2Farm have agreed that the research fellow will attend this Expo and contribute to data presentation, which provides an excellent opportunity for the fellow to develop networking skills with members of industry, to understand the needs of the industrial sector and to heighten her commercial awareness. For this project the antimicrobial coatings provided by Pharm2Farm will be screened against environmental and medical pathogens to evaluate the potential application of these materials on surfaces including handles, pipes, and medical device materials. This technology has application across numerous sectors, including but not limited to transportation, food production and medical care. This project aligns to the 'Healthy Ageing' challenge as one of the greatest risks to healthy ageing is infection. Infections, particularly those caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria can have a severe impact on health and can regularly be acquired as comorbidities in hospital settings. This can be through contact with surfaces and via indwelling medical devices that pathogens readily colonise. As such, there is an increasing focus on the use of antimicrobial coatings on medical device materials and in the wider healthcare setting on items from identity wrist bands to door handles and indwelling medical devices. The project also aligns to the 'Transforming Food Production' challenge as antimicrobial coatings can be applied in agriculture, food packaging and livestock pipelines to prevent contamination of food products, increasing the efficiency and resilience of food production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This work demonstrated that the antimicrobial nanoparticles mixed into paint had a significant reduction of the bacterial viability after exposure of under three hours (Figure 2). This data is important for Pharm2Farm as they can provide data to their international customer evidencing that paint formulations can be made antimicrobial. Building on this project, Pharm2Farm will now go forward with antiviral testing of the paint. This project has provided data for our collaborator, Pharm2Farm, that can be supplied to AkzoNobel and has resulted in further commercial income for the former. It also brings the antimicrobial paint under development closer to commercialisation for AkzoNobel and provides Pharm2Farm with further evidence of the antimicrobial activity of their nanoparticles for advertisement to other potential clients. This project has provided Eden Mannix-Fisher with significant commercial insight and experience of working with industry partners, allowing her to better understand the ways in which both academia and industry operate. Dr Mannix-Fisher will also showcase the work produced here at the postponed NanoSynth Expo rescheduled for summer 2022. Potential patent: The work carried out in this secondment will have great impact to Pharm2Farm and their customer AksoNobel. The antimicrobial work carried out will complement the antiviral work carried out and should both be successful, the data will go towards producing a patent for the product produced. This was not mentioned in the patents section as this patent has not yet been published as it depends on the data produced. Future work: Pharm2Farm will undertake the antiviral work on the antimicrobial paint via a pre-existing collaboration. Pharm2Farm have stated that if they require further antibacterial testing of this or other antimicrobial technologies, they are likely to reach out to this academic team to 'buy out' time to support the work. This further develops the collaboration between the microbiology team at NTU and the SME Pharm2Farm. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_019 Screening the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticle coatings (Eden Mannix-Fisher) |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The primary aim of this project is to produce data on the activity of Pharm2Farm's novel antimicrobial nanoparticle coatings that will be presented at the Nanosynth Expo in March 2022, hosted by the parent company, Nanosynth Group Plc. This will provide an opportunity for Pharm2Farm to showcase their new antimicrobial coatings to potential customers and to seek financial backing for the scale up and registration of the end products. Pharm2Farm have agreed that the research fellow will attend this Expo and contribute to data presentation, which provides an excellent opportunity for the fellow to develop networking skills with members of industry, to understand the needs of the industrial sector and to heighten her commercial awareness. For this project the antimicrobial coatings provided by Pharm2Farm will be screened against environmental and medical pathogens to evaluate the potential application of these materials on surfaces including handles, pipes, and medical device materials. This technology has application across numerous sectors, including but not limited to transportation, food production and medical care. This project aligns to the 'Healthy Ageing' challenge as one of the greatest risks to healthy ageing is infection. Infections, particularly those caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria can have a severe impact on health and can regularly be acquired as comorbidities in hospital settings. This can be through contact with surfaces and via indwelling medical devices that pathogens readily colonise. As such, there is an increasing focus on the use of antimicrobial coatings on medical device materials and in the wider healthcare setting on items from identity wrist bands to door handles and indwelling medical devices. The project also aligns to the 'Transforming Food Production' challenge as antimicrobial coatings can be applied in agriculture, food packaging and livestock pipelines to prevent contamination of food products, increasing the efficiency and resilience of food production. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This work demonstrated that the antimicrobial nanoparticles mixed into paint had a significant reduction of the bacterial viability after exposure of under three hours (Figure 2). This data is important for Pharm2Farm as they can provide data to their international customer evidencing that paint formulations can be made antimicrobial. Building on this project, Pharm2Farm will now go forward with antiviral testing of the paint. This project has provided data for our collaborator, Pharm2Farm, that can be supplied to AkzoNobel and has resulted in further commercial income for the former. It also brings the antimicrobial paint under development closer to commercialisation for AkzoNobel and provides Pharm2Farm with further evidence of the antimicrobial activity of their nanoparticles for advertisement to other potential clients. This project has provided Eden Mannix-Fisher with significant commercial insight and experience of working with industry partners, allowing her to better understand the ways in which both academia and industry operate. Dr Mannix-Fisher will also showcase the work produced here at the postponed NanoSynth Expo rescheduled for summer 2022. Potential patent: The work carried out in this secondment will have great impact to Pharm2Farm and their customer AksoNobel. The antimicrobial work carried out will complement the antiviral work carried out and should both be successful, the data will go towards producing a patent for the product produced. This was not mentioned in the patents section as this patent has not yet been published as it depends on the data produced. Future work: Pharm2Farm will undertake the antiviral work on the antimicrobial paint via a pre-existing collaboration. Pharm2Farm have stated that if they require further antibacterial testing of this or other antimicrobial technologies, they are likely to reach out to this academic team to 'buy out' time to support the work. This further develops the collaboration between the microbiology team at NTU and the SME Pharm2Farm. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_021 Novel Antibiofilm Nanocomposite Functionalities for Metal Implants (NANOMI) (Faradin Mirkhalaf) |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In the proposed secondment at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), we aim to create, characterise and measure the anti-Biofilm properties of novel nanocomposite surfaces developed by Shimyatech. The proposed work builds upon a preliminary study carried out by the main applicant with LSTM which was funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Different functional nanocomposites will be electrochemically, and chemically, attached to metallic surfaces and antibiofilm properties of these composites compared with one another with the focus on composite use in prosthetic Total Joint Replacements (TJRs). This secondment will increase our expertise and understanding of the microbiology and measurement of biofilm development and inhibition, which are a strategic focus in Shimyatech's R&D ventures (i.e. antibacterial, antibiofilm, antiviral properties). Many Western countries face an aging population and increased prevalence of TJRs which is accompanied by increasing rate of Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). TJR procedures have been increasingly employed as a strategy to improve mobility in older age. TJR, caused by microbial contamination during surgery, are devastating complications of TJRs and are related to high levels of morbidity and mortality. The economic burden on healthcare systems for the treatment of PJIs is vast, exacerbated by increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance to drugs usually used to treat them. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the development of new, material-based solutions to reduce PJIs for the protection of our national healthcare system and patients and this unmet need is something we are well placed to address. The project aligns well with the ICSF challenge "Healthy ageing", which places emphasis on the importance of remaining active, productive and independent in old age. In an ageing population the reduction of PJIs is a major factor in improving the quality of life and independence of elderly individuals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Shimyatech: This project represents the early stages of a translational outcome for Shimyatech, advancing the devised technology from a laboratory scale experimental project to real-world product used in a medical setting. • The developed technology was tested on metals frequently used for medical implants (i.e. Titanium and Stainless Steel) giving us results translatable to the technologies real-world use case. The use of the Liverpool biofilm device (LBD) provided by LSTM also allowed us to emulate in vitro conditions more accurately than using standard assays. A major outcome in this project included advancing the "Technology readiness level" (TRL) of the functionalisation method. We can be considered to have advanced the TRL from stage 2 to around stage 3 'Experimental proof-of-concept' as an experimental protocol was defined and has commenced being used for the technologies efficacy validation. More experimental studies are required (i.e. with sample sizes n=10+) to advance the TRL to stage 4 where high level optimisation will take place, and the early stages of how this can be achieved was defined in this project. • The project created an opportunity for LSTM to test its Liverpool Biofilm Device (LBD) against a standard well assay. as a part of this project Advantages of the LBD compared to the standard assay were demonstrated. LSTM hopes this will lead to IP registration and paper publication. • The modified slides were characterised with surface analytical techniques (FT-IR, Contact angle, SEM, EDS and XPS) to confirm the presence and structure of coated materials. • The commercialisation and exploitation of the new technology for various products including medical implants, frequently touched metal surfaces in public places, fabrics and textiles, wound care and filters are planned by Shimyatech Ltd. • The project supported to start and maintain a strong collaboration between Shimyatech Ltd, LSTM, Liverpool University and Keele University and the consortium aims to continue their collaboration to apply for further research funding and publish the results in this project. • Multidisciplinary training of Shimyatech employee whom is a Chemical Engineer by trade but was trained in microbiological techniques, including bacterial culture in both liquid and solid media, aseptic technique, biofilm staining and solubilisation, 24 hour growth curves, and usage of specialised equipment (plate readers, Clariostars) to the extent of being completely self-sufficient with no requirement of supervision. • The project provided precursor data which could support a future grant application or publication which could potentially benefit Shimyatech LTD in future stages of the products development. • This project created an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience between the R&D company and LSTM to acquire microbiology, biofilm testing, nanocoatings and chemistry of surfaces and their applications in certain areas. This was also supported by effective communications and group meetings. Further work: Following this project, Shimyatech Ltd and LSTM are now in a position to proceed with further advancement of the technology leading to the exploitation and dissemination of the results. In the near future, we are aiming to: • File a patent based on the previously developed technology, the results in this project can support the considered application in medical devices. • Jointly publish the bulk of the results in the corresponding leading journals. • Apply for further funding to advance TRL of the project leading to commercialisation of new products. • Shimyatech Ltd has recently approached LCR ventures for possible support and capital investment on the products. This requires TRL at a higher TRL (5,6) to achieve. We are going to apply to suitable calls for funding to national and EU funding bodies. A local organisation (LYVALABS) and Innovate UK EDGE have been approached to seek support for commercialisation and funding applications. We are hoping that NBIC is able to further support this project to achieve its final goals including further grant applications, networking with members and approaching medical device manufacturers and industries leading to the commercialisation of the products. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_021 Novel Antibiofilm Nanocomposite Functionalities for Metal Implants (NANOMI) (Faradin Mirkhalaf) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In the proposed secondment at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), we aim to create, characterise and measure the anti-Biofilm properties of novel nanocomposite surfaces developed by Shimyatech. The proposed work builds upon a preliminary study carried out by the main applicant with LSTM which was funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Different functional nanocomposites will be electrochemically, and chemically, attached to metallic surfaces and antibiofilm properties of these composites compared with one another with the focus on composite use in prosthetic Total Joint Replacements (TJRs). This secondment will increase our expertise and understanding of the microbiology and measurement of biofilm development and inhibition, which are a strategic focus in Shimyatech's R&D ventures (i.e. antibacterial, antibiofilm, antiviral properties). Many Western countries face an aging population and increased prevalence of TJRs which is accompanied by increasing rate of Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). TJR procedures have been increasingly employed as a strategy to improve mobility in older age. TJR, caused by microbial contamination during surgery, are devastating complications of TJRs and are related to high levels of morbidity and mortality. The economic burden on healthcare systems for the treatment of PJIs is vast, exacerbated by increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance to drugs usually used to treat them. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the development of new, material-based solutions to reduce PJIs for the protection of our national healthcare system and patients and this unmet need is something we are well placed to address. The project aligns well with the ICSF challenge "Healthy ageing", which places emphasis on the importance of remaining active, productive and independent in old age. In an ageing population the reduction of PJIs is a major factor in improving the quality of life and independence of elderly individuals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Shimyatech: This project represents the early stages of a translational outcome for Shimyatech, advancing the devised technology from a laboratory scale experimental project to real-world product used in a medical setting. • The developed technology was tested on metals frequently used for medical implants (i.e. Titanium and Stainless Steel) giving us results translatable to the technologies real-world use case. The use of the Liverpool biofilm device (LBD) provided by LSTM also allowed us to emulate in vitro conditions more accurately than using standard assays. A major outcome in this project included advancing the "Technology readiness level" (TRL) of the functionalisation method. We can be considered to have advanced the TRL from stage 2 to around stage 3 'Experimental proof-of-concept' as an experimental protocol was defined and has commenced being used for the technologies efficacy validation. More experimental studies are required (i.e. with sample sizes n=10+) to advance the TRL to stage 4 where high level optimisation will take place, and the early stages of how this can be achieved was defined in this project. • The project created an opportunity for LSTM to test its Liverpool Biofilm Device (LBD) against a standard well assay. as a part of this project Advantages of the LBD compared to the standard assay were demonstrated. LSTM hopes this will lead to IP registration and paper publication. • The modified slides were characterised with surface analytical techniques (FT-IR, Contact angle, SEM, EDS and XPS) to confirm the presence and structure of coated materials. • The commercialisation and exploitation of the new technology for various products including medical implants, frequently touched metal surfaces in public places, fabrics and textiles, wound care and filters are planned by Shimyatech Ltd. • The project supported to start and maintain a strong collaboration between Shimyatech Ltd, LSTM, Liverpool University and Keele University and the consortium aims to continue their collaboration to apply for further research funding and publish the results in this project. • Multidisciplinary training of Shimyatech employee whom is a Chemical Engineer by trade but was trained in microbiological techniques, including bacterial culture in both liquid and solid media, aseptic technique, biofilm staining and solubilisation, 24 hour growth curves, and usage of specialised equipment (plate readers, Clariostars) to the extent of being completely self-sufficient with no requirement of supervision. • The project provided precursor data which could support a future grant application or publication which could potentially benefit Shimyatech LTD in future stages of the products development. • This project created an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience between the R&D company and LSTM to acquire microbiology, biofilm testing, nanocoatings and chemistry of surfaces and their applications in certain areas. This was also supported by effective communications and group meetings. Further work: Following this project, Shimyatech Ltd and LSTM are now in a position to proceed with further advancement of the technology leading to the exploitation and dissemination of the results. In the near future, we are aiming to: • File a patent based on the previously developed technology, the results in this project can support the considered application in medical devices. • Jointly publish the bulk of the results in the corresponding leading journals. • Apply for further funding to advance TRL of the project leading to commercialisation of new products. • Shimyatech Ltd has recently approached LCR ventures for possible support and capital investment on the products. This requires TRL at a higher TRL (5,6) to achieve. We are going to apply to suitable calls for funding to national and EU funding bodies. A local organisation (LYVALABS) and Innovate UK EDGE have been approached to seek support for commercialisation and funding applications. We are hoping that NBIC is able to further support this project to achieve its final goals including further grant applications, networking with members and approaching medical device manufacturers and industries leading to the commercialisation of the products. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_021 Novel Antibiofilm Nanocomposite Functionalities for Metal Implants (NANOMI) (Faradin Mirkhalaf) |
| Organisation | ShimyaTech Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In the proposed secondment at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), we aim to create, characterise and measure the anti-Biofilm properties of novel nanocomposite surfaces developed by Shimyatech. The proposed work builds upon a preliminary study carried out by the main applicant with LSTM which was funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Different functional nanocomposites will be electrochemically, and chemically, attached to metallic surfaces and antibiofilm properties of these composites compared with one another with the focus on composite use in prosthetic Total Joint Replacements (TJRs). This secondment will increase our expertise and understanding of the microbiology and measurement of biofilm development and inhibition, which are a strategic focus in Shimyatech's R&D ventures (i.e. antibacterial, antibiofilm, antiviral properties). Many Western countries face an aging population and increased prevalence of TJRs which is accompanied by increasing rate of Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). TJR procedures have been increasingly employed as a strategy to improve mobility in older age. TJR, caused by microbial contamination during surgery, are devastating complications of TJRs and are related to high levels of morbidity and mortality. The economic burden on healthcare systems for the treatment of PJIs is vast, exacerbated by increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance to drugs usually used to treat them. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the development of new, material-based solutions to reduce PJIs for the protection of our national healthcare system and patients and this unmet need is something we are well placed to address. The project aligns well with the ICSF challenge "Healthy ageing", which places emphasis on the importance of remaining active, productive and independent in old age. In an ageing population the reduction of PJIs is a major factor in improving the quality of life and independence of elderly individuals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Shimyatech: This project represents the early stages of a translational outcome for Shimyatech, advancing the devised technology from a laboratory scale experimental project to real-world product used in a medical setting. • The developed technology was tested on metals frequently used for medical implants (i.e. Titanium and Stainless Steel) giving us results translatable to the technologies real-world use case. The use of the Liverpool biofilm device (LBD) provided by LSTM also allowed us to emulate in vitro conditions more accurately than using standard assays. A major outcome in this project included advancing the "Technology readiness level" (TRL) of the functionalisation method. We can be considered to have advanced the TRL from stage 2 to around stage 3 'Experimental proof-of-concept' as an experimental protocol was defined and has commenced being used for the technologies efficacy validation. More experimental studies are required (i.e. with sample sizes n=10+) to advance the TRL to stage 4 where high level optimisation will take place, and the early stages of how this can be achieved was defined in this project. • The project created an opportunity for LSTM to test its Liverpool Biofilm Device (LBD) against a standard well assay. as a part of this project Advantages of the LBD compared to the standard assay were demonstrated. LSTM hopes this will lead to IP registration and paper publication. • The modified slides were characterised with surface analytical techniques (FT-IR, Contact angle, SEM, EDS and XPS) to confirm the presence and structure of coated materials. • The commercialisation and exploitation of the new technology for various products including medical implants, frequently touched metal surfaces in public places, fabrics and textiles, wound care and filters are planned by Shimyatech Ltd. • The project supported to start and maintain a strong collaboration between Shimyatech Ltd, LSTM, Liverpool University and Keele University and the consortium aims to continue their collaboration to apply for further research funding and publish the results in this project. • Multidisciplinary training of Shimyatech employee whom is a Chemical Engineer by trade but was trained in microbiological techniques, including bacterial culture in both liquid and solid media, aseptic technique, biofilm staining and solubilisation, 24 hour growth curves, and usage of specialised equipment (plate readers, Clariostars) to the extent of being completely self-sufficient with no requirement of supervision. • The project provided precursor data which could support a future grant application or publication which could potentially benefit Shimyatech LTD in future stages of the products development. • This project created an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience between the R&D company and LSTM to acquire microbiology, biofilm testing, nanocoatings and chemistry of surfaces and their applications in certain areas. This was also supported by effective communications and group meetings. Further work: Following this project, Shimyatech Ltd and LSTM are now in a position to proceed with further advancement of the technology leading to the exploitation and dissemination of the results. In the near future, we are aiming to: • File a patent based on the previously developed technology, the results in this project can support the considered application in medical devices. • Jointly publish the bulk of the results in the corresponding leading journals. • Apply for further funding to advance TRL of the project leading to commercialisation of new products. • Shimyatech Ltd has recently approached LCR ventures for possible support and capital investment on the products. This requires TRL at a higher TRL (5,6) to achieve. We are going to apply to suitable calls for funding to national and EU funding bodies. A local organisation (LYVALABS) and Innovate UK EDGE have been approached to seek support for commercialisation and funding applications. We are hoping that NBIC is able to further support this project to achieve its final goals including further grant applications, networking with members and approaching medical device manufacturers and industries leading to the commercialisation of the products. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_023 Decarbonising Wastewater Treatment using Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs): A research into the UK Water Industry Expectations and Needs (Pavlina Theodosiou) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microbial electrochemical biofilms produce a suit of technologies that could bring the water sector to Net-Zero by recovering electricity and hydrogen from wastewater treatment. My research to date using METs has seen me: deliver low-cost sanitation with self-generated lighting in Africa (OXFAM & BMG Foundation); produce power from urine at Glastonbury Festival (BMG Foundation); 3D-print entire stackable microbial electrochemical reactors and control them robotically (FP-7); enthuse school children in generating electricity from waste using electroactive biofilms (NBIC); and currently work in projects aiming to produce hydrogen from wastewater using a combination of modelling (NBIC) and large-scale pilot MET reactors (EPSCR). I aim to become a world leading researcher working at the interface between academia and industry. I want to revolutionise the wastewater sector into an energy producer not consumer, aligning with the Clean Growth challenge theme of the ISCF, facilitating this in the UK but also in places where sanitation is currently unaffordable and unsustainable. Water companies are inherently risk-averse, hence gaining impact and in-road into this sector is proving extremely challenging. Through this secondment within the environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV, I aim to build the correct skillset and an improved network to undertake market research within water companies. This market research will help us understand better the industry's demands and expectations (regarding performance and Return on Investment), enabling us to package and develop MET systems to better suit their needs. RHDHV has a proven track record in collaborating with academia to develop new technology and processes through piloting and commercialisation. This model has worked extremely well in the Netherlands, where cutting-edge wastewater and anaerobic digestion technologies were developed in collaboration with Dutch research institutes. RHDHV aims to replicate this success in the UK water sector, and hence this collaboration is extremely timely. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Newcastle University: I have been contributing to bid development meetings with other consultancy firms and water companies. Royal HaskoningDHV: The partner has been contributing to my professional development and has been helping me in building connections with their existing network of clients and collaborators. |
| Impact | Outcomes/Achievements: - Getting experience working in an engineering consultancy on the business development site of emerging technologies. - Built a business case in collaboration with RHDHV on MECs for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that have a Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THPs), using the NWL Howdon WWTP as the case study and the MEC pilots operated at Howdon by Newcastle University as the reference points. - Identified a new pathway for MECs which was not considered before and explored this further. This new pathway can make the MEC technology better suited for the UK and international market and improve wastewater resource recovery, helping water companies in their NetZero endeavour. - Developed understanding of the information needed in terms of cost and maintenance numbers, and ROI for building confidence around an emerging technology to prospective clients (i.e. water companies) Impact: - Broaden Pavlina's horizons in emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and the imminent issues we need to tackle to reduce carbon emissions and reach NetZero - Learnt how to cost a project, calculate ROIs, OPEX, CAPEX - Helped Pavlina understand what a process engineer and consultant career entails and realise that she is interested in pursuing a career path outside academia and, more specifically, in the water sector - RHDHV benefited from this project by getting in touch with a technology we are not familiar with and discovered the potential benefits of it that can contribute to solve some major challenges the water industry is facing. Direct next steps: - Secured £20k funding to start in May the Biofilms iCure Sprint to take this project to the next level by validating the technology through market research - Arranged meetings with Innovation Managers from 3 water companies: NWL, SevernTrent and Scottish Water and present to them the business case to raise awareness about this technology, its prospects and get interest for possible future funding - Submitting a proposal to EBNET for a proof-of-concept project based on the new technology pathway towards ammonia recovery that was discovered throughout this project - Organising an Industry Technical Visit/Event in collaboration with the Institute of Water to the BeWise Facility that currently houses the 3 Pilot scale MEC reactors in order to promote the technology to water companies and the supply chain - Submitted an abstract to the ISMET 8 conference regarding the outcomes of this project and the lessons learnt |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_023 Decarbonising Wastewater Treatment using Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs): A research into the UK Water Industry Expectations and Needs (Pavlina Theodosiou) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Microbial electrochemical biofilms produce a suit of technologies that could bring the water sector to Net-Zero by recovering electricity and hydrogen from wastewater treatment. My research to date using METs has seen me: deliver low-cost sanitation with self-generated lighting in Africa (OXFAM & BMG Foundation); produce power from urine at Glastonbury Festival (BMG Foundation); 3D-print entire stackable microbial electrochemical reactors and control them robotically (FP-7); enthuse school children in generating electricity from waste using electroactive biofilms (NBIC); and currently work in projects aiming to produce hydrogen from wastewater using a combination of modelling (NBIC) and large-scale pilot MET reactors (EPSCR). I aim to become a world leading researcher working at the interface between academia and industry. I want to revolutionise the wastewater sector into an energy producer not consumer, aligning with the Clean Growth challenge theme of the ISCF, facilitating this in the UK but also in places where sanitation is currently unaffordable and unsustainable. Water companies are inherently risk-averse, hence gaining impact and in-road into this sector is proving extremely challenging. Through this secondment within the environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV, I aim to build the correct skillset and an improved network to undertake market research within water companies. This market research will help us understand better the industry's demands and expectations (regarding performance and Return on Investment), enabling us to package and develop MET systems to better suit their needs. RHDHV has a proven track record in collaborating with academia to develop new technology and processes through piloting and commercialisation. This model has worked extremely well in the Netherlands, where cutting-edge wastewater and anaerobic digestion technologies were developed in collaboration with Dutch research institutes. RHDHV aims to replicate this success in the UK water sector, and hence this collaboration is extremely timely. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Newcastle University: I have been contributing to bid development meetings with other consultancy firms and water companies. Royal HaskoningDHV: The partner has been contributing to my professional development and has been helping me in building connections with their existing network of clients and collaborators. |
| Impact | Outcomes/Achievements: - Getting experience working in an engineering consultancy on the business development site of emerging technologies. - Built a business case in collaboration with RHDHV on MECs for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that have a Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THPs), using the NWL Howdon WWTP as the case study and the MEC pilots operated at Howdon by Newcastle University as the reference points. - Identified a new pathway for MECs which was not considered before and explored this further. This new pathway can make the MEC technology better suited for the UK and international market and improve wastewater resource recovery, helping water companies in their NetZero endeavour. - Developed understanding of the information needed in terms of cost and maintenance numbers, and ROI for building confidence around an emerging technology to prospective clients (i.e. water companies) Impact: - Broaden Pavlina's horizons in emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and the imminent issues we need to tackle to reduce carbon emissions and reach NetZero - Learnt how to cost a project, calculate ROIs, OPEX, CAPEX - Helped Pavlina understand what a process engineer and consultant career entails and realise that she is interested in pursuing a career path outside academia and, more specifically, in the water sector - RHDHV benefited from this project by getting in touch with a technology we are not familiar with and discovered the potential benefits of it that can contribute to solve some major challenges the water industry is facing. Direct next steps: - Secured £20k funding to start in May the Biofilms iCure Sprint to take this project to the next level by validating the technology through market research - Arranged meetings with Innovation Managers from 3 water companies: NWL, SevernTrent and Scottish Water and present to them the business case to raise awareness about this technology, its prospects and get interest for possible future funding - Submitting a proposal to EBNET for a proof-of-concept project based on the new technology pathway towards ammonia recovery that was discovered throughout this project - Organising an Industry Technical Visit/Event in collaboration with the Institute of Water to the BeWise Facility that currently houses the 3 Pilot scale MEC reactors in order to promote the technology to water companies and the supply chain - Submitted an abstract to the ISMET 8 conference regarding the outcomes of this project and the lessons learnt |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_023 Decarbonising Wastewater Treatment using Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs): A research into the UK Water Industry Expectations and Needs (Pavlina Theodosiou) |
| Organisation | Royal HaskoningDHV |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microbial electrochemical biofilms produce a suit of technologies that could bring the water sector to Net-Zero by recovering electricity and hydrogen from wastewater treatment. My research to date using METs has seen me: deliver low-cost sanitation with self-generated lighting in Africa (OXFAM & BMG Foundation); produce power from urine at Glastonbury Festival (BMG Foundation); 3D-print entire stackable microbial electrochemical reactors and control them robotically (FP-7); enthuse school children in generating electricity from waste using electroactive biofilms (NBIC); and currently work in projects aiming to produce hydrogen from wastewater using a combination of modelling (NBIC) and large-scale pilot MET reactors (EPSCR). I aim to become a world leading researcher working at the interface between academia and industry. I want to revolutionise the wastewater sector into an energy producer not consumer, aligning with the Clean Growth challenge theme of the ISCF, facilitating this in the UK but also in places where sanitation is currently unaffordable and unsustainable. Water companies are inherently risk-averse, hence gaining impact and in-road into this sector is proving extremely challenging. Through this secondment within the environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV, I aim to build the correct skillset and an improved network to undertake market research within water companies. This market research will help us understand better the industry's demands and expectations (regarding performance and Return on Investment), enabling us to package and develop MET systems to better suit their needs. RHDHV has a proven track record in collaborating with academia to develop new technology and processes through piloting and commercialisation. This model has worked extremely well in the Netherlands, where cutting-edge wastewater and anaerobic digestion technologies were developed in collaboration with Dutch research institutes. RHDHV aims to replicate this success in the UK water sector, and hence this collaboration is extremely timely. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Newcastle University: I have been contributing to bid development meetings with other consultancy firms and water companies. Royal HaskoningDHV: The partner has been contributing to my professional development and has been helping me in building connections with their existing network of clients and collaborators. |
| Impact | Outcomes/Achievements: - Getting experience working in an engineering consultancy on the business development site of emerging technologies. - Built a business case in collaboration with RHDHV on MECs for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that have a Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THPs), using the NWL Howdon WWTP as the case study and the MEC pilots operated at Howdon by Newcastle University as the reference points. - Identified a new pathway for MECs which was not considered before and explored this further. This new pathway can make the MEC technology better suited for the UK and international market and improve wastewater resource recovery, helping water companies in their NetZero endeavour. - Developed understanding of the information needed in terms of cost and maintenance numbers, and ROI for building confidence around an emerging technology to prospective clients (i.e. water companies) Impact: - Broaden Pavlina's horizons in emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and the imminent issues we need to tackle to reduce carbon emissions and reach NetZero - Learnt how to cost a project, calculate ROIs, OPEX, CAPEX - Helped Pavlina understand what a process engineer and consultant career entails and realise that she is interested in pursuing a career path outside academia and, more specifically, in the water sector - RHDHV benefited from this project by getting in touch with a technology we are not familiar with and discovered the potential benefits of it that can contribute to solve some major challenges the water industry is facing. Direct next steps: - Secured £20k funding to start in May the Biofilms iCure Sprint to take this project to the next level by validating the technology through market research - Arranged meetings with Innovation Managers from 3 water companies: NWL, SevernTrent and Scottish Water and present to them the business case to raise awareness about this technology, its prospects and get interest for possible future funding - Submitting a proposal to EBNET for a proof-of-concept project based on the new technology pathway towards ammonia recovery that was discovered throughout this project - Organising an Industry Technical Visit/Event in collaboration with the Institute of Water to the BeWise Facility that currently houses the 3 Pilot scale MEC reactors in order to promote the technology to water companies and the supply chain - Submitted an abstract to the ISMET 8 conference regarding the outcomes of this project and the lessons learnt |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_026 Nano-modification of textile surface with antimicrobial and antibiofilm features for wound dressing (Ying Yang) |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This FTMA application addresses the 'Aging society' challenge outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy, specifically on management of chronic wounds. In the current society with its aging population, chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, venous leg ulcers are an increasingly medical concern. Without skin protection and priming with blood and constant interstitial fluid, the wound offers an optimal environment for bacteria growth and biofilm formation. Biofilm development in wounds is now recognized not only as a precursor to infection but also as a cause of delayed healing. Development of a robust anti-biofilm wound dressing can address this challenge and improve quality of life in an aging population. In the past years, our group and the industrial partner, ShimyaTech, have developed novel techniques to fight biofilms. In Keele, we have isolated new antimicrobial peptides (AMP) from plant, bacteria, and designed synthetic biomimetic AMP for surface modification with new coupling methods for the robust attachment of AMP to metallic surfaces. ShimyaTech has established new processing techniques for incorporation of bactericide nanoparticles onto surfaces by electro- or electroless deposition approaches. The aim of this project is to combine the anti-biofilm strategies, highlighted above, for textile surface treatment into a new type of wound dressing material. This will be achieved through ShimyaTech-based secondment with the following objectives: 1) Optimize electroless deposition approach to introduce gold or silver nanoparticles onto textile surfaces, e.g. cotton, sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2) Covalently bind two AMPs (nisin, a plant cyclotide) to the textile surface through new coupling agent, diazonium, or gold nanoparticles 3) Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing We anticipate the secondment will not only generate proof-of-concept data for the dual treatment technique for future UKRI grant application, but also will greatly enhance the industrialized perspective and cross-sector skill for the nominated postdoctoral fellow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The main aims that were addressed and outcomes achieved through the completion of this collaborative project were: 1. Define and refine techniques to incorporate silver and gold nanoparticles onto fabrics Active functionalising agents were synthesised and subsequently used to functionalise wound dressings to act as templates to facilitate the binding of silver/gold nanoparticles. Different functionalities were tested including carboxyl, nitro and amino groups as part of the refinement process to enhance grafting efficiency and anti-microbial action. The incorporation of different chemical functionalities had a direct impact on the subsequent binding of gold/silver nanoparticles. Standardised protocols have been developed for these procedures to achieve reproducible functionalised fabrics for testing purposes. New active functionalities were produced which we aim to publish in scientific journals and form the basis of the IP surrounding functionalisation. 2. Optimize the electro/electroless deposition approaches to introduce silver or gold nanoparticles onto textile surfaces Electrodeposition is routinely used in the industrial manufacturing processes but typically used to introduce metals on the surface of solid metallic surfaces. This approach was trialled to facilitate metal nanoparticle deposition on the surface of non-conductive materials (wound dressings). This technology circumvents the use of strong reducing agents traditionally used which are harmful to health and to the environment. Significant cost savings are achieved through this approach with the much-reduced amounts of metal salts needed for the production of the anti-biofilm wound dressings. 3. Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing A range of modified fabrics were produced with different functionalities and subsequent methods of silver nanoparticle attachment. Anti-biofilm testing at The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for two bacterial strains of significant medical interest: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA showed very promising results for the effectiveness of the modified wound dressings. Bacterial growth was seen to be inhibited in all silver modified wound dressings compared to controls, however, specific functionalities used to bind silver nanoparticles to the wound dressings were shown to be particularly effective in eliminating bacteria based on absorption readings of overnight cultures. Future work: Following the completion of proof-of-principle studies, optimisations including the incorporation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) will be trialled. These studies are aimed to assess a potential further improvement of the antibiofilm wound dressings and to assess any additive effects of dual AMP/silver/gold fabrics. Further anti-biofilm testing would be implemented. The next step in the development of the anti-biofilm wound dressings include biocompatibility testing which will be conducted through in vitro cell cultures and metabolic assays to identify and cytotoxic effects. Conversations will now be sought with clinical personnel to help in the development of the wound dressings to aid in the design to have the most significant impact based on clinical needs. The new collaboration consortium comprising Keele University, Shimyatech and The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been established to apply for new grant application. We are working on protection of IP, generation of at least one publication and preparation of further grant funding applications. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_026 Nano-modification of textile surface with antimicrobial and antibiofilm features for wound dressing (Ying Yang) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This FTMA application addresses the 'Aging society' challenge outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy, specifically on management of chronic wounds. In the current society with its aging population, chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, venous leg ulcers are an increasingly medical concern. Without skin protection and priming with blood and constant interstitial fluid, the wound offers an optimal environment for bacteria growth and biofilm formation. Biofilm development in wounds is now recognized not only as a precursor to infection but also as a cause of delayed healing. Development of a robust anti-biofilm wound dressing can address this challenge and improve quality of life in an aging population. In the past years, our group and the industrial partner, ShimyaTech, have developed novel techniques to fight biofilms. In Keele, we have isolated new antimicrobial peptides (AMP) from plant, bacteria, and designed synthetic biomimetic AMP for surface modification with new coupling methods for the robust attachment of AMP to metallic surfaces. ShimyaTech has established new processing techniques for incorporation of bactericide nanoparticles onto surfaces by electro- or electroless deposition approaches. The aim of this project is to combine the anti-biofilm strategies, highlighted above, for textile surface treatment into a new type of wound dressing material. This will be achieved through ShimyaTech-based secondment with the following objectives: 1) Optimize electroless deposition approach to introduce gold or silver nanoparticles onto textile surfaces, e.g. cotton, sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2) Covalently bind two AMPs (nisin, a plant cyclotide) to the textile surface through new coupling agent, diazonium, or gold nanoparticles 3) Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing We anticipate the secondment will not only generate proof-of-concept data for the dual treatment technique for future UKRI grant application, but also will greatly enhance the industrialized perspective and cross-sector skill for the nominated postdoctoral fellow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The main aims that were addressed and outcomes achieved through the completion of this collaborative project were: 1. Define and refine techniques to incorporate silver and gold nanoparticles onto fabrics Active functionalising agents were synthesised and subsequently used to functionalise wound dressings to act as templates to facilitate the binding of silver/gold nanoparticles. Different functionalities were tested including carboxyl, nitro and amino groups as part of the refinement process to enhance grafting efficiency and anti-microbial action. The incorporation of different chemical functionalities had a direct impact on the subsequent binding of gold/silver nanoparticles. Standardised protocols have been developed for these procedures to achieve reproducible functionalised fabrics for testing purposes. New active functionalities were produced which we aim to publish in scientific journals and form the basis of the IP surrounding functionalisation. 2. Optimize the electro/electroless deposition approaches to introduce silver or gold nanoparticles onto textile surfaces Electrodeposition is routinely used in the industrial manufacturing processes but typically used to introduce metals on the surface of solid metallic surfaces. This approach was trialled to facilitate metal nanoparticle deposition on the surface of non-conductive materials (wound dressings). This technology circumvents the use of strong reducing agents traditionally used which are harmful to health and to the environment. Significant cost savings are achieved through this approach with the much-reduced amounts of metal salts needed for the production of the anti-biofilm wound dressings. 3. Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing A range of modified fabrics were produced with different functionalities and subsequent methods of silver nanoparticle attachment. Anti-biofilm testing at The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for two bacterial strains of significant medical interest: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA showed very promising results for the effectiveness of the modified wound dressings. Bacterial growth was seen to be inhibited in all silver modified wound dressings compared to controls, however, specific functionalities used to bind silver nanoparticles to the wound dressings were shown to be particularly effective in eliminating bacteria based on absorption readings of overnight cultures. Future work: Following the completion of proof-of-principle studies, optimisations including the incorporation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) will be trialled. These studies are aimed to assess a potential further improvement of the antibiofilm wound dressings and to assess any additive effects of dual AMP/silver/gold fabrics. Further anti-biofilm testing would be implemented. The next step in the development of the anti-biofilm wound dressings include biocompatibility testing which will be conducted through in vitro cell cultures and metabolic assays to identify and cytotoxic effects. Conversations will now be sought with clinical personnel to help in the development of the wound dressings to aid in the design to have the most significant impact based on clinical needs. The new collaboration consortium comprising Keele University, Shimyatech and The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been established to apply for new grant application. We are working on protection of IP, generation of at least one publication and preparation of further grant funding applications. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_026 Nano-modification of textile surface with antimicrobial and antibiofilm features for wound dressing (Ying Yang) |
| Organisation | ShimyaTech Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This FTMA application addresses the 'Aging society' challenge outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy, specifically on management of chronic wounds. In the current society with its aging population, chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, venous leg ulcers are an increasingly medical concern. Without skin protection and priming with blood and constant interstitial fluid, the wound offers an optimal environment for bacteria growth and biofilm formation. Biofilm development in wounds is now recognized not only as a precursor to infection but also as a cause of delayed healing. Development of a robust anti-biofilm wound dressing can address this challenge and improve quality of life in an aging population. In the past years, our group and the industrial partner, ShimyaTech, have developed novel techniques to fight biofilms. In Keele, we have isolated new antimicrobial peptides (AMP) from plant, bacteria, and designed synthetic biomimetic AMP for surface modification with new coupling methods for the robust attachment of AMP to metallic surfaces. ShimyaTech has established new processing techniques for incorporation of bactericide nanoparticles onto surfaces by electro- or electroless deposition approaches. The aim of this project is to combine the anti-biofilm strategies, highlighted above, for textile surface treatment into a new type of wound dressing material. This will be achieved through ShimyaTech-based secondment with the following objectives: 1) Optimize electroless deposition approach to introduce gold or silver nanoparticles onto textile surfaces, e.g. cotton, sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2) Covalently bind two AMPs (nisin, a plant cyclotide) to the textile surface through new coupling agent, diazonium, or gold nanoparticles 3) Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing We anticipate the secondment will not only generate proof-of-concept data for the dual treatment technique for future UKRI grant application, but also will greatly enhance the industrialized perspective and cross-sector skill for the nominated postdoctoral fellow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The main aims that were addressed and outcomes achieved through the completion of this collaborative project were: 1. Define and refine techniques to incorporate silver and gold nanoparticles onto fabrics Active functionalising agents were synthesised and subsequently used to functionalise wound dressings to act as templates to facilitate the binding of silver/gold nanoparticles. Different functionalities were tested including carboxyl, nitro and amino groups as part of the refinement process to enhance grafting efficiency and anti-microbial action. The incorporation of different chemical functionalities had a direct impact on the subsequent binding of gold/silver nanoparticles. Standardised protocols have been developed for these procedures to achieve reproducible functionalised fabrics for testing purposes. New active functionalities were produced which we aim to publish in scientific journals and form the basis of the IP surrounding functionalisation. 2. Optimize the electro/electroless deposition approaches to introduce silver or gold nanoparticles onto textile surfaces Electrodeposition is routinely used in the industrial manufacturing processes but typically used to introduce metals on the surface of solid metallic surfaces. This approach was trialled to facilitate metal nanoparticle deposition on the surface of non-conductive materials (wound dressings). This technology circumvents the use of strong reducing agents traditionally used which are harmful to health and to the environment. Significant cost savings are achieved through this approach with the much-reduced amounts of metal salts needed for the production of the anti-biofilm wound dressings. 3. Assess and compare the anti-biofilm capacity of the new wound dressing A range of modified fabrics were produced with different functionalities and subsequent methods of silver nanoparticle attachment. Anti-biofilm testing at The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for two bacterial strains of significant medical interest: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA showed very promising results for the effectiveness of the modified wound dressings. Bacterial growth was seen to be inhibited in all silver modified wound dressings compared to controls, however, specific functionalities used to bind silver nanoparticles to the wound dressings were shown to be particularly effective in eliminating bacteria based on absorption readings of overnight cultures. Future work: Following the completion of proof-of-principle studies, optimisations including the incorporation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) will be trialled. These studies are aimed to assess a potential further improvement of the antibiofilm wound dressings and to assess any additive effects of dual AMP/silver/gold fabrics. Further anti-biofilm testing would be implemented. The next step in the development of the anti-biofilm wound dressings include biocompatibility testing which will be conducted through in vitro cell cultures and metabolic assays to identify and cytotoxic effects. Conversations will now be sought with clinical personnel to help in the development of the wound dressings to aid in the design to have the most significant impact based on clinical needs. The new collaboration consortium comprising Keele University, Shimyatech and The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been established to apply for new grant application. We are working on protection of IP, generation of at least one publication and preparation of further grant funding applications. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_027 The limit of detection for bacteria, biofilms, and the viable but nonculturable state, of Bactiscan (Callum Highmore) |
| Organisation | Bactiview |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Bactiscan is a UV based micro-organism detection technology that allows microbial contaminants to be detected by the naked eye. It has the potential to become a disruptive technology to the food sector, and aligns with ISCF 'Transforming food production' priority. In food production, Bactiscan could facilitate the large scale reduction of product recalls, foodborne disease outbreaks, and food waste. Its widespread adoption would work towards a streamlined, more efficient system of food production. While proven effective in food production settings, unanswered microbiological questions remain about the sensitivity of Bactiscan and its ability to detect industrially relevant bacterial phenotypes: early stage biofilms and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. This project allows the research team Callum Highmore and Kirsty Cooper to work with the company to collect contamination samples from food production sites to verify their findings in a case study. The FTMA co-recipients will gain experience working with the company and the food production environment. It will also allow for the use of Bactiscan technology to determine its detection limits for pathogens via simple microbiological methods e.g. culture techniques and confocal microscopy, and establish its parameters of detection of early-stage and mature biofilms and VBNC foodborne pathogens. A report will be generated for EIT International and Bactiview, and a short scientific journal article will be produced which will benefit the adoption of Bactiview by the food industry and the co-recipients of the FTMA as a highly cited article that will enhance their research profiles and outputs. This pilot study could lead to a longer partnership with Bactiview and EIT International, with future studies focusing on the mechanism of fluorescence and detection, and differentiation of species by Bactiscan. Working closely with industry partners will provide the research team with valuable experience as the UK funding landscape brings academia and industry closer together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The detection limit for Bactiscan for 4 foodborne pathogen species was found, measured in ambient laboratory light, and in darkness. Concentration and volume were taken into account for, where it was found that concentration of bacteria was a more significant factor than volume of contamination spot, and detection limits ranged from 1.9*10^7 CFU (L. monocytogenes) to 2.4*10^6 CFU (S. enterica). No differences in brightness or colour were observed between fluorescence of different bacterial species, and level of lighting had a limited effect on the ability to observe bacterial contamination by Bactiscan. These data allow Biopharma Group to answer frequent questions from consumers in the food industry, and permit a more comprehensive comparison of Bactiscan against other detection methods used in the sector. Biofilms for each species were grown for 10 days at room temperature and at 37oC, they were observed by Bactiscan daily in an attempt to detect them via fluorescence. By day 4, 80% of the biofilms could be detected by eye for all species under optimal conditions (grown at 37oC, observed in darkness), where E. coli and L. monocytogenes could be consistently detected from day 2. Further analyses were conducted via confocal microscopy, in which total cell numbers were counted and percentage of live and dead cells were measured for each biofilm for each species for the first 3 days of growth. E. coli and L. monocytogenes biofilms had high proportions of live cells in their biofilms (65% and 87% at day 3, respectively) which corresponded to higher visibility with Bactiscan. S. aureus detection by Bactiscan was correlated more closely to an increase in total cell numbers in the biofilm than to the number of living cells. To assess whether Bactiscan can detect dead and stressed cells, bacteria were heat killed at 70oC or stressed with 50ppm chlorine for 5 minutes. Heat killing the bacteria did not affect the ability of Bactiscan to detect any of the species tested, meaning that Bactiscan can detect dead cells. Chlorine stressed E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and S. enterica were detectable by Bactiscan in darkness despite fluorescing less brightly than untreated cell populations. This suggests that chlorine stress interferes with the S-layer target of Bactiscan fluorescence, but not prohibitively. In daylight, chlorine stressed E. coli and S. enterica were not detectable by Bactiscan. This further provides evidence that the S-layer is interfered with by chlorine stress, as the Gram-positive L. monocytogenes was more detectable following chlorine treatment than the Gram-negative species tested, and the S-layer on Gram-positive bacteria may be better supported by a thick lipopolysaccharide layer. The findings on biofilm detection and stress states provide Biopharma Group with new insights on how Bactiscan can be best applied to food processing factories, and places them in a better position to contrast against the industry standard of ATP testing. This project now has a near complete dataset for a paper, which will be written jointly with the company. As this is the first academic study to assess this promising technology, I am expecting a high level of citations as the Bactiscan device is more widely adopted into industry practices. The project has also led to other research questions that may be answered via further funding in partnership with Biopharma Group. Further work: I will complete the dataset required for a publication, which is an experiment to measure detection of bacterial contamination by Bactiscan from meat, fish, and dairy. Then, the company and I will jointly write the manuscript for publication. We will meet at the end of September to discuss potential further funding opportunities to study the underlying physical mechanism of bacterial fluorescence with Bactiscan, and the implications that has on detection of bacteria in food processing environments. Support is not needed at this time, beyond dissemination of future funding calls when they arise. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_027 The limit of detection for bacteria, biofilms, and the viable but nonculturable state, of Bactiscan (Callum Highmore) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Bactiscan is a UV based micro-organism detection technology that allows microbial contaminants to be detected by the naked eye. It has the potential to become a disruptive technology to the food sector, and aligns with ISCF 'Transforming food production' priority. In food production, Bactiscan could facilitate the large scale reduction of product recalls, foodborne disease outbreaks, and food waste. Its widespread adoption would work towards a streamlined, more efficient system of food production. While proven effective in food production settings, unanswered microbiological questions remain about the sensitivity of Bactiscan and its ability to detect industrially relevant bacterial phenotypes: early stage biofilms and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. This project allows the research team Callum Highmore and Kirsty Cooper to work with the company to collect contamination samples from food production sites to verify their findings in a case study. The FTMA co-recipients will gain experience working with the company and the food production environment. It will also allow for the use of Bactiscan technology to determine its detection limits for pathogens via simple microbiological methods e.g. culture techniques and confocal microscopy, and establish its parameters of detection of early-stage and mature biofilms and VBNC foodborne pathogens. A report will be generated for EIT International and Bactiview, and a short scientific journal article will be produced which will benefit the adoption of Bactiview by the food industry and the co-recipients of the FTMA as a highly cited article that will enhance their research profiles and outputs. This pilot study could lead to a longer partnership with Bactiview and EIT International, with future studies focusing on the mechanism of fluorescence and detection, and differentiation of species by Bactiscan. Working closely with industry partners will provide the research team with valuable experience as the UK funding landscape brings academia and industry closer together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The detection limit for Bactiscan for 4 foodborne pathogen species was found, measured in ambient laboratory light, and in darkness. Concentration and volume were taken into account for, where it was found that concentration of bacteria was a more significant factor than volume of contamination spot, and detection limits ranged from 1.9*10^7 CFU (L. monocytogenes) to 2.4*10^6 CFU (S. enterica). No differences in brightness or colour were observed between fluorescence of different bacterial species, and level of lighting had a limited effect on the ability to observe bacterial contamination by Bactiscan. These data allow Biopharma Group to answer frequent questions from consumers in the food industry, and permit a more comprehensive comparison of Bactiscan against other detection methods used in the sector. Biofilms for each species were grown for 10 days at room temperature and at 37oC, they were observed by Bactiscan daily in an attempt to detect them via fluorescence. By day 4, 80% of the biofilms could be detected by eye for all species under optimal conditions (grown at 37oC, observed in darkness), where E. coli and L. monocytogenes could be consistently detected from day 2. Further analyses were conducted via confocal microscopy, in which total cell numbers were counted and percentage of live and dead cells were measured for each biofilm for each species for the first 3 days of growth. E. coli and L. monocytogenes biofilms had high proportions of live cells in their biofilms (65% and 87% at day 3, respectively) which corresponded to higher visibility with Bactiscan. S. aureus detection by Bactiscan was correlated more closely to an increase in total cell numbers in the biofilm than to the number of living cells. To assess whether Bactiscan can detect dead and stressed cells, bacteria were heat killed at 70oC or stressed with 50ppm chlorine for 5 minutes. Heat killing the bacteria did not affect the ability of Bactiscan to detect any of the species tested, meaning that Bactiscan can detect dead cells. Chlorine stressed E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and S. enterica were detectable by Bactiscan in darkness despite fluorescing less brightly than untreated cell populations. This suggests that chlorine stress interferes with the S-layer target of Bactiscan fluorescence, but not prohibitively. In daylight, chlorine stressed E. coli and S. enterica were not detectable by Bactiscan. This further provides evidence that the S-layer is interfered with by chlorine stress, as the Gram-positive L. monocytogenes was more detectable following chlorine treatment than the Gram-negative species tested, and the S-layer on Gram-positive bacteria may be better supported by a thick lipopolysaccharide layer. The findings on biofilm detection and stress states provide Biopharma Group with new insights on how Bactiscan can be best applied to food processing factories, and places them in a better position to contrast against the industry standard of ATP testing. This project now has a near complete dataset for a paper, which will be written jointly with the company. As this is the first academic study to assess this promising technology, I am expecting a high level of citations as the Bactiscan device is more widely adopted into industry practices. The project has also led to other research questions that may be answered via further funding in partnership with Biopharma Group. Further work: I will complete the dataset required for a publication, which is an experiment to measure detection of bacterial contamination by Bactiscan from meat, fish, and dairy. Then, the company and I will jointly write the manuscript for publication. We will meet at the end of September to discuss potential further funding opportunities to study the underlying physical mechanism of bacterial fluorescence with Bactiscan, and the implications that has on detection of bacteria in food processing environments. Support is not needed at this time, beyond dissemination of future funding calls when they arise. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_027 The limit of detection for bacteria, biofilms, and the viable but nonculturable state, of Bactiscan (Callum Highmore) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Bactiscan is a UV based micro-organism detection technology that allows microbial contaminants to be detected by the naked eye. It has the potential to become a disruptive technology to the food sector, and aligns with ISCF 'Transforming food production' priority. In food production, Bactiscan could facilitate the large scale reduction of product recalls, foodborne disease outbreaks, and food waste. Its widespread adoption would work towards a streamlined, more efficient system of food production. While proven effective in food production settings, unanswered microbiological questions remain about the sensitivity of Bactiscan and its ability to detect industrially relevant bacterial phenotypes: early stage biofilms and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. This project allows the research team Callum Highmore and Kirsty Cooper to work with the company to collect contamination samples from food production sites to verify their findings in a case study. The FTMA co-recipients will gain experience working with the company and the food production environment. It will also allow for the use of Bactiscan technology to determine its detection limits for pathogens via simple microbiological methods e.g. culture techniques and confocal microscopy, and establish its parameters of detection of early-stage and mature biofilms and VBNC foodborne pathogens. A report will be generated for EIT International and Bactiview, and a short scientific journal article will be produced which will benefit the adoption of Bactiview by the food industry and the co-recipients of the FTMA as a highly cited article that will enhance their research profiles and outputs. This pilot study could lead to a longer partnership with Bactiview and EIT International, with future studies focusing on the mechanism of fluorescence and detection, and differentiation of species by Bactiscan. Working closely with industry partners will provide the research team with valuable experience as the UK funding landscape brings academia and industry closer together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The detection limit for Bactiscan for 4 foodborne pathogen species was found, measured in ambient laboratory light, and in darkness. Concentration and volume were taken into account for, where it was found that concentration of bacteria was a more significant factor than volume of contamination spot, and detection limits ranged from 1.9*10^7 CFU (L. monocytogenes) to 2.4*10^6 CFU (S. enterica). No differences in brightness or colour were observed between fluorescence of different bacterial species, and level of lighting had a limited effect on the ability to observe bacterial contamination by Bactiscan. These data allow Biopharma Group to answer frequent questions from consumers in the food industry, and permit a more comprehensive comparison of Bactiscan against other detection methods used in the sector. Biofilms for each species were grown for 10 days at room temperature and at 37oC, they were observed by Bactiscan daily in an attempt to detect them via fluorescence. By day 4, 80% of the biofilms could be detected by eye for all species under optimal conditions (grown at 37oC, observed in darkness), where E. coli and L. monocytogenes could be consistently detected from day 2. Further analyses were conducted via confocal microscopy, in which total cell numbers were counted and percentage of live and dead cells were measured for each biofilm for each species for the first 3 days of growth. E. coli and L. monocytogenes biofilms had high proportions of live cells in their biofilms (65% and 87% at day 3, respectively) which corresponded to higher visibility with Bactiscan. S. aureus detection by Bactiscan was correlated more closely to an increase in total cell numbers in the biofilm than to the number of living cells. To assess whether Bactiscan can detect dead and stressed cells, bacteria were heat killed at 70oC or stressed with 50ppm chlorine for 5 minutes. Heat killing the bacteria did not affect the ability of Bactiscan to detect any of the species tested, meaning that Bactiscan can detect dead cells. Chlorine stressed E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and S. enterica were detectable by Bactiscan in darkness despite fluorescing less brightly than untreated cell populations. This suggests that chlorine stress interferes with the S-layer target of Bactiscan fluorescence, but not prohibitively. In daylight, chlorine stressed E. coli and S. enterica were not detectable by Bactiscan. This further provides evidence that the S-layer is interfered with by chlorine stress, as the Gram-positive L. monocytogenes was more detectable following chlorine treatment than the Gram-negative species tested, and the S-layer on Gram-positive bacteria may be better supported by a thick lipopolysaccharide layer. The findings on biofilm detection and stress states provide Biopharma Group with new insights on how Bactiscan can be best applied to food processing factories, and places them in a better position to contrast against the industry standard of ATP testing. This project now has a near complete dataset for a paper, which will be written jointly with the company. As this is the first academic study to assess this promising technology, I am expecting a high level of citations as the Bactiscan device is more widely adopted into industry practices. The project has also led to other research questions that may be answered via further funding in partnership with Biopharma Group. Further work: I will complete the dataset required for a publication, which is an experiment to measure detection of bacterial contamination by Bactiscan from meat, fish, and dairy. Then, the company and I will jointly write the manuscript for publication. We will meet at the end of September to discuss potential further funding opportunities to study the underlying physical mechanism of bacterial fluorescence with Bactiscan, and the implications that has on detection of bacteria in food processing environments. Support is not needed at this time, beyond dissemination of future funding calls when they arise. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_029 Biofilms and Regenerative Tissue Repair Scaffolds: Interaction, Influence and Sensing Technologies (Mat Hardman) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proposal is for a two-way talent exchange between the University of Hull (Hull York Medical School) and a leading SME in the area of regenerative medicine. The FTMA funding will support the placement of a highly experienced postdoctoral researcher from the Medical School with the industry partner for a period of three months. An experienced Translational Project Manager from the industry partner will also be seconded to the University's Advanced Wound Care group for the same period (in-kind support). This two-way exchange will provide extensive training for both researcher and industrialist, facilitating a small-scale pilot study and development of the academia-industry relationship. It is envisaged that this FTMA will support at least one follow-on substantive funding application. HYMS, the academic partner, has extensive expertise in wound research and wound model development. Our understanding of host-microbe interaction and expertise in laboratory microbiome/biofilm evaluation is a particular area of strength. The industry partner has extensive expertise in medical device technology development in the wound healing field. They wish to understand how to evaluate the formation/composition of biofilms within their technologies, and explore the potential to develop novel biofilm sensing approaches. The FTMA recipient will gain industry-facing training exploring market drivers, current approaches, IP landscape and commercial opportunities, while the seconded industrialist will gain in-depth understanding of wound biofilm models and sensing opportunities. This proposal aligns closely with several challenges outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy Challenge Fund/Ageing Society theme. For example, it has the potential to support "from data to early diagnosis and precision medicine" via personalised biofilm detection, and "leading edge healthcare" via accelerated medical device development for wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Outcomes in each of the three project goals were: 1. Two-way skills training: Dr Liz Roberts embraced the opportunity to undertake skills training with Neotherix. Meetings, teleconferences and dedicated time for engagement and follow-up exposed Liz to a range of new product development and project management processes. She developed new insight into medical device regulations, intellectual property and the clinical development pathway. Dr Ramisha Rehman (Neotherix Translational Project Manager) was immersed in an active biofilm wound research group (see page 3). She thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn new practical skills in biofilm laboratory research, and begin to evaluate scaffold bacteria interactions. Here, Ramisha worked with Liz and Miss Alex Kidd (another experienced member of the wound group). Hands-on experience gave Ramisha invaluable insight into available methodologies, and an opportunity to formulate further experimental opportunities. 2. Pilot data generation: The aim of pilot studies was to understand how Neotherix' innovative scaffold technology would interact with planktonic and biofilm bacteria. Prior to the FTMA no studies of this kind had been performed with this material. A first series of experiments determined the effect of scaffold material on planktonic bacterial growth versus control gauze (standard wound dressing). Briefly, sub-cultured wound-derived S. aureus or S. epidermidis were incubated overnight with 1cm2 of scaffold or gauze, followed by bacterial enumeration and confocal live/dead imaging of the scaffold (Figure 1). Pilot data indicate that the presence of scaffold inhibited the growth of planktonic S. aureus. Interestingly, confocal imaging revealed viable S. aureus and S. epidermidis adhered to the scaffold. Further analysis is required to evaluate biofilm phenotype in these samples. A second series of experiments explored the effect of scaffold on the de novo formation of S. aureus biofilm in our viable human skin model (Figure 2). While not significant, we observed a slight trend to reduced high-density biofilm bacterial numbers in the scaffold-treated group. Collectively, these pilot data provide new insight into the potential interaction of novel scaffolds and wound bacteria. 3. Two-way Knowledge exchange: Working closely over a short, focussed period has led to the identification of a number of potential new collaboration opportunities for further exploration. For example, it appears that the Hull Wound Group will be able to contribute synergistically to an ongoing collaboration between Neotherix and the University of Sheffield. An NDA has been signed to allow confidential discussions, with the goal of generating pilot data to support a joint external funding application. Future work: 1) Following on from this 3 months FTMA project, we are excited to report that University of Hull and Neotherix have agreed to jointly fund a new 3 year PhD project starting in Sept 2020. The PhD "exploring innovative regenerative scaffolds for simultaneous bacteria/host monitoring and healing promotion" will build upon the FTMA pilot work. 2) FTMA knowledge exchange activities have led us pursue two new opportunities for external funding applications with Neotherix and the Universities of Sheffield and York. Both are within NBIC remit. We will engage NBIC for further support if needed, and would like to formally acknowledge the invaluable partnering support provided by NBIC to date. 3) Dr Liz Roberts has recently moved on to a new position, combining her skills in project management and medical writing. The FTMA exchange experience contributed to her making this decision, providing an insight into career opportunities outside of Academia. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_029 Biofilms and Regenerative Tissue Repair Scaffolds: Interaction, Influence and Sensing Technologies (Mat Hardman) |
| Organisation | Neotherix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proposal is for a two-way talent exchange between the University of Hull (Hull York Medical School) and a leading SME in the area of regenerative medicine. The FTMA funding will support the placement of a highly experienced postdoctoral researcher from the Medical School with the industry partner for a period of three months. An experienced Translational Project Manager from the industry partner will also be seconded to the University's Advanced Wound Care group for the same period (in-kind support). This two-way exchange will provide extensive training for both researcher and industrialist, facilitating a small-scale pilot study and development of the academia-industry relationship. It is envisaged that this FTMA will support at least one follow-on substantive funding application. HYMS, the academic partner, has extensive expertise in wound research and wound model development. Our understanding of host-microbe interaction and expertise in laboratory microbiome/biofilm evaluation is a particular area of strength. The industry partner has extensive expertise in medical device technology development in the wound healing field. They wish to understand how to evaluate the formation/composition of biofilms within their technologies, and explore the potential to develop novel biofilm sensing approaches. The FTMA recipient will gain industry-facing training exploring market drivers, current approaches, IP landscape and commercial opportunities, while the seconded industrialist will gain in-depth understanding of wound biofilm models and sensing opportunities. This proposal aligns closely with several challenges outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy Challenge Fund/Ageing Society theme. For example, it has the potential to support "from data to early diagnosis and precision medicine" via personalised biofilm detection, and "leading edge healthcare" via accelerated medical device development for wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Outcomes in each of the three project goals were: 1. Two-way skills training: Dr Liz Roberts embraced the opportunity to undertake skills training with Neotherix. Meetings, teleconferences and dedicated time for engagement and follow-up exposed Liz to a range of new product development and project management processes. She developed new insight into medical device regulations, intellectual property and the clinical development pathway. Dr Ramisha Rehman (Neotherix Translational Project Manager) was immersed in an active biofilm wound research group (see page 3). She thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn new practical skills in biofilm laboratory research, and begin to evaluate scaffold bacteria interactions. Here, Ramisha worked with Liz and Miss Alex Kidd (another experienced member of the wound group). Hands-on experience gave Ramisha invaluable insight into available methodologies, and an opportunity to formulate further experimental opportunities. 2. Pilot data generation: The aim of pilot studies was to understand how Neotherix' innovative scaffold technology would interact with planktonic and biofilm bacteria. Prior to the FTMA no studies of this kind had been performed with this material. A first series of experiments determined the effect of scaffold material on planktonic bacterial growth versus control gauze (standard wound dressing). Briefly, sub-cultured wound-derived S. aureus or S. epidermidis were incubated overnight with 1cm2 of scaffold or gauze, followed by bacterial enumeration and confocal live/dead imaging of the scaffold (Figure 1). Pilot data indicate that the presence of scaffold inhibited the growth of planktonic S. aureus. Interestingly, confocal imaging revealed viable S. aureus and S. epidermidis adhered to the scaffold. Further analysis is required to evaluate biofilm phenotype in these samples. A second series of experiments explored the effect of scaffold on the de novo formation of S. aureus biofilm in our viable human skin model (Figure 2). While not significant, we observed a slight trend to reduced high-density biofilm bacterial numbers in the scaffold-treated group. Collectively, these pilot data provide new insight into the potential interaction of novel scaffolds and wound bacteria. 3. Two-way Knowledge exchange: Working closely over a short, focussed period has led to the identification of a number of potential new collaboration opportunities for further exploration. For example, it appears that the Hull Wound Group will be able to contribute synergistically to an ongoing collaboration between Neotherix and the University of Sheffield. An NDA has been signed to allow confidential discussions, with the goal of generating pilot data to support a joint external funding application. Future work: 1) Following on from this 3 months FTMA project, we are excited to report that University of Hull and Neotherix have agreed to jointly fund a new 3 year PhD project starting in Sept 2020. The PhD "exploring innovative regenerative scaffolds for simultaneous bacteria/host monitoring and healing promotion" will build upon the FTMA pilot work. 2) FTMA knowledge exchange activities have led us pursue two new opportunities for external funding applications with Neotherix and the Universities of Sheffield and York. Both are within NBIC remit. We will engage NBIC for further support if needed, and would like to formally acknowledge the invaluable partnering support provided by NBIC to date. 3) Dr Liz Roberts has recently moved on to a new position, combining her skills in project management and medical writing. The FTMA exchange experience contributed to her making this decision, providing an insight into career opportunities outside of Academia. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_029 Biofilms and Regenerative Tissue Repair Scaffolds: Interaction, Influence and Sensing Technologies (Mat Hardman) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This proposal is for a two-way talent exchange between the University of Hull (Hull York Medical School) and a leading SME in the area of regenerative medicine. The FTMA funding will support the placement of a highly experienced postdoctoral researcher from the Medical School with the industry partner for a period of three months. An experienced Translational Project Manager from the industry partner will also be seconded to the University's Advanced Wound Care group for the same period (in-kind support). This two-way exchange will provide extensive training for both researcher and industrialist, facilitating a small-scale pilot study and development of the academia-industry relationship. It is envisaged that this FTMA will support at least one follow-on substantive funding application. HYMS, the academic partner, has extensive expertise in wound research and wound model development. Our understanding of host-microbe interaction and expertise in laboratory microbiome/biofilm evaluation is a particular area of strength. The industry partner has extensive expertise in medical device technology development in the wound healing field. They wish to understand how to evaluate the formation/composition of biofilms within their technologies, and explore the potential to develop novel biofilm sensing approaches. The FTMA recipient will gain industry-facing training exploring market drivers, current approaches, IP landscape and commercial opportunities, while the seconded industrialist will gain in-depth understanding of wound biofilm models and sensing opportunities. This proposal aligns closely with several challenges outlined in the UKRI's Industry Strategy Challenge Fund/Ageing Society theme. For example, it has the potential to support "from data to early diagnosis and precision medicine" via personalised biofilm detection, and "leading edge healthcare" via accelerated medical device development for wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Outcomes in each of the three project goals were: 1. Two-way skills training: Dr Liz Roberts embraced the opportunity to undertake skills training with Neotherix. Meetings, teleconferences and dedicated time for engagement and follow-up exposed Liz to a range of new product development and project management processes. She developed new insight into medical device regulations, intellectual property and the clinical development pathway. Dr Ramisha Rehman (Neotherix Translational Project Manager) was immersed in an active biofilm wound research group (see page 3). She thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn new practical skills in biofilm laboratory research, and begin to evaluate scaffold bacteria interactions. Here, Ramisha worked with Liz and Miss Alex Kidd (another experienced member of the wound group). Hands-on experience gave Ramisha invaluable insight into available methodologies, and an opportunity to formulate further experimental opportunities. 2. Pilot data generation: The aim of pilot studies was to understand how Neotherix' innovative scaffold technology would interact with planktonic and biofilm bacteria. Prior to the FTMA no studies of this kind had been performed with this material. A first series of experiments determined the effect of scaffold material on planktonic bacterial growth versus control gauze (standard wound dressing). Briefly, sub-cultured wound-derived S. aureus or S. epidermidis were incubated overnight with 1cm2 of scaffold or gauze, followed by bacterial enumeration and confocal live/dead imaging of the scaffold (Figure 1). Pilot data indicate that the presence of scaffold inhibited the growth of planktonic S. aureus. Interestingly, confocal imaging revealed viable S. aureus and S. epidermidis adhered to the scaffold. Further analysis is required to evaluate biofilm phenotype in these samples. A second series of experiments explored the effect of scaffold on the de novo formation of S. aureus biofilm in our viable human skin model (Figure 2). While not significant, we observed a slight trend to reduced high-density biofilm bacterial numbers in the scaffold-treated group. Collectively, these pilot data provide new insight into the potential interaction of novel scaffolds and wound bacteria. 3. Two-way Knowledge exchange: Working closely over a short, focussed period has led to the identification of a number of potential new collaboration opportunities for further exploration. For example, it appears that the Hull Wound Group will be able to contribute synergistically to an ongoing collaboration between Neotherix and the University of Sheffield. An NDA has been signed to allow confidential discussions, with the goal of generating pilot data to support a joint external funding application. Future work: 1) Following on from this 3 months FTMA project, we are excited to report that University of Hull and Neotherix have agreed to jointly fund a new 3 year PhD project starting in Sept 2020. The PhD "exploring innovative regenerative scaffolds for simultaneous bacteria/host monitoring and healing promotion" will build upon the FTMA pilot work. 2) FTMA knowledge exchange activities have led us pursue two new opportunities for external funding applications with Neotherix and the Universities of Sheffield and York. Both are within NBIC remit. We will engage NBIC for further support if needed, and would like to formally acknowledge the invaluable partnering support provided by NBIC to date. 3) Dr Liz Roberts has recently moved on to a new position, combining her skills in project management and medical writing. The FTMA exchange experience contributed to her making this decision, providing an insight into career opportunities outside of Academia. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_030 Do photosynthetic biofilms form on semi-transparent solar panel? (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | General overview. Agrivoltaics combines farming and solar photovoltaic energy production, allowing electricity production from semi-transparent photovoltaic materials simultaneously with crop growth. This sustainable dual land-use facilitates carbon targets, provides additional farm income (or cost reductions), and can alleviate competition for space between renewable energy installations and agriculture. Biofilms could affect the performance of solar panels. The formation of biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms on the photo-active area of the solar panel has been already reported in several studies. In a study conducted in Brazil, the efficiency of standard solar panels was reported to decrease by 11% due the presence of a biofilm on the surface of photovoltaic panels. Our partner Polysolar needs to understand whether biofilms can also form on their own innovative semi-transparent panels, and what the consequences are. The aim of the secondment. Working with our commercial partner, we will verify the presence of biofilms on the surface of tinted semi-transparent solar panels installed by Polysolar (e.g., Greenhous, Smart-Energy-Homes and Skylight already installed in Cambridgeshire). Both surfaces (top and bottom) will be sampled because, for semitransparent solar panels, the presence of biofilms on either surface could affect the electrical output of those panels due diffused and reflected light. The samples will be taken in the lab of Prof. Howe in Cambridge where the microbiological composition of the samples will be analysed with molecular techniques based on DNA-RNA extraction. The secondment will complement the theoretical knowledge of Dr. Bombelli with practical experience. In return, Polysolar will have a clear understanding of the presence of biofilms on the installed solar panels, the nature of the organisms involved, and possible effects on the performance of the solar panels. Alignment with the UKRI's Industrial Strategy Challenge By promoting the use of low-carbon technologies the proposed project aligns well with the "Clean-Growth-Challenge". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: How this project has helped? • This project has permitted Dr Bombelli to see how installed solar panels are kept and run in commercial and domestic environments. This has helped in understanding the potential restrictions related to real-world installations, giving him a more complete understanding of the supply-chain of solar technology. • The finding of this project will help Polysolar to refine the planning and installation of their solar panels. • This project indicates how biofilms are always present on the surface of solar panels. However, based on the optical properties (transmission spectra), the biofilms seem not to create any substantial variation in the optical properties of the panels. Having said that, to minimise the formation of biofilms, it is recommend to have panels installed at a tilted angle (>10°) and when possible routinely cleaned. Next steps: • Dr. Bombelli will present the findings described here to the Polysolar team. • A copy of the present report will be available to Polysolar and Polysolar's clients. • A further study will be planned to monitor the variation of the current output in relation with the solar radiation before and after cleaning (i.e., removal of biofilm). This will require access to an installation where the data of current output are logged. Feedback from industrial collaborator: We have been very pleased to participate in your NBIC funded project regarding sampling, understanding, and controlling biofilms found on semi-transparent photovoltaic panels installed by Polysolar. Polysolar is looking to support our customers by giving them the correct knowledge to maintain and optimise their photovoltaic systems. Thus, this project aligned very well with that aim. Our PV systems are unique in the fact that can be obscured from both sides by 'dirt' due to the transparency; one side can be affected by performance reduction, and the other side can be affected by transmitted spectrum change thus altering the aesthetics internal to the building. The outcome of this project helped Polysolar to appreciate the presence of biofilm on the solar panels installed. This could help us to improve our methods of planning and installation. We were indeed surprise to know that microbial communities including a mix of bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and fungi were observed in every sample taken from the surface of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels. Whether the optical property (i.e., light transmission) of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels seemed to be not substantially affected by the presence of the superficial biofilms, the experimental technique used to investigate the biofilm could help us to follow the ageing of the panels. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_030 Do photosynthetic biofilms form on semi-transparent solar panel? (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | Polysolar |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | General overview. Agrivoltaics combines farming and solar photovoltaic energy production, allowing electricity production from semi-transparent photovoltaic materials simultaneously with crop growth. This sustainable dual land-use facilitates carbon targets, provides additional farm income (or cost reductions), and can alleviate competition for space between renewable energy installations and agriculture. Biofilms could affect the performance of solar panels. The formation of biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms on the photo-active area of the solar panel has been already reported in several studies. In a study conducted in Brazil, the efficiency of standard solar panels was reported to decrease by 11% due the presence of a biofilm on the surface of photovoltaic panels. Our partner Polysolar needs to understand whether biofilms can also form on their own innovative semi-transparent panels, and what the consequences are. The aim of the secondment. Working with our commercial partner, we will verify the presence of biofilms on the surface of tinted semi-transparent solar panels installed by Polysolar (e.g., Greenhous, Smart-Energy-Homes and Skylight already installed in Cambridgeshire). Both surfaces (top and bottom) will be sampled because, for semitransparent solar panels, the presence of biofilms on either surface could affect the electrical output of those panels due diffused and reflected light. The samples will be taken in the lab of Prof. Howe in Cambridge where the microbiological composition of the samples will be analysed with molecular techniques based on DNA-RNA extraction. The secondment will complement the theoretical knowledge of Dr. Bombelli with practical experience. In return, Polysolar will have a clear understanding of the presence of biofilms on the installed solar panels, the nature of the organisms involved, and possible effects on the performance of the solar panels. Alignment with the UKRI's Industrial Strategy Challenge By promoting the use of low-carbon technologies the proposed project aligns well with the "Clean-Growth-Challenge". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: How this project has helped? • This project has permitted Dr Bombelli to see how installed solar panels are kept and run in commercial and domestic environments. This has helped in understanding the potential restrictions related to real-world installations, giving him a more complete understanding of the supply-chain of solar technology. • The finding of this project will help Polysolar to refine the planning and installation of their solar panels. • This project indicates how biofilms are always present on the surface of solar panels. However, based on the optical properties (transmission spectra), the biofilms seem not to create any substantial variation in the optical properties of the panels. Having said that, to minimise the formation of biofilms, it is recommend to have panels installed at a tilted angle (>10°) and when possible routinely cleaned. Next steps: • Dr. Bombelli will present the findings described here to the Polysolar team. • A copy of the present report will be available to Polysolar and Polysolar's clients. • A further study will be planned to monitor the variation of the current output in relation with the solar radiation before and after cleaning (i.e., removal of biofilm). This will require access to an installation where the data of current output are logged. Feedback from industrial collaborator: We have been very pleased to participate in your NBIC funded project regarding sampling, understanding, and controlling biofilms found on semi-transparent photovoltaic panels installed by Polysolar. Polysolar is looking to support our customers by giving them the correct knowledge to maintain and optimise their photovoltaic systems. Thus, this project aligned very well with that aim. Our PV systems are unique in the fact that can be obscured from both sides by 'dirt' due to the transparency; one side can be affected by performance reduction, and the other side can be affected by transmitted spectrum change thus altering the aesthetics internal to the building. The outcome of this project helped Polysolar to appreciate the presence of biofilm on the solar panels installed. This could help us to improve our methods of planning and installation. We were indeed surprise to know that microbial communities including a mix of bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and fungi were observed in every sample taken from the surface of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels. Whether the optical property (i.e., light transmission) of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels seemed to be not substantially affected by the presence of the superficial biofilms, the experimental technique used to investigate the biofilm could help us to follow the ageing of the panels. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_030 Do photosynthetic biofilms form on semi-transparent solar panel? (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | General overview. Agrivoltaics combines farming and solar photovoltaic energy production, allowing electricity production from semi-transparent photovoltaic materials simultaneously with crop growth. This sustainable dual land-use facilitates carbon targets, provides additional farm income (or cost reductions), and can alleviate competition for space between renewable energy installations and agriculture. Biofilms could affect the performance of solar panels. The formation of biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms on the photo-active area of the solar panel has been already reported in several studies. In a study conducted in Brazil, the efficiency of standard solar panels was reported to decrease by 11% due the presence of a biofilm on the surface of photovoltaic panels. Our partner Polysolar needs to understand whether biofilms can also form on their own innovative semi-transparent panels, and what the consequences are. The aim of the secondment. Working with our commercial partner, we will verify the presence of biofilms on the surface of tinted semi-transparent solar panels installed by Polysolar (e.g., Greenhous, Smart-Energy-Homes and Skylight already installed in Cambridgeshire). Both surfaces (top and bottom) will be sampled because, for semitransparent solar panels, the presence of biofilms on either surface could affect the electrical output of those panels due diffused and reflected light. The samples will be taken in the lab of Prof. Howe in Cambridge where the microbiological composition of the samples will be analysed with molecular techniques based on DNA-RNA extraction. The secondment will complement the theoretical knowledge of Dr. Bombelli with practical experience. In return, Polysolar will have a clear understanding of the presence of biofilms on the installed solar panels, the nature of the organisms involved, and possible effects on the performance of the solar panels. Alignment with the UKRI's Industrial Strategy Challenge By promoting the use of low-carbon technologies the proposed project aligns well with the "Clean-Growth-Challenge". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: How this project has helped? • This project has permitted Dr Bombelli to see how installed solar panels are kept and run in commercial and domestic environments. This has helped in understanding the potential restrictions related to real-world installations, giving him a more complete understanding of the supply-chain of solar technology. • The finding of this project will help Polysolar to refine the planning and installation of their solar panels. • This project indicates how biofilms are always present on the surface of solar panels. However, based on the optical properties (transmission spectra), the biofilms seem not to create any substantial variation in the optical properties of the panels. Having said that, to minimise the formation of biofilms, it is recommend to have panels installed at a tilted angle (>10°) and when possible routinely cleaned. Next steps: • Dr. Bombelli will present the findings described here to the Polysolar team. • A copy of the present report will be available to Polysolar and Polysolar's clients. • A further study will be planned to monitor the variation of the current output in relation with the solar radiation before and after cleaning (i.e., removal of biofilm). This will require access to an installation where the data of current output are logged. Feedback from industrial collaborator: We have been very pleased to participate in your NBIC funded project regarding sampling, understanding, and controlling biofilms found on semi-transparent photovoltaic panels installed by Polysolar. Polysolar is looking to support our customers by giving them the correct knowledge to maintain and optimise their photovoltaic systems. Thus, this project aligned very well with that aim. Our PV systems are unique in the fact that can be obscured from both sides by 'dirt' due to the transparency; one side can be affected by performance reduction, and the other side can be affected by transmitted spectrum change thus altering the aesthetics internal to the building. The outcome of this project helped Polysolar to appreciate the presence of biofilm on the solar panels installed. This could help us to improve our methods of planning and installation. We were indeed surprise to know that microbial communities including a mix of bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and fungi were observed in every sample taken from the surface of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels. Whether the optical property (i.e., light transmission) of the tinted semi-transparent solar panels seemed to be not substantially affected by the presence of the superficial biofilms, the experimental technique used to investigate the biofilm could help us to follow the ageing of the panels. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_032 Recruitment of partners for participation in the clinical implementation of a new Mycobacterium abscessus biofilm antimicrobial combination trial (James Harrison) |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Mycobacterium abscessus is an environmental opportunistic human pathogen that can easily form difficult to eradicate biofilms within the lungs of patients with underlying respiratory conditions (such as cystic fibrosis (CF)). These infections are extremely difficult to treat, requiring at least 13 months of combined intravenous and nebulised antimicrobial treatment, partly due to the ability of M. abscessus to form biofilms, which leads to a 30% survival rate. M. abscessus infections are rising within the CF population annually, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic methods, as evidenced by the UKRI's Industry Strategy Challenge 'Leading-Edge Healthcare Challenge', particularly the development and delivery of new drugs. We have identified a new combination of antimicrobial compounds, including utilising a new betalactamase inhibitor, relebactam, which are effective at inhibiting a range of clinical M. abscessus isolates in vitro. However, our results to date have only involved actively growing planktonic cells, and now, biofilms. This combination has to date been used once in a human patient, who was unfortunately too far in their disease progression for survival. Despite this, there were clear improvements in their M. abscessus infection during the treatment period. With this in mind, my aims for this project are to engage clinicians and biofilm researchers, particularly those within the CF field, in order to build a new network between academic and clinical partners. We hope to explore antibiofilm activity of these compounds through the network, which is an important step for progression of any future M. abscessus treatment. I aim to visit clinicians around the UK to present our data and recruit them into the network. As an early career researcher, this will support my personal development by challenging me to identify and communicate with potential partners and also provide me with experience of effectively presenting scientific data to a non-research audience. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Aston University: We have successfully developed a network of clinical M. abscessus isolate supply to Aston University, involving clinical partners nationally. A number of these partners are interested in being involved in a future clinical trial. We are planning to organise a meeting with all partners to share the outcomes of this national study into the efficacy of the antimicrobial combination against these different clinical isolates. Future work: Following the future meeting with the clinical partners, we would be keen to progress to devising and applying for a clinical trial for the combination therapy. However, following the meeting with Birmingham Children's Hospital, we have been informed that there is an impending report (within the next 6 months) detailing the impact of a new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, named "Kaftrio", on non-tuberculosis mycobacterial (NTM) infection. The outcomes of this report will have an impact on any clinical trial application, so plans for this are currently on hold until the report is released. A BBSRC grant is in preparation in order to establish the composition of M. abscessus complex biofilm, which includes co-investigators at University of Birmingham, whom add valuable expertise to the proposal. This is helping us to build a 'critical mass' of expertise within the West Midlands, giving us the opportunity to develop nationally. We would be keen to discuss NBIC involvement as a partner in the BBSRC grant proposal. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC FTMA3_21_032 Recruitment of partners for participation in the clinical implementation of a new Mycobacterium abscessus biofilm antimicrobial combination trial (James Harrison) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Mycobacterium abscessus is an environmental opportunistic human pathogen that can easily form difficult to eradicate biofilms within the lungs of patients with underlying respiratory conditions (such as cystic fibrosis (CF)). These infections are extremely difficult to treat, requiring at least 13 months of combined intravenous and nebulised antimicrobial treatment, partly due to the ability of M. abscessus to form biofilms, which leads to a 30% survival rate. M. abscessus infections are rising within the CF population annually, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic methods, as evidenced by the UKRI's Industry Strategy Challenge 'Leading-Edge Healthcare Challenge', particularly the development and delivery of new drugs. We have identified a new combination of antimicrobial compounds, including utilising a new betalactamase inhibitor, relebactam, which are effective at inhibiting a range of clinical M. abscessus isolates in vitro. However, our results to date have only involved actively growing planktonic cells, and now, biofilms. This combination has to date been used once in a human patient, who was unfortunately too far in their disease progression for survival. Despite this, there were clear improvements in their M. abscessus infection during the treatment period. With this in mind, my aims for this project are to engage clinicians and biofilm researchers, particularly those within the CF field, in order to build a new network between academic and clinical partners. We hope to explore antibiofilm activity of these compounds through the network, which is an important step for progression of any future M. abscessus treatment. I aim to visit clinicians around the UK to present our data and recruit them into the network. As an early career researcher, this will support my personal development by challenging me to identify and communicate with potential partners and also provide me with experience of effectively presenting scientific data to a non-research audience. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative partners in this flexible talent mobility scheme project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Aston University: We have successfully developed a network of clinical M. abscessus isolate supply to Aston University, involving clinical partners nationally. A number of these partners are interested in being involved in a future clinical trial. We are planning to organise a meeting with all partners to share the outcomes of this national study into the efficacy of the antimicrobial combination against these different clinical isolates. Future work: Following the future meeting with the clinical partners, we would be keen to progress to devising and applying for a clinical trial for the combination therapy. However, following the meeting with Birmingham Children's Hospital, we have been informed that there is an impending report (within the next 6 months) detailing the impact of a new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, named "Kaftrio", on non-tuberculosis mycobacterial (NTM) infection. The outcomes of this report will have an impact on any clinical trial application, so plans for this are currently on hold until the report is released. A BBSRC grant is in preparation in order to establish the composition of M. abscessus complex biofilm, which includes co-investigators at University of Birmingham, whom add valuable expertise to the proposal. This is helping us to build a 'critical mass' of expertise within the West Midlands, giving us the opportunity to develop nationally. We would be keen to discuss NBIC involvement as a partner in the BBSRC grant proposal. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | BP (British Petroleum) |
| Department | BP Chemicals |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Chilled Food Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | IBioIC |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Kohler Mira Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC IAB Industry Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the IAB is to advise the NBIC Executive Management Team on: • the development of the NBIC; • the industrial engagement strategy for the NBIC; • NBIC funding calls • commercial exploitation of the results of the research conducted through the NBIC; • other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Aarhus University |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Columbia University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | Karolinska Institute |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | University of Ghent |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC ISAB International Scientific Advisory Board |
| Organisation | University of Navarra |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of the ISAB is to: Test and challenge the scientific strategy of NBIC and its delivery and implementation in the context of the international development of the field. Advise the EMT on the opportunities for exploitation of the scientific profile and advances made by the centre. Advise the EMT other issues deemed appropriate to the strategic objectives and direction of the NBIC. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | Alderley Park |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC NEB Non-Executive Board |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Arranging meetings and seeking guidance from the board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aims and responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board are to: Advise the CEO and EMT on strategic direction for the Consortium's scientific, industrial engagement and operational activities; Challenge the EMT on the implementation of the IKC's Mission, Science and Operational Strategies; Monitor compliance to the Consortium Agreement and raise non-compliance with the appropriate party(ies); Monitor the activities of the IKC Consortium; Review KPIs in line with funding letter and other requirements; Ensure that commercial benefits accrue to businesses collaborating with the IKC, but that these do not distort the principle of openness of the IKC, and its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the sector. |
| Impact | Ongoing guidance to develop NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: A Germ's Journey (Katie Laird) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A Germ's Journey: A Fight against Resistance interactive educational resources to improve children's understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide problem, by 2050 many antibiotics that we rely on today will no longer be effective. One solution is increased education on the importance of appropriate use of these drugs. A key age to introduce this concept is between 7- 11 years. Concepts that children need to understand include; the importance of completing courses of antibiotics, not sharing antibiotics, the difference between a virus and bacteria and when treatment is required. Understanding the importance of these actions from a young age will help in the fight against antibiotic resistance and preserve current antibiotics for future use. "A Germ's Journey - A Fight Against Resistance" resources teach children the importance of their actions in combating antibiotic resistance in a fun and interactive way. Within the school workshops/train-the-trainer sessions (5-10) bacterial growth will be explored including biofilms and how they play a role in the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Pre-and-post assessments (worksheets (for children), questionnaires & focus groups (teachers)) of the increase in children's knowledge will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the resources/teaching on children's understanding of AMR. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: A Germ's Journey (Katie Laird) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A Germ's Journey: A Fight against Resistance interactive educational resources to improve children's understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide problem, by 2050 many antibiotics that we rely on today will no longer be effective. One solution is increased education on the importance of appropriate use of these drugs. A key age to introduce this concept is between 7- 11 years. Concepts that children need to understand include; the importance of completing courses of antibiotics, not sharing antibiotics, the difference between a virus and bacteria and when treatment is required. Understanding the importance of these actions from a young age will help in the fight against antibiotic resistance and preserve current antibiotics for future use. "A Germ's Journey - A Fight Against Resistance" resources teach children the importance of their actions in combating antibiotic resistance in a fun and interactive way. Within the school workshops/train-the-trainer sessions (5-10) bacterial growth will be explored including biofilms and how they play a role in the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Pre-and-post assessments (worksheets (for children), questionnaires & focus groups (teachers)) of the increase in children's knowledge will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the resources/teaching on children's understanding of AMR. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Antibiotic Awareness initiative (Sandra Martin) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A public health education initiative is being planned at the University of Bradford to support the National Antibiotic Awareness week campaign, which takes place around 18th November each year. Education stands will be available in 3 areas of the University. These will be manned by undergraduate students and academics from the schools of Chemistry, Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, Microbiology and Nursing. The initiative will promote undergraduate inter-professional public engagement activities and increase the knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance for the students and staff who man the stands, along with students, staff, visitors and members of the public who visit the information stands. Public engagement will also include pupils from local schools and colleges visiting the STEM centre at the University. Promotional materials available on the stands will include posters, leaflets and quizzes. In addition to information stands there will be a research showcase event on Wednesday 20th November 2019. This will showcase research in the field of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance, including enhanced targeting of antimicrobials, which is currently being undertaken by staff and students at the University. This will increase awareness of these topics by fellow students, staff and members of the public. |
| Impact | Promotional materials available on the stands included posters, leaflets and quizzes (some of these materials are from the Antibiotic Guardian website, which directs you to the Public Health England website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/european-antibiotic-awareness-day-resources). In addition to information stands there was a research showcase event on Wednesday 20th November 2019. This showcased research in the field of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance, including enhanced targeting of antimicrobials, which is currently being undertaken by staff and students at the University. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Antibiotic Awareness initiative (Sandra Martin) |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A public health education initiative is being planned at the University of Bradford to support the National Antibiotic Awareness week campaign, which takes place around 18th November each year. Education stands will be available in 3 areas of the University. These will be manned by undergraduate students and academics from the schools of Chemistry, Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, Microbiology and Nursing. The initiative will promote undergraduate inter-professional public engagement activities and increase the knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance for the students and staff who man the stands, along with students, staff, visitors and members of the public who visit the information stands. Public engagement will also include pupils from local schools and colleges visiting the STEM centre at the University. Promotional materials available on the stands will include posters, leaflets and quizzes. In addition to information stands there will be a research showcase event on Wednesday 20th November 2019. This will showcase research in the field of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance, including enhanced targeting of antimicrobials, which is currently being undertaken by staff and students at the University. This will increase awareness of these topics by fellow students, staff and members of the public. |
| Impact | Promotional materials available on the stands included posters, leaflets and quizzes (some of these materials are from the Antibiotic Guardian website, which directs you to the Public Health England website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/european-antibiotic-awareness-day-resources). In addition to information stands there was a research showcase event on Wednesday 20th November 2019. This showcased research in the field of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance, including enhanced targeting of antimicrobials, which is currently being undertaken by staff and students at the University. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Biofilms for Beginners (Claire Abel) |
| Organisation | James Hutton Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Understanding what biofilms are, what they do in our rivers and why they are relevant to antimicrobial resistance. Through an existing NERC-DST project NE/R003270/1 we monitored river biofilm to better understand the role of substrate in the maintenance and development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are keen to communicate four key messages: 1) Biofilms provide important ecological functions in our freshwaters 2) Biofilm provides a site for exchange of resistance genes 3) Antimicrobials and ARGs in can change biofilm function and 4) Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is destructive to freshwater environments. We will compile project video footage and photographs with new material and graphics into a film with voiceover to address what biofilms are and how they can be impacted by antibiotic use - addressing the above messages. This will be adapted into two versions - one for each target audience. Complemented by additional children's activities including how to make a (pretend) play-slime-based biofilm and a downloadable biofilm-themed activity book, materials will be freely available to primary schools for the autumn term, to OWLS (http://www.owls-learn.co.uk/), through virtual presence at the Royal Highland Show and via both institutes' social media/webpages. It will also be offered as a Curious Show (Royal Society of Edinburgh) and reported to NERC/DST and Scottish Government through existing reporting. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Biofilms for Beginners (Claire Abel) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Understanding what biofilms are, what they do in our rivers and why they are relevant to antimicrobial resistance. Through an existing NERC-DST project NE/R003270/1 we monitored river biofilm to better understand the role of substrate in the maintenance and development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are keen to communicate four key messages: 1) Biofilms provide important ecological functions in our freshwaters 2) Biofilm provides a site for exchange of resistance genes 3) Antimicrobials and ARGs in can change biofilm function and 4) Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is destructive to freshwater environments. We will compile project video footage and photographs with new material and graphics into a film with voiceover to address what biofilms are and how they can be impacted by antibiotic use - addressing the above messages. This will be adapted into two versions - one for each target audience. Complemented by additional children's activities including how to make a (pretend) play-slime-based biofilm and a downloadable biofilm-themed activity book, materials will be freely available to primary schools for the autumn term, to OWLS (http://www.owls-learn.co.uk/), through virtual presence at the Royal Highland Show and via both institutes' social media/webpages. It will also be offered as a Curious Show (Royal Society of Edinburgh) and reported to NERC/DST and Scottish Government through existing reporting. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: BrainHub Website (Rebecca Thompson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We aim to produce a website that, linked with effective public engagement activities, will improve awareness and understanding about the environments in which biofilms are found and their impact. We will highlight: specific examples where biofilms are detrimental or beneficial; the impact biofilms have in different environments (with case studies); ongoing research with a focus on QIB and NBIC research) to understand, reduce or promote biofilms and links to relevant journal articles. A pyramid style of layering information depth covering a wide range of sectors will be used to maximise audience engagement. This approach is based on previously successful interactions with the public at science festivals, where the overarching basic information is explained in an engaging way to ensure that everyone, including children, can understand while also providing opportunities for those with particular interests, to probe in greater detail into the specifics e.g. how biofilms might affect them directly and how research is helping. |
| Impact | This project included website design and content creation for 98 pages of a new biofilms educational resource. Fifty-five volunteers with biofilm expertise contributed content to the site, with participation being open to anyone with sufficient knowledge. We utilised the NBIC network to approach experts in particular fields and conducted peer review on the submitted content. We also included links to appropriate games and educational resources within the site. We demonstrated and promoted the website at the 2021 Norwich Science Festival as well as via an online social media campaign. Our aim was to improve awareness and understanding of biofilms, where they are found, if they are useful or harmful and how they are controlled. The Norwich Science Festival saw approximately 500 visitors to the Quadram Institute activities, with most not knowing what a biofilm was prior to attending. The website has had the following reach (the peak in Dec/Jan is due to the social media campaign run in collaboration with the Microbattle project). Interviews held at the Norwich Science Festival with attendees and via peer review of the finished site have provided a very positive response. However, the average engagement time is considered relatively low and could be improved upon. We have received no comments from the online contact us form (but have checked that it is working). The site can easily be found on a Google search but visibility and engagement could be improved if it was used in academic situations. In order for the website to be considered a complete success further time and financial investment on publicity and updates will be required. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: BrainHub Website (Rebecca Thompson) |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We aim to produce a website that, linked with effective public engagement activities, will improve awareness and understanding about the environments in which biofilms are found and their impact. We will highlight: specific examples where biofilms are detrimental or beneficial; the impact biofilms have in different environments (with case studies); ongoing research with a focus on QIB and NBIC research) to understand, reduce or promote biofilms and links to relevant journal articles. A pyramid style of layering information depth covering a wide range of sectors will be used to maximise audience engagement. This approach is based on previously successful interactions with the public at science festivals, where the overarching basic information is explained in an engaging way to ensure that everyone, including children, can understand while also providing opportunities for those with particular interests, to probe in greater detail into the specifics e.g. how biofilms might affect them directly and how research is helping. |
| Impact | This project included website design and content creation for 98 pages of a new biofilms educational resource. Fifty-five volunteers with biofilm expertise contributed content to the site, with participation being open to anyone with sufficient knowledge. We utilised the NBIC network to approach experts in particular fields and conducted peer review on the submitted content. We also included links to appropriate games and educational resources within the site. We demonstrated and promoted the website at the 2021 Norwich Science Festival as well as via an online social media campaign. Our aim was to improve awareness and understanding of biofilms, where they are found, if they are useful or harmful and how they are controlled. The Norwich Science Festival saw approximately 500 visitors to the Quadram Institute activities, with most not knowing what a biofilm was prior to attending. The website has had the following reach (the peak in Dec/Jan is due to the social media campaign run in collaboration with the Microbattle project). Interviews held at the Norwich Science Festival with attendees and via peer review of the finished site have provided a very positive response. However, the average engagement time is considered relatively low and could be improved upon. We have received no comments from the online contact us form (but have checked that it is working). The site can easily be found on a Google search but visibility and engagement could be improved if it was used in academic situations. In order for the website to be considered a complete success further time and financial investment on publicity and updates will be required. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Bringing biofilms to the masses (Leighann Sherry) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The overarching aim of the event is to provide educational outreach activities to invested members of the biofilm community. The specific elements to the event is to provide a direct point of contact for delegates to meet and discuss biofilm activities with the UoG team, and to develop and understand the variety of activities that can be delivered to different age groups of the public or within educational establishments. We will purchase a sponsor stand at Eurobiofilms 2019, appropriate demonstration material, and a Barracuda display stand. A member of the team will populate the stand throughout the meeting, demonstrate activities (which may include 'Monsters in the Mouth [inset]) and materials that we have developed at a number of events (Glasgow Science Centre, Ikea, Glasgow Primary Schools). We will also purchase and demonstrate the capabilities of Foldscopes (https://www.foldscope.com/) with dental plaque. We will also data gather from delegates of other suitable activities that they are able to share. We will collect and collate this information and interact with ResearchFish and NBIC to provide free sharable educational and public engagement material for biofilm friendly people. We will also integrate new activities into our existing portfolio of outreach in Glasgow and the West. |
| Impact | The following activities were organised for Eurobiofilms 2019: 'Pin the bug on the person': Have a carboard cut out of a figure and different types of bugs with an associated description. Participants must pin the bug where they think they are most likely to find the organism in the body. 'Bacteria kerplunk': Life size board game illustrating the treatment of biofilms. Sticks = matrix, balls = drugs and bacteria cut outs sit at the bottom of the structure, highlighting the difficulty in drugs reaching them. 'Engaging girls in STEM': Small groups of high school pupils come into the lab and observe biofilms under the microscope. Some of these students come back over the summer and screen novel agents against biofilms. 'Biofilm fortresses': Use lego bricks to build a biofilm and then invite participants to knock them down with water pistols, soft balls etc. 'Paper microscopes': Use of foldscopes (paper microscopes) to view morphologies of various microorganisms. Swabs of the oral cavity can innoculated onto a slide and can then be viewed by children. With some guidance, children can self inoculate, load and view slides. Target age group is 9-12 year olds. Children's book about Pseu, who escapes predation by forming a biofilm. 'Coccus pocus 2019': Thanks to a generous outreach grant from NBIC, we will launch a thrilling scary story competition about microbial biofilms and antimicrobial resistance this Autumn: Coccus Pocus 2019!!! The competition will be open to schoolchildren +12 and university students. This will help raising public awareness about these crucial topics and boost student enthusiasm about microbiology. Prizes will include book gift vouchers up to £60 for the best 5 stories. There will be a prize awarding event near Halloween. This will run for first time this year, so I do not have any feedback data yet. 'Building biofilms': Children are given different coloured Play-Doh to construct different shapes of bacteria. They can then build these into a biofilm in a petri dish, on model teeth, or within any other container. Alternatively fimo (bakeable clay) can be used to create the different shapes but this needs baking to harden. With younger children we have used larger pompoms, sticky eyes, pipe cleaners etc. With tailoring works well with 3-9 years old. 'Edible biofilms': Kids make their own biofilms by using a range of sweets that represent different organisms and components of a biofilm e.g. red jelly beans = persister cells, jelly = matrix, laces = hyphae. This is all contained within a petri dish allowing kids to take them home and discuss with family. This is targeted at 7-11 year olds. 'Bacteria sock puppets': As the title suggests, participants makes there own bacteria using a sock. Pipe cleaners, beads, wool can all be added to represent different parts of the cell. 'Mini-microbes': Participants build their own biofilm from lego and then choose a way of destroying it. 'Creating books': Author of 'Pourquoi elle monte ma mayonnaise?' and 'Les Perles d'Einstein' 'Pipetting station': Participants practice using pipettes by measuring out a safe substance e.g. milk. This is to give an initial interaction to young pupils in the field of science. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Coccus Pocus 2019 (Georgios Efthimiou) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A horror sci-fi short story competition highlighting the importance of antibiotic resistance and biofilms. In an ambitious attempt to inform young people about the importance of antibiotic resistance and microbial biofilms, we will organise a horror sci-fi short story competition for this Halloween (31/10/2019), named Coccus Pocus 2019. The participants will be encouraged to write an engaging scary story, incorporating valid scientific information about AMR and biofilms. This will motivate them to read about these topics, understand the basic principles and use this information in their post-apocalyptic horror scenarios, in an educational and enjoyable way. The event can be hosted again next year (if we secure new funding) or it can be replicated by other universities, ensuring a wider outreach and a stronger impact. |
| Impact | The competition went very well and received good feedback and publicity! Few examples: https://microbiologysociety.org/blog/coccus-pocus-2019-an-exciting-scary-story-competition-about-biofilms-and-antimicrobial-resistance.html https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/coccus-pocus-2019-a-microbiology-inspired-scary-story-competition/ https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0074 The evaluation committee that was composed of eight academics and researchers from the University of Hull and other institutions, ranked the stories according to intrigue of their plot, use of language, character description and scientific soundness. The prizes (online gift vouchers) were awarded to the three winning stories, during an awards ceremony. Feedback questionnaires were completed by the participants, which showed that they all found the competition very interesting and useful, allowing them to sharpen their creative writing skills and explore key microbiology topics. The event was communicated in the social media and blogs were posted in university bulletins and on microbiology websites. It is our ambition that the competition will be held again and again around the country, aiming to increase public awareness about the important problem of antimicrobial resistance and biofilms and boost the enthusiasm of young people about the fascinating field of microbiology. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Coccus Pocus 2019 (Georgios Efthimiou) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A horror sci-fi short story competition highlighting the importance of antibiotic resistance and biofilms. In an ambitious attempt to inform young people about the importance of antibiotic resistance and microbial biofilms, we will organise a horror sci-fi short story competition for this Halloween (31/10/2019), named Coccus Pocus 2019. The participants will be encouraged to write an engaging scary story, incorporating valid scientific information about AMR and biofilms. This will motivate them to read about these topics, understand the basic principles and use this information in their post-apocalyptic horror scenarios, in an educational and enjoyable way. The event can be hosted again next year (if we secure new funding) or it can be replicated by other universities, ensuring a wider outreach and a stronger impact. |
| Impact | The competition went very well and received good feedback and publicity! Few examples: https://microbiologysociety.org/blog/coccus-pocus-2019-an-exciting-scary-story-competition-about-biofilms-and-antimicrobial-resistance.html https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/coccus-pocus-2019-a-microbiology-inspired-scary-story-competition/ https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0074 The evaluation committee that was composed of eight academics and researchers from the University of Hull and other institutions, ranked the stories according to intrigue of their plot, use of language, character description and scientific soundness. The prizes (online gift vouchers) were awarded to the three winning stories, during an awards ceremony. Feedback questionnaires were completed by the participants, which showed that they all found the competition very interesting and useful, allowing them to sharpen their creative writing skills and explore key microbiology topics. The event was communicated in the social media and blogs were posted in university bulletins and on microbiology websites. It is our ambition that the competition will be held again and again around the country, aiming to increase public awareness about the important problem of antimicrobial resistance and biofilms and boost the enthusiasm of young people about the fascinating field of microbiology. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: MicroBattle - Strategy Card Game (Rebecca Thompson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of the 'MicroBattle' project is to develop a strategy-based card game with accompanying online materials that communicates the importance of bacterial diversity within biofilms beyond their context as pathogens. The project will also highlight the role of biofilms in ecological niche occupation by symbionts, archaea and other organisms. Character artwork for specific microbes will be heavily stylised to make the game fun and engaging, while at the same time translating the canonical biology into easy-to-understand images. Using exemplar microbes and particular game mechanics will allow core microbiological concepts to be introduced and demonstrated, such as the role of biofilm formation in increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and environmental stressors. Twitter, Instagram and YouTube will be used to gain feedback from potential users, e.g. on the illustrations, and to showcase game development through demonstration. Small webtoons (budget-dependent) will be illustrated to communicate single concepts in an appealing way. Social media will also allow us to monitor reach, outcomes and impact. Whilst the game can be printed off for public use and widely distributed by NBIC and QIB as free downloads, a physical product will also be demonstrated online and at targeted live public engagement events. |
| Impact | This project included the targeting, developing, testing and releasing of a strategy-based card game that communicates the importance of bacterial diversity within biofilms and the role of biofilms in resistance to antibiotics and environmental stresses. The game remains freely available for online download and high-quality printed versions were given to various educators during live demonstrations and 'battles' held at the Norwich Science Festival in 2021. The Norwich Science Festival saw approximately 500 attendees to the Quadram Institute tables. We gave out approximately 250 microbattle puzzle siders (containing the game download via a QR code link) to children and 5 professionally printed card packs to educators. Our volunteers spoke with the children and their parents about what biofilms are and how they protect the microbial communities. A spot survey showed that 9/10 people asked did not know what a biofilm was before participating so there was a recordable improvement in knowledge as well as observations of enhanced understanding and engagement with this activity. Social media was heavily exploited to promote the game development, receive feedback and to disseminate the download links. We also ran a 'Design my Synthia' competition where children designed one of the cards within the pack. Using organic posts on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to discuss both NBIC public engagement projects we accumulated 14,147 impressions, 314 engagements and 5 comments. Using paid promotion on Twitter we accumulated a further 37,502 impressions and 59 clicked links to the post. Using paid promotion on Facebook we reached 23,160 people with 35,344 additional impressions and 253 persons engaged with the posts. This level of engagement with the topic on social media represents a good value of return on the NBIC investment and we were able to initiate and observe discussions on the subject with and between members of the public. Accessibility and increased reach: using this holistic approach (online downloads and a face-to-face event combined with social media outreach) reached stakeholders that could not attend the festival from Norfolk and far beyond. During the Norwich Science Festival, the highest retention was with parents and children who were already familiar with similar games. Introducing the concept of the game, as well as biofilms and quorum sensing using A. fischeri (a featured microbe character) in Hawaiian bobtail squid was most successful. The game itself was played mainly with children age ~7-11. The design competition had 13 entries and the winner was given a £50 Amazon voucher. The announcement of the winning design on Twitter received 438 views. It is important to note that all the illustrations and the game concept can be used in future science communication activities linked to feature the microbes or game mechanics. Interviews held at the Norwich Science Festival with game participants provided a very positive response to both the idea and the playability of the game. Adjustments were made early on, based on feedback received by testers, to allow for a simpler, cut-down version more suitable for a younger age bracket. Learning point: the children aged 5-9 were extremely engaged with the puzzle sliders! We also received feedback from parents who wanted to rather have the game digitally, build it within existing sandbox style games or as a VR game format. The game can be downloaded: https://quadram.ac.uk/get-involved/engage-with-science/ The tutorial can be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRXNMztcUyg The Microsoft Team with all documents and files can be found here. https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3aa56f14d6050e44978929396a105005d7%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=3d83a3a9-299f-4e4a-9f82-49e3147a8838&tenantId=e652efd4-5dac-41b6-a23d-764634c36cea |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: MicroBattle - Strategy Card Game (Rebecca Thompson) |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of the 'MicroBattle' project is to develop a strategy-based card game with accompanying online materials that communicates the importance of bacterial diversity within biofilms beyond their context as pathogens. The project will also highlight the role of biofilms in ecological niche occupation by symbionts, archaea and other organisms. Character artwork for specific microbes will be heavily stylised to make the game fun and engaging, while at the same time translating the canonical biology into easy-to-understand images. Using exemplar microbes and particular game mechanics will allow core microbiological concepts to be introduced and demonstrated, such as the role of biofilm formation in increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and environmental stressors. Twitter, Instagram and YouTube will be used to gain feedback from potential users, e.g. on the illustrations, and to showcase game development through demonstration. Small webtoons (budget-dependent) will be illustrated to communicate single concepts in an appealing way. Social media will also allow us to monitor reach, outcomes and impact. Whilst the game can be printed off for public use and widely distributed by NBIC and QIB as free downloads, a physical product will also be demonstrated online and at targeted live public engagement events. |
| Impact | This project included the targeting, developing, testing and releasing of a strategy-based card game that communicates the importance of bacterial diversity within biofilms and the role of biofilms in resistance to antibiotics and environmental stresses. The game remains freely available for online download and high-quality printed versions were given to various educators during live demonstrations and 'battles' held at the Norwich Science Festival in 2021. The Norwich Science Festival saw approximately 500 attendees to the Quadram Institute tables. We gave out approximately 250 microbattle puzzle siders (containing the game download via a QR code link) to children and 5 professionally printed card packs to educators. Our volunteers spoke with the children and their parents about what biofilms are and how they protect the microbial communities. A spot survey showed that 9/10 people asked did not know what a biofilm was before participating so there was a recordable improvement in knowledge as well as observations of enhanced understanding and engagement with this activity. Social media was heavily exploited to promote the game development, receive feedback and to disseminate the download links. We also ran a 'Design my Synthia' competition where children designed one of the cards within the pack. Using organic posts on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to discuss both NBIC public engagement projects we accumulated 14,147 impressions, 314 engagements and 5 comments. Using paid promotion on Twitter we accumulated a further 37,502 impressions and 59 clicked links to the post. Using paid promotion on Facebook we reached 23,160 people with 35,344 additional impressions and 253 persons engaged with the posts. This level of engagement with the topic on social media represents a good value of return on the NBIC investment and we were able to initiate and observe discussions on the subject with and between members of the public. Accessibility and increased reach: using this holistic approach (online downloads and a face-to-face event combined with social media outreach) reached stakeholders that could not attend the festival from Norfolk and far beyond. During the Norwich Science Festival, the highest retention was with parents and children who were already familiar with similar games. Introducing the concept of the game, as well as biofilms and quorum sensing using A. fischeri (a featured microbe character) in Hawaiian bobtail squid was most successful. The game itself was played mainly with children age ~7-11. The design competition had 13 entries and the winner was given a £50 Amazon voucher. The announcement of the winning design on Twitter received 438 views. It is important to note that all the illustrations and the game concept can be used in future science communication activities linked to feature the microbes or game mechanics. Interviews held at the Norwich Science Festival with game participants provided a very positive response to both the idea and the playability of the game. Adjustments were made early on, based on feedback received by testers, to allow for a simpler, cut-down version more suitable for a younger age bracket. Learning point: the children aged 5-9 were extremely engaged with the puzzle sliders! We also received feedback from parents who wanted to rather have the game digitally, build it within existing sandbox style games or as a VR game format. The game can be downloaded: https://quadram.ac.uk/get-involved/engage-with-science/ The tutorial can be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRXNMztcUyg The Microsoft Team with all documents and files can be found here. https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3aa56f14d6050e44978929396a105005d7%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=3d83a3a9-299f-4e4a-9f82-49e3147a8838&tenantId=e652efd4-5dac-41b6-a23d-764634c36cea |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Moving Mucus Battles Biofilms (Katie Horton) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I want to collaborate with Animate Your Science to create a simple infographic to improve understanding of respiratory physiology in health and disease and to raise awareness of biofilm infections in PCD, CF and COPD. 'Moving Mucus', or lack thereof, will be used to explain how the lung 'Battles Biofilms'. Content will be guided by patients and their families to ensure that we address important questions, give meaningful answers and tailor it appropriately to a lay audience. Suggested topics thus far include: • What is the mucociliary escalator? • What diseases cause the mucociliary escalator to not work properly? • What is a biofilm infection and why is it bad? • How can we prevent and treat biofilm infection? • What research needs to be done? Main aims are to: • Educate about respiratory physiology in health and disease • Increase awareness of biofilms • Emphasise the importance of physiotherapy and medication adherence to reduce chances or persistence of infection • Get people actively engaging in research (answering surveys, providing samples e.t.c.) This resource will be used for: • Meet the Scientist • Pint of Science • PCD Live • New Forest and Hampshire County Show • The Brilliant Club tutorial sessions • Promotion on Twitter |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Moving Mucus Battles Biofilms (Katie Horton) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I want to collaborate with Animate Your Science to create a simple infographic to improve understanding of respiratory physiology in health and disease and to raise awareness of biofilm infections in PCD, CF and COPD. 'Moving Mucus', or lack thereof, will be used to explain how the lung 'Battles Biofilms'. Content will be guided by patients and their families to ensure that we address important questions, give meaningful answers and tailor it appropriately to a lay audience. Suggested topics thus far include: • What is the mucociliary escalator? • What diseases cause the mucociliary escalator to not work properly? • What is a biofilm infection and why is it bad? • How can we prevent and treat biofilm infection? • What research needs to be done? Main aims are to: • Educate about respiratory physiology in health and disease • Increase awareness of biofilms • Emphasise the importance of physiotherapy and medication adherence to reduce chances or persistence of infection • Get people actively engaging in research (answering surveys, providing samples e.t.c.) This resource will be used for: • Meet the Scientist • Pint of Science • PCD Live • New Forest and Hampshire County Show • The Brilliant Club tutorial sessions • Promotion on Twitter |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Our Micro-World (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our Micro-World: Understanding the microbial world around us. Event. |
| Impact | Unfortunately no impact - this event was cancelled due to the covid-19 lockdown. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Our Micro-World (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our Micro-World: Understanding the microbial world around us. Event. |
| Impact | Unfortunately no impact - this event was cancelled due to the covid-19 lockdown. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE012 Unruly Objects and Living Paints (Suzie Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Target audience: This work will be showcased primarily at the V and A museum and in media streams. We aim to reach international arts audiences, museum audiences, conservators, science audiences, audiences of all ages including young people and older audiences. Dumitriu's work has reached audiences of hundreds of thousands in 2021 via museum shows, TV and media). The Hingley-Wilson and Keddie laboratories are also adept in outreach, with the Hingley-Wilson lab previously exhibiting at the Science museum and UKRI annual conference. The Leverhulme-funded teams biocoating work is also a previous Microbiology Society case study (Painting with bacteria could capture carbon and yield biofuels for a sustainable energy supply | Microbiology Society) Project description: Biocoatings are a type of artificial biofilm comprised of bacteria and synthetic colloidal substrates utilised for bioremediation, eg biocatalytists in wastewater treatment or carbon capture. The interdisciplinary UofS team use nanotubes and synthetic colloidal substrates to enhance viability (Chen et al., 2019, also a short part NBIC funded project with industry). We propose to work with internationally renowned artist Anna Dumitriu whose work focuses on the interface of biology and art to develop a new artwork building on her successful "Unruly Objects and Biological Conservation" (carried out in collaboration with the University of Western Attica and conservation experts at University of the Arts London and University College London), which explores the relationship of conservation of antiquities and living biological sculptures as in https://annadumitriu.co.uk/portfolio/unruly-objects/. Simone Krings, a Leverhulme funded PhD student will utilise her cyanobacterial biocoatings for a verdant palette of carbon capturing living paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The final artwork will be showcased in a high impact event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as part of their physical digital programme between May and November 2022, presented in an online streamed event, via social media, websites and supported by the University of Surrey marketing team. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE012 Unruly Objects and Living Paints (Suzie Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Target audience: This work will be showcased primarily at the V and A museum and in media streams. We aim to reach international arts audiences, museum audiences, conservators, science audiences, audiences of all ages including young people and older audiences. Dumitriu's work has reached audiences of hundreds of thousands in 2021 via museum shows, TV and media). The Hingley-Wilson and Keddie laboratories are also adept in outreach, with the Hingley-Wilson lab previously exhibiting at the Science museum and UKRI annual conference. The Leverhulme-funded teams biocoating work is also a previous Microbiology Society case study (Painting with bacteria could capture carbon and yield biofuels for a sustainable energy supply | Microbiology Society) Project description: Biocoatings are a type of artificial biofilm comprised of bacteria and synthetic colloidal substrates utilised for bioremediation, eg biocatalytists in wastewater treatment or carbon capture. The interdisciplinary UofS team use nanotubes and synthetic colloidal substrates to enhance viability (Chen et al., 2019, also a short part NBIC funded project with industry). We propose to work with internationally renowned artist Anna Dumitriu whose work focuses on the interface of biology and art to develop a new artwork building on her successful "Unruly Objects and Biological Conservation" (carried out in collaboration with the University of Western Attica and conservation experts at University of the Arts London and University College London), which explores the relationship of conservation of antiquities and living biological sculptures as in https://annadumitriu.co.uk/portfolio/unruly-objects/. Simone Krings, a Leverhulme funded PhD student will utilise her cyanobacterial biocoatings for a verdant palette of carbon capturing living paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The final artwork will be showcased in a high impact event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as part of their physical digital programme between May and November 2022, presented in an online streamed event, via social media, websites and supported by the University of Surrey marketing team. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE012 Unruly Objects and Living Paints (Suzie Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | Victoria and Albert Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Target audience: This work will be showcased primarily at the V and A museum and in media streams. We aim to reach international arts audiences, museum audiences, conservators, science audiences, audiences of all ages including young people and older audiences. Dumitriu's work has reached audiences of hundreds of thousands in 2021 via museum shows, TV and media). The Hingley-Wilson and Keddie laboratories are also adept in outreach, with the Hingley-Wilson lab previously exhibiting at the Science museum and UKRI annual conference. The Leverhulme-funded teams biocoating work is also a previous Microbiology Society case study (Painting with bacteria could capture carbon and yield biofuels for a sustainable energy supply | Microbiology Society) Project description: Biocoatings are a type of artificial biofilm comprised of bacteria and synthetic colloidal substrates utilised for bioremediation, eg biocatalytists in wastewater treatment or carbon capture. The interdisciplinary UofS team use nanotubes and synthetic colloidal substrates to enhance viability (Chen et al., 2019, also a short part NBIC funded project with industry). We propose to work with internationally renowned artist Anna Dumitriu whose work focuses on the interface of biology and art to develop a new artwork building on her successful "Unruly Objects and Biological Conservation" (carried out in collaboration with the University of Western Attica and conservation experts at University of the Arts London and University College London), which explores the relationship of conservation of antiquities and living biological sculptures as in https://annadumitriu.co.uk/portfolio/unruly-objects/. Simone Krings, a Leverhulme funded PhD student will utilise her cyanobacterial biocoatings for a verdant palette of carbon capturing living paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The final artwork will be showcased in a high impact event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as part of their physical digital programme between May and November 2022, presented in an online streamed event, via social media, websites and supported by the University of Surrey marketing team. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE013 On the Buses with the Micro-Passengers (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | Go South Coast Ltd |
| Department | Bluestar Buses |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms exist almost everywhere - in and on our bodies and in spaces of work, leisure and travel - and are a vital part of our everyday world. However, there is a lack of understanding of risk and the presence of microbial communities in public spaces and this has been increased through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using public bus transport as an example, we intend to use an interdisciplinary and creative approach to produce material to help people understand the complex relationship that we have with these invisible microorganisms. Using data collected from an environmental microbiome study carried out on buses, we will produce a series of cartoons to explain microbial risk and presence in a fun and engaging way, while reinforcing public health messaging. The Micro-Passenger cartoon series will help people to understand how we are surrounded by a microbial landscape, and they are more than 'bad or good bugs'. They will encourage deeper engagement with our own microbial populations, as well as responding to increased societal concerns around hygiene. The cartoons will be used for media related to passengers and staff, through transport company partners and passenger organisations, and for the general public through wider social media platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE013 On the Buses with the Micro-Passengers (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms exist almost everywhere - in and on our bodies and in spaces of work, leisure and travel - and are a vital part of our everyday world. However, there is a lack of understanding of risk and the presence of microbial communities in public spaces and this has been increased through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using public bus transport as an example, we intend to use an interdisciplinary and creative approach to produce material to help people understand the complex relationship that we have with these invisible microorganisms. Using data collected from an environmental microbiome study carried out on buses, we will produce a series of cartoons to explain microbial risk and presence in a fun and engaging way, while reinforcing public health messaging. The Micro-Passenger cartoon series will help people to understand how we are surrounded by a microbial landscape, and they are more than 'bad or good bugs'. They will encourage deeper engagement with our own microbial populations, as well as responding to increased societal concerns around hygiene. The cartoons will be used for media related to passengers and staff, through transport company partners and passenger organisations, and for the general public through wider social media platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE013 On the Buses with the Micro-Passengers (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Department | Newcastle University Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms exist almost everywhere - in and on our bodies and in spaces of work, leisure and travel - and are a vital part of our everyday world. However, there is a lack of understanding of risk and the presence of microbial communities in public spaces and this has been increased through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using public bus transport as an example, we intend to use an interdisciplinary and creative approach to produce material to help people understand the complex relationship that we have with these invisible microorganisms. Using data collected from an environmental microbiome study carried out on buses, we will produce a series of cartoons to explain microbial risk and presence in a fun and engaging way, while reinforcing public health messaging. The Micro-Passenger cartoon series will help people to understand how we are surrounded by a microbial landscape, and they are more than 'bad or good bugs'. They will encourage deeper engagement with our own microbial populations, as well as responding to increased societal concerns around hygiene. The cartoons will be used for media related to passengers and staff, through transport company partners and passenger organisations, and for the general public through wider social media platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE013 On the Buses with the Micro-Passengers (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms exist almost everywhere - in and on our bodies and in spaces of work, leisure and travel - and are a vital part of our everyday world. However, there is a lack of understanding of risk and the presence of microbial communities in public spaces and this has been increased through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using public bus transport as an example, we intend to use an interdisciplinary and creative approach to produce material to help people understand the complex relationship that we have with these invisible microorganisms. Using data collected from an environmental microbiome study carried out on buses, we will produce a series of cartoons to explain microbial risk and presence in a fun and engaging way, while reinforcing public health messaging. The Micro-Passenger cartoon series will help people to understand how we are surrounded by a microbial landscape, and they are more than 'bad or good bugs'. They will encourage deeper engagement with our own microbial populations, as well as responding to increased societal concerns around hygiene. The cartoons will be used for media related to passengers and staff, through transport company partners and passenger organisations, and for the general public through wider social media platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE014 Hands on Biofilms! (Joanna Verran) |
| Organisation | British Fashion Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Bacterial cellulose (BC) is generated as micro- (or nano-) fibrils as a mat, or pellicle, on the surface of a liquid culture. This structure is a readily accessible, and easily generated biofilm. The best-known form of BC is Kombucha, a fermented tea drink prepared by placing the tea fungus (starter / mother culture/SCOBY - Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) into a tea broth. The resultant drink has a pleasant flavour; the pellicle/biofilm is on the surface. BC has been explored as an alternative textile ('vegetable leather'), but there are barriers to implementation, including a lack of knowledge regarding the optimum conditions required to grow reproducible biofilm1. Aims: 1. To acquaint audiences with biofilm using Kombucha, and by building models of biofilms using Bunchems2. 2. To engage audiences in discussion regarding sustainability goals (SDG12) and the use of vegetable leather as an alternative fabric by examining (and stitching) examples. 3. To raise awareness of the value of fungi in our world by providing food samples3 (COVID-dependent) 4. To acquire data regarding the properties of home-made Kombucha biofilms by providing the audience members with 'grow-your-own' kits and encouraging feedback on properties of the pellicles to support MMU research (citizen science). Expected completion date(s): The main event will take place as part of Manchester Science Festival (October 2022). Smaller preparatory events will take place earlier in the year (likely March [school event] and July [AdvanceHE conference workshop]), where findings will inform activities, interactions and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester have indicated their willingness to work with the team in order to deliver the event during Manchester Science Festival. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE014 Hands on Biofilms! (Joanna Verran) |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Bacterial cellulose (BC) is generated as micro- (or nano-) fibrils as a mat, or pellicle, on the surface of a liquid culture. This structure is a readily accessible, and easily generated biofilm. The best-known form of BC is Kombucha, a fermented tea drink prepared by placing the tea fungus (starter / mother culture/SCOBY - Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) into a tea broth. The resultant drink has a pleasant flavour; the pellicle/biofilm is on the surface. BC has been explored as an alternative textile ('vegetable leather'), but there are barriers to implementation, including a lack of knowledge regarding the optimum conditions required to grow reproducible biofilm1. Aims: 1. To acquaint audiences with biofilm using Kombucha, and by building models of biofilms using Bunchems2. 2. To engage audiences in discussion regarding sustainability goals (SDG12) and the use of vegetable leather as an alternative fabric by examining (and stitching) examples. 3. To raise awareness of the value of fungi in our world by providing food samples3 (COVID-dependent) 4. To acquire data regarding the properties of home-made Kombucha biofilms by providing the audience members with 'grow-your-own' kits and encouraging feedback on properties of the pellicles to support MMU research (citizen science). Expected completion date(s): The main event will take place as part of Manchester Science Festival (October 2022). Smaller preparatory events will take place earlier in the year (likely March [school event] and July [AdvanceHE conference workshop]), where findings will inform activities, interactions and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester have indicated their willingness to work with the team in order to deliver the event during Manchester Science Festival. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE014 Hands on Biofilms! (Joanna Verran) |
| Organisation | Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Bacterial cellulose (BC) is generated as micro- (or nano-) fibrils as a mat, or pellicle, on the surface of a liquid culture. This structure is a readily accessible, and easily generated biofilm. The best-known form of BC is Kombucha, a fermented tea drink prepared by placing the tea fungus (starter / mother culture/SCOBY - Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) into a tea broth. The resultant drink has a pleasant flavour; the pellicle/biofilm is on the surface. BC has been explored as an alternative textile ('vegetable leather'), but there are barriers to implementation, including a lack of knowledge regarding the optimum conditions required to grow reproducible biofilm1. Aims: 1. To acquaint audiences with biofilm using Kombucha, and by building models of biofilms using Bunchems2. 2. To engage audiences in discussion regarding sustainability goals (SDG12) and the use of vegetable leather as an alternative fabric by examining (and stitching) examples. 3. To raise awareness of the value of fungi in our world by providing food samples3 (COVID-dependent) 4. To acquire data regarding the properties of home-made Kombucha biofilms by providing the audience members with 'grow-your-own' kits and encouraging feedback on properties of the pellicles to support MMU research (citizen science). Expected completion date(s): The main event will take place as part of Manchester Science Festival (October 2022). Smaller preparatory events will take place earlier in the year (likely March [school event] and July [AdvanceHE conference workshop]), where findings will inform activities, interactions and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester have indicated their willingness to work with the team in order to deliver the event during Manchester Science Festival. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE014 Hands on Biofilms! (Joanna Verran) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Bacterial cellulose (BC) is generated as micro- (or nano-) fibrils as a mat, or pellicle, on the surface of a liquid culture. This structure is a readily accessible, and easily generated biofilm. The best-known form of BC is Kombucha, a fermented tea drink prepared by placing the tea fungus (starter / mother culture/SCOBY - Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) into a tea broth. The resultant drink has a pleasant flavour; the pellicle/biofilm is on the surface. BC has been explored as an alternative textile ('vegetable leather'), but there are barriers to implementation, including a lack of knowledge regarding the optimum conditions required to grow reproducible biofilm1. Aims: 1. To acquaint audiences with biofilm using Kombucha, and by building models of biofilms using Bunchems2. 2. To engage audiences in discussion regarding sustainability goals (SDG12) and the use of vegetable leather as an alternative fabric by examining (and stitching) examples. 3. To raise awareness of the value of fungi in our world by providing food samples3 (COVID-dependent) 4. To acquire data regarding the properties of home-made Kombucha biofilms by providing the audience members with 'grow-your-own' kits and encouraging feedback on properties of the pellicles to support MMU research (citizen science). Expected completion date(s): The main event will take place as part of Manchester Science Festival (October 2022). Smaller preparatory events will take place earlier in the year (likely March [school event] and July [AdvanceHE conference workshop]), where findings will inform activities, interactions and evaluation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester have indicated their willingness to work with the team in order to deliver the event during Manchester Science Festival. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: PE015 Biofilm awareness in farming (Sarah Dusgate) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Pruex have a three fold strategy; Find, Fix and Tell. We FIND the cause of disease on farms and identify biofilms present in livestock environments with an initial swabbing. We FIX the cause of the problem found in the initial swabbing by using our range of non-infective bacteria products to reduce disease causing biofilms on farms and dominate with beneficial biofilms to improve the health and welfare of farm animals. We TELL the good work being done within British agriculture to consumers and other farmers. We are applying for the Public Engagement and Outreach grant to help develop the 'Tell' strategy within our business. Our project will entail the planning, production and dissemination of a series of 4 videos. The videos will raise awareness of biofilms on farms; with a particular focus on water quality. The videos will be shared throughout Pruex's social media channels as well as with farmer organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NBIC are providing funding for Purex to carry out this project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Power-FULL Biofilms (Pavlina Theodosiou) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Power-FULL Biofilms intents to bring to schools an interactive workshop which will enthuse, inspire, and engage children with the world of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). MFCs turn organic matter or waste into electricity through electroactive biofilms, that as part of their metabolism release electrons. The project investigates the possibility of producing electricity from waste (mud from the school ground) and using the harnessed electricity to power a small gadget. The students during this 5-week workshop series will build their own MFCs, inoculate them using mud, feed them with nutrients and monitor their growth by recording their voltage output. At the end of the 5-weeks the students will connect the MFCs electrically and see if they can power-up a small gadget. This workshop series will introduce the kids to microbiology, biofilm growth, electricity, engineering, renewable energy and experimental design. This workshop can be both delivered inside and outside the classroom, to comply with COVID restrictions with the assistance of the lead applicant and student ambassadors. Schools now are lacking enrichment activities, so this project is very timely. Power-FULL Biofilms is a hands-on workshop series accompanied by weekly interactive presentation sessions which will encourage the children to think scientifically about problem solving. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Power-FULL Biofilms (Pavlina Theodosiou) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Power-FULL Biofilms intents to bring to schools an interactive workshop which will enthuse, inspire, and engage children with the world of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). MFCs turn organic matter or waste into electricity through electroactive biofilms, that as part of their metabolism release electrons. The project investigates the possibility of producing electricity from waste (mud from the school ground) and using the harnessed electricity to power a small gadget. The students during this 5-week workshop series will build their own MFCs, inoculate them using mud, feed them with nutrients and monitor their growth by recording their voltage output. At the end of the 5-weeks the students will connect the MFCs electrically and see if they can power-up a small gadget. This workshop series will introduce the kids to microbiology, biofilm growth, electricity, engineering, renewable energy and experimental design. This workshop can be both delivered inside and outside the classroom, to comply with COVID restrictions with the assistance of the lead applicant and student ambassadors. Schools now are lacking enrichment activities, so this project is very timely. Power-FULL Biofilms is a hands-on workshop series accompanied by weekly interactive presentation sessions which will encourage the children to think scientifically about problem solving. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Promoting awareness of Nano Science and technology capabilities in preventing biofilm formation and bacterial growth (Faradin Mirkhalaf) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Shimyatech Ltd has designed training programs for promoting Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and their applications (i.e. Nano/Bio-Films) by offering educational course package comprised of workshops at two levels of fundamentals and advanced skills. A successful programme was initiated on "NanoBiomaterials" in November 2019, and the new programme is aiming to extend our offering to a wider audience and with specific focus on "NanoFilms" and their applications in anti-biofilm surfaces. The first part of the programme will cover fundamentals and basic concepts of the subject preparing the learners for the second advanced and practice based stage. Based on our initial experience and through some early market research we have identified younger generation, especially A-Level students to be a highly appealing group to engage with this line of science and technology. As such, we believe providing a number of sponsored places in our first workshop can provide a strong ground for public engagement and promote the missions and objectives of the NBIC network to the society. The proposal therefore will be for NBIC to sponsor places for six students to be offered to Liverpool region sixth-form institutions, which they may promote in their schools through an internal call and competition. We believe this award will induce a considerable level of awareness in the regional science education and helps attraction and development of future talents to industry and enterprising. |
| Impact | Summary of the event: ShimyaTech Ltd has the pleasure to announce its second workshop as a part of its training programs was successfully held on Thursday 10 March at Liverpool Science Park. This was the first part (workshop A) of our full training package, Pathways to NonoWorld, in collaboration with Nano Biosols. We had 14 selected and interested local college and A level students together with their tutors attended the workshop. Speakers from ShimyaTech, Nano Biosols, Keele University and Liverpool John Moores University presented various introductory aspects of Nano and general awareness of nanotechnology and its applications in medicine, coatings and antibacterial/antibiofilm surfaces. The group discussion and quizzes made it more interactive as well as lab demonstration. The event proved successful as we received positive feedback from almost all the attendees. Announcement of the event: The workshop was announced to the public at least 3 months prior the event on our website and social media where the award was acknowledged from the date of receiving the letter (13th Feb 2020). Report and videos of the held event are being launched as well. Here are some of the details of our social media announcements: https://shimyatech.com/news-and-links/ https://www.facebook.com/ShimyatechLtd https://twitter.com/shimyatech https://www.linkedin.com/in/shimyatech-ltd Also, In addition to above, the following e-mail was sent to all local secondary schools and colleges to select most enthusiastic students for the workshop: "Dear Mr/Ms ShimyaTech & NanoBiosols, two Liverpool based leading Nanoscience and Nanotechnology firms are proud to offer a unique Training Program as part of their educational services. The package has been carefully designed to offer learners knowledge and professional skills according to their background and as fit their prior experience with the subject. We are pleased to announce limited number of free places to attend our one-day introductory workshop A of "Pathways to Nanoworld". This offer will cover registration fees (£80 each) for selected and enthusiastic students. Nanotech is an enabling technology with applications in many areas and industries and lots of future job opportunities. This workshop makes them aware of this new potential career path and opportunities in the job market with valuable addition to CV/portfolio of studies. Our sponsor, National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC)" is willing to offer these places as a part of their "Public Engagement and Outreach" grants. Therefore, our aim is to select some interested students. I have attached the workshop package leaflet for your attention. This offer is for workshop A. Please let me know if you need any more information. I look forward to hearing from you soon." Selection method: We selected enthusiastic students who seek their future career related to Nanotechnology in various disciplines. Top student applications were selected from local schools and colleges by competition. The students were selected based on the merit by writing a short paragraph (maximum 200 words) to answer the following questions together with CVs: 1. Why Nano? 2. Current and future applications? 3. Why I am interested? Sample Application from a Liverpool City College A-Level Student: "I think nanotechnology is our future. From the average persons everyday use, in businesses, medicine and more. And I would like to be apart of that change. I've always wanted to be able to help others and make peoples day to day life easier and more efficient. The definition of Nano technology, according to google, is the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometres, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. To me, this is such an interesting field of science because such small man-made technologies can have such an impact on society. The history of the development, and the funds for development, is interesting too. From investments into physics and chemistry research for the eventual emergence of nanotechnology in only 1950's. Richard Feynman (1959) predicted that microscopic would be able to arrange atoms to create complex materials that could achieve desired functions. It was Feynman prediction that raised attention to nanotechnology. Since then there has been so much progress, from atomically-thin indium-tin oxide sheets(touch screens that could make touch screens flexible, use less energy and cost less) and carbon tubes that you can spray onto flexible plastic sheets that have sensors on them that can detect when the food spoils. In the foreseeable future, there are already so many applications that are in development, such as carbon nanotubes being used in the material to build spaceships to reduce their weight and even make the material over all stronger. There are also so many applications in medicine such as drug delivery of drugs, light, heat to specific cells (such as cancer cells) to reduce the damage to our healthy cells and antibacterial treatments, which uses gold and UV to kill bacteria. This could be used to sterilise hospital equipment quickly and cheaply. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC PE&O Award: Promoting awareness of Nano Science and technology capabilities in preventing biofilm formation and bacterial growth (Faradin Mirkhalaf) |
| Organisation | ShimyaTech Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Shimyatech Ltd has designed training programs for promoting Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and their applications (i.e. Nano/Bio-Films) by offering educational course package comprised of workshops at two levels of fundamentals and advanced skills. A successful programme was initiated on "NanoBiomaterials" in November 2019, and the new programme is aiming to extend our offering to a wider audience and with specific focus on "NanoFilms" and their applications in anti-biofilm surfaces. The first part of the programme will cover fundamentals and basic concepts of the subject preparing the learners for the second advanced and practice based stage. Based on our initial experience and through some early market research we have identified younger generation, especially A-Level students to be a highly appealing group to engage with this line of science and technology. As such, we believe providing a number of sponsored places in our first workshop can provide a strong ground for public engagement and promote the missions and objectives of the NBIC network to the society. The proposal therefore will be for NBIC to sponsor places for six students to be offered to Liverpool region sixth-form institutions, which they may promote in their schools through an internal call and competition. We believe this award will induce a considerable level of awareness in the regional science education and helps attraction and development of future talents to industry and enterprising. |
| Impact | Summary of the event: ShimyaTech Ltd has the pleasure to announce its second workshop as a part of its training programs was successfully held on Thursday 10 March at Liverpool Science Park. This was the first part (workshop A) of our full training package, Pathways to NonoWorld, in collaboration with Nano Biosols. We had 14 selected and interested local college and A level students together with their tutors attended the workshop. Speakers from ShimyaTech, Nano Biosols, Keele University and Liverpool John Moores University presented various introductory aspects of Nano and general awareness of nanotechnology and its applications in medicine, coatings and antibacterial/antibiofilm surfaces. The group discussion and quizzes made it more interactive as well as lab demonstration. The event proved successful as we received positive feedback from almost all the attendees. Announcement of the event: The workshop was announced to the public at least 3 months prior the event on our website and social media where the award was acknowledged from the date of receiving the letter (13th Feb 2020). Report and videos of the held event are being launched as well. Here are some of the details of our social media announcements: https://shimyatech.com/news-and-links/ https://www.facebook.com/ShimyatechLtd https://twitter.com/shimyatech https://www.linkedin.com/in/shimyatech-ltd Also, In addition to above, the following e-mail was sent to all local secondary schools and colleges to select most enthusiastic students for the workshop: "Dear Mr/Ms ShimyaTech & NanoBiosols, two Liverpool based leading Nanoscience and Nanotechnology firms are proud to offer a unique Training Program as part of their educational services. The package has been carefully designed to offer learners knowledge and professional skills according to their background and as fit their prior experience with the subject. We are pleased to announce limited number of free places to attend our one-day introductory workshop A of "Pathways to Nanoworld". This offer will cover registration fees (£80 each) for selected and enthusiastic students. Nanotech is an enabling technology with applications in many areas and industries and lots of future job opportunities. This workshop makes them aware of this new potential career path and opportunities in the job market with valuable addition to CV/portfolio of studies. Our sponsor, National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC)" is willing to offer these places as a part of their "Public Engagement and Outreach" grants. Therefore, our aim is to select some interested students. I have attached the workshop package leaflet for your attention. This offer is for workshop A. Please let me know if you need any more information. I look forward to hearing from you soon." Selection method: We selected enthusiastic students who seek their future career related to Nanotechnology in various disciplines. Top student applications were selected from local schools and colleges by competition. The students were selected based on the merit by writing a short paragraph (maximum 200 words) to answer the following questions together with CVs: 1. Why Nano? 2. Current and future applications? 3. Why I am interested? Sample Application from a Liverpool City College A-Level Student: "I think nanotechnology is our future. From the average persons everyday use, in businesses, medicine and more. And I would like to be apart of that change. I've always wanted to be able to help others and make peoples day to day life easier and more efficient. The definition of Nano technology, according to google, is the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometres, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. To me, this is such an interesting field of science because such small man-made technologies can have such an impact on society. The history of the development, and the funds for development, is interesting too. From investments into physics and chemistry research for the eventual emergence of nanotechnology in only 1950's. Richard Feynman (1959) predicted that microscopic would be able to arrange atoms to create complex materials that could achieve desired functions. It was Feynman prediction that raised attention to nanotechnology. Since then there has been so much progress, from atomically-thin indium-tin oxide sheets(touch screens that could make touch screens flexible, use less energy and cost less) and carbon tubes that you can spray onto flexible plastic sheets that have sensors on them that can detect when the food spoils. In the foreseeable future, there are already so many applications that are in development, such as carbon nanotubes being used in the material to build spaceships to reduce their weight and even make the material over all stronger. There are also so many applications in medicine such as drug delivery of drugs, light, heat to specific cells (such as cancer cells) to reduce the damage to our healthy cells and antibacterial treatments, which uses gold and UV to kill bacteria. This could be used to sterilise hospital equipment quickly and cheaply. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18001 Facile fabrication of a disruptive titanium technology using a polydopamine capturing platform. (Jason Mansell) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Dental implant failure consequent to peri-implantitis (PI) continues to be a significant oral healthcare problem. In the UK alone the cost incurred to replace affected implants is estimated to be £20m per annum. The overall aim is therefore clear; the facile fabrication of an antibacterial titanium (Ti) technology. We will achieve this by coating the metal surface with a reactive polydopamine thin film for the subsequent capture of teicoplanin (TP) and chlorhexidine (CHX). The rational for selecting TP and CHX is that these antimicrobial agents are approved for clinical use. Importantly they are also known to retain biological function when immobilised. In terms of measuring success we will want to: • Assess antibacterial potency: Ti samples will be inoculated with different periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros & Staphylococcus aureus). The attachment of these bacteria to the surface and its potential to kill these types of bacteria will be tested using microbial count recovery as well as a LIVE/DEAD staining procedure. This will be visualised using fluorescent microscopy. • Evaluate coating stability: We will want to ascertain the robustness and durability of the PDA-TP-CHX coating of our Ti specimens. Samples will be left stored under ambient conditions for a minimum of 8 months and an assessment of their antibacterial potency determined quarterly. Therefore this project will run for 12 months and not 6 as suggested (page 1). Our coating will need to withstand the rigors of irrigation and insertion into bone and so these studies will also be conducted during the course of the project. • Determine host cell biocompatibility: Having identified the optimal coating steps to take in developing our antibacterial surface, control and functionalised specimens will be seeded with human osteoblasts and an assessment of their growth and maturation determined using reliable and robust biochemical assays. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborator on this POC project. |
| Impact | We are cautiously optimistic that we have found a facile way of modifying Ti with an antibiotic that is particularly effective in killing S. aureus/MRSA, a major miscreant of implant infections. The PI has a PhD student, Savannah Britton, who is continuing with this research. Savannah has made a valuable contribution to this study. The PI continues to collaborate with Prof. Ashley Blom, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and data analysis licensee for the National Joint Registry. Prof. Blom has strong connections with Ti implant manufacturers and we will want to work with him in forging new industrial links. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18001 Facile fabrication of a disruptive titanium technology using a polydopamine capturing platform. (Jason Mansell) |
| Organisation | OsteoCare Implant System Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Dental implant failure consequent to peri-implantitis (PI) continues to be a significant oral healthcare problem. In the UK alone the cost incurred to replace affected implants is estimated to be £20m per annum. The overall aim is therefore clear; the facile fabrication of an antibacterial titanium (Ti) technology. We will achieve this by coating the metal surface with a reactive polydopamine thin film for the subsequent capture of teicoplanin (TP) and chlorhexidine (CHX). The rational for selecting TP and CHX is that these antimicrobial agents are approved for clinical use. Importantly they are also known to retain biological function when immobilised. In terms of measuring success we will want to: • Assess antibacterial potency: Ti samples will be inoculated with different periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros & Staphylococcus aureus). The attachment of these bacteria to the surface and its potential to kill these types of bacteria will be tested using microbial count recovery as well as a LIVE/DEAD staining procedure. This will be visualised using fluorescent microscopy. • Evaluate coating stability: We will want to ascertain the robustness and durability of the PDA-TP-CHX coating of our Ti specimens. Samples will be left stored under ambient conditions for a minimum of 8 months and an assessment of their antibacterial potency determined quarterly. Therefore this project will run for 12 months and not 6 as suggested (page 1). Our coating will need to withstand the rigors of irrigation and insertion into bone and so these studies will also be conducted during the course of the project. • Determine host cell biocompatibility: Having identified the optimal coating steps to take in developing our antibacterial surface, control and functionalised specimens will be seeded with human osteoblasts and an assessment of their growth and maturation determined using reliable and robust biochemical assays. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborator on this POC project. |
| Impact | We are cautiously optimistic that we have found a facile way of modifying Ti with an antibiotic that is particularly effective in killing S. aureus/MRSA, a major miscreant of implant infections. The PI has a PhD student, Savannah Britton, who is continuing with this research. Savannah has made a valuable contribution to this study. The PI continues to collaborate with Prof. Ashley Blom, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and data analysis licensee for the National Joint Registry. Prof. Blom has strong connections with Ti implant manufacturers and we will want to work with him in forging new industrial links. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18001 Facile fabrication of a disruptive titanium technology using a polydopamine capturing platform. (Jason Mansell) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dental implant failure consequent to peri-implantitis (PI) continues to be a significant oral healthcare problem. In the UK alone the cost incurred to replace affected implants is estimated to be £20m per annum. The overall aim is therefore clear; the facile fabrication of an antibacterial titanium (Ti) technology. We will achieve this by coating the metal surface with a reactive polydopamine thin film for the subsequent capture of teicoplanin (TP) and chlorhexidine (CHX). The rational for selecting TP and CHX is that these antimicrobial agents are approved for clinical use. Importantly they are also known to retain biological function when immobilised. In terms of measuring success we will want to: • Assess antibacterial potency: Ti samples will be inoculated with different periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros & Staphylococcus aureus). The attachment of these bacteria to the surface and its potential to kill these types of bacteria will be tested using microbial count recovery as well as a LIVE/DEAD staining procedure. This will be visualised using fluorescent microscopy. • Evaluate coating stability: We will want to ascertain the robustness and durability of the PDA-TP-CHX coating of our Ti specimens. Samples will be left stored under ambient conditions for a minimum of 8 months and an assessment of their antibacterial potency determined quarterly. Therefore this project will run for 12 months and not 6 as suggested (page 1). Our coating will need to withstand the rigors of irrigation and insertion into bone and so these studies will also be conducted during the course of the project. • Determine host cell biocompatibility: Having identified the optimal coating steps to take in developing our antibacterial surface, control and functionalised specimens will be seeded with human osteoblasts and an assessment of their growth and maturation determined using reliable and robust biochemical assays. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborator on this POC project. |
| Impact | We are cautiously optimistic that we have found a facile way of modifying Ti with an antibiotic that is particularly effective in killing S. aureus/MRSA, a major miscreant of implant infections. The PI has a PhD student, Savannah Britton, who is continuing with this research. Savannah has made a valuable contribution to this study. The PI continues to collaborate with Prof. Ashley Blom, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and data analysis licensee for the National Joint Registry. Prof. Blom has strong connections with Ti implant manufacturers and we will want to work with him in forging new industrial links. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18005 Accelerating Antisense PMOs to the Clinic. (Michael Stocks) |
| Organisation | Belfry Therapeutics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a highly virulent and multi-drug resistant pathogen causing significant mortality in hospitalised patients. Antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) have recently been shown to inhibit the expression of accP and rpsJ essential genes in PA biofilms, with a significant negative impact on biofilm formation increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics against them [Howard (2017) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother e01938-16]. However, the effect occurs at high reported concentrations (µM-range) likely due to poor bacterial uptake. In addition the permeabilising peptides used to uptake such PMOs can show significant toxic effects [McClorey and Banerjee, 2018]. Overall Objective To select and synthesise 2 antisense, non-toxic PMOs with enhanced bacterial uptake targeting accP and RpsJ expression and evaluate their impact on biofilms and changes in sensitivity to antibiotics with a view to the future development of: (i) more effective treatments against PA biofilms through increased delivery of antisense PMOs (ii) an innovative antisense technology which can be used to target any genes in Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. Innovative Approach PMOs will be chemically modified through the synthesis of the PMO-1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine conjugates [application of an Antibiotic-Assisted Translocation Platform (AATP) developed by Belfry to drastically increase bacterial antibiotic uptake] to drastically increase PMO uptake through bypassing the PA permeability barrier (including efflux pumps) and transporting them straight into their cytoplasm hence reducing the effective dose. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner on this POC project. |
| Impact | This was a high risk project which has met all of its project milestones. Monthly project meetings were held between the project partners were results and future plans were agreed. The likely reasons for the lack of biological activity seen are: • The selected PMOs do not possess the required biological activity • The selected PMOs only function with the conjugation to cell permeabilizing peptides • The PMO conjugates, if up taken by active transport are not being metabolised in the cytosol • The PMO conjugates are being cleaved in the supernatant and are therefore unable to be actively up taken into the bacteria. • N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is not expressed in the PAO1 strain being used To address some of these points, further work is being undertaken at the University of Nottingham to: • Test that the N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is expressed in the bacterial strain being used in Nottingham. This is being explored through evaluation of ciprofloxacin linked to anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine supplied by Pedanius Therapeuticsconjugates (known to work in other strains). • Mass spectral analysis of the PMO conjugates evaluating bacterial uptake into the cytosol of the PMO-conjugate. Further work is on-going post project (with full agreement from Pedanius Therapeutics and the University of Nottingham) to evaluate the potential reason for the lack of biological activity observed with the four PMO conjugates (DK17-20). Unfortunately the results proved that this product is unfeasible for continued commercial or research work. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18005 Accelerating Antisense PMOs to the Clinic. (Michael Stocks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a highly virulent and multi-drug resistant pathogen causing significant mortality in hospitalised patients. Antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) have recently been shown to inhibit the expression of accP and rpsJ essential genes in PA biofilms, with a significant negative impact on biofilm formation increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics against them [Howard (2017) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother e01938-16]. However, the effect occurs at high reported concentrations (µM-range) likely due to poor bacterial uptake. In addition the permeabilising peptides used to uptake such PMOs can show significant toxic effects [McClorey and Banerjee, 2018]. Overall Objective To select and synthesise 2 antisense, non-toxic PMOs with enhanced bacterial uptake targeting accP and RpsJ expression and evaluate their impact on biofilms and changes in sensitivity to antibiotics with a view to the future development of: (i) more effective treatments against PA biofilms through increased delivery of antisense PMOs (ii) an innovative antisense technology which can be used to target any genes in Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. Innovative Approach PMOs will be chemically modified through the synthesis of the PMO-1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine conjugates [application of an Antibiotic-Assisted Translocation Platform (AATP) developed by Belfry to drastically increase bacterial antibiotic uptake] to drastically increase PMO uptake through bypassing the PA permeability barrier (including efflux pumps) and transporting them straight into their cytoplasm hence reducing the effective dose. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner on this POC project. |
| Impact | This was a high risk project which has met all of its project milestones. Monthly project meetings were held between the project partners were results and future plans were agreed. The likely reasons for the lack of biological activity seen are: • The selected PMOs do not possess the required biological activity • The selected PMOs only function with the conjugation to cell permeabilizing peptides • The PMO conjugates, if up taken by active transport are not being metabolised in the cytosol • The PMO conjugates are being cleaved in the supernatant and are therefore unable to be actively up taken into the bacteria. • N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is not expressed in the PAO1 strain being used To address some of these points, further work is being undertaken at the University of Nottingham to: • Test that the N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is expressed in the bacterial strain being used in Nottingham. This is being explored through evaluation of ciprofloxacin linked to anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine supplied by Pedanius Therapeuticsconjugates (known to work in other strains). • Mass spectral analysis of the PMO conjugates evaluating bacterial uptake into the cytosol of the PMO-conjugate. Further work is on-going post project (with full agreement from Pedanius Therapeutics and the University of Nottingham) to evaluate the potential reason for the lack of biological activity observed with the four PMO conjugates (DK17-20). Unfortunately the results proved that this product is unfeasible for continued commercial or research work. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18005 Accelerating Antisense PMOs to the Clinic. (Michael Stocks) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a highly virulent and multi-drug resistant pathogen causing significant mortality in hospitalised patients. Antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) have recently been shown to inhibit the expression of accP and rpsJ essential genes in PA biofilms, with a significant negative impact on biofilm formation increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics against them [Howard (2017) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother e01938-16]. However, the effect occurs at high reported concentrations (µM-range) likely due to poor bacterial uptake. In addition the permeabilising peptides used to uptake such PMOs can show significant toxic effects [McClorey and Banerjee, 2018]. Overall Objective To select and synthesise 2 antisense, non-toxic PMOs with enhanced bacterial uptake targeting accP and RpsJ expression and evaluate their impact on biofilms and changes in sensitivity to antibiotics with a view to the future development of: (i) more effective treatments against PA biofilms through increased delivery of antisense PMOs (ii) an innovative antisense technology which can be used to target any genes in Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. Innovative Approach PMOs will be chemically modified through the synthesis of the PMO-1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine conjugates [application of an Antibiotic-Assisted Translocation Platform (AATP) developed by Belfry to drastically increase bacterial antibiotic uptake] to drastically increase PMO uptake through bypassing the PA permeability barrier (including efflux pumps) and transporting them straight into their cytoplasm hence reducing the effective dose. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner on this POC project. |
| Impact | This was a high risk project which has met all of its project milestones. Monthly project meetings were held between the project partners were results and future plans were agreed. The likely reasons for the lack of biological activity seen are: • The selected PMOs do not possess the required biological activity • The selected PMOs only function with the conjugation to cell permeabilizing peptides • The PMO conjugates, if up taken by active transport are not being metabolised in the cytosol • The PMO conjugates are being cleaved in the supernatant and are therefore unable to be actively up taken into the bacteria. • N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is not expressed in the PAO1 strain being used To address some of these points, further work is being undertaken at the University of Nottingham to: • Test that the N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase is expressed in the bacterial strain being used in Nottingham. This is being explored through evaluation of ciprofloxacin linked to anhydro-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine supplied by Pedanius Therapeuticsconjugates (known to work in other strains). • Mass spectral analysis of the PMO conjugates evaluating bacterial uptake into the cytosol of the PMO-conjugate. Further work is on-going post project (with full agreement from Pedanius Therapeutics and the University of Nottingham) to evaluate the potential reason for the lack of biological activity observed with the four PMO conjugates (DK17-20). Unfortunately the results proved that this product is unfeasible for continued commercial or research work. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18007 Biofilm evolution in microbial fuel cells fed Yeo Valley wastewater. (Jonathan Winfield) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Wastewater treatment is intrinsically linked to quality of life. While companies are meeting efficiency targets they are under increasing pressure to do so using less energy intensive methods. This applies to large wastewater treatment companies processing domestic wastewater but also to manufacturers and industry who treat their own wastewater. One example is Yeo Valley Farms who manufacture dairy foods and generate about 1.6 million pots of yogurt a day. They operate their own onsite treatment plants and are looking for alternative sustainable technologies to lower operational costs. At their Somerset site in Blagdon, technologies such as solar panels have been installed but other technologies like wind turbines cannot be used because the plant sits in a protected area of natural beauty. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) generate electricity as a direct result of the treatment of wastewater using 'electro-active' microorganisms. The source of energy is the organic pollutants in the liquid which bacteria tap in to, freeing up the electrons resulting in electricity production. This project will focus on the bio-electrochemical capabilities of organisms found in Yeo Valley's treatment plant and will monitor the composition of electro-active biofilms from different stages of the treatment process. The overall aim of the project is to understand the evolution of the biofilm in MFCs that have been inoculated and fed diary wastewater from four different stages of treatment. This will shed light on the capability of organisms not only to treat but produce power. In the later stages of experimentation, the focus will be on cascades of MFCs, where wastewater flows sequentially through a number of units one after the other. Cascades not only improve treatment and power efficiency but the biofilm can be primed for particular conditions such as temperature and varying wastewater composition, factors that are proving a challenge to Yeo Valley. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • MFCs were able to produce electricity when fed Yeo Valley wastewater from different stages of their treatment. • Bacteria from Yeo Valley do have 'electro-active' capabilities in microbial fuel cells. • MFCs might perform more efficiently earlier on in the Yeo Valley treatment process. • Yeo Valley wastewater taken from the end of the treatment process is not suitable as an inoculant or fuel. • Microbes present in dairy wastewater may be better at power generation when fed dairy wastewater than 'electro-active' communities from established 'non-diary' MFCs. A journal article is in preparation. It is unlikely that the collaboration with BioLoop will continue and they were the only link to Yeo Valley. However, we have strong links with Wessex Water and are confident that our findings can benefit other wastewater treatment companies. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18007 Biofilm evolution in microbial fuel cells fed Yeo Valley wastewater. (Jonathan Winfield) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Wastewater treatment is intrinsically linked to quality of life. While companies are meeting efficiency targets they are under increasing pressure to do so using less energy intensive methods. This applies to large wastewater treatment companies processing domestic wastewater but also to manufacturers and industry who treat their own wastewater. One example is Yeo Valley Farms who manufacture dairy foods and generate about 1.6 million pots of yogurt a day. They operate their own onsite treatment plants and are looking for alternative sustainable technologies to lower operational costs. At their Somerset site in Blagdon, technologies such as solar panels have been installed but other technologies like wind turbines cannot be used because the plant sits in a protected area of natural beauty. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) generate electricity as a direct result of the treatment of wastewater using 'electro-active' microorganisms. The source of energy is the organic pollutants in the liquid which bacteria tap in to, freeing up the electrons resulting in electricity production. This project will focus on the bio-electrochemical capabilities of organisms found in Yeo Valley's treatment plant and will monitor the composition of electro-active biofilms from different stages of the treatment process. The overall aim of the project is to understand the evolution of the biofilm in MFCs that have been inoculated and fed diary wastewater from four different stages of treatment. This will shed light on the capability of organisms not only to treat but produce power. In the later stages of experimentation, the focus will be on cascades of MFCs, where wastewater flows sequentially through a number of units one after the other. Cascades not only improve treatment and power efficiency but the biofilm can be primed for particular conditions such as temperature and varying wastewater composition, factors that are proving a challenge to Yeo Valley. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • MFCs were able to produce electricity when fed Yeo Valley wastewater from different stages of their treatment. • Bacteria from Yeo Valley do have 'electro-active' capabilities in microbial fuel cells. • MFCs might perform more efficiently earlier on in the Yeo Valley treatment process. • Yeo Valley wastewater taken from the end of the treatment process is not suitable as an inoculant or fuel. • Microbes present in dairy wastewater may be better at power generation when fed dairy wastewater than 'electro-active' communities from established 'non-diary' MFCs. A journal article is in preparation. It is unlikely that the collaboration with BioLoop will continue and they were the only link to Yeo Valley. However, we have strong links with Wessex Water and are confident that our findings can benefit other wastewater treatment companies. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18007 Biofilm evolution in microbial fuel cells fed Yeo Valley wastewater. (Jonathan Winfield) |
| Organisation | Yeo Marketing Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Wastewater treatment is intrinsically linked to quality of life. While companies are meeting efficiency targets they are under increasing pressure to do so using less energy intensive methods. This applies to large wastewater treatment companies processing domestic wastewater but also to manufacturers and industry who treat their own wastewater. One example is Yeo Valley Farms who manufacture dairy foods and generate about 1.6 million pots of yogurt a day. They operate their own onsite treatment plants and are looking for alternative sustainable technologies to lower operational costs. At their Somerset site in Blagdon, technologies such as solar panels have been installed but other technologies like wind turbines cannot be used because the plant sits in a protected area of natural beauty. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) generate electricity as a direct result of the treatment of wastewater using 'electro-active' microorganisms. The source of energy is the organic pollutants in the liquid which bacteria tap in to, freeing up the electrons resulting in electricity production. This project will focus on the bio-electrochemical capabilities of organisms found in Yeo Valley's treatment plant and will monitor the composition of electro-active biofilms from different stages of the treatment process. The overall aim of the project is to understand the evolution of the biofilm in MFCs that have been inoculated and fed diary wastewater from four different stages of treatment. This will shed light on the capability of organisms not only to treat but produce power. In the later stages of experimentation, the focus will be on cascades of MFCs, where wastewater flows sequentially through a number of units one after the other. Cascades not only improve treatment and power efficiency but the biofilm can be primed for particular conditions such as temperature and varying wastewater composition, factors that are proving a challenge to Yeo Valley. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • MFCs were able to produce electricity when fed Yeo Valley wastewater from different stages of their treatment. • Bacteria from Yeo Valley do have 'electro-active' capabilities in microbial fuel cells. • MFCs might perform more efficiently earlier on in the Yeo Valley treatment process. • Yeo Valley wastewater taken from the end of the treatment process is not suitable as an inoculant or fuel. • Microbes present in dairy wastewater may be better at power generation when fed dairy wastewater than 'electro-active' communities from established 'non-diary' MFCs. A journal article is in preparation. It is unlikely that the collaboration with BioLoop will continue and they were the only link to Yeo Valley. However, we have strong links with Wessex Water and are confident that our findings can benefit other wastewater treatment companies. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18010 Measuring biofilm formation in venous catheters. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | Kimal |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We aim to improve the design of venous catheters so as to reduce the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infections. We will use a drip-flow biofilm reactor to measure biofilm formation on catheters with a range of lumen cross-sections, skive shapes and surface coatings. Success of our project will be defined by: • Measurements of biofilm accumulation rates in a range of catheters of different designs. • Measurements of the spatial arrangement of biofilm in the catheters. • Improved understanding of how catheter design can promote or prevent biofilm growth. We have also submitted a related proposal to develop a computer modelling framework for biofilm growth in catheters. While the two projects could be performed independently, they would be highly complementary if performed in parallel. We will measure biofilm growth on a range of catheters provided by Kimal, under realistic flow conditions. The work will be performed by Susana Direito, under the supervision of Rosalind Allen, with monthly teleconferences as well as in-person meetings with Kimal in months 3 and 6. |
| Collaborator Contribution | KIMAL was an ideal partner for this project since its VASTEC R&D team has a dedicated on-site innovation centres with machining tools that can be used to create innovative catheter designs for testing. KIMAL also has a new manufacturing plant in Egypt which allows swift translation of improved designs into large-scale manufactured products. However, KIMAL does not have facilities for testing bacterial growth under fluid flow, as we have at the University of Edinburgh. KIMAL made in-kind contributions totalling £10,000. These consisted of: • Staff time for 4 x monthly teleconferences and 2 x in-person meetings, plus consultation via email and phone during the project: £7,500. • Supply of catheters, and production of prototype catheters where needed e.g. with different skive shape and size: £2,500. |
| Impact | This project achieved all the original goals which were set out in the proof of concept proposal. The results of this project show that skive shape and size, lumen shape and surface coating do affect biofilm formation. Bacteria seem to attach to grooves both in the exterior and interior walls of the catheters. Removing these grooves may help to reduce bacterial attachment/biofilm formation. KIMAL has already improved the manufacturing process to remove internal grooves, as observed in the CT scans of the HP and PRO samples. Our study highlighted the importance of biofilm formation close to the skives. The way skives are cut also seems to be important, since macroscopic surface roughness may play a role in bacterial attachment. As discussed with KIMAL, polishing may be a good solution to eliminate material imperfections. We also found that silver-coated catheters do not seem to be the best option for biofilm prevention. Regarding contact-kill surfaces, our results were interesting, suggesting the efficacy may be condition-dependent. The project was highly successful, and it identified immediate manufacturing steps that could be taken to improve catheter design and reduce biofilm formation. To support future work with Kimal PLC, a PhD studentship was established through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT programme which works to provide industrially integrated post-graduate training in research, enterprise and innovation for future industry leaders. Further funding applications are also in the pipeline. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18010 Measuring biofilm formation in venous catheters. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We aim to improve the design of venous catheters so as to reduce the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infections. We will use a drip-flow biofilm reactor to measure biofilm formation on catheters with a range of lumen cross-sections, skive shapes and surface coatings. Success of our project will be defined by: • Measurements of biofilm accumulation rates in a range of catheters of different designs. • Measurements of the spatial arrangement of biofilm in the catheters. • Improved understanding of how catheter design can promote or prevent biofilm growth. We have also submitted a related proposal to develop a computer modelling framework for biofilm growth in catheters. While the two projects could be performed independently, they would be highly complementary if performed in parallel. We will measure biofilm growth on a range of catheters provided by Kimal, under realistic flow conditions. The work will be performed by Susana Direito, under the supervision of Rosalind Allen, with monthly teleconferences as well as in-person meetings with Kimal in months 3 and 6. |
| Collaborator Contribution | KIMAL was an ideal partner for this project since its VASTEC R&D team has a dedicated on-site innovation centres with machining tools that can be used to create innovative catheter designs for testing. KIMAL also has a new manufacturing plant in Egypt which allows swift translation of improved designs into large-scale manufactured products. However, KIMAL does not have facilities for testing bacterial growth under fluid flow, as we have at the University of Edinburgh. KIMAL made in-kind contributions totalling £10,000. These consisted of: • Staff time for 4 x monthly teleconferences and 2 x in-person meetings, plus consultation via email and phone during the project: £7,500. • Supply of catheters, and production of prototype catheters where needed e.g. with different skive shape and size: £2,500. |
| Impact | This project achieved all the original goals which were set out in the proof of concept proposal. The results of this project show that skive shape and size, lumen shape and surface coating do affect biofilm formation. Bacteria seem to attach to grooves both in the exterior and interior walls of the catheters. Removing these grooves may help to reduce bacterial attachment/biofilm formation. KIMAL has already improved the manufacturing process to remove internal grooves, as observed in the CT scans of the HP and PRO samples. Our study highlighted the importance of biofilm formation close to the skives. The way skives are cut also seems to be important, since macroscopic surface roughness may play a role in bacterial attachment. As discussed with KIMAL, polishing may be a good solution to eliminate material imperfections. We also found that silver-coated catheters do not seem to be the best option for biofilm prevention. Regarding contact-kill surfaces, our results were interesting, suggesting the efficacy may be condition-dependent. The project was highly successful, and it identified immediate manufacturing steps that could be taken to improve catheter design and reduce biofilm formation. To support future work with Kimal PLC, a PhD studentship was established through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT programme which works to provide industrially integrated post-graduate training in research, enterprise and innovation for future industry leaders. Further funding applications are also in the pipeline. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18010 Measuring biofilm formation in venous catheters. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We aim to improve the design of venous catheters so as to reduce the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infections. We will use a drip-flow biofilm reactor to measure biofilm formation on catheters with a range of lumen cross-sections, skive shapes and surface coatings. Success of our project will be defined by: • Measurements of biofilm accumulation rates in a range of catheters of different designs. • Measurements of the spatial arrangement of biofilm in the catheters. • Improved understanding of how catheter design can promote or prevent biofilm growth. We have also submitted a related proposal to develop a computer modelling framework for biofilm growth in catheters. While the two projects could be performed independently, they would be highly complementary if performed in parallel. We will measure biofilm growth on a range of catheters provided by Kimal, under realistic flow conditions. The work will be performed by Susana Direito, under the supervision of Rosalind Allen, with monthly teleconferences as well as in-person meetings with Kimal in months 3 and 6. |
| Collaborator Contribution | KIMAL was an ideal partner for this project since its VASTEC R&D team has a dedicated on-site innovation centres with machining tools that can be used to create innovative catheter designs for testing. KIMAL also has a new manufacturing plant in Egypt which allows swift translation of improved designs into large-scale manufactured products. However, KIMAL does not have facilities for testing bacterial growth under fluid flow, as we have at the University of Edinburgh. KIMAL made in-kind contributions totalling £10,000. These consisted of: • Staff time for 4 x monthly teleconferences and 2 x in-person meetings, plus consultation via email and phone during the project: £7,500. • Supply of catheters, and production of prototype catheters where needed e.g. with different skive shape and size: £2,500. |
| Impact | This project achieved all the original goals which were set out in the proof of concept proposal. The results of this project show that skive shape and size, lumen shape and surface coating do affect biofilm formation. Bacteria seem to attach to grooves both in the exterior and interior walls of the catheters. Removing these grooves may help to reduce bacterial attachment/biofilm formation. KIMAL has already improved the manufacturing process to remove internal grooves, as observed in the CT scans of the HP and PRO samples. Our study highlighted the importance of biofilm formation close to the skives. The way skives are cut also seems to be important, since macroscopic surface roughness may play a role in bacterial attachment. As discussed with KIMAL, polishing may be a good solution to eliminate material imperfections. We also found that silver-coated catheters do not seem to be the best option for biofilm prevention. Regarding contact-kill surfaces, our results were interesting, suggesting the efficacy may be condition-dependent. The project was highly successful, and it identified immediate manufacturing steps that could be taken to improve catheter design and reduce biofilm formation. To support future work with Kimal PLC, a PhD studentship was established through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT programme which works to provide industrially integrated post-graduate training in research, enterprise and innovation for future industry leaders. Further funding applications are also in the pipeline. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18011 BIOfilm FluorescentANtibioTicsAsSaY (Freya Harrison) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a tool to help manage chronic biofilm infections by detecting the level of antibiotic penetration through a biofilm in a pre-clinical model. The study aims to quantify the penetration of fluorescently-labelled antibiotics within a bacterial biofilm. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, gathered using a UKASaccredited method and a novel clinically relevant method. Currently available mass-spectrometry based methods are unsuitable for high-throughput assays to detect drugs that have penetrated biofilm: they are specialised and expensive. An assay based on fluorescently-labelled candidate antibiofilm agents would be achievable with a microplate fluorimeter and offer a more affordable alternative. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a technique suitable for use within clinical microbiology laboratories that can be used to label and then detect potential antibiotics within biofilms formed by clinical pathogens. Ultimately a device would be the preferred outcome but the level of complexity required in this study will inform the team on the feasibility of a device versus a methodology. The aim is to inform clinicians on effective antibiotic candidates prior to treatment. This will not only improve the efficacy of treatments but will also decrease the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistant bacterial phenotypes. In order to assess antibiotic penetration, we will use and compare 2 methodologies. A high-throughput, clinically relevant model specific to biofilm infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) (Infect. Immun. 82:3312; Microbiology 162:1755) and a UK accreditation service (UKAS) accredited biofilm methodology. Fluorescently labelled antibiotics will be applied to these biofilms and the quantity of bacteria that has penetrated the biofilm will be quantified. Output: assess potential of BODIPY conjugates for use within a high-throughput R&D assay for testing novel antibacterial agents, and/or adjuvants proposed to break down biofilm matrix. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner in this POC project. |
| Impact | The Ex-vivo Lung Tissue Model was successfully accredited to ISO 17025 in September 2020. The latest Extension to Scope sees a remarkable achievement to accredit this model. Ordinarily ISO 17025 is applied to current standard methods, typically carried out in suspension or on abiotic surfaces. Accrediting reproducible and reliable tissue based models is pivotal in creating models that represent complex 'real world' conditions and therefore in developing safe and effective treatments and therapies. The results from Task 2 were published in the journal Microbiology (in press, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000995). Due to administrative delays at UoW, this work ended up being funded by FH's MRC grant as discussed previously with NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18011 BIOfilm FluorescentANtibioTicsAsSaY (Freya Harrison) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a tool to help manage chronic biofilm infections by detecting the level of antibiotic penetration through a biofilm in a pre-clinical model. The study aims to quantify the penetration of fluorescently-labelled antibiotics within a bacterial biofilm. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, gathered using a UKASaccredited method and a novel clinically relevant method. Currently available mass-spectrometry based methods are unsuitable for high-throughput assays to detect drugs that have penetrated biofilm: they are specialised and expensive. An assay based on fluorescently-labelled candidate antibiofilm agents would be achievable with a microplate fluorimeter and offer a more affordable alternative. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a technique suitable for use within clinical microbiology laboratories that can be used to label and then detect potential antibiotics within biofilms formed by clinical pathogens. Ultimately a device would be the preferred outcome but the level of complexity required in this study will inform the team on the feasibility of a device versus a methodology. The aim is to inform clinicians on effective antibiotic candidates prior to treatment. This will not only improve the efficacy of treatments but will also decrease the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistant bacterial phenotypes. In order to assess antibiotic penetration, we will use and compare 2 methodologies. A high-throughput, clinically relevant model specific to biofilm infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) (Infect. Immun. 82:3312; Microbiology 162:1755) and a UK accreditation service (UKAS) accredited biofilm methodology. Fluorescently labelled antibiotics will be applied to these biofilms and the quantity of bacteria that has penetrated the biofilm will be quantified. Output: assess potential of BODIPY conjugates for use within a high-throughput R&D assay for testing novel antibacterial agents, and/or adjuvants proposed to break down biofilm matrix. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner in this POC project. |
| Impact | The Ex-vivo Lung Tissue Model was successfully accredited to ISO 17025 in September 2020. The latest Extension to Scope sees a remarkable achievement to accredit this model. Ordinarily ISO 17025 is applied to current standard methods, typically carried out in suspension or on abiotic surfaces. Accrediting reproducible and reliable tissue based models is pivotal in creating models that represent complex 'real world' conditions and therefore in developing safe and effective treatments and therapies. The results from Task 2 were published in the journal Microbiology (in press, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000995). Due to administrative delays at UoW, this work ended up being funded by FH's MRC grant as discussed previously with NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18011 BIOfilm FluorescentANtibioTicsAsSaY (Freya Harrison) |
| Organisation | Perfectus Biomed Ltd. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a tool to help manage chronic biofilm infections by detecting the level of antibiotic penetration through a biofilm in a pre-clinical model. The study aims to quantify the penetration of fluorescently-labelled antibiotics within a bacterial biofilm. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, gathered using a UKASaccredited method and a novel clinically relevant method. Currently available mass-spectrometry based methods are unsuitable for high-throughput assays to detect drugs that have penetrated biofilm: they are specialised and expensive. An assay based on fluorescently-labelled candidate antibiofilm agents would be achievable with a microplate fluorimeter and offer a more affordable alternative. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a technique suitable for use within clinical microbiology laboratories that can be used to label and then detect potential antibiotics within biofilms formed by clinical pathogens. Ultimately a device would be the preferred outcome but the level of complexity required in this study will inform the team on the feasibility of a device versus a methodology. The aim is to inform clinicians on effective antibiotic candidates prior to treatment. This will not only improve the efficacy of treatments but will also decrease the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistant bacterial phenotypes. In order to assess antibiotic penetration, we will use and compare 2 methodologies. A high-throughput, clinically relevant model specific to biofilm infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) (Infect. Immun. 82:3312; Microbiology 162:1755) and a UK accreditation service (UKAS) accredited biofilm methodology. Fluorescently labelled antibiotics will be applied to these biofilms and the quantity of bacteria that has penetrated the biofilm will be quantified. Output: assess potential of BODIPY conjugates for use within a high-throughput R&D assay for testing novel antibacterial agents, and/or adjuvants proposed to break down biofilm matrix. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner in this POC project. |
| Impact | The Ex-vivo Lung Tissue Model was successfully accredited to ISO 17025 in September 2020. The latest Extension to Scope sees a remarkable achievement to accredit this model. Ordinarily ISO 17025 is applied to current standard methods, typically carried out in suspension or on abiotic surfaces. Accrediting reproducible and reliable tissue based models is pivotal in creating models that represent complex 'real world' conditions and therefore in developing safe and effective treatments and therapies. The results from Task 2 were published in the journal Microbiology (in press, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000995). Due to administrative delays at UoW, this work ended up being funded by FH's MRC grant as discussed previously with NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18011 BIOfilm FluorescentANtibioTicsAsSaY (Freya Harrison) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a tool to help manage chronic biofilm infections by detecting the level of antibiotic penetration through a biofilm in a pre-clinical model. The study aims to quantify the penetration of fluorescently-labelled antibiotics within a bacterial biofilm. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, gathered using a UKASaccredited method and a novel clinically relevant method. Currently available mass-spectrometry based methods are unsuitable for high-throughput assays to detect drugs that have penetrated biofilm: they are specialised and expensive. An assay based on fluorescently-labelled candidate antibiofilm agents would be achievable with a microplate fluorimeter and offer a more affordable alternative. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a technique suitable for use within clinical microbiology laboratories that can be used to label and then detect potential antibiotics within biofilms formed by clinical pathogens. Ultimately a device would be the preferred outcome but the level of complexity required in this study will inform the team on the feasibility of a device versus a methodology. The aim is to inform clinicians on effective antibiotic candidates prior to treatment. This will not only improve the efficacy of treatments but will also decrease the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistant bacterial phenotypes. In order to assess antibiotic penetration, we will use and compare 2 methodologies. A high-throughput, clinically relevant model specific to biofilm infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) (Infect. Immun. 82:3312; Microbiology 162:1755) and a UK accreditation service (UKAS) accredited biofilm methodology. Fluorescently labelled antibiotics will be applied to these biofilms and the quantity of bacteria that has penetrated the biofilm will be quantified. Output: assess potential of BODIPY conjugates for use within a high-throughput R&D assay for testing novel antibacterial agents, and/or adjuvants proposed to break down biofilm matrix. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partner in this POC project. |
| Impact | The Ex-vivo Lung Tissue Model was successfully accredited to ISO 17025 in September 2020. The latest Extension to Scope sees a remarkable achievement to accredit this model. Ordinarily ISO 17025 is applied to current standard methods, typically carried out in suspension or on abiotic surfaces. Accrediting reproducible and reliable tissue based models is pivotal in creating models that represent complex 'real world' conditions and therefore in developing safe and effective treatments and therapies. The results from Task 2 were published in the journal Microbiology (in press, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000995). Due to administrative delays at UoW, this work ended up being funded by FH's MRC grant as discussed previously with NBIC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | Medipure Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | T-EDTA Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18015 Development of Next Generation Synergistic Antibiofilm Treatments for Wounds (Stephen Russell) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim is to determine the feasibility of producing a new prototype wound dressing incorporating an innovative synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm patent pending technology being developed by T-EDTA Ltd, 5DHPG Ltd and Medipure Ltd (currently at TRL 3), and internationally-leading expertise in fibre and fabric manufacturing at the UoL. This will involve integration of a new antibiofilm formulation, with a fibrous wound dressing made of a clinically relevant, low adherent gelating polymer e.g. polysaccharide-based or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The specific objectives are to: 1. Develop a new antibiofilm formulation that can be effectively integrated with advanced dressing fabrics in a scalable and cost-effective fashion to enable long-lasting antimicrobial function across the fibre surfaces within the dressing; 2. Advance the development of the antibiofilm formulation and understand its efficacy, mode of action and characteristics; 3. Evaluate the enhanced antibiofilm performance when the formulation is combined within and on specific fibrous systems for use in woundcare. This will provide a platform to develop highly effective therapies for the management of biofilms in wounds in future work and the delivery of next generation fast acting antibiofilm synergistic compositions capable of promoting healing in infected wounds. The future work will involve developing infection responsive fibrous polymer building blocks that can be integrated within the wound dressing, to facilitate smart response to markers of infection. The major advance will be the development of wound dressing designs and manufacturing technologies that can be potentially upscaled and used to tackle newly identified clinical conditions currently not catered for. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | • Electrospraying, coupled with formulation of spraying solutions with alcohol to reduce surface tension and increase air transit evaporation is a suitable method for deployment of aqueous antibiofilm compositions based on T-EDTA. • The two synergistic compositions T-EDTA/Suprox, and AgCuEDTA exhibited powerful antibiofilm characteristics on both CMC and alginate substrates in two models, whilst moderate activity was found for the drip-flow model. This could be explained by the removal of some of the active material in the flow regime of the drip-flow. Commercial dressings follow similar observations. • Overall, some variability in results was present, possibly suggesting local variability in level applied, and total level. NBIC case study: Annually over 18 million patients globally suffer from chronic wounds, of which over 50% will develop a localised infection due to biofilms, a major impediment to wound healing, and long term health. This can lead to increased health service costs, morbidity and further complications for the patient, which ultimately includes amputation. The indicative annual cost for wound management in Europe accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets and has been estimated to be as high as €10 billion. Current antimicrobials in woundcare have limited effectiveness against biofilms. The project, 'Development of Next Generation synergistic antibiofilm treatments for wounds' was awarded an NBIC Proof of Concept (POC) award and in-kind contributions from 5DHPG Ltd, enabling process development work and prototype production to be carried out at the University of Leeds, whilst 5DHPG supplied raw materials and carried out antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing. The innovative approach of the project was the development of a synergistic combination of both antimicrobials in combination with 5Ds patent protected antibiofilm agents into one formulation, and its incorporation into modern hydrogel-based low adherent fibrous wound dressing. Two synergistic compositions, including metalised chelating agents applied to both carboxymethylcellulose and alginate substrates exhibited outstanding antibiofilm performance. With further development work, these technologies could be readily commercialised by companies operating in the advanced wound care space. Dr Steve Law, Research and Innovation Manager, 5D Health Protection Group Ltd said, "The novel antibiofilm technologies had been developed to laboratory scale by 5DHPG Ltd, but the NBIC award allowed the exploration of how the technologies could be applied on modern wound care substrates and also enabled evaluation of wound dressing prototypes in robust antibiofilm models". The project has been successfully completed, with all outcomes achieved. Two routes for advancement of the project are being pursued: sharing of the results with targeted industry partner(s) with a view to generate collaboration and co-development projects, and to seek further funding based on further development of synergistic antibiofilm compositions and further development of deployment techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18018 Blue light treatment of Listeria Under Environmental conditions (Mark Webber) |
| Organisation | Chilled Food Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • The use of blue light as an antimicrobial to eradicate listeria is known. However, its use on surfaces and isolates relevant to production has not been explored. QIB has undertaken a focused freedom to operate search for "Blue Light and Listeria". The search revealed one potentially relevant patent application, WO2017/205578, which includes the following claim: • A method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target, the method comprising: irradiating the target with purple or blue light in a pulsed mode of irradiation in accordance with an irradiation schedule that includes a plurality of irradiation sessions, wherein the irradiation sessions are provided at a plurality of time intervals so as to cause photoeradication of all or a portion of the microorganisms. • This claim is very broad, and the International Examiner has noted that it lacks novelty and inventive step. The claim is therefore extremely likely to need to be narrowed or deleted before the application will be granted. The only claims in this application that are currently novel and inventive are systems claims to control an irradiation schedule of blue light. These claims are not of concern to the proposed research. We will monitor progression of this application; however, we are confident that the application will not be of concern to the proposed research. • QIB has also undertaken a broader freedom to operate search for "blue light and (antimicrobial or antibacterial or antiviral or antibiotic or antimycotic)". This search revealed 92 hits. A review of these hits revealed no results relevant to the proposed research. • Protection and/or commercialisation of any foreground IP will be discussed between QIB and CFA as research progresses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Blue light is attractive as additional control measure for the food production industry, where it is impossible to maintain a sterile environment and there is a constant supply of organic material for bacterial growth. Use of blue light has been reported to be effective against L. monocytogenes and increase sensitivity to disinfectants, however, studies are often non-representative of factory conditions and/or use a high intensity of 405 nm light (Li et al., 2018). Whilst this study did highlight some antimicrobial effects of 405 nm, for example, against planktonic Listeria, these results did not translate into inhibited/reduced biofilm formation when using more realistic in-use conditions (2.5 W/m2 of light, factory relevant conditions and temperatures). Increased sensitivity to disinfectants was seen after light exposure but at concentrations far lower than those used in situ and this may not translate in the presence of organic matter where concentrations much higher than the MBCs were required to provide a killing effect. Notably, at a lower intensity (0.2 W/m2), an increase in biofilm formation under chilled conditions was observed from light treated biofilms when compared to non-exposed controls. This is a concern as this could have implications in the food production industry where surfaces are at many heights and exposure levels will inevitably vary. In conclusion, at the intensity tested, under chilled conditions, 405 nm blue light did not show promise to enhance biocontrol of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environment. Further work: • A publication will be prepared in collaboration with the CFA. • Microscopy and genetic information will become available and be incorporated in this publication. Case study by NBIC: We regularly help our Industrial Partners to find suitable academic partners within NBIC to collaborate on solving their applied problem areas. One such partner is the Chilled Food Association (CFA) and we worked with them to create a problem statement around one of these relating to the use of safe visible light for biofilm control and disinfection in the chilled food industry. We sent this statement out to our Academic members. Ken Johnston, a Consultant and Advisor to The Chilled Food Association, said, "The CFA is constantly looking for new ways to enhance the efficiency of food manufacture. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism of particular concern to us because of its public health importance and its toughness in biofilm environments. Through NBIC's network we found a suitable partner, the Quadram Institute, where Dr Mark Webber leads the antimicrobial resistance group, to help us evaluate novel approaches to the control of listeria." "We have been close to NBIC since day one and when we saw the problem statement, we're able to respond immediately as we have experience in this area and met with Ken to identify the work needed to address this problem. We submitted an application to NBIC's first Proof of Concept project call for a 6-month project and were delighted to be successful," says Dr Webber. The CFA/Quadram Proof of Concept project has recently started and the practical work is led by Dr Chloe Hutchins. The project demonstrates how NBIC can be engaged in understanding and disseminating unmet needs, finding partners and then enabling translation. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18018 Blue light treatment of Listeria Under Environmental conditions (Mark Webber) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • The use of blue light as an antimicrobial to eradicate listeria is known. However, its use on surfaces and isolates relevant to production has not been explored. QIB has undertaken a focused freedom to operate search for "Blue Light and Listeria". The search revealed one potentially relevant patent application, WO2017/205578, which includes the following claim: • A method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target, the method comprising: irradiating the target with purple or blue light in a pulsed mode of irradiation in accordance with an irradiation schedule that includes a plurality of irradiation sessions, wherein the irradiation sessions are provided at a plurality of time intervals so as to cause photoeradication of all or a portion of the microorganisms. • This claim is very broad, and the International Examiner has noted that it lacks novelty and inventive step. The claim is therefore extremely likely to need to be narrowed or deleted before the application will be granted. The only claims in this application that are currently novel and inventive are systems claims to control an irradiation schedule of blue light. These claims are not of concern to the proposed research. We will monitor progression of this application; however, we are confident that the application will not be of concern to the proposed research. • QIB has also undertaken a broader freedom to operate search for "blue light and (antimicrobial or antibacterial or antiviral or antibiotic or antimycotic)". This search revealed 92 hits. A review of these hits revealed no results relevant to the proposed research. • Protection and/or commercialisation of any foreground IP will be discussed between QIB and CFA as research progresses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Blue light is attractive as additional control measure for the food production industry, where it is impossible to maintain a sterile environment and there is a constant supply of organic material for bacterial growth. Use of blue light has been reported to be effective against L. monocytogenes and increase sensitivity to disinfectants, however, studies are often non-representative of factory conditions and/or use a high intensity of 405 nm light (Li et al., 2018). Whilst this study did highlight some antimicrobial effects of 405 nm, for example, against planktonic Listeria, these results did not translate into inhibited/reduced biofilm formation when using more realistic in-use conditions (2.5 W/m2 of light, factory relevant conditions and temperatures). Increased sensitivity to disinfectants was seen after light exposure but at concentrations far lower than those used in situ and this may not translate in the presence of organic matter where concentrations much higher than the MBCs were required to provide a killing effect. Notably, at a lower intensity (0.2 W/m2), an increase in biofilm formation under chilled conditions was observed from light treated biofilms when compared to non-exposed controls. This is a concern as this could have implications in the food production industry where surfaces are at many heights and exposure levels will inevitably vary. In conclusion, at the intensity tested, under chilled conditions, 405 nm blue light did not show promise to enhance biocontrol of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environment. Further work: • A publication will be prepared in collaboration with the CFA. • Microscopy and genetic information will become available and be incorporated in this publication. Case study by NBIC: We regularly help our Industrial Partners to find suitable academic partners within NBIC to collaborate on solving their applied problem areas. One such partner is the Chilled Food Association (CFA) and we worked with them to create a problem statement around one of these relating to the use of safe visible light for biofilm control and disinfection in the chilled food industry. We sent this statement out to our Academic members. Ken Johnston, a Consultant and Advisor to The Chilled Food Association, said, "The CFA is constantly looking for new ways to enhance the efficiency of food manufacture. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism of particular concern to us because of its public health importance and its toughness in biofilm environments. Through NBIC's network we found a suitable partner, the Quadram Institute, where Dr Mark Webber leads the antimicrobial resistance group, to help us evaluate novel approaches to the control of listeria." "We have been close to NBIC since day one and when we saw the problem statement, we're able to respond immediately as we have experience in this area and met with Ken to identify the work needed to address this problem. We submitted an application to NBIC's first Proof of Concept project call for a 6-month project and were delighted to be successful," says Dr Webber. The CFA/Quadram Proof of Concept project has recently started and the practical work is led by Dr Chloe Hutchins. The project demonstrates how NBIC can be engaged in understanding and disseminating unmet needs, finding partners and then enabling translation. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18018 Blue light treatment of Listeria Under Environmental conditions (Mark Webber) |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | • The use of blue light as an antimicrobial to eradicate listeria is known. However, its use on surfaces and isolates relevant to production has not been explored. QIB has undertaken a focused freedom to operate search for "Blue Light and Listeria". The search revealed one potentially relevant patent application, WO2017/205578, which includes the following claim: • A method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target, the method comprising: irradiating the target with purple or blue light in a pulsed mode of irradiation in accordance with an irradiation schedule that includes a plurality of irradiation sessions, wherein the irradiation sessions are provided at a plurality of time intervals so as to cause photoeradication of all or a portion of the microorganisms. • This claim is very broad, and the International Examiner has noted that it lacks novelty and inventive step. The claim is therefore extremely likely to need to be narrowed or deleted before the application will be granted. The only claims in this application that are currently novel and inventive are systems claims to control an irradiation schedule of blue light. These claims are not of concern to the proposed research. We will monitor progression of this application; however, we are confident that the application will not be of concern to the proposed research. • QIB has also undertaken a broader freedom to operate search for "blue light and (antimicrobial or antibacterial or antiviral or antibiotic or antimycotic)". This search revealed 92 hits. A review of these hits revealed no results relevant to the proposed research. • Protection and/or commercialisation of any foreground IP will be discussed between QIB and CFA as research progresses. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Blue light is attractive as additional control measure for the food production industry, where it is impossible to maintain a sterile environment and there is a constant supply of organic material for bacterial growth. Use of blue light has been reported to be effective against L. monocytogenes and increase sensitivity to disinfectants, however, studies are often non-representative of factory conditions and/or use a high intensity of 405 nm light (Li et al., 2018). Whilst this study did highlight some antimicrobial effects of 405 nm, for example, against planktonic Listeria, these results did not translate into inhibited/reduced biofilm formation when using more realistic in-use conditions (2.5 W/m2 of light, factory relevant conditions and temperatures). Increased sensitivity to disinfectants was seen after light exposure but at concentrations far lower than those used in situ and this may not translate in the presence of organic matter where concentrations much higher than the MBCs were required to provide a killing effect. Notably, at a lower intensity (0.2 W/m2), an increase in biofilm formation under chilled conditions was observed from light treated biofilms when compared to non-exposed controls. This is a concern as this could have implications in the food production industry where surfaces are at many heights and exposure levels will inevitably vary. In conclusion, at the intensity tested, under chilled conditions, 405 nm blue light did not show promise to enhance biocontrol of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environment. Further work: • A publication will be prepared in collaboration with the CFA. • Microscopy and genetic information will become available and be incorporated in this publication. Case study by NBIC: We regularly help our Industrial Partners to find suitable academic partners within NBIC to collaborate on solving their applied problem areas. One such partner is the Chilled Food Association (CFA) and we worked with them to create a problem statement around one of these relating to the use of safe visible light for biofilm control and disinfection in the chilled food industry. We sent this statement out to our Academic members. Ken Johnston, a Consultant and Advisor to The Chilled Food Association, said, "The CFA is constantly looking for new ways to enhance the efficiency of food manufacture. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism of particular concern to us because of its public health importance and its toughness in biofilm environments. Through NBIC's network we found a suitable partner, the Quadram Institute, where Dr Mark Webber leads the antimicrobial resistance group, to help us evaluate novel approaches to the control of listeria." "We have been close to NBIC since day one and when we saw the problem statement, we're able to respond immediately as we have experience in this area and met with Ken to identify the work needed to address this problem. We submitted an application to NBIC's first Proof of Concept project call for a 6-month project and were delighted to be successful," says Dr Webber. The CFA/Quadram Proof of Concept project has recently started and the practical work is led by Dr Chloe Hutchins. The project demonstrates how NBIC can be engaged in understanding and disseminating unmet needs, finding partners and then enabling translation. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18019 PlasmaHeal: Cold plasma to control biofilms in wound dressings and at the Wound/dressing interface. (James Walsh) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a prototype wound dressing that has the ability to generate, in-situ, a rich cocktail of antimicrobial agents directly at the point of need. This project will have four interlinked objectives: 1. To develop a low-cost and safe to use 'proof of concept' prototype plasma system that is fully encapsulated within a wound dressing; 2. Uncover the underpinning decontamination pathways and optimise the performance of the plasma device by manipulating the underpinning plasma chemistry; 3. Establish the necessary plasma dosage and number of treatments required to maintain a biofilm free wound dressing (at the wound dressing interphase/wound surface); 4. Evaluate and validate the device under more realistic in vitro wound care conditions. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in a prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further funding and future commercial development. It is envisaged that the technology will be commercialised, with suitable follow-on funding, as a low-cost plasma source that operates in conjunction with a specialised wound dressing containing a set of embedded electrodes. The battery operated device could be permanently attached to the dressing and administer a dose of plasma species, as and when required, or, alternatively could be attached intermittently by a healthcare professional or patient. It is anticipated that such a system would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the wound dressing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a plasma discharge, providing a synergistic effect to manage the biofilms and alter the microbiome within the wound dressing, within the wound and at the wound/dressing interphase which will help to enhance cellular healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | Proof of concept successful - resulted in a novel technology/product. - The developed flexible SBD device was found to be highly effective at decontaminating pathogens relevant to chronic wound infections and is well suited for the integration within a wound dressing. Furthermore, the device was made to be user-friendly requiring only a simple on/off switch to use. - The developed system proved to be an effective tool for the removal of bacterial biofilms, using P. aeruginosa as a representative strain. Complete inactivation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were observed within 4 minutes of plasma treatment at 9 W. A lower power discharge (of 4 W) also demonstrated bactericidal capabilities but lacked efficiency as only a 3-log reduction was achieved in a 2-minute exposure time. IP application to be filled. IP to be commercialised with current partners (skincare, woundcare). Research paper to be published. Further funding with a different company: Further from the data etc generated by the NBIC grant we received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics. Exposure to new relationship and new ways of interdisciplinary working (with an engineer). Recruitment and job creation in 5D - indirectly 3 - 4 staff taken on. University of Liverpool in collaboration with 5D Health have applied for a larger £1.2M Innovate UK grant (unsuccessful). 5D Health have received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics to pursue the area outside of woundcare (https://www.hsmemagazine.com/article/extronics-awarded-development-fund-for-social-distancing-contact-tracing-solution/). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18019 PlasmaHeal: Cold plasma to control biofilms in wound dressings and at the Wound/dressing interface. (James Walsh) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a prototype wound dressing that has the ability to generate, in-situ, a rich cocktail of antimicrobial agents directly at the point of need. This project will have four interlinked objectives: 1. To develop a low-cost and safe to use 'proof of concept' prototype plasma system that is fully encapsulated within a wound dressing; 2. Uncover the underpinning decontamination pathways and optimise the performance of the plasma device by manipulating the underpinning plasma chemistry; 3. Establish the necessary plasma dosage and number of treatments required to maintain a biofilm free wound dressing (at the wound dressing interphase/wound surface); 4. Evaluate and validate the device under more realistic in vitro wound care conditions. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in a prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further funding and future commercial development. It is envisaged that the technology will be commercialised, with suitable follow-on funding, as a low-cost plasma source that operates in conjunction with a specialised wound dressing containing a set of embedded electrodes. The battery operated device could be permanently attached to the dressing and administer a dose of plasma species, as and when required, or, alternatively could be attached intermittently by a healthcare professional or patient. It is anticipated that such a system would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the wound dressing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a plasma discharge, providing a synergistic effect to manage the biofilms and alter the microbiome within the wound dressing, within the wound and at the wound/dressing interphase which will help to enhance cellular healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | Proof of concept successful - resulted in a novel technology/product. - The developed flexible SBD device was found to be highly effective at decontaminating pathogens relevant to chronic wound infections and is well suited for the integration within a wound dressing. Furthermore, the device was made to be user-friendly requiring only a simple on/off switch to use. - The developed system proved to be an effective tool for the removal of bacterial biofilms, using P. aeruginosa as a representative strain. Complete inactivation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were observed within 4 minutes of plasma treatment at 9 W. A lower power discharge (of 4 W) also demonstrated bactericidal capabilities but lacked efficiency as only a 3-log reduction was achieved in a 2-minute exposure time. IP application to be filled. IP to be commercialised with current partners (skincare, woundcare). Research paper to be published. Further funding with a different company: Further from the data etc generated by the NBIC grant we received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics. Exposure to new relationship and new ways of interdisciplinary working (with an engineer). Recruitment and job creation in 5D - indirectly 3 - 4 staff taken on. University of Liverpool in collaboration with 5D Health have applied for a larger £1.2M Innovate UK grant (unsuccessful). 5D Health have received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics to pursue the area outside of woundcare (https://www.hsmemagazine.com/article/extronics-awarded-development-fund-for-social-distancing-contact-tracing-solution/). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18019 PlasmaHeal: Cold plasma to control biofilms in wound dressings and at the Wound/dressing interface. (James Walsh) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a prototype wound dressing that has the ability to generate, in-situ, a rich cocktail of antimicrobial agents directly at the point of need. This project will have four interlinked objectives: 1. To develop a low-cost and safe to use 'proof of concept' prototype plasma system that is fully encapsulated within a wound dressing; 2. Uncover the underpinning decontamination pathways and optimise the performance of the plasma device by manipulating the underpinning plasma chemistry; 3. Establish the necessary plasma dosage and number of treatments required to maintain a biofilm free wound dressing (at the wound dressing interphase/wound surface); 4. Evaluate and validate the device under more realistic in vitro wound care conditions. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in a prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further funding and future commercial development. It is envisaged that the technology will be commercialised, with suitable follow-on funding, as a low-cost plasma source that operates in conjunction with a specialised wound dressing containing a set of embedded electrodes. The battery operated device could be permanently attached to the dressing and administer a dose of plasma species, as and when required, or, alternatively could be attached intermittently by a healthcare professional or patient. It is anticipated that such a system would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the wound dressing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a plasma discharge, providing a synergistic effect to manage the biofilms and alter the microbiome within the wound dressing, within the wound and at the wound/dressing interphase which will help to enhance cellular healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | Proof of concept successful - resulted in a novel technology/product. - The developed flexible SBD device was found to be highly effective at decontaminating pathogens relevant to chronic wound infections and is well suited for the integration within a wound dressing. Furthermore, the device was made to be user-friendly requiring only a simple on/off switch to use. - The developed system proved to be an effective tool for the removal of bacterial biofilms, using P. aeruginosa as a representative strain. Complete inactivation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were observed within 4 minutes of plasma treatment at 9 W. A lower power discharge (of 4 W) also demonstrated bactericidal capabilities but lacked efficiency as only a 3-log reduction was achieved in a 2-minute exposure time. IP application to be filled. IP to be commercialised with current partners (skincare, woundcare). Research paper to be published. Further funding with a different company: Further from the data etc generated by the NBIC grant we received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics. Exposure to new relationship and new ways of interdisciplinary working (with an engineer). Recruitment and job creation in 5D - indirectly 3 - 4 staff taken on. University of Liverpool in collaboration with 5D Health have applied for a larger £1.2M Innovate UK grant (unsuccessful). 5D Health have received further funding from Innovate UK with Extronics to pursue the area outside of woundcare (https://www.hsmemagazine.com/article/extronics-awarded-development-fund-for-social-distancing-contact-tracing-solution/). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18020 Development of a Moving Membrane Bioreactor (MMBR) for the Automated Cultivation and Harvest of Algae Grown as a Biofilm. (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will deliver the development of a membrane platform for microalgal cultivation as a biofilm. The work continues from previous research (Innovate UK: 132192, 'Development of a Novel Membrane Photobioreactor for the cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis as a Biofilm'), which proved the benchtop feasibility (TRL4) of a plate type membrane design. During this grant we also began work on a roller based system - the moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR), which we believe has several advantages over the plate design. We aim to further the MMBR at bench scale during this grant (from TRL2 to TRL4) in preparation for a larger technology demonstration (TRL5-6). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | The business impacts are currently confidential pending commercialisation on IP but we can confirm that this collaborative partnership was successful in their application to NBIC POC round 3 which will focus on moving up the TRL. Other impacts include: - Some of the work was able to be used in Ph.D studentship - now submitted and awarded. - The application used a unique AFMicroscopy tool in a pioneering way for biofilm observation and this technique is being deployed in other fields e.g. marine fouling. - PML have a research fellow working on GM modified Algae for vaccine production and the intent is to use the MMBR approach to scale this up further. This funding will continue to summer 2022 equating to an in kind contribution from PLM of ~£135k including overheads and consumables. - They intend to explore the MMBR for us in aquaculture for the algae to produce O2 and consume CO2 also for seaweeds seeding onto carriers for food / fuel and fertiliser applications. - BBSRC funded 'Summer Studentship Bursary' of £2500 awarded via UCL: The student will work on the system as a direct follow on from this POC. - There has been skills swapping and transfer between PML and Varicon by staff movements. - Use of MMBR in other fields. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18020 Development of a Moving Membrane Bioreactor (MMBR) for the Automated Cultivation and Harvest of Algae Grown as a Biofilm. (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will deliver the development of a membrane platform for microalgal cultivation as a biofilm. The work continues from previous research (Innovate UK: 132192, 'Development of a Novel Membrane Photobioreactor for the cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis as a Biofilm'), which proved the benchtop feasibility (TRL4) of a plate type membrane design. During this grant we also began work on a roller based system - the moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR), which we believe has several advantages over the plate design. We aim to further the MMBR at bench scale during this grant (from TRL2 to TRL4) in preparation for a larger technology demonstration (TRL5-6). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | The business impacts are currently confidential pending commercialisation on IP but we can confirm that this collaborative partnership was successful in their application to NBIC POC round 3 which will focus on moving up the TRL. Other impacts include: - Some of the work was able to be used in Ph.D studentship - now submitted and awarded. - The application used a unique AFMicroscopy tool in a pioneering way for biofilm observation and this technique is being deployed in other fields e.g. marine fouling. - PML have a research fellow working on GM modified Algae for vaccine production and the intent is to use the MMBR approach to scale this up further. This funding will continue to summer 2022 equating to an in kind contribution from PLM of ~£135k including overheads and consumables. - They intend to explore the MMBR for us in aquaculture for the algae to produce O2 and consume CO2 also for seaweeds seeding onto carriers for food / fuel and fertiliser applications. - BBSRC funded 'Summer Studentship Bursary' of £2500 awarded via UCL: The student will work on the system as a direct follow on from this POC. - There has been skills swapping and transfer between PML and Varicon by staff movements. - Use of MMBR in other fields. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18020 Development of a Moving Membrane Bioreactor (MMBR) for the Automated Cultivation and Harvest of Algae Grown as a Biofilm. (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will deliver the development of a membrane platform for microalgal cultivation as a biofilm. The work continues from previous research (Innovate UK: 132192, 'Development of a Novel Membrane Photobioreactor for the cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis as a Biofilm'), which proved the benchtop feasibility (TRL4) of a plate type membrane design. During this grant we also began work on a roller based system - the moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR), which we believe has several advantages over the plate design. We aim to further the MMBR at bench scale during this grant (from TRL2 to TRL4) in preparation for a larger technology demonstration (TRL5-6). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborators in this POC project. |
| Impact | The business impacts are currently confidential pending commercialisation on IP but we can confirm that this collaborative partnership was successful in their application to NBIC POC round 3 which will focus on moving up the TRL. Other impacts include: - Some of the work was able to be used in Ph.D studentship - now submitted and awarded. - The application used a unique AFMicroscopy tool in a pioneering way for biofilm observation and this technique is being deployed in other fields e.g. marine fouling. - PML have a research fellow working on GM modified Algae for vaccine production and the intent is to use the MMBR approach to scale this up further. This funding will continue to summer 2022 equating to an in kind contribution from PLM of ~£135k including overheads and consumables. - They intend to explore the MMBR for us in aquaculture for the algae to produce O2 and consume CO2 also for seaweeds seeding onto carriers for food / fuel and fertiliser applications. - BBSRC funded 'Summer Studentship Bursary' of £2500 awarded via UCL: The student will work on the system as a direct follow on from this POC. - There has been skills swapping and transfer between PML and Varicon by staff movements. - Use of MMBR in other fields. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18021 Evaluating an innovative plasma (fourth state of matter) technology for prevention and management of biofilms in the food industry. (Eirini Velliou) |
| Organisation | Fourth State Medicine Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Problem In the food industry, as reported by EFSA and FDA, the increased resistance of biofilm-forming bacteria such as Listeria has led to a need for alternative approaches for decontamination of food and food processing surfaces. Furthermore, there is an increasing consumer-driven demand for food products which have undergone minimal processing. The food industry would hugely benefit from a technology which can disrupt biofilms on food and food processing surfaces, without impacting the nutritional content or sensory characteristics of food. Solution Plasma, the fourth state of matter. Plasma has received much recent attention in bioscience research. Fourth State has developed a platform plasma technology to disrupt the cosmetic and wound care markets, which may be adapted to address agri-food and other adjacent markets. An innovative feature of the technology (granted UK patent, other patents pending) is the production of both "Hot Atmospheric Plasma" (HAP) and "Cold Atmospheric Plasma" (CAP) in the same device. The biological action of CAP is due mainly to the production of bio-active chemical species, while HAP can apply UV light and controllable heat via an inert gas jet. Another innovation (patent pending) is that gaseous effluent from the plasma can either be applied directly or indirectly by feeding through a tube into a closed volume. Channelling and confining plasma effluent allows wide and complex surfaces to be treated, can reduce the size and cost of the plasma source, and allows the plasma source to be located far from the target. Objective The project objective is to evaluate the impact of Fourth State's technology on biofilms in model systems widely relevant to food processing. The project will exploit the University of Surrey's capabilities in culturing and analysing Listeria biofilms on (i) viscoelastic soft food model surfaces and (ii) common surface materials used in food processing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A fundamental understanding of the role of surface structural and biochemical composition along with the role of microenvironments (e.g. mixed populations, flow rate and temperature) on the resistance of Listeria to various plasma compositions was obtained. They have submitted several applications for studentships and research grants from which they are pending feedback. In terms of dissemination, the team have already published their work in two international conferences, i.e., The American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE) annual meeting in Orlando, USA in November 2019 and the International Conference on Predictive Modelling in Foods (ICPMF) in Braganca, Portugal in September 2019. They have also produced a journal article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996921000235. 4th State had recently signed a licensing deal for use of their plasma technology in surface disinfection for a light industrial application and this had very much built on the outcomes of the project with UoS in terms of efficacy data. They are utilising the gas stream from the plasma (Ozone and NO) for disinfection. This has required them to scale up the manufacture of devices per month. The intention for 4th State is to be a technology provider to others essentially an "intel inside" type model with their core technology behind deployed by others in their applications. They continue to look for opportunities to work with Eirini on food and have regular discussions with her to support any applications she may be making, 4th state also intend to reach out to Chilled Food Association contacts via NBIC at the right time. NIBC also advised on regulatory matters and put the co in contact with external experts and this has helped guide the commercialising strategy for 4th state. They see more opportunity in the US for deployment into uses where they can make use of the NO application. Right now, medical applications are viewed as very difficult costly and lengthy from a regulatory perspective. NBIC case study: Fourth State is a micro-SME with ambitions of becoming a leading global provider of atmospheric pressure plasma solutions in healthcare and other adjacent markets. Plasma is the 'fourth state of matter' and consists of ionised gas. Examples in nature include lightning strikes, the aurora and the sun, while historical technological applications include etching of silicon chips for smartphones, advanced space propulsion systems and controlled nuclear fusion reactors. The company founders, Dr Thomas Frame and Dr Thomas Harle, saw an opportunity to use their technological expertise in spacecraft systems engineering and applied plasma physics to address urgent terrestrial needs, such as antimicrobial resistance. The team has since developed and patented an innovative platform plasma technology, and developed the company's first product, Nebulaskin®, for non-surgical cosmetic procedures with a number of leading Harley Street clinics. A disruptive wound care product is currently in development. Dr Harle said, "Fourth State sees biofilm management and prevention as a future 'killer app' for plasma technology across a wide range of sectors, so it's fantastic to be working with NBIC to accelerate development and market access for the technology. Access to NBIC Proof of Concept funding has allowed us to build out our network, explore the expansion of our technology into further sectors and provide us with a deeper understanding of the science behind the interaction of plasma and biofilm". Dr Velliou said, "I find the broadness of the NBIC network and remit fascinating. It allows the conduction of so many different types of research on biofilms and enables academics to network with other relevant groups at both national and international level and encourages academics to work directly with industry to drive solutions to practical problems through fundamental research. This interaction is very valuable as we really see our research output accelerated from bench to every-day practice in industry". |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18021 Evaluating an innovative plasma (fourth state of matter) technology for prevention and management of biofilms in the food industry. (Eirini Velliou) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Problem In the food industry, as reported by EFSA and FDA, the increased resistance of biofilm-forming bacteria such as Listeria has led to a need for alternative approaches for decontamination of food and food processing surfaces. Furthermore, there is an increasing consumer-driven demand for food products which have undergone minimal processing. The food industry would hugely benefit from a technology which can disrupt biofilms on food and food processing surfaces, without impacting the nutritional content or sensory characteristics of food. Solution Plasma, the fourth state of matter. Plasma has received much recent attention in bioscience research. Fourth State has developed a platform plasma technology to disrupt the cosmetic and wound care markets, which may be adapted to address agri-food and other adjacent markets. An innovative feature of the technology (granted UK patent, other patents pending) is the production of both "Hot Atmospheric Plasma" (HAP) and "Cold Atmospheric Plasma" (CAP) in the same device. The biological action of CAP is due mainly to the production of bio-active chemical species, while HAP can apply UV light and controllable heat via an inert gas jet. Another innovation (patent pending) is that gaseous effluent from the plasma can either be applied directly or indirectly by feeding through a tube into a closed volume. Channelling and confining plasma effluent allows wide and complex surfaces to be treated, can reduce the size and cost of the plasma source, and allows the plasma source to be located far from the target. Objective The project objective is to evaluate the impact of Fourth State's technology on biofilms in model systems widely relevant to food processing. The project will exploit the University of Surrey's capabilities in culturing and analysing Listeria biofilms on (i) viscoelastic soft food model surfaces and (ii) common surface materials used in food processing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A fundamental understanding of the role of surface structural and biochemical composition along with the role of microenvironments (e.g. mixed populations, flow rate and temperature) on the resistance of Listeria to various plasma compositions was obtained. They have submitted several applications for studentships and research grants from which they are pending feedback. In terms of dissemination, the team have already published their work in two international conferences, i.e., The American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE) annual meeting in Orlando, USA in November 2019 and the International Conference on Predictive Modelling in Foods (ICPMF) in Braganca, Portugal in September 2019. They have also produced a journal article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996921000235. 4th State had recently signed a licensing deal for use of their plasma technology in surface disinfection for a light industrial application and this had very much built on the outcomes of the project with UoS in terms of efficacy data. They are utilising the gas stream from the plasma (Ozone and NO) for disinfection. This has required them to scale up the manufacture of devices per month. The intention for 4th State is to be a technology provider to others essentially an "intel inside" type model with their core technology behind deployed by others in their applications. They continue to look for opportunities to work with Eirini on food and have regular discussions with her to support any applications she may be making, 4th state also intend to reach out to Chilled Food Association contacts via NBIC at the right time. NIBC also advised on regulatory matters and put the co in contact with external experts and this has helped guide the commercialising strategy for 4th state. They see more opportunity in the US for deployment into uses where they can make use of the NO application. Right now, medical applications are viewed as very difficult costly and lengthy from a regulatory perspective. NBIC case study: Fourth State is a micro-SME with ambitions of becoming a leading global provider of atmospheric pressure plasma solutions in healthcare and other adjacent markets. Plasma is the 'fourth state of matter' and consists of ionised gas. Examples in nature include lightning strikes, the aurora and the sun, while historical technological applications include etching of silicon chips for smartphones, advanced space propulsion systems and controlled nuclear fusion reactors. The company founders, Dr Thomas Frame and Dr Thomas Harle, saw an opportunity to use their technological expertise in spacecraft systems engineering and applied plasma physics to address urgent terrestrial needs, such as antimicrobial resistance. The team has since developed and patented an innovative platform plasma technology, and developed the company's first product, Nebulaskin®, for non-surgical cosmetic procedures with a number of leading Harley Street clinics. A disruptive wound care product is currently in development. Dr Harle said, "Fourth State sees biofilm management and prevention as a future 'killer app' for plasma technology across a wide range of sectors, so it's fantastic to be working with NBIC to accelerate development and market access for the technology. Access to NBIC Proof of Concept funding has allowed us to build out our network, explore the expansion of our technology into further sectors and provide us with a deeper understanding of the science behind the interaction of plasma and biofilm". Dr Velliou said, "I find the broadness of the NBIC network and remit fascinating. It allows the conduction of so many different types of research on biofilms and enables academics to network with other relevant groups at both national and international level and encourages academics to work directly with industry to drive solutions to practical problems through fundamental research. This interaction is very valuable as we really see our research output accelerated from bench to every-day practice in industry". |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18021 Evaluating an innovative plasma (fourth state of matter) technology for prevention and management of biofilms in the food industry. (Eirini Velliou) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Problem In the food industry, as reported by EFSA and FDA, the increased resistance of biofilm-forming bacteria such as Listeria has led to a need for alternative approaches for decontamination of food and food processing surfaces. Furthermore, there is an increasing consumer-driven demand for food products which have undergone minimal processing. The food industry would hugely benefit from a technology which can disrupt biofilms on food and food processing surfaces, without impacting the nutritional content or sensory characteristics of food. Solution Plasma, the fourth state of matter. Plasma has received much recent attention in bioscience research. Fourth State has developed a platform plasma technology to disrupt the cosmetic and wound care markets, which may be adapted to address agri-food and other adjacent markets. An innovative feature of the technology (granted UK patent, other patents pending) is the production of both "Hot Atmospheric Plasma" (HAP) and "Cold Atmospheric Plasma" (CAP) in the same device. The biological action of CAP is due mainly to the production of bio-active chemical species, while HAP can apply UV light and controllable heat via an inert gas jet. Another innovation (patent pending) is that gaseous effluent from the plasma can either be applied directly or indirectly by feeding through a tube into a closed volume. Channelling and confining plasma effluent allows wide and complex surfaces to be treated, can reduce the size and cost of the plasma source, and allows the plasma source to be located far from the target. Objective The project objective is to evaluate the impact of Fourth State's technology on biofilms in model systems widely relevant to food processing. The project will exploit the University of Surrey's capabilities in culturing and analysing Listeria biofilms on (i) viscoelastic soft food model surfaces and (ii) common surface materials used in food processing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A fundamental understanding of the role of surface structural and biochemical composition along with the role of microenvironments (e.g. mixed populations, flow rate and temperature) on the resistance of Listeria to various plasma compositions was obtained. They have submitted several applications for studentships and research grants from which they are pending feedback. In terms of dissemination, the team have already published their work in two international conferences, i.e., The American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE) annual meeting in Orlando, USA in November 2019 and the International Conference on Predictive Modelling in Foods (ICPMF) in Braganca, Portugal in September 2019. They have also produced a journal article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996921000235. 4th State had recently signed a licensing deal for use of their plasma technology in surface disinfection for a light industrial application and this had very much built on the outcomes of the project with UoS in terms of efficacy data. They are utilising the gas stream from the plasma (Ozone and NO) for disinfection. This has required them to scale up the manufacture of devices per month. The intention for 4th State is to be a technology provider to others essentially an "intel inside" type model with their core technology behind deployed by others in their applications. They continue to look for opportunities to work with Eirini on food and have regular discussions with her to support any applications she may be making, 4th state also intend to reach out to Chilled Food Association contacts via NBIC at the right time. NIBC also advised on regulatory matters and put the co in contact with external experts and this has helped guide the commercialising strategy for 4th state. They see more opportunity in the US for deployment into uses where they can make use of the NO application. Right now, medical applications are viewed as very difficult costly and lengthy from a regulatory perspective. NBIC case study: Fourth State is a micro-SME with ambitions of becoming a leading global provider of atmospheric pressure plasma solutions in healthcare and other adjacent markets. Plasma is the 'fourth state of matter' and consists of ionised gas. Examples in nature include lightning strikes, the aurora and the sun, while historical technological applications include etching of silicon chips for smartphones, advanced space propulsion systems and controlled nuclear fusion reactors. The company founders, Dr Thomas Frame and Dr Thomas Harle, saw an opportunity to use their technological expertise in spacecraft systems engineering and applied plasma physics to address urgent terrestrial needs, such as antimicrobial resistance. The team has since developed and patented an innovative platform plasma technology, and developed the company's first product, Nebulaskin®, for non-surgical cosmetic procedures with a number of leading Harley Street clinics. A disruptive wound care product is currently in development. Dr Harle said, "Fourth State sees biofilm management and prevention as a future 'killer app' for plasma technology across a wide range of sectors, so it's fantastic to be working with NBIC to accelerate development and market access for the technology. Access to NBIC Proof of Concept funding has allowed us to build out our network, explore the expansion of our technology into further sectors and provide us with a deeper understanding of the science behind the interaction of plasma and biofilm". Dr Velliou said, "I find the broadness of the NBIC network and remit fascinating. It allows the conduction of so many different types of research on biofilms and enables academics to network with other relevant groups at both national and international level and encourages academics to work directly with industry to drive solutions to practical problems through fundamental research. This interaction is very valuable as we really see our research output accelerated from bench to every-day practice in industry". |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18022 A novel laboratory biofilm model to accelerate the commercialisation of anti-biofilm products for the benefit of patients with chronic wounds (Esther Karunakaran) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to establish an innovative laboratory model of a human wound bed infected with biofilms. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus will be investigated as exemplar Gram negative and Gram positive biofilms respectively. The intention is to use this platform to provide companies designing anti-biofilm products with a relevant in vitro model to assess accurately the efficacy and safety of their formulations in the developmental stages. This will reduce the need for animal testing and improve success rates in clinical trials thereby accelerating the translation of these products to clinic for patient benefit. Two innovative interdisciplinary approaches driven by state-of-the-art scientific understanding of wound healing and advances in reactor engineering are built into the proposed human wound bed model which set it apart from current laboratory models for drug testing: 1. provision of a controlled hypoxic environment for human cell-biofilm interaction to simulate non-healing wound beds, and 2. moving away from batch testing procedures through application of microfluidics technology. Microfluidic technology is crucial for the model as it increases throughput, allows good control of the hypoxic environment and longer-term monitoring of interactions between human cells, biofilms and therapeutics by continuous removal of metabolic by-products. The explicit inclusion of biofilms at the human cell interface provides a further benefit over existing laboratory models which mostly involve animals or test biofilms on an abiotic surface. The potential for future developments to include 3D tissue engineering, models of other anatomical sites and polymicrobial biofilms are of commercial and academic interest. In the proposed project, success will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables, timely progression according to Gantt chart and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of the findings generated. The project will take place in two work packages (WP). • WP1 is designed as a preliminary step to 1) obtain complementary efficacy data for the analogues provided by Neem against biofilms under hypoxia, 2) establish the experimental set up and measurement parameters in microfluidic channels. • In WP2, the biofilm-infected wound bed model will be established. Measurement of efficacy of biofilm disruption and preliminary data on the safety of the analogues will be obtained. The project will be managed in the University of Sheffield by the team comprising EK, PM and SM. Dr. Claudia Williams (CW) will manage the project in Neem Biotech. EK will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project. The entire team comprising CW, EK, PM, SM, and KH will meet monthly via teleconference to discuss findings and monitor project progress. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project closely followed the original plan. Approximately 50% of these objectives were achieved. All objectives could not be completed in full because of time constraints and because two key operational challenges in the project could not be overcome in the timeframe of the project. • Identification of culture media that can support biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus whilst maintaining viability of epithelial cells in hypoxia. • Analogue molecules performed differently in our assays than expected. However, important advances were made in the project that will serve as a solid foundation for future work. Conclusions: 1. Equipment operating conditions to produce normoxia and hypoxia reliably was established. 2. An appropriate culture medium to co-culture human epithelial cells and bacteria was established i.e. DMEM+2% FBS. 3. Effects of hypoxia on growth and biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa PA01 in microtitre plates were unequivocally established i.e. biofilm formation under normoxia and hypoxia were equivalent despite a reduced growth rate in hypoxia. 4. Operating parameters to establish a rapid, confluent layer of HaCaT cells mimicking a wound bed was optimised in the microfluidic channels of the Bioflux 1000Z. IP was generated by the University of Sheffield as all the work on the Bioflux model and the MBEC assays were carried out in Sheffield. Feasibility of culturing biofilms under hypoxia in MBEC plates and co-culturing human epithelial cells and bacteria in the Bioflux has been demonstrated. The work flows developed are an excellent foundation to develop the infected wound bed model using the Bioflux microfluidic system. Future work: The main challenges in this work was the time constraint and, in retrospect, the ambitious nature of the project. We attempted to set up the biofilm-infected wound bed model and use the model to assay candidate compounds from Neem Biotech within a space of three months (0.5 FTE postdoctoral researcher over six months). Despite solid contribution by the postdoctoral researcher and our mindful resistance against tangents of academic interest, we could achieve only half of the original objectives. This emphasised to us the need for further developmental work before the model can be made available to industrial collaborators for testing of emerging antimicrobials. Therefore, we have converted the current project to a PhD project in the University of Sheffield and recruited a doctoral student to the project. We focussed the doctoral project on S. aureus given we could not address S. aureus in sufficient detail in this project. Moreover, from the initial data shared with us by Neem Biotech, we could see that Neem 1 and Neem 2 were more efficacious against biofilms of S. aureus compared to P. aeruginosa. The doctoral project would allow a greater length of time to troubleshoot and optimise operational challenges encountered in the project and allow sufficient time to develop a robust biofilm-infected chronic wound bed model. There is an appetite from both the University of Sheffield and Neem Biotech to continue our collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18022 A novel laboratory biofilm model to accelerate the commercialisation of anti-biofilm products for the benefit of patients with chronic wounds (Esther Karunakaran) |
| Organisation | Neem Biotech |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to establish an innovative laboratory model of a human wound bed infected with biofilms. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus will be investigated as exemplar Gram negative and Gram positive biofilms respectively. The intention is to use this platform to provide companies designing anti-biofilm products with a relevant in vitro model to assess accurately the efficacy and safety of their formulations in the developmental stages. This will reduce the need for animal testing and improve success rates in clinical trials thereby accelerating the translation of these products to clinic for patient benefit. Two innovative interdisciplinary approaches driven by state-of-the-art scientific understanding of wound healing and advances in reactor engineering are built into the proposed human wound bed model which set it apart from current laboratory models for drug testing: 1. provision of a controlled hypoxic environment for human cell-biofilm interaction to simulate non-healing wound beds, and 2. moving away from batch testing procedures through application of microfluidics technology. Microfluidic technology is crucial for the model as it increases throughput, allows good control of the hypoxic environment and longer-term monitoring of interactions between human cells, biofilms and therapeutics by continuous removal of metabolic by-products. The explicit inclusion of biofilms at the human cell interface provides a further benefit over existing laboratory models which mostly involve animals or test biofilms on an abiotic surface. The potential for future developments to include 3D tissue engineering, models of other anatomical sites and polymicrobial biofilms are of commercial and academic interest. In the proposed project, success will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables, timely progression according to Gantt chart and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of the findings generated. The project will take place in two work packages (WP). • WP1 is designed as a preliminary step to 1) obtain complementary efficacy data for the analogues provided by Neem against biofilms under hypoxia, 2) establish the experimental set up and measurement parameters in microfluidic channels. • In WP2, the biofilm-infected wound bed model will be established. Measurement of efficacy of biofilm disruption and preliminary data on the safety of the analogues will be obtained. The project will be managed in the University of Sheffield by the team comprising EK, PM and SM. Dr. Claudia Williams (CW) will manage the project in Neem Biotech. EK will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project. The entire team comprising CW, EK, PM, SM, and KH will meet monthly via teleconference to discuss findings and monitor project progress. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project closely followed the original plan. Approximately 50% of these objectives were achieved. All objectives could not be completed in full because of time constraints and because two key operational challenges in the project could not be overcome in the timeframe of the project. • Identification of culture media that can support biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus whilst maintaining viability of epithelial cells in hypoxia. • Analogue molecules performed differently in our assays than expected. However, important advances were made in the project that will serve as a solid foundation for future work. Conclusions: 1. Equipment operating conditions to produce normoxia and hypoxia reliably was established. 2. An appropriate culture medium to co-culture human epithelial cells and bacteria was established i.e. DMEM+2% FBS. 3. Effects of hypoxia on growth and biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa PA01 in microtitre plates were unequivocally established i.e. biofilm formation under normoxia and hypoxia were equivalent despite a reduced growth rate in hypoxia. 4. Operating parameters to establish a rapid, confluent layer of HaCaT cells mimicking a wound bed was optimised in the microfluidic channels of the Bioflux 1000Z. IP was generated by the University of Sheffield as all the work on the Bioflux model and the MBEC assays were carried out in Sheffield. Feasibility of culturing biofilms under hypoxia in MBEC plates and co-culturing human epithelial cells and bacteria in the Bioflux has been demonstrated. The work flows developed are an excellent foundation to develop the infected wound bed model using the Bioflux microfluidic system. Future work: The main challenges in this work was the time constraint and, in retrospect, the ambitious nature of the project. We attempted to set up the biofilm-infected wound bed model and use the model to assay candidate compounds from Neem Biotech within a space of three months (0.5 FTE postdoctoral researcher over six months). Despite solid contribution by the postdoctoral researcher and our mindful resistance against tangents of academic interest, we could achieve only half of the original objectives. This emphasised to us the need for further developmental work before the model can be made available to industrial collaborators for testing of emerging antimicrobials. Therefore, we have converted the current project to a PhD project in the University of Sheffield and recruited a doctoral student to the project. We focussed the doctoral project on S. aureus given we could not address S. aureus in sufficient detail in this project. Moreover, from the initial data shared with us by Neem Biotech, we could see that Neem 1 and Neem 2 were more efficacious against biofilms of S. aureus compared to P. aeruginosa. The doctoral project would allow a greater length of time to troubleshoot and optimise operational challenges encountered in the project and allow sufficient time to develop a robust biofilm-infected chronic wound bed model. There is an appetite from both the University of Sheffield and Neem Biotech to continue our collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18022 A novel laboratory biofilm model to accelerate the commercialisation of anti-biofilm products for the benefit of patients with chronic wounds (Esther Karunakaran) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to establish an innovative laboratory model of a human wound bed infected with biofilms. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus will be investigated as exemplar Gram negative and Gram positive biofilms respectively. The intention is to use this platform to provide companies designing anti-biofilm products with a relevant in vitro model to assess accurately the efficacy and safety of their formulations in the developmental stages. This will reduce the need for animal testing and improve success rates in clinical trials thereby accelerating the translation of these products to clinic for patient benefit. Two innovative interdisciplinary approaches driven by state-of-the-art scientific understanding of wound healing and advances in reactor engineering are built into the proposed human wound bed model which set it apart from current laboratory models for drug testing: 1. provision of a controlled hypoxic environment for human cell-biofilm interaction to simulate non-healing wound beds, and 2. moving away from batch testing procedures through application of microfluidics technology. Microfluidic technology is crucial for the model as it increases throughput, allows good control of the hypoxic environment and longer-term monitoring of interactions between human cells, biofilms and therapeutics by continuous removal of metabolic by-products. The explicit inclusion of biofilms at the human cell interface provides a further benefit over existing laboratory models which mostly involve animals or test biofilms on an abiotic surface. The potential for future developments to include 3D tissue engineering, models of other anatomical sites and polymicrobial biofilms are of commercial and academic interest. In the proposed project, success will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables, timely progression according to Gantt chart and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of the findings generated. The project will take place in two work packages (WP). • WP1 is designed as a preliminary step to 1) obtain complementary efficacy data for the analogues provided by Neem against biofilms under hypoxia, 2) establish the experimental set up and measurement parameters in microfluidic channels. • In WP2, the biofilm-infected wound bed model will be established. Measurement of efficacy of biofilm disruption and preliminary data on the safety of the analogues will be obtained. The project will be managed in the University of Sheffield by the team comprising EK, PM and SM. Dr. Claudia Williams (CW) will manage the project in Neem Biotech. EK will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project. The entire team comprising CW, EK, PM, SM, and KH will meet monthly via teleconference to discuss findings and monitor project progress. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project closely followed the original plan. Approximately 50% of these objectives were achieved. All objectives could not be completed in full because of time constraints and because two key operational challenges in the project could not be overcome in the timeframe of the project. • Identification of culture media that can support biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus whilst maintaining viability of epithelial cells in hypoxia. • Analogue molecules performed differently in our assays than expected. However, important advances were made in the project that will serve as a solid foundation for future work. Conclusions: 1. Equipment operating conditions to produce normoxia and hypoxia reliably was established. 2. An appropriate culture medium to co-culture human epithelial cells and bacteria was established i.e. DMEM+2% FBS. 3. Effects of hypoxia on growth and biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa PA01 in microtitre plates were unequivocally established i.e. biofilm formation under normoxia and hypoxia were equivalent despite a reduced growth rate in hypoxia. 4. Operating parameters to establish a rapid, confluent layer of HaCaT cells mimicking a wound bed was optimised in the microfluidic channels of the Bioflux 1000Z. IP was generated by the University of Sheffield as all the work on the Bioflux model and the MBEC assays were carried out in Sheffield. Feasibility of culturing biofilms under hypoxia in MBEC plates and co-culturing human epithelial cells and bacteria in the Bioflux has been demonstrated. The work flows developed are an excellent foundation to develop the infected wound bed model using the Bioflux microfluidic system. Future work: The main challenges in this work was the time constraint and, in retrospect, the ambitious nature of the project. We attempted to set up the biofilm-infected wound bed model and use the model to assay candidate compounds from Neem Biotech within a space of three months (0.5 FTE postdoctoral researcher over six months). Despite solid contribution by the postdoctoral researcher and our mindful resistance against tangents of academic interest, we could achieve only half of the original objectives. This emphasised to us the need for further developmental work before the model can be made available to industrial collaborators for testing of emerging antimicrobials. Therefore, we have converted the current project to a PhD project in the University of Sheffield and recruited a doctoral student to the project. We focussed the doctoral project on S. aureus given we could not address S. aureus in sufficient detail in this project. Moreover, from the initial data shared with us by Neem Biotech, we could see that Neem 1 and Neem 2 were more efficacious against biofilms of S. aureus compared to P. aeruginosa. The doctoral project would allow a greater length of time to troubleshoot and optimise operational challenges encountered in the project and allow sufficient time to develop a robust biofilm-infected chronic wound bed model. There is an appetite from both the University of Sheffield and Neem Biotech to continue our collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18022 A novel laboratory biofilm model to accelerate the commercialisation of anti-biofilm products for the benefit of patients with chronic wounds (Esther Karunakaran) |
| Organisation | Welsh Wound Innovation Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to establish an innovative laboratory model of a human wound bed infected with biofilms. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus will be investigated as exemplar Gram negative and Gram positive biofilms respectively. The intention is to use this platform to provide companies designing anti-biofilm products with a relevant in vitro model to assess accurately the efficacy and safety of their formulations in the developmental stages. This will reduce the need for animal testing and improve success rates in clinical trials thereby accelerating the translation of these products to clinic for patient benefit. Two innovative interdisciplinary approaches driven by state-of-the-art scientific understanding of wound healing and advances in reactor engineering are built into the proposed human wound bed model which set it apart from current laboratory models for drug testing: 1. provision of a controlled hypoxic environment for human cell-biofilm interaction to simulate non-healing wound beds, and 2. moving away from batch testing procedures through application of microfluidics technology. Microfluidic technology is crucial for the model as it increases throughput, allows good control of the hypoxic environment and longer-term monitoring of interactions between human cells, biofilms and therapeutics by continuous removal of metabolic by-products. The explicit inclusion of biofilms at the human cell interface provides a further benefit over existing laboratory models which mostly involve animals or test biofilms on an abiotic surface. The potential for future developments to include 3D tissue engineering, models of other anatomical sites and polymicrobial biofilms are of commercial and academic interest. In the proposed project, success will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables, timely progression according to Gantt chart and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of the findings generated. The project will take place in two work packages (WP). • WP1 is designed as a preliminary step to 1) obtain complementary efficacy data for the analogues provided by Neem against biofilms under hypoxia, 2) establish the experimental set up and measurement parameters in microfluidic channels. • In WP2, the biofilm-infected wound bed model will be established. Measurement of efficacy of biofilm disruption and preliminary data on the safety of the analogues will be obtained. The project will be managed in the University of Sheffield by the team comprising EK, PM and SM. Dr. Claudia Williams (CW) will manage the project in Neem Biotech. EK will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project. The entire team comprising CW, EK, PM, SM, and KH will meet monthly via teleconference to discuss findings and monitor project progress. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project closely followed the original plan. Approximately 50% of these objectives were achieved. All objectives could not be completed in full because of time constraints and because two key operational challenges in the project could not be overcome in the timeframe of the project. • Identification of culture media that can support biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus whilst maintaining viability of epithelial cells in hypoxia. • Analogue molecules performed differently in our assays than expected. However, important advances were made in the project that will serve as a solid foundation for future work. Conclusions: 1. Equipment operating conditions to produce normoxia and hypoxia reliably was established. 2. An appropriate culture medium to co-culture human epithelial cells and bacteria was established i.e. DMEM+2% FBS. 3. Effects of hypoxia on growth and biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa PA01 in microtitre plates were unequivocally established i.e. biofilm formation under normoxia and hypoxia were equivalent despite a reduced growth rate in hypoxia. 4. Operating parameters to establish a rapid, confluent layer of HaCaT cells mimicking a wound bed was optimised in the microfluidic channels of the Bioflux 1000Z. IP was generated by the University of Sheffield as all the work on the Bioflux model and the MBEC assays were carried out in Sheffield. Feasibility of culturing biofilms under hypoxia in MBEC plates and co-culturing human epithelial cells and bacteria in the Bioflux has been demonstrated. The work flows developed are an excellent foundation to develop the infected wound bed model using the Bioflux microfluidic system. Future work: The main challenges in this work was the time constraint and, in retrospect, the ambitious nature of the project. We attempted to set up the biofilm-infected wound bed model and use the model to assay candidate compounds from Neem Biotech within a space of three months (0.5 FTE postdoctoral researcher over six months). Despite solid contribution by the postdoctoral researcher and our mindful resistance against tangents of academic interest, we could achieve only half of the original objectives. This emphasised to us the need for further developmental work before the model can be made available to industrial collaborators for testing of emerging antimicrobials. Therefore, we have converted the current project to a PhD project in the University of Sheffield and recruited a doctoral student to the project. We focussed the doctoral project on S. aureus given we could not address S. aureus in sufficient detail in this project. Moreover, from the initial data shared with us by Neem Biotech, we could see that Neem 1 and Neem 2 were more efficacious against biofilms of S. aureus compared to P. aeruginosa. The doctoral project would allow a greater length of time to troubleshoot and optimise operational challenges encountered in the project and allow sufficient time to develop a robust biofilm-infected chronic wound bed model. There is an appetite from both the University of Sheffield and Neem Biotech to continue our collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18026 BIOFILMer: a super-resolution platform for the analysis of crystalline biofilms in urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | Montana State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a benchtop super-resolution platform for the dynamic analysis of crystalline biofilms in endourological devices. The BIOFILMer technology will build upon established expertise, research advances, and intellectual property (IP) in the fields of super-resolution microscopy (Oxford Nanoimaging Ltd), modelling and manufacturing of endourological devices (University of Southampton), and detection and analysis of crystalline biofilms (Center for Biofilm Engineering). By the end of the project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of: I. Integrating disposable microfluidic (cartridge-like) models of urological devices (µFluidic Unit) with a compact and automated single-molecule imaging system (µScope Unit); II. Imaging single molecules or molecular aggregates, individual bacterial cells, and bacterial biofilms, at regions of interest within the µFluidic models; and III. 'Live' processing of microscope images to temporally resolve the spatial dynamics of molecules involved in bacterial adhesion and crystal formation (e.g., chondroitin sulfate, heparin sulfate, bacterial lipopolysaccharides), track individual bacterial cells and sub-cellular virulence markers, and determine the conformation of formed crystalline biofilms. Success of deliverables (i)-(iii) will lead to the establishment of the first high-throughput technology to analyse initiation, promotion, and progression of crystalline biofilms in urological devices. Such a platform will enable the identification of primary determinants governing the failure of endourological devices, thus allowing biofilms prevention through optimisation of devices' design, constitutive materials, and surface coatings. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories (see Expression of Interest letters attached to this application). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The research in this proof-of-concept project led to the development of a microscope-compatible microfluidic platform for evaluating the attachment of bacterial cells onto urological stents. It was demonstrated that devices could be designed to fit with a benchtop super-resolution microscope and rapidly prototyped using 3D printing technology. Devices could also be operated in such a way to replicate flow dynamic conditions that are relevant to urological applications, with the potential to inform the development of safer and more efficacious interventions. In the present project, we designed and manufactured microscope-compatible microfluidic-based models (referred to as stent-on-a-chip, SoC) to investigate the initiation of bacterial attachment in the stented and occluded ureter. Through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and experiments, our findings may suggest that one of the factors governing bacterial attachment in the stented ureter is the presence of cavity flow in areas located in the proximity of a ureteral obstruction. Cavity flow originates in the region located between a complete occlusion of the ureter lumen and one or more stent side-holes, and is characterised by low WSS levels (WSS << 40 mPa) and the formation of low-velocity laminar vortices. The combination of these conditions may promote attachment of bacterial cells present in urine. The developed designs could thus be employed in future work to further optimise the design of urological devices to reduce to occurrence of device-associated infections. Future work: • The project has already led to a peer-reviewed journal article (https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11040408). • The project has consolidated the collaboration between the project's PI (Dario Carugo, DC) and ONI. Notably, DC, ONI, and NBIC are investigators and/or partners in the recently awarded EPSRC Programme Grant "Beyond Antibiotics" (EP/V026623/1). • DC is co-I in a successful NIHR i4i clinical trial on an innovative ureteric stent design. • Ongoing research is focusing on the use of the developed microfluidic platforms to evaluate innovative layer-by-layer surface coatings, as well as geometrical changes to the stent's design, on the formation of bacterial biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18026 BIOFILMer: a super-resolution platform for the analysis of crystalline biofilms in urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a benchtop super-resolution platform for the dynamic analysis of crystalline biofilms in endourological devices. The BIOFILMer technology will build upon established expertise, research advances, and intellectual property (IP) in the fields of super-resolution microscopy (Oxford Nanoimaging Ltd), modelling and manufacturing of endourological devices (University of Southampton), and detection and analysis of crystalline biofilms (Center for Biofilm Engineering). By the end of the project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of: I. Integrating disposable microfluidic (cartridge-like) models of urological devices (µFluidic Unit) with a compact and automated single-molecule imaging system (µScope Unit); II. Imaging single molecules or molecular aggregates, individual bacterial cells, and bacterial biofilms, at regions of interest within the µFluidic models; and III. 'Live' processing of microscope images to temporally resolve the spatial dynamics of molecules involved in bacterial adhesion and crystal formation (e.g., chondroitin sulfate, heparin sulfate, bacterial lipopolysaccharides), track individual bacterial cells and sub-cellular virulence markers, and determine the conformation of formed crystalline biofilms. Success of deliverables (i)-(iii) will lead to the establishment of the first high-throughput technology to analyse initiation, promotion, and progression of crystalline biofilms in urological devices. Such a platform will enable the identification of primary determinants governing the failure of endourological devices, thus allowing biofilms prevention through optimisation of devices' design, constitutive materials, and surface coatings. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories (see Expression of Interest letters attached to this application). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The research in this proof-of-concept project led to the development of a microscope-compatible microfluidic platform for evaluating the attachment of bacterial cells onto urological stents. It was demonstrated that devices could be designed to fit with a benchtop super-resolution microscope and rapidly prototyped using 3D printing technology. Devices could also be operated in such a way to replicate flow dynamic conditions that are relevant to urological applications, with the potential to inform the development of safer and more efficacious interventions. In the present project, we designed and manufactured microscope-compatible microfluidic-based models (referred to as stent-on-a-chip, SoC) to investigate the initiation of bacterial attachment in the stented and occluded ureter. Through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and experiments, our findings may suggest that one of the factors governing bacterial attachment in the stented ureter is the presence of cavity flow in areas located in the proximity of a ureteral obstruction. Cavity flow originates in the region located between a complete occlusion of the ureter lumen and one or more stent side-holes, and is characterised by low WSS levels (WSS << 40 mPa) and the formation of low-velocity laminar vortices. The combination of these conditions may promote attachment of bacterial cells present in urine. The developed designs could thus be employed in future work to further optimise the design of urological devices to reduce to occurrence of device-associated infections. Future work: • The project has already led to a peer-reviewed journal article (https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11040408). • The project has consolidated the collaboration between the project's PI (Dario Carugo, DC) and ONI. Notably, DC, ONI, and NBIC are investigators and/or partners in the recently awarded EPSRC Programme Grant "Beyond Antibiotics" (EP/V026623/1). • DC is co-I in a successful NIHR i4i clinical trial on an innovative ureteric stent design. • Ongoing research is focusing on the use of the developed microfluidic platforms to evaluate innovative layer-by-layer surface coatings, as well as geometrical changes to the stent's design, on the formation of bacterial biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18026 BIOFILMer: a super-resolution platform for the analysis of crystalline biofilms in urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | Oxford Nanoimaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a benchtop super-resolution platform for the dynamic analysis of crystalline biofilms in endourological devices. The BIOFILMer technology will build upon established expertise, research advances, and intellectual property (IP) in the fields of super-resolution microscopy (Oxford Nanoimaging Ltd), modelling and manufacturing of endourological devices (University of Southampton), and detection and analysis of crystalline biofilms (Center for Biofilm Engineering). By the end of the project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of: I. Integrating disposable microfluidic (cartridge-like) models of urological devices (µFluidic Unit) with a compact and automated single-molecule imaging system (µScope Unit); II. Imaging single molecules or molecular aggregates, individual bacterial cells, and bacterial biofilms, at regions of interest within the µFluidic models; and III. 'Live' processing of microscope images to temporally resolve the spatial dynamics of molecules involved in bacterial adhesion and crystal formation (e.g., chondroitin sulfate, heparin sulfate, bacterial lipopolysaccharides), track individual bacterial cells and sub-cellular virulence markers, and determine the conformation of formed crystalline biofilms. Success of deliverables (i)-(iii) will lead to the establishment of the first high-throughput technology to analyse initiation, promotion, and progression of crystalline biofilms in urological devices. Such a platform will enable the identification of primary determinants governing the failure of endourological devices, thus allowing biofilms prevention through optimisation of devices' design, constitutive materials, and surface coatings. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories (see Expression of Interest letters attached to this application). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The research in this proof-of-concept project led to the development of a microscope-compatible microfluidic platform for evaluating the attachment of bacterial cells onto urological stents. It was demonstrated that devices could be designed to fit with a benchtop super-resolution microscope and rapidly prototyped using 3D printing technology. Devices could also be operated in such a way to replicate flow dynamic conditions that are relevant to urological applications, with the potential to inform the development of safer and more efficacious interventions. In the present project, we designed and manufactured microscope-compatible microfluidic-based models (referred to as stent-on-a-chip, SoC) to investigate the initiation of bacterial attachment in the stented and occluded ureter. Through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and experiments, our findings may suggest that one of the factors governing bacterial attachment in the stented ureter is the presence of cavity flow in areas located in the proximity of a ureteral obstruction. Cavity flow originates in the region located between a complete occlusion of the ureter lumen and one or more stent side-holes, and is characterised by low WSS levels (WSS << 40 mPa) and the formation of low-velocity laminar vortices. The combination of these conditions may promote attachment of bacterial cells present in urine. The developed designs could thus be employed in future work to further optimise the design of urological devices to reduce to occurrence of device-associated infections. Future work: • The project has already led to a peer-reviewed journal article (https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11040408). • The project has consolidated the collaboration between the project's PI (Dario Carugo, DC) and ONI. Notably, DC, ONI, and NBIC are investigators and/or partners in the recently awarded EPSRC Programme Grant "Beyond Antibiotics" (EP/V026623/1). • DC is co-I in a successful NIHR i4i clinical trial on an innovative ureteric stent design. • Ongoing research is focusing on the use of the developed microfluidic platforms to evaluate innovative layer-by-layer surface coatings, as well as geometrical changes to the stent's design, on the formation of bacterial biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18026 BIOFILMer: a super-resolution platform for the analysis of crystalline biofilms in urological devices (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a benchtop super-resolution platform for the dynamic analysis of crystalline biofilms in endourological devices. The BIOFILMer technology will build upon established expertise, research advances, and intellectual property (IP) in the fields of super-resolution microscopy (Oxford Nanoimaging Ltd), modelling and manufacturing of endourological devices (University of Southampton), and detection and analysis of crystalline biofilms (Center for Biofilm Engineering). By the end of the project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of: I. Integrating disposable microfluidic (cartridge-like) models of urological devices (µFluidic Unit) with a compact and automated single-molecule imaging system (µScope Unit); II. Imaging single molecules or molecular aggregates, individual bacterial cells, and bacterial biofilms, at regions of interest within the µFluidic models; and III. 'Live' processing of microscope images to temporally resolve the spatial dynamics of molecules involved in bacterial adhesion and crystal formation (e.g., chondroitin sulfate, heparin sulfate, bacterial lipopolysaccharides), track individual bacterial cells and sub-cellular virulence markers, and determine the conformation of formed crystalline biofilms. Success of deliverables (i)-(iii) will lead to the establishment of the first high-throughput technology to analyse initiation, promotion, and progression of crystalline biofilms in urological devices. Such a platform will enable the identification of primary determinants governing the failure of endourological devices, thus allowing biofilms prevention through optimisation of devices' design, constitutive materials, and surface coatings. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories (see Expression of Interest letters attached to this application). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The research in this proof-of-concept project led to the development of a microscope-compatible microfluidic platform for evaluating the attachment of bacterial cells onto urological stents. It was demonstrated that devices could be designed to fit with a benchtop super-resolution microscope and rapidly prototyped using 3D printing technology. Devices could also be operated in such a way to replicate flow dynamic conditions that are relevant to urological applications, with the potential to inform the development of safer and more efficacious interventions. In the present project, we designed and manufactured microscope-compatible microfluidic-based models (referred to as stent-on-a-chip, SoC) to investigate the initiation of bacterial attachment in the stented and occluded ureter. Through a combination of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations and experiments, our findings may suggest that one of the factors governing bacterial attachment in the stented ureter is the presence of cavity flow in areas located in the proximity of a ureteral obstruction. Cavity flow originates in the region located between a complete occlusion of the ureter lumen and one or more stent side-holes, and is characterised by low WSS levels (WSS << 40 mPa) and the formation of low-velocity laminar vortices. The combination of these conditions may promote attachment of bacterial cells present in urine. The developed designs could thus be employed in future work to further optimise the design of urological devices to reduce to occurrence of device-associated infections. Future work: • The project has already led to a peer-reviewed journal article (https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11040408). • The project has consolidated the collaboration between the project's PI (Dario Carugo, DC) and ONI. Notably, DC, ONI, and NBIC are investigators and/or partners in the recently awarded EPSRC Programme Grant "Beyond Antibiotics" (EP/V026623/1). • DC is co-I in a successful NIHR i4i clinical trial on an innovative ureteric stent design. • Ongoing research is focusing on the use of the developed microfluidic platforms to evaluate innovative layer-by-layer surface coatings, as well as geometrical changes to the stent's design, on the formation of bacterial biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18027 QuorumClean (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of the project is to demonstrate the proof of concept of a novel biofilm prevention coating for marine applications. The novel approach uses bioderived lactams to disrupt quorum sensing during biofilm growth. This has the potential to reduce biofilm formation in the first instance, but also to interrupt the communication process that occurs between biofilms and higher fouling organisms during later stages of fouling. The result is a targeted antifouling solution that does not involve the use of broad spectrum biocides (i.e. not toxic or harmful to non-target organisms), yet is still capable of working across a wide range of operational profiles. We will conduct a range of tests that will investigate the efficacy of the approach against different fouling challenges. We will also investigate the efficacy of the technology when delivered to a surface using a variety of carriers. This approach will allow Unilever to understand how to target the technology towards the most appropriate areas of the marine sector, which is diverse and has many different performance requirements. For example, antifouling technology for defence applications is typically required to perform to a high standard, but for relatively short periods of time (weeks or months) whereas commercial shipping generally requires lower performance, but for 5-7 years. The proposed work will allow Unilever to produce an effective development and marketing strategy to position the technology within the marine sector. For us, the measure of project success is based on three aspects: Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The measure of project success was based on three aspects: 1. Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment - ACHIEVED 2. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology - ACHIEVED (with more targeted work to be done in optimisation and mechanistic understanding) 3. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets - ACHIEVED (for some marine applications via Penrhos Bio Ltd) All milestones and tasks were achieved to a very high standard with great scientific integrity and very effective communication. The partnership between PML Applications Ltd and Unilever provided a wide range of matrix types and assay methodologies available to investigate marine antifouling performance of novel technologies. These novel anti-fouling technologies were successfully incorporated into a wide range of formulation matrices and formats applicable to various marine applications (below and above the water-line). Proof of principle demonstration of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against a wide range of marine microflora (bacteria and algae), which allowed for the selection of samples to be challenged using in-field appraisal methodology. There was clear bio-efficacy being delivered form the technology, at micromolar levels. However, incorporating into some of the current commercially available marine coatings did not improve the anti-fouling performance of the base. It should be noted that none of the systems/ formulations were particularly optimised, therefore, a key next step is to define the best routes to incorporate into relevant marine coatings and determine stability information and robustness of coating once applied. We will be investigating the leaching properties of the material, under dynamic conditions to obtain further mechanistic insights. We would then look to work with PML again to conduct further in-filed trials. This project had demonstrated lactams have a significant inhibitory effect on algal growth at very low, micromolar, concentrations, and can completely inhibiting the growth of P. tricornutum. When these lactams were included in coating formulations, their effectiveness was reduced or masked by the characteristics of the coating. However, in some exceptions, significant improvements were observed when lactams were added to coatings. These improvements were seen in three different assays (natural marine biofilms; algal biofilms; Ulva sp zoospore settlement). However, it should be noted that in the majority of instances in these assays, the addition of a lactam did not lead to an improvement in antifouling performance. Finally, long-term tests at Millbay marina did not show any improvements in anti-fouling performance when lactams were added. While these compounds clearly have potential in anti-fouling formulations, further development, is needed to realise their full potential. Data will be used to exemplify, and support recently filed patents re: anti-algal benefits. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18027 QuorumClean (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of the project is to demonstrate the proof of concept of a novel biofilm prevention coating for marine applications. The novel approach uses bioderived lactams to disrupt quorum sensing during biofilm growth. This has the potential to reduce biofilm formation in the first instance, but also to interrupt the communication process that occurs between biofilms and higher fouling organisms during later stages of fouling. The result is a targeted antifouling solution that does not involve the use of broad spectrum biocides (i.e. not toxic or harmful to non-target organisms), yet is still capable of working across a wide range of operational profiles. We will conduct a range of tests that will investigate the efficacy of the approach against different fouling challenges. We will also investigate the efficacy of the technology when delivered to a surface using a variety of carriers. This approach will allow Unilever to understand how to target the technology towards the most appropriate areas of the marine sector, which is diverse and has many different performance requirements. For example, antifouling technology for defence applications is typically required to perform to a high standard, but for relatively short periods of time (weeks or months) whereas commercial shipping generally requires lower performance, but for 5-7 years. The proposed work will allow Unilever to produce an effective development and marketing strategy to position the technology within the marine sector. For us, the measure of project success is based on three aspects: Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The measure of project success was based on three aspects: 1. Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment - ACHIEVED 2. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology - ACHIEVED (with more targeted work to be done in optimisation and mechanistic understanding) 3. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets - ACHIEVED (for some marine applications via Penrhos Bio Ltd) All milestones and tasks were achieved to a very high standard with great scientific integrity and very effective communication. The partnership between PML Applications Ltd and Unilever provided a wide range of matrix types and assay methodologies available to investigate marine antifouling performance of novel technologies. These novel anti-fouling technologies were successfully incorporated into a wide range of formulation matrices and formats applicable to various marine applications (below and above the water-line). Proof of principle demonstration of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against a wide range of marine microflora (bacteria and algae), which allowed for the selection of samples to be challenged using in-field appraisal methodology. There was clear bio-efficacy being delivered form the technology, at micromolar levels. However, incorporating into some of the current commercially available marine coatings did not improve the anti-fouling performance of the base. It should be noted that none of the systems/ formulations were particularly optimised, therefore, a key next step is to define the best routes to incorporate into relevant marine coatings and determine stability information and robustness of coating once applied. We will be investigating the leaching properties of the material, under dynamic conditions to obtain further mechanistic insights. We would then look to work with PML again to conduct further in-filed trials. This project had demonstrated lactams have a significant inhibitory effect on algal growth at very low, micromolar, concentrations, and can completely inhibiting the growth of P. tricornutum. When these lactams were included in coating formulations, their effectiveness was reduced or masked by the characteristics of the coating. However, in some exceptions, significant improvements were observed when lactams were added to coatings. These improvements were seen in three different assays (natural marine biofilms; algal biofilms; Ulva sp zoospore settlement). However, it should be noted that in the majority of instances in these assays, the addition of a lactam did not lead to an improvement in antifouling performance. Finally, long-term tests at Millbay marina did not show any improvements in anti-fouling performance when lactams were added. While these compounds clearly have potential in anti-fouling formulations, further development, is needed to realise their full potential. Data will be used to exemplify, and support recently filed patents re: anti-algal benefits. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18027 QuorumClean (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of the project is to demonstrate the proof of concept of a novel biofilm prevention coating for marine applications. The novel approach uses bioderived lactams to disrupt quorum sensing during biofilm growth. This has the potential to reduce biofilm formation in the first instance, but also to interrupt the communication process that occurs between biofilms and higher fouling organisms during later stages of fouling. The result is a targeted antifouling solution that does not involve the use of broad spectrum biocides (i.e. not toxic or harmful to non-target organisms), yet is still capable of working across a wide range of operational profiles. We will conduct a range of tests that will investigate the efficacy of the approach against different fouling challenges. We will also investigate the efficacy of the technology when delivered to a surface using a variety of carriers. This approach will allow Unilever to understand how to target the technology towards the most appropriate areas of the marine sector, which is diverse and has many different performance requirements. For example, antifouling technology for defence applications is typically required to perform to a high standard, but for relatively short periods of time (weeks or months) whereas commercial shipping generally requires lower performance, but for 5-7 years. The proposed work will allow Unilever to produce an effective development and marketing strategy to position the technology within the marine sector. For us, the measure of project success is based on three aspects: Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The measure of project success was based on three aspects: 1. Generation of convincing proof of concept data that will build on promising preliminary work already completed, and provide confidence for further investment - ACHIEVED 2. A clear understanding of the most promising areas within the marine sector to target with the technology - ACHIEVED (with more targeted work to be done in optimisation and mechanistic understanding) 3. Support further development required to achieve market penetration within target markets - ACHIEVED (for some marine applications via Penrhos Bio Ltd) All milestones and tasks were achieved to a very high standard with great scientific integrity and very effective communication. The partnership between PML Applications Ltd and Unilever provided a wide range of matrix types and assay methodologies available to investigate marine antifouling performance of novel technologies. These novel anti-fouling technologies were successfully incorporated into a wide range of formulation matrices and formats applicable to various marine applications (below and above the water-line). Proof of principle demonstration of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against a wide range of marine microflora (bacteria and algae), which allowed for the selection of samples to be challenged using in-field appraisal methodology. There was clear bio-efficacy being delivered form the technology, at micromolar levels. However, incorporating into some of the current commercially available marine coatings did not improve the anti-fouling performance of the base. It should be noted that none of the systems/ formulations were particularly optimised, therefore, a key next step is to define the best routes to incorporate into relevant marine coatings and determine stability information and robustness of coating once applied. We will be investigating the leaching properties of the material, under dynamic conditions to obtain further mechanistic insights. We would then look to work with PML again to conduct further in-filed trials. This project had demonstrated lactams have a significant inhibitory effect on algal growth at very low, micromolar, concentrations, and can completely inhibiting the growth of P. tricornutum. When these lactams were included in coating formulations, their effectiveness was reduced or masked by the characteristics of the coating. However, in some exceptions, significant improvements were observed when lactams were added to coatings. These improvements were seen in three different assays (natural marine biofilms; algal biofilms; Ulva sp zoospore settlement). However, it should be noted that in the majority of instances in these assays, the addition of a lactam did not lead to an improvement in antifouling performance. Finally, long-term tests at Millbay marina did not show any improvements in anti-fouling performance when lactams were added. While these compounds clearly have potential in anti-fouling formulations, further development, is needed to realise their full potential. Data will be used to exemplify, and support recently filed patents re: anti-algal benefits. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18029 Corneal biofilm models and anti-biofilm nanoparticles (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | Blueberry Therapeutics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics or antifungals, a problem exacerbated by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in a wide range of organisms. In this application, we intend to exploit in vitro models of biofilm formation in human corneal cells and porcine corneal explants to determine the efficacy of a series of nanoparticle formulations of antimicrobial drugs on developing and mature biofilms. Such formulations are predicted to enhance efficacy through the disruption of biofilms and improved drug retention in the eye. A simple corneal epithelial cell monolayer assay will allow us to study microbial adhesion and the microcolony formation that precedes the biofilm. Drugs acting at this stage might inhibit adhesion, bacterial cell-cell communication or extracellular polymeric substance production in addition to direct effects on growth and viability. Success here will be measured as the recording of microcolony formation over 24h using microscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence and absence of the test compounds. To further assess the most promising formulations, a more sophisticated corneal explant culture system will be used for longer term (48-72h) infection that should allow mature biofilm formation and the penetration of the microbes into deeper layers of the corneum. Success here will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and flow cytometry. The efficacy of compounds on the developing and established biofilms will be recorded using viability assays and microbial colony forming unit counts. The pathogens to be studied will be clinical isolates from Dr Prashant Garg at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida albicans). |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Sheffield: Supply of porcine corneal infection models; supply of clinical isolates of microbial keratitis pathogens; supply of expertise in the design and interpretation of infection experiments. Tecrea Ltd: Supply of nanoparticle materials and antibiotics; supply of fungal pathogens; supply of expertise in the use of fungal pathogens in ex vivo models. |
| Impact | Feedback from PML: The porcine corneal model has been successfully tested and the technique passed on to Tecrea for future use. We observed bacterial but not fungal biofilms that formed within 6 hours of infection. Tissue integrity was observed for at least 36 hrs. The formulation of antibiotics with nanocin enhances activity. The technique for successfully infecting porcine corneas was developed at the University of Sheffield. The technique was transferred to Tecrea, with training of a researcher in Sheffield and the supply of a number of the glass rings required to contain the pathogen. Knowledge about the use of fungal pathogens was supplied by Tecrea to the University of Sheffield. We intend to publish the data obtained in the P. aeruginosa infection assays, although the data with the formulations will not be used. The fungal infections will be continued at Tecrea and will also be published in due course. The corneal opacity secondary measure will be further analysed. At the very least, it should provide a striking visual indicator of antibiotic activity. The use of Nanocin to penetrate biofilms may be further developed. Successful application for NBIC funding in POC2. MRC grant application pending feedback. Working with industry partners Blueberry and Tecrea has been a very good experience, with free exchange of ideas on both sides. An iCASE PhD student supported by Blueberry, visited Sheffield for 4 weeks and learned the porcine cornea infection method. In return, she supplied us with new fungal strains and training on their growth. Feedback from both industrial collaborators: Both companies happy with efficacy of their actives, model and tech-transfer and in particular the Studentship. Blueberry: Blueberry may pursue product development and IP once PhD published - November 2021. Blueberry to take the technology to India (clinical work) or product development after PhD finished (November 2021). Tecrea: Established tolerability, efficacy of the compounds in an ex-vivo study and use of the model (tech transfer to their lab). We have some formulations and approach which we think has some potential in treating eye infections. In terms of research, the benefit was that we got some evidence about the tolerability of the formulations, the eye infection model and the some evidence about the efficacy. We got some confidence the model was valid and that the model could be used. We went into it having read about the model but we hadn't sort of experienced it directly. A good outcome. With drug development, it's a long process. A lot went into developing these formulations and we've done a lot of in vitro antimicrobial work on it. This was the next step - an ex vivo evaluation, further building confidence in the project. The next step would probably be for us to go to an animal model, to build confidence further because we did not see any problems in the ex-vivo model (which is a good sign, though there could be other inflammatory reactions that we need to look out for). And then you would start a clinical programme - the worst case scenario could five years and a billion dollars. In this case, we think it can go faster because of the nature of the formulations are easier. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18029 Corneal biofilm models and anti-biofilm nanoparticles (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics or antifungals, a problem exacerbated by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in a wide range of organisms. In this application, we intend to exploit in vitro models of biofilm formation in human corneal cells and porcine corneal explants to determine the efficacy of a series of nanoparticle formulations of antimicrobial drugs on developing and mature biofilms. Such formulations are predicted to enhance efficacy through the disruption of biofilms and improved drug retention in the eye. A simple corneal epithelial cell monolayer assay will allow us to study microbial adhesion and the microcolony formation that precedes the biofilm. Drugs acting at this stage might inhibit adhesion, bacterial cell-cell communication or extracellular polymeric substance production in addition to direct effects on growth and viability. Success here will be measured as the recording of microcolony formation over 24h using microscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence and absence of the test compounds. To further assess the most promising formulations, a more sophisticated corneal explant culture system will be used for longer term (48-72h) infection that should allow mature biofilm formation and the penetration of the microbes into deeper layers of the corneum. Success here will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and flow cytometry. The efficacy of compounds on the developing and established biofilms will be recorded using viability assays and microbial colony forming unit counts. The pathogens to be studied will be clinical isolates from Dr Prashant Garg at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida albicans). |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Sheffield: Supply of porcine corneal infection models; supply of clinical isolates of microbial keratitis pathogens; supply of expertise in the design and interpretation of infection experiments. Tecrea Ltd: Supply of nanoparticle materials and antibiotics; supply of fungal pathogens; supply of expertise in the use of fungal pathogens in ex vivo models. |
| Impact | Feedback from PML: The porcine corneal model has been successfully tested and the technique passed on to Tecrea for future use. We observed bacterial but not fungal biofilms that formed within 6 hours of infection. Tissue integrity was observed for at least 36 hrs. The formulation of antibiotics with nanocin enhances activity. The technique for successfully infecting porcine corneas was developed at the University of Sheffield. The technique was transferred to Tecrea, with training of a researcher in Sheffield and the supply of a number of the glass rings required to contain the pathogen. Knowledge about the use of fungal pathogens was supplied by Tecrea to the University of Sheffield. We intend to publish the data obtained in the P. aeruginosa infection assays, although the data with the formulations will not be used. The fungal infections will be continued at Tecrea and will also be published in due course. The corneal opacity secondary measure will be further analysed. At the very least, it should provide a striking visual indicator of antibiotic activity. The use of Nanocin to penetrate biofilms may be further developed. Successful application for NBIC funding in POC2. MRC grant application pending feedback. Working with industry partners Blueberry and Tecrea has been a very good experience, with free exchange of ideas on both sides. An iCASE PhD student supported by Blueberry, visited Sheffield for 4 weeks and learned the porcine cornea infection method. In return, she supplied us with new fungal strains and training on their growth. Feedback from both industrial collaborators: Both companies happy with efficacy of their actives, model and tech-transfer and in particular the Studentship. Blueberry: Blueberry may pursue product development and IP once PhD published - November 2021. Blueberry to take the technology to India (clinical work) or product development after PhD finished (November 2021). Tecrea: Established tolerability, efficacy of the compounds in an ex-vivo study and use of the model (tech transfer to their lab). We have some formulations and approach which we think has some potential in treating eye infections. In terms of research, the benefit was that we got some evidence about the tolerability of the formulations, the eye infection model and the some evidence about the efficacy. We got some confidence the model was valid and that the model could be used. We went into it having read about the model but we hadn't sort of experienced it directly. A good outcome. With drug development, it's a long process. A lot went into developing these formulations and we've done a lot of in vitro antimicrobial work on it. This was the next step - an ex vivo evaluation, further building confidence in the project. The next step would probably be for us to go to an animal model, to build confidence further because we did not see any problems in the ex-vivo model (which is a good sign, though there could be other inflammatory reactions that we need to look out for). And then you would start a clinical programme - the worst case scenario could five years and a billion dollars. In this case, we think it can go faster because of the nature of the formulations are easier. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18029 Corneal biofilm models and anti-biofilm nanoparticles (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | Tecrea Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics or antifungals, a problem exacerbated by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in a wide range of organisms. In this application, we intend to exploit in vitro models of biofilm formation in human corneal cells and porcine corneal explants to determine the efficacy of a series of nanoparticle formulations of antimicrobial drugs on developing and mature biofilms. Such formulations are predicted to enhance efficacy through the disruption of biofilms and improved drug retention in the eye. A simple corneal epithelial cell monolayer assay will allow us to study microbial adhesion and the microcolony formation that precedes the biofilm. Drugs acting at this stage might inhibit adhesion, bacterial cell-cell communication or extracellular polymeric substance production in addition to direct effects on growth and viability. Success here will be measured as the recording of microcolony formation over 24h using microscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence and absence of the test compounds. To further assess the most promising formulations, a more sophisticated corneal explant culture system will be used for longer term (48-72h) infection that should allow mature biofilm formation and the penetration of the microbes into deeper layers of the corneum. Success here will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and flow cytometry. The efficacy of compounds on the developing and established biofilms will be recorded using viability assays and microbial colony forming unit counts. The pathogens to be studied will be clinical isolates from Dr Prashant Garg at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida albicans). |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Sheffield: Supply of porcine corneal infection models; supply of clinical isolates of microbial keratitis pathogens; supply of expertise in the design and interpretation of infection experiments. Tecrea Ltd: Supply of nanoparticle materials and antibiotics; supply of fungal pathogens; supply of expertise in the use of fungal pathogens in ex vivo models. |
| Impact | Feedback from PML: The porcine corneal model has been successfully tested and the technique passed on to Tecrea for future use. We observed bacterial but not fungal biofilms that formed within 6 hours of infection. Tissue integrity was observed for at least 36 hrs. The formulation of antibiotics with nanocin enhances activity. The technique for successfully infecting porcine corneas was developed at the University of Sheffield. The technique was transferred to Tecrea, with training of a researcher in Sheffield and the supply of a number of the glass rings required to contain the pathogen. Knowledge about the use of fungal pathogens was supplied by Tecrea to the University of Sheffield. We intend to publish the data obtained in the P. aeruginosa infection assays, although the data with the formulations will not be used. The fungal infections will be continued at Tecrea and will also be published in due course. The corneal opacity secondary measure will be further analysed. At the very least, it should provide a striking visual indicator of antibiotic activity. The use of Nanocin to penetrate biofilms may be further developed. Successful application for NBIC funding in POC2. MRC grant application pending feedback. Working with industry partners Blueberry and Tecrea has been a very good experience, with free exchange of ideas on both sides. An iCASE PhD student supported by Blueberry, visited Sheffield for 4 weeks and learned the porcine cornea infection method. In return, she supplied us with new fungal strains and training on their growth. Feedback from both industrial collaborators: Both companies happy with efficacy of their actives, model and tech-transfer and in particular the Studentship. Blueberry: Blueberry may pursue product development and IP once PhD published - November 2021. Blueberry to take the technology to India (clinical work) or product development after PhD finished (November 2021). Tecrea: Established tolerability, efficacy of the compounds in an ex-vivo study and use of the model (tech transfer to their lab). We have some formulations and approach which we think has some potential in treating eye infections. In terms of research, the benefit was that we got some evidence about the tolerability of the formulations, the eye infection model and the some evidence about the efficacy. We got some confidence the model was valid and that the model could be used. We went into it having read about the model but we hadn't sort of experienced it directly. A good outcome. With drug development, it's a long process. A lot went into developing these formulations and we've done a lot of in vitro antimicrobial work on it. This was the next step - an ex vivo evaluation, further building confidence in the project. The next step would probably be for us to go to an animal model, to build confidence further because we did not see any problems in the ex-vivo model (which is a good sign, though there could be other inflammatory reactions that we need to look out for). And then you would start a clinical programme - the worst case scenario could five years and a billion dollars. In this case, we think it can go faster because of the nature of the formulations are easier. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18029 Corneal biofilm models and anti-biofilm nanoparticles (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics or antifungals, a problem exacerbated by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in a wide range of organisms. In this application, we intend to exploit in vitro models of biofilm formation in human corneal cells and porcine corneal explants to determine the efficacy of a series of nanoparticle formulations of antimicrobial drugs on developing and mature biofilms. Such formulations are predicted to enhance efficacy through the disruption of biofilms and improved drug retention in the eye. A simple corneal epithelial cell monolayer assay will allow us to study microbial adhesion and the microcolony formation that precedes the biofilm. Drugs acting at this stage might inhibit adhesion, bacterial cell-cell communication or extracellular polymeric substance production in addition to direct effects on growth and viability. Success here will be measured as the recording of microcolony formation over 24h using microscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence and absence of the test compounds. To further assess the most promising formulations, a more sophisticated corneal explant culture system will be used for longer term (48-72h) infection that should allow mature biofilm formation and the penetration of the microbes into deeper layers of the corneum. Success here will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and flow cytometry. The efficacy of compounds on the developing and established biofilms will be recorded using viability assays and microbial colony forming unit counts. The pathogens to be studied will be clinical isolates from Dr Prashant Garg at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida albicans). |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Sheffield: Supply of porcine corneal infection models; supply of clinical isolates of microbial keratitis pathogens; supply of expertise in the design and interpretation of infection experiments. Tecrea Ltd: Supply of nanoparticle materials and antibiotics; supply of fungal pathogens; supply of expertise in the use of fungal pathogens in ex vivo models. |
| Impact | Feedback from PML: The porcine corneal model has been successfully tested and the technique passed on to Tecrea for future use. We observed bacterial but not fungal biofilms that formed within 6 hours of infection. Tissue integrity was observed for at least 36 hrs. The formulation of antibiotics with nanocin enhances activity. The technique for successfully infecting porcine corneas was developed at the University of Sheffield. The technique was transferred to Tecrea, with training of a researcher in Sheffield and the supply of a number of the glass rings required to contain the pathogen. Knowledge about the use of fungal pathogens was supplied by Tecrea to the University of Sheffield. We intend to publish the data obtained in the P. aeruginosa infection assays, although the data with the formulations will not be used. The fungal infections will be continued at Tecrea and will also be published in due course. The corneal opacity secondary measure will be further analysed. At the very least, it should provide a striking visual indicator of antibiotic activity. The use of Nanocin to penetrate biofilms may be further developed. Successful application for NBIC funding in POC2. MRC grant application pending feedback. Working with industry partners Blueberry and Tecrea has been a very good experience, with free exchange of ideas on both sides. An iCASE PhD student supported by Blueberry, visited Sheffield for 4 weeks and learned the porcine cornea infection method. In return, she supplied us with new fungal strains and training on their growth. Feedback from both industrial collaborators: Both companies happy with efficacy of their actives, model and tech-transfer and in particular the Studentship. Blueberry: Blueberry may pursue product development and IP once PhD published - November 2021. Blueberry to take the technology to India (clinical work) or product development after PhD finished (November 2021). Tecrea: Established tolerability, efficacy of the compounds in an ex-vivo study and use of the model (tech transfer to their lab). We have some formulations and approach which we think has some potential in treating eye infections. In terms of research, the benefit was that we got some evidence about the tolerability of the formulations, the eye infection model and the some evidence about the efficacy. We got some confidence the model was valid and that the model could be used. We went into it having read about the model but we hadn't sort of experienced it directly. A good outcome. With drug development, it's a long process. A lot went into developing these formulations and we've done a lot of in vitro antimicrobial work on it. This was the next step - an ex vivo evaluation, further building confidence in the project. The next step would probably be for us to go to an animal model, to build confidence further because we did not see any problems in the ex-vivo model (which is a good sign, though there could be other inflammatory reactions that we need to look out for). And then you would start a clinical programme - the worst case scenario could five years and a billion dollars. In this case, we think it can go faster because of the nature of the formulations are easier. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18032 Development of synthetic biofilm for calibrating the effect of coatings on reducing marine viscoelastic drag. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Estimates of the magnitude of biofilm associated drag on a marine vessel is commonly cited between 1 - 18%. We will address the knowledge gap relating to biofilm morphology and physicomechanical properties. By relating drag to the physical interactions between fluid flow and the biofilm we will better understand the role that biofilm properties play in influencing drag penalty. Current testing relates drag to sand grain roughness, however biofilms are viscoelastic materials which deform under shear when the ship is moving. Viscoelasticity generates a variety of biofilm-fluid interactions which makes correlating drag measurements with biofilm structural parameters difficult and there are no good testing models. We have designed and built a marine biofilm flow cell (MBFC) for testing coatings and now require the viscoelastic calibration standards to improve functionality of the system. Currently data on biofilm drag penalty is related to an equivalent calibrated sand grain roughness but this negates the effect that viscoelasticity of the biofilm may have on the associated drag penalty. The project aims are: • Create novel viscoelastic standard materials with mechanical properties similar to biofilms and compatible with the biofilm drag penalty flow cell system. • Cast artificial biofilms with vicoelastic material using sand grain moulds to provide standard morphology to simultaneously measure the viscoelasticity of biofilms the associated drag penalty when exposed to shear flow. • Develop an image analysis routine to analyse images from optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure biofilm deformation and viscoelastic parameters under defined shear. Success will be measured by the: • generation of a system capable of measuring the drag penalty of a material whilst measuring the physical response to shear. • demonstration of a more appropriate method for calibration of biofilms in hydrodynamic laboratory testing facilities. • development of a MatLab based image analysis software to analyse OCT data sets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Key conclusions from the project were as follows: • Replica copies of a given rigid surface can be successfully reproduced, with micron-scale fidelity, in materials with differing mechanical properties using the developed casting method. • The elastic properties of a surface with a given roughness profile significantly alter how much frictional drag will be generated when the surface is subject to a given flow condition. • Independent variation of surface roughness and material properties of artificial biofilms for flow cell calibration can now progress within framework established in this PoC project. Significant know-how in terms of how to successfully manipulate the range of materials examined was developed in the course of the pre-project scoping work and project term. This is not commercially exploitable but represents a strong foundation for our next phase of the research. The results and know-how generated in this project are currently being expanded on through a dedicated PhD studentship at University of Southampton supervised by Julian Wharton and Paul Stoodley and majority funded by AkzoNobel. The studentship is a study of the material properties of fouling biofilms and their relationship to frictional drag. Objectives include expanding the non-rigid calibration datasets developed as part of this NBIC PoC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18032 Development of synthetic biofilm for calibrating the effect of coatings on reducing marine viscoelastic drag. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Estimates of the magnitude of biofilm associated drag on a marine vessel is commonly cited between 1 - 18%. We will address the knowledge gap relating to biofilm morphology and physicomechanical properties. By relating drag to the physical interactions between fluid flow and the biofilm we will better understand the role that biofilm properties play in influencing drag penalty. Current testing relates drag to sand grain roughness, however biofilms are viscoelastic materials which deform under shear when the ship is moving. Viscoelasticity generates a variety of biofilm-fluid interactions which makes correlating drag measurements with biofilm structural parameters difficult and there are no good testing models. We have designed and built a marine biofilm flow cell (MBFC) for testing coatings and now require the viscoelastic calibration standards to improve functionality of the system. Currently data on biofilm drag penalty is related to an equivalent calibrated sand grain roughness but this negates the effect that viscoelasticity of the biofilm may have on the associated drag penalty. The project aims are: • Create novel viscoelastic standard materials with mechanical properties similar to biofilms and compatible with the biofilm drag penalty flow cell system. • Cast artificial biofilms with vicoelastic material using sand grain moulds to provide standard morphology to simultaneously measure the viscoelasticity of biofilms the associated drag penalty when exposed to shear flow. • Develop an image analysis routine to analyse images from optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure biofilm deformation and viscoelastic parameters under defined shear. Success will be measured by the: • generation of a system capable of measuring the drag penalty of a material whilst measuring the physical response to shear. • demonstration of a more appropriate method for calibration of biofilms in hydrodynamic laboratory testing facilities. • development of a MatLab based image analysis software to analyse OCT data sets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Key conclusions from the project were as follows: • Replica copies of a given rigid surface can be successfully reproduced, with micron-scale fidelity, in materials with differing mechanical properties using the developed casting method. • The elastic properties of a surface with a given roughness profile significantly alter how much frictional drag will be generated when the surface is subject to a given flow condition. • Independent variation of surface roughness and material properties of artificial biofilms for flow cell calibration can now progress within framework established in this PoC project. Significant know-how in terms of how to successfully manipulate the range of materials examined was developed in the course of the pre-project scoping work and project term. This is not commercially exploitable but represents a strong foundation for our next phase of the research. The results and know-how generated in this project are currently being expanded on through a dedicated PhD studentship at University of Southampton supervised by Julian Wharton and Paul Stoodley and majority funded by AkzoNobel. The studentship is a study of the material properties of fouling biofilms and their relationship to frictional drag. Objectives include expanding the non-rigid calibration datasets developed as part of this NBIC PoC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18032 Development of synthetic biofilm for calibrating the effect of coatings on reducing marine viscoelastic drag. (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Estimates of the magnitude of biofilm associated drag on a marine vessel is commonly cited between 1 - 18%. We will address the knowledge gap relating to biofilm morphology and physicomechanical properties. By relating drag to the physical interactions between fluid flow and the biofilm we will better understand the role that biofilm properties play in influencing drag penalty. Current testing relates drag to sand grain roughness, however biofilms are viscoelastic materials which deform under shear when the ship is moving. Viscoelasticity generates a variety of biofilm-fluid interactions which makes correlating drag measurements with biofilm structural parameters difficult and there are no good testing models. We have designed and built a marine biofilm flow cell (MBFC) for testing coatings and now require the viscoelastic calibration standards to improve functionality of the system. Currently data on biofilm drag penalty is related to an equivalent calibrated sand grain roughness but this negates the effect that viscoelasticity of the biofilm may have on the associated drag penalty. The project aims are: • Create novel viscoelastic standard materials with mechanical properties similar to biofilms and compatible with the biofilm drag penalty flow cell system. • Cast artificial biofilms with vicoelastic material using sand grain moulds to provide standard morphology to simultaneously measure the viscoelasticity of biofilms the associated drag penalty when exposed to shear flow. • Develop an image analysis routine to analyse images from optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure biofilm deformation and viscoelastic parameters under defined shear. Success will be measured by the: • generation of a system capable of measuring the drag penalty of a material whilst measuring the physical response to shear. • demonstration of a more appropriate method for calibration of biofilms in hydrodynamic laboratory testing facilities. • development of a MatLab based image analysis software to analyse OCT data sets. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Key conclusions from the project were as follows: • Replica copies of a given rigid surface can be successfully reproduced, with micron-scale fidelity, in materials with differing mechanical properties using the developed casting method. • The elastic properties of a surface with a given roughness profile significantly alter how much frictional drag will be generated when the surface is subject to a given flow condition. • Independent variation of surface roughness and material properties of artificial biofilms for flow cell calibration can now progress within framework established in this PoC project. Significant know-how in terms of how to successfully manipulate the range of materials examined was developed in the course of the pre-project scoping work and project term. This is not commercially exploitable but represents a strong foundation for our next phase of the research. The results and know-how generated in this project are currently being expanded on through a dedicated PhD studentship at University of Southampton supervised by Julian Wharton and Paul Stoodley and majority funded by AkzoNobel. The studentship is a study of the material properties of fouling biofilms and their relationship to frictional drag. Objectives include expanding the non-rigid calibration datasets developed as part of this NBIC PoC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18034 Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Safe drinking water is essential to protect public health. Treated drinking water is generally high-quality but degrades during distribution from treatment works to consumers through complex pipe infrastructure: drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Biofilms form on the extensive internal DWDS surface and are central to the processes governing water quality (WQ) at the tap, via their action or mobilisation into the bulk-water. Currently, no biofilm-specific management approaches are available within the urban water sector and ageing DWDS (average pipe age >70 years) are facing new pressures (increasing urbanisation, water shortages) which will heighten the risks to WQ unless tools are developed to manage DWDS biofilm formation/removal. Aligning with NBIC goals of biofilm management and prevention, this project aims to assess the feasibility of applying a "marine-coating" (successfully used to manage biofouling on commercial ships and pleasure craft) in DWDS to control biofilm accumulation/mobilisation, which requires understanding of biofilm characteristics and coating behaviour between the two distinct aquatic environments. Therefore, the two main objectives of this project are to: 1. determine the "marine-coating" performance in the novel application to DWDS pipelines 2. compare biofilm formation upon the coating in marine and DWDS environments via cross-application of analytical techniques Success measures include the generation of knowledge regarding performance of the "marine-coating" in DWDS compared to a control, with respect to biofilm accumulation and subsequent risk of mobilisation into the bulk-water. Cross-application of biofilm analysis techniques from each sector is a further success measure, namely assessing the innovative application of flow cytometry to marine-biofilms and the first use of optical-coherence tomography (OCT) to biofilms from cold water DWDS pipelines. The data generated will provide evidence regarding the potential for coatings from other aquatic sectors to be applied to DWDS and will highlight similarities/differences in biofilm characteristics between the marine and drinking water environments. Briefly, this project requires the modification of the UoS full-scale DWDS-test facility (WP1) to compare: a) biofilm development in a high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pipe (control) with a "marine-coated-HDPE" pipe; and b) impact of biofilm mobilisation from each surface (control and coated) on water quality (WP2). In parallel, an established marine open-channel testing facility at AkzoNobel will be used to monitor development of natural-vessel-sourced biofilms on the coated-surface prior to a mobilisation phase using a fully turbulent hydrodynamic flow cell, enabling comparison of biofilm behaviour between aquatic systems (WP3). DWDS water quality (various parameters) and biofilms will be sampled regularly for detailed comparisons between performance of the coating and HDPE. Background sampling will be undertaken during the marine-development phase and biofilms will be sampled at the end of the development and mobilisation phases for comparison with DWDS biofilms. Biofilm analysis will combine Flow Cytometry (FC) for microbial cell enumeration (and viability) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for biofilm volumes and visualisation (WP4). The main deliverable of this project will be the production and dissemination of a final report (WP5). Table 2 highlights key risks associated with this project and their management. UoS and AkzoNobel will direct the project, with DCWW input at steering meetings. Project and steering meetings align with milestones to check work-package progression and act as decision check-points. UoS and AkzoNobel will have regular meetings to ensure timely project completion. KF and MD will be responsible for day-to-day project management for the UoS and AzN parts of the project, respectively. They will report to JB or KR/CP, in-between project progress meetings. Kat Fish rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). She presented this work at an international conference September 2020, Sweden. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: The findings from these experiments suggest that hydraulic regime has a greater effect on biofilm accumulation than the type of pipe coating. Additionally, the first use of OCT to analyse biofilms from cold water DWDS has confirmed that detection is possible, even on thin winter biofilm samples. The marine coating did perform differently to the HDPE during the flushing tests of Steady State biofilms specifically, with the coated surface potentially supporting the release of biofilm cells at lower flow rates/shear stresses. However, further testing is required to assess the performance of the marine coating on thicker biofilms. The background IP within this project rests with AkzoNobel, who have developed the coating (EP2961805B1: Anti-fouling compositions with a fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer). All background IP regarding the drinking water test facility and related protocols belongs to the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield have freedom to operate within this collaboration and are granted permission to publish findings from the project on the understanding that AkzoNobel will see and approve any outputs prior to their release into the research/public domain. No further IP was generated. They run the test again in autumn 2020 (internal funds and Akzo in kind support, estimated at £38,000 in value), the results are surprising - the coating does not have an impact but hydraulics yes - useful for further research. They will run it again without the coating (Akzo still have a watching brief), as this is an easier solution environmentally. AkzoNobel will continue to run the marine experiments beyond the end date of this project. Depending on completion of the marine tests by the industry partner and the data generated, there may be scope for a further publication, which would be a comparative study of biofilms in the two aquatic environments. Feedback from Kat Fish: Having NBIC hub support was empowering. A platform - a single point - via which she can reach other people. Outreach also important for University - to share her ideas about clean water with school children. Rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). Presented this research at an international conference ("RISE: Materials in Contact with Drinking Water") September 2020, Sweden. Social benefits: Clean drinking water benefit to the public. Feedback from Welsh Water: - If they could develop the coating that would be of a great benefit in terms of reducing biofilm growth and discoloration - Welsh Water would want AkzoNobel to come to them for testing. - The project run smoothly. Initial issues with getting the right coating but once overcome, it seemed to run very smoothly, lots of communication. Feedback from AkzoNobel: • Successful project, looking into 'how to coat in an environmentally friendly way - shipping is a different field, so cross-functional element. They wanted to gain understanding what involved in an antibiofilm coating, what is going on in drinking water - a new field for the Company. • Methodology - difficulties and practicality (Flow cytometry, imaging - learning how to properly image and how to quantify these images, OCT). They didn't complete objectives in time but as outlined above this work has continued. • Good experience. Moving forward - no immediate plans, at present exploring new markets/products. • Their goal for the POC1 was to explore a new idea, duration only 6 months limiting. They learnt what they needed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18034 Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Safe drinking water is essential to protect public health. Treated drinking water is generally high-quality but degrades during distribution from treatment works to consumers through complex pipe infrastructure: drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Biofilms form on the extensive internal DWDS surface and are central to the processes governing water quality (WQ) at the tap, via their action or mobilisation into the bulk-water. Currently, no biofilm-specific management approaches are available within the urban water sector and ageing DWDS (average pipe age >70 years) are facing new pressures (increasing urbanisation, water shortages) which will heighten the risks to WQ unless tools are developed to manage DWDS biofilm formation/removal. Aligning with NBIC goals of biofilm management and prevention, this project aims to assess the feasibility of applying a "marine-coating" (successfully used to manage biofouling on commercial ships and pleasure craft) in DWDS to control biofilm accumulation/mobilisation, which requires understanding of biofilm characteristics and coating behaviour between the two distinct aquatic environments. Therefore, the two main objectives of this project are to: 1. determine the "marine-coating" performance in the novel application to DWDS pipelines 2. compare biofilm formation upon the coating in marine and DWDS environments via cross-application of analytical techniques Success measures include the generation of knowledge regarding performance of the "marine-coating" in DWDS compared to a control, with respect to biofilm accumulation and subsequent risk of mobilisation into the bulk-water. Cross-application of biofilm analysis techniques from each sector is a further success measure, namely assessing the innovative application of flow cytometry to marine-biofilms and the first use of optical-coherence tomography (OCT) to biofilms from cold water DWDS pipelines. The data generated will provide evidence regarding the potential for coatings from other aquatic sectors to be applied to DWDS and will highlight similarities/differences in biofilm characteristics between the marine and drinking water environments. Briefly, this project requires the modification of the UoS full-scale DWDS-test facility (WP1) to compare: a) biofilm development in a high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pipe (control) with a "marine-coated-HDPE" pipe; and b) impact of biofilm mobilisation from each surface (control and coated) on water quality (WP2). In parallel, an established marine open-channel testing facility at AkzoNobel will be used to monitor development of natural-vessel-sourced biofilms on the coated-surface prior to a mobilisation phase using a fully turbulent hydrodynamic flow cell, enabling comparison of biofilm behaviour between aquatic systems (WP3). DWDS water quality (various parameters) and biofilms will be sampled regularly for detailed comparisons between performance of the coating and HDPE. Background sampling will be undertaken during the marine-development phase and biofilms will be sampled at the end of the development and mobilisation phases for comparison with DWDS biofilms. Biofilm analysis will combine Flow Cytometry (FC) for microbial cell enumeration (and viability) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for biofilm volumes and visualisation (WP4). The main deliverable of this project will be the production and dissemination of a final report (WP5). Table 2 highlights key risks associated with this project and their management. UoS and AkzoNobel will direct the project, with DCWW input at steering meetings. Project and steering meetings align with milestones to check work-package progression and act as decision check-points. UoS and AkzoNobel will have regular meetings to ensure timely project completion. KF and MD will be responsible for day-to-day project management for the UoS and AzN parts of the project, respectively. They will report to JB or KR/CP, in-between project progress meetings. Kat Fish rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). She presented this work at an international conference September 2020, Sweden. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: The findings from these experiments suggest that hydraulic regime has a greater effect on biofilm accumulation than the type of pipe coating. Additionally, the first use of OCT to analyse biofilms from cold water DWDS has confirmed that detection is possible, even on thin winter biofilm samples. The marine coating did perform differently to the HDPE during the flushing tests of Steady State biofilms specifically, with the coated surface potentially supporting the release of biofilm cells at lower flow rates/shear stresses. However, further testing is required to assess the performance of the marine coating on thicker biofilms. The background IP within this project rests with AkzoNobel, who have developed the coating (EP2961805B1: Anti-fouling compositions with a fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer). All background IP regarding the drinking water test facility and related protocols belongs to the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield have freedom to operate within this collaboration and are granted permission to publish findings from the project on the understanding that AkzoNobel will see and approve any outputs prior to their release into the research/public domain. No further IP was generated. They run the test again in autumn 2020 (internal funds and Akzo in kind support, estimated at £38,000 in value), the results are surprising - the coating does not have an impact but hydraulics yes - useful for further research. They will run it again without the coating (Akzo still have a watching brief), as this is an easier solution environmentally. AkzoNobel will continue to run the marine experiments beyond the end date of this project. Depending on completion of the marine tests by the industry partner and the data generated, there may be scope for a further publication, which would be a comparative study of biofilms in the two aquatic environments. Feedback from Kat Fish: Having NBIC hub support was empowering. A platform - a single point - via which she can reach other people. Outreach also important for University - to share her ideas about clean water with school children. Rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). Presented this research at an international conference ("RISE: Materials in Contact with Drinking Water") September 2020, Sweden. Social benefits: Clean drinking water benefit to the public. Feedback from Welsh Water: - If they could develop the coating that would be of a great benefit in terms of reducing biofilm growth and discoloration - Welsh Water would want AkzoNobel to come to them for testing. - The project run smoothly. Initial issues with getting the right coating but once overcome, it seemed to run very smoothly, lots of communication. Feedback from AkzoNobel: • Successful project, looking into 'how to coat in an environmentally friendly way - shipping is a different field, so cross-functional element. They wanted to gain understanding what involved in an antibiofilm coating, what is going on in drinking water - a new field for the Company. • Methodology - difficulties and practicality (Flow cytometry, imaging - learning how to properly image and how to quantify these images, OCT). They didn't complete objectives in time but as outlined above this work has continued. • Good experience. Moving forward - no immediate plans, at present exploring new markets/products. • Their goal for the POC1 was to explore a new idea, duration only 6 months limiting. They learnt what they needed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18034 Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Safe drinking water is essential to protect public health. Treated drinking water is generally high-quality but degrades during distribution from treatment works to consumers through complex pipe infrastructure: drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Biofilms form on the extensive internal DWDS surface and are central to the processes governing water quality (WQ) at the tap, via their action or mobilisation into the bulk-water. Currently, no biofilm-specific management approaches are available within the urban water sector and ageing DWDS (average pipe age >70 years) are facing new pressures (increasing urbanisation, water shortages) which will heighten the risks to WQ unless tools are developed to manage DWDS biofilm formation/removal. Aligning with NBIC goals of biofilm management and prevention, this project aims to assess the feasibility of applying a "marine-coating" (successfully used to manage biofouling on commercial ships and pleasure craft) in DWDS to control biofilm accumulation/mobilisation, which requires understanding of biofilm characteristics and coating behaviour between the two distinct aquatic environments. Therefore, the two main objectives of this project are to: 1. determine the "marine-coating" performance in the novel application to DWDS pipelines 2. compare biofilm formation upon the coating in marine and DWDS environments via cross-application of analytical techniques Success measures include the generation of knowledge regarding performance of the "marine-coating" in DWDS compared to a control, with respect to biofilm accumulation and subsequent risk of mobilisation into the bulk-water. Cross-application of biofilm analysis techniques from each sector is a further success measure, namely assessing the innovative application of flow cytometry to marine-biofilms and the first use of optical-coherence tomography (OCT) to biofilms from cold water DWDS pipelines. The data generated will provide evidence regarding the potential for coatings from other aquatic sectors to be applied to DWDS and will highlight similarities/differences in biofilm characteristics between the marine and drinking water environments. Briefly, this project requires the modification of the UoS full-scale DWDS-test facility (WP1) to compare: a) biofilm development in a high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pipe (control) with a "marine-coated-HDPE" pipe; and b) impact of biofilm mobilisation from each surface (control and coated) on water quality (WP2). In parallel, an established marine open-channel testing facility at AkzoNobel will be used to monitor development of natural-vessel-sourced biofilms on the coated-surface prior to a mobilisation phase using a fully turbulent hydrodynamic flow cell, enabling comparison of biofilm behaviour between aquatic systems (WP3). DWDS water quality (various parameters) and biofilms will be sampled regularly for detailed comparisons between performance of the coating and HDPE. Background sampling will be undertaken during the marine-development phase and biofilms will be sampled at the end of the development and mobilisation phases for comparison with DWDS biofilms. Biofilm analysis will combine Flow Cytometry (FC) for microbial cell enumeration (and viability) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for biofilm volumes and visualisation (WP4). The main deliverable of this project will be the production and dissemination of a final report (WP5). Table 2 highlights key risks associated with this project and their management. UoS and AkzoNobel will direct the project, with DCWW input at steering meetings. Project and steering meetings align with milestones to check work-package progression and act as decision check-points. UoS and AkzoNobel will have regular meetings to ensure timely project completion. KF and MD will be responsible for day-to-day project management for the UoS and AzN parts of the project, respectively. They will report to JB or KR/CP, in-between project progress meetings. Kat Fish rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). She presented this work at an international conference September 2020, Sweden. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: The findings from these experiments suggest that hydraulic regime has a greater effect on biofilm accumulation than the type of pipe coating. Additionally, the first use of OCT to analyse biofilms from cold water DWDS has confirmed that detection is possible, even on thin winter biofilm samples. The marine coating did perform differently to the HDPE during the flushing tests of Steady State biofilms specifically, with the coated surface potentially supporting the release of biofilm cells at lower flow rates/shear stresses. However, further testing is required to assess the performance of the marine coating on thicker biofilms. The background IP within this project rests with AkzoNobel, who have developed the coating (EP2961805B1: Anti-fouling compositions with a fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer). All background IP regarding the drinking water test facility and related protocols belongs to the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield have freedom to operate within this collaboration and are granted permission to publish findings from the project on the understanding that AkzoNobel will see and approve any outputs prior to their release into the research/public domain. No further IP was generated. They run the test again in autumn 2020 (internal funds and Akzo in kind support, estimated at £38,000 in value), the results are surprising - the coating does not have an impact but hydraulics yes - useful for further research. They will run it again without the coating (Akzo still have a watching brief), as this is an easier solution environmentally. AkzoNobel will continue to run the marine experiments beyond the end date of this project. Depending on completion of the marine tests by the industry partner and the data generated, there may be scope for a further publication, which would be a comparative study of biofilms in the two aquatic environments. Feedback from Kat Fish: Having NBIC hub support was empowering. A platform - a single point - via which she can reach other people. Outreach also important for University - to share her ideas about clean water with school children. Rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). Presented this research at an international conference ("RISE: Materials in Contact with Drinking Water") September 2020, Sweden. Social benefits: Clean drinking water benefit to the public. Feedback from Welsh Water: - If they could develop the coating that would be of a great benefit in terms of reducing biofilm growth and discoloration - Welsh Water would want AkzoNobel to come to them for testing. - The project run smoothly. Initial issues with getting the right coating but once overcome, it seemed to run very smoothly, lots of communication. Feedback from AkzoNobel: • Successful project, looking into 'how to coat in an environmentally friendly way - shipping is a different field, so cross-functional element. They wanted to gain understanding what involved in an antibiofilm coating, what is going on in drinking water - a new field for the Company. • Methodology - difficulties and practicality (Flow cytometry, imaging - learning how to properly image and how to quantify these images, OCT). They didn't complete objectives in time but as outlined above this work has continued. • Good experience. Moving forward - no immediate plans, at present exploring new markets/products. • Their goal for the POC1 was to explore a new idea, duration only 6 months limiting. They learnt what they needed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18034 Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Welsh Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Safe drinking water is essential to protect public health. Treated drinking water is generally high-quality but degrades during distribution from treatment works to consumers through complex pipe infrastructure: drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Biofilms form on the extensive internal DWDS surface and are central to the processes governing water quality (WQ) at the tap, via their action or mobilisation into the bulk-water. Currently, no biofilm-specific management approaches are available within the urban water sector and ageing DWDS (average pipe age >70 years) are facing new pressures (increasing urbanisation, water shortages) which will heighten the risks to WQ unless tools are developed to manage DWDS biofilm formation/removal. Aligning with NBIC goals of biofilm management and prevention, this project aims to assess the feasibility of applying a "marine-coating" (successfully used to manage biofouling on commercial ships and pleasure craft) in DWDS to control biofilm accumulation/mobilisation, which requires understanding of biofilm characteristics and coating behaviour between the two distinct aquatic environments. Therefore, the two main objectives of this project are to: 1. determine the "marine-coating" performance in the novel application to DWDS pipelines 2. compare biofilm formation upon the coating in marine and DWDS environments via cross-application of analytical techniques Success measures include the generation of knowledge regarding performance of the "marine-coating" in DWDS compared to a control, with respect to biofilm accumulation and subsequent risk of mobilisation into the bulk-water. Cross-application of biofilm analysis techniques from each sector is a further success measure, namely assessing the innovative application of flow cytometry to marine-biofilms and the first use of optical-coherence tomography (OCT) to biofilms from cold water DWDS pipelines. The data generated will provide evidence regarding the potential for coatings from other aquatic sectors to be applied to DWDS and will highlight similarities/differences in biofilm characteristics between the marine and drinking water environments. Briefly, this project requires the modification of the UoS full-scale DWDS-test facility (WP1) to compare: a) biofilm development in a high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pipe (control) with a "marine-coated-HDPE" pipe; and b) impact of biofilm mobilisation from each surface (control and coated) on water quality (WP2). In parallel, an established marine open-channel testing facility at AkzoNobel will be used to monitor development of natural-vessel-sourced biofilms on the coated-surface prior to a mobilisation phase using a fully turbulent hydrodynamic flow cell, enabling comparison of biofilm behaviour between aquatic systems (WP3). DWDS water quality (various parameters) and biofilms will be sampled regularly for detailed comparisons between performance of the coating and HDPE. Background sampling will be undertaken during the marine-development phase and biofilms will be sampled at the end of the development and mobilisation phases for comparison with DWDS biofilms. Biofilm analysis will combine Flow Cytometry (FC) for microbial cell enumeration (and viability) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for biofilm volumes and visualisation (WP4). The main deliverable of this project will be the production and dissemination of a final report (WP5). Table 2 highlights key risks associated with this project and their management. UoS and AkzoNobel will direct the project, with DCWW input at steering meetings. Project and steering meetings align with milestones to check work-package progression and act as decision check-points. UoS and AkzoNobel will have regular meetings to ensure timely project completion. KF and MD will be responsible for day-to-day project management for the UoS and AzN parts of the project, respectively. They will report to JB or KR/CP, in-between project progress meetings. Kat Fish rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). She presented this work at an international conference September 2020, Sweden. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: The findings from these experiments suggest that hydraulic regime has a greater effect on biofilm accumulation than the type of pipe coating. Additionally, the first use of OCT to analyse biofilms from cold water DWDS has confirmed that detection is possible, even on thin winter biofilm samples. The marine coating did perform differently to the HDPE during the flushing tests of Steady State biofilms specifically, with the coated surface potentially supporting the release of biofilm cells at lower flow rates/shear stresses. However, further testing is required to assess the performance of the marine coating on thicker biofilms. The background IP within this project rests with AkzoNobel, who have developed the coating (EP2961805B1: Anti-fouling compositions with a fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer). All background IP regarding the drinking water test facility and related protocols belongs to the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield have freedom to operate within this collaboration and are granted permission to publish findings from the project on the understanding that AkzoNobel will see and approve any outputs prior to their release into the research/public domain. No further IP was generated. They run the test again in autumn 2020 (internal funds and Akzo in kind support, estimated at £38,000 in value), the results are surprising - the coating does not have an impact but hydraulics yes - useful for further research. They will run it again without the coating (Akzo still have a watching brief), as this is an easier solution environmentally. AkzoNobel will continue to run the marine experiments beyond the end date of this project. Depending on completion of the marine tests by the industry partner and the data generated, there may be scope for a further publication, which would be a comparative study of biofilms in the two aquatic environments. Feedback from Kat Fish: Having NBIC hub support was empowering. A platform - a single point - via which she can reach other people. Outreach also important for University - to share her ideas about clean water with school children. Rated PI experience as invaluable, supporting her confidence as an early career researcher (POC2 funded (Co-I), PhD with a company, fellowship application). Presented this research at an international conference ("RISE: Materials in Contact with Drinking Water") September 2020, Sweden. Social benefits: Clean drinking water benefit to the public. Feedback from Welsh Water: - If they could develop the coating that would be of a great benefit in terms of reducing biofilm growth and discoloration - Welsh Water would want AkzoNobel to come to them for testing. - The project run smoothly. Initial issues with getting the right coating but once overcome, it seemed to run very smoothly, lots of communication. Feedback from AkzoNobel: • Successful project, looking into 'how to coat in an environmentally friendly way - shipping is a different field, so cross-functional element. They wanted to gain understanding what involved in an antibiofilm coating, what is going on in drinking water - a new field for the Company. • Methodology - difficulties and practicality (Flow cytometry, imaging - learning how to properly image and how to quantify these images, OCT). They didn't complete objectives in time but as outlined above this work has continued. • Good experience. Moving forward - no immediate plans, at present exploring new markets/products. • Their goal for the POC1 was to explore a new idea, duration only 6 months limiting. They learnt what they needed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18035 A model oral system for oral healthcare risk assessment (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • In partnership with Unilever we have developed a state of the art in vitro model system, based upon FDA approved Centre for Disease Control bioreactors, to simulate the oral cavity and its microbiome to facilitate improved oral healthcare product development. • The bioreactor system is inoculated with human saliva which produces a stable community of oral microbiota on hydroxyapatite coupons within the reactor. Through this model we are able to investigate the changes to the oral microbiome composition caused by the use of active compounds used in oral healthcare. • Many active compounds found in personal care products for oral health are likely to alter the oral microbiome. Perturbations to the oral microbiome may be beneficial or detrimental to oral health. In order to assess the benefits of oral care products we will utilise our in vitro model to determine the impact of perturbations on the oral microbiome on oral health due to active compounds. This will be achieved through state of the art Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of oral biofilms and determining the cytokine response from gingival fibroblast cells (GF). • These data will enable the existing 16S-based model of microbiome composition to be expanded to incorporate function. The impact of changes to microbiome composition and function will be related to cellular responses. The ultimate aim is to determine that correlations between oral biofilms and their impact upon GF can be used for product evaluation. • Improved understanding of the impact of actives on the oral cavity will enable product effects to be predicted prior to clinical assessment, thereby reducing industry costs, minimising the safety risks associated with testing new actives and accelerating oral healthcare product development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The results obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing, cytotoxicity, cytokines analysis indicate the model is functional and has the potential to be used broadly. Due to the challenges encountered during the project, the data generated were insufficient for a publication but the 16S rRNA data of the previous project were analysed and a manuscript which describe the bioreactor prepared for publication. Most studies of biofilm influences on dental materials use single-species biofilms, or consortia. Microcosm biofilms grown directly from saliva or plaque are much more diverse, but difficult to characterize. The CDC biofilm reactor is a continuous-flow culture model that has been deployed to study complex interactions between members of human microbiotas. In this study, we showed that biofilms from the CDC reactors can potentially be used to measure the cytotoxicity and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines when challenging human gingival epithelial cells. These methods could be developed further to understand the safety of perturbation of the microbiome by oral care products. The NGS data analyses carried out in this project have been deposited on the ENA (project PRJEB42383) to be made public upon acceptance of the corresponding publication. Next steps: • Validation: The present study was a proof of concept and indicated promising results. It would require further experimental work to test intra batch and batch to batch repeatability. Larger saliva / plaque pools and phylogenetic characterization would allow more replicate and batch runs and identify the presence of species not normally associated with super- or sub-gingival plaque. • The method for exposing gingival cells to biofilm requires further development. Ideally this would be done with the attached biofilm, but this does not allow quantification of biofilm biomass to normalize to cytotoxicity response. • Incorporation into risk assessment framework: SEAC carries out safety risks assessments of new products and with validation and appropriate modelling methods, the results from the in vitro system could be used to define a safe operating space for actives used in oral care. In the absence of established reliable indicators of biome health, a relative risk assessment framework could be defined using actives with a history of safe use such as chlorhexidine and triclosan as benchmarks. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18035 A model oral system for oral healthcare risk assessment (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • In partnership with Unilever we have developed a state of the art in vitro model system, based upon FDA approved Centre for Disease Control bioreactors, to simulate the oral cavity and its microbiome to facilitate improved oral healthcare product development. • The bioreactor system is inoculated with human saliva which produces a stable community of oral microbiota on hydroxyapatite coupons within the reactor. Through this model we are able to investigate the changes to the oral microbiome composition caused by the use of active compounds used in oral healthcare. • Many active compounds found in personal care products for oral health are likely to alter the oral microbiome. Perturbations to the oral microbiome may be beneficial or detrimental to oral health. In order to assess the benefits of oral care products we will utilise our in vitro model to determine the impact of perturbations on the oral microbiome on oral health due to active compounds. This will be achieved through state of the art Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of oral biofilms and determining the cytokine response from gingival fibroblast cells (GF). • These data will enable the existing 16S-based model of microbiome composition to be expanded to incorporate function. The impact of changes to microbiome composition and function will be related to cellular responses. The ultimate aim is to determine that correlations between oral biofilms and their impact upon GF can be used for product evaluation. • Improved understanding of the impact of actives on the oral cavity will enable product effects to be predicted prior to clinical assessment, thereby reducing industry costs, minimising the safety risks associated with testing new actives and accelerating oral healthcare product development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The results obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing, cytotoxicity, cytokines analysis indicate the model is functional and has the potential to be used broadly. Due to the challenges encountered during the project, the data generated were insufficient for a publication but the 16S rRNA data of the previous project were analysed and a manuscript which describe the bioreactor prepared for publication. Most studies of biofilm influences on dental materials use single-species biofilms, or consortia. Microcosm biofilms grown directly from saliva or plaque are much more diverse, but difficult to characterize. The CDC biofilm reactor is a continuous-flow culture model that has been deployed to study complex interactions between members of human microbiotas. In this study, we showed that biofilms from the CDC reactors can potentially be used to measure the cytotoxicity and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines when challenging human gingival epithelial cells. These methods could be developed further to understand the safety of perturbation of the microbiome by oral care products. The NGS data analyses carried out in this project have been deposited on the ENA (project PRJEB42383) to be made public upon acceptance of the corresponding publication. Next steps: • Validation: The present study was a proof of concept and indicated promising results. It would require further experimental work to test intra batch and batch to batch repeatability. Larger saliva / plaque pools and phylogenetic characterization would allow more replicate and batch runs and identify the presence of species not normally associated with super- or sub-gingival plaque. • The method for exposing gingival cells to biofilm requires further development. Ideally this would be done with the attached biofilm, but this does not allow quantification of biofilm biomass to normalize to cytotoxicity response. • Incorporation into risk assessment framework: SEAC carries out safety risks assessments of new products and with validation and appropriate modelling methods, the results from the in vitro system could be used to define a safe operating space for actives used in oral care. In the absence of established reliable indicators of biome health, a relative risk assessment framework could be defined using actives with a history of safe use such as chlorhexidine and triclosan as benchmarks. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18035 A model oral system for oral healthcare risk assessment (Paul Stoodley) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | • In partnership with Unilever we have developed a state of the art in vitro model system, based upon FDA approved Centre for Disease Control bioreactors, to simulate the oral cavity and its microbiome to facilitate improved oral healthcare product development. • The bioreactor system is inoculated with human saliva which produces a stable community of oral microbiota on hydroxyapatite coupons within the reactor. Through this model we are able to investigate the changes to the oral microbiome composition caused by the use of active compounds used in oral healthcare. • Many active compounds found in personal care products for oral health are likely to alter the oral microbiome. Perturbations to the oral microbiome may be beneficial or detrimental to oral health. In order to assess the benefits of oral care products we will utilise our in vitro model to determine the impact of perturbations on the oral microbiome on oral health due to active compounds. This will be achieved through state of the art Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of oral biofilms and determining the cytokine response from gingival fibroblast cells (GF). • These data will enable the existing 16S-based model of microbiome composition to be expanded to incorporate function. The impact of changes to microbiome composition and function will be related to cellular responses. The ultimate aim is to determine that correlations between oral biofilms and their impact upon GF can be used for product evaluation. • Improved understanding of the impact of actives on the oral cavity will enable product effects to be predicted prior to clinical assessment, thereby reducing industry costs, minimising the safety risks associated with testing new actives and accelerating oral healthcare product development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The results obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing, cytotoxicity, cytokines analysis indicate the model is functional and has the potential to be used broadly. Due to the challenges encountered during the project, the data generated were insufficient for a publication but the 16S rRNA data of the previous project were analysed and a manuscript which describe the bioreactor prepared for publication. Most studies of biofilm influences on dental materials use single-species biofilms, or consortia. Microcosm biofilms grown directly from saliva or plaque are much more diverse, but difficult to characterize. The CDC biofilm reactor is a continuous-flow culture model that has been deployed to study complex interactions between members of human microbiotas. In this study, we showed that biofilms from the CDC reactors can potentially be used to measure the cytotoxicity and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines when challenging human gingival epithelial cells. These methods could be developed further to understand the safety of perturbation of the microbiome by oral care products. The NGS data analyses carried out in this project have been deposited on the ENA (project PRJEB42383) to be made public upon acceptance of the corresponding publication. Next steps: • Validation: The present study was a proof of concept and indicated promising results. It would require further experimental work to test intra batch and batch to batch repeatability. Larger saliva / plaque pools and phylogenetic characterization would allow more replicate and batch runs and identify the presence of species not normally associated with super- or sub-gingival plaque. • The method for exposing gingival cells to biofilm requires further development. Ideally this would be done with the attached biofilm, but this does not allow quantification of biofilm biomass to normalize to cytotoxicity response. • Incorporation into risk assessment framework: SEAC carries out safety risks assessments of new products and with validation and appropriate modelling methods, the results from the in vitro system could be used to define a safe operating space for actives used in oral care. In the absence of established reliable indicators of biome health, a relative risk assessment framework could be defined using actives with a history of safe use such as chlorhexidine and triclosan as benchmarks. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18040 The effect of low frequency ultrasound on urinary catheter biofilms: a crossover study (Sandra A Wilks) |
| Organisation | NanoVibronix Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Nanovibronix Uroshield has been developed to prevent catheter blockages and biofilm contamination, resulting in a reduction in urinary infections (a recognised NHS priority), improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. There are currently no catheter designs, materials or evidence-based interventions that are known to reduce catheter-associated infections. The Uroshield utilises a low frequency ultrasonic acoustic wave to prevent bacterial attachment. Uroshield is the only technology currently available on the market to use this approach. Controlled laboratory studies (carried out by the applicants) are looking at the effects of the device on catheter biofilms using an artificial bladder model. In addition, product evaluation studies in the US and UK have reported increased patient quality of life measures and a reduction in infections and blockages. In the proposed study, we intend to carry out a crossover trial to assess any changes to the catheter-associated microbiome in order to understand the impact of the Uroshield on the biofilm community. This will involve collecting urine and catheter samples pre and post use of the Uroshield from a small panel of long-term catheter users. Using validated techniques, the microbial community structure will be studied and the data used to inform future clinical and laboratory testing, as well as product development. Techniques will include culture and direct microscopy analysis, as well as next generation sequencing to fully investigate the community present in the samples. Understanding how low frequency ultrasonic acoustics can affect microbial communities and biofilms will aid in future products and management strategies. This data will then aid Nanovibronix in further product development, and in NHS Rapid Review and FDA applications, as well as being used as proof of concept data for further NIHR funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18040 The effect of low frequency ultrasound on urinary catheter biofilms: a crossover study (Sandra A Wilks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Nanovibronix Uroshield has been developed to prevent catheter blockages and biofilm contamination, resulting in a reduction in urinary infections (a recognised NHS priority), improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. There are currently no catheter designs, materials or evidence-based interventions that are known to reduce catheter-associated infections. The Uroshield utilises a low frequency ultrasonic acoustic wave to prevent bacterial attachment. Uroshield is the only technology currently available on the market to use this approach. Controlled laboratory studies (carried out by the applicants) are looking at the effects of the device on catheter biofilms using an artificial bladder model. In addition, product evaluation studies in the US and UK have reported increased patient quality of life measures and a reduction in infections and blockages. In the proposed study, we intend to carry out a crossover trial to assess any changes to the catheter-associated microbiome in order to understand the impact of the Uroshield on the biofilm community. This will involve collecting urine and catheter samples pre and post use of the Uroshield from a small panel of long-term catheter users. Using validated techniques, the microbial community structure will be studied and the data used to inform future clinical and laboratory testing, as well as product development. Techniques will include culture and direct microscopy analysis, as well as next generation sequencing to fully investigate the community present in the samples. Understanding how low frequency ultrasonic acoustics can affect microbial communities and biofilms will aid in future products and management strategies. This data will then aid Nanovibronix in further product development, and in NHS Rapid Review and FDA applications, as well as being used as proof of concept data for further NIHR funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18040 The effect of low frequency ultrasound on urinary catheter biofilms: a crossover study (Sandra A Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nanovibronix Uroshield has been developed to prevent catheter blockages and biofilm contamination, resulting in a reduction in urinary infections (a recognised NHS priority), improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. There are currently no catheter designs, materials or evidence-based interventions that are known to reduce catheter-associated infections. The Uroshield utilises a low frequency ultrasonic acoustic wave to prevent bacterial attachment. Uroshield is the only technology currently available on the market to use this approach. Controlled laboratory studies (carried out by the applicants) are looking at the effects of the device on catheter biofilms using an artificial bladder model. In addition, product evaluation studies in the US and UK have reported increased patient quality of life measures and a reduction in infections and blockages. In the proposed study, we intend to carry out a crossover trial to assess any changes to the catheter-associated microbiome in order to understand the impact of the Uroshield on the biofilm community. This will involve collecting urine and catheter samples pre and post use of the Uroshield from a small panel of long-term catheter users. Using validated techniques, the microbial community structure will be studied and the data used to inform future clinical and laboratory testing, as well as product development. Techniques will include culture and direct microscopy analysis, as well as next generation sequencing to fully investigate the community present in the samples. Understanding how low frequency ultrasonic acoustics can affect microbial communities and biofilms will aid in future products and management strategies. This data will then aid Nanovibronix in further product development, and in NHS Rapid Review and FDA applications, as well as being used as proof of concept data for further NIHR funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18044 Low Dose Nitric Oxide for the effective treatment of Chronic Wounds (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Microorganisms in the biofilm phenotype are highly tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobials. This is in part due to the protective nature of the matrix of extracellular polymeric substance, and to the heterogeneous environment including oxygen gradients and metabolically active/inactive sub-populations of bacterial cells. Biofilm development is a dynamic process. Many bacteria transition between planktonic and biofilm growth modes, given the correct environmental cues, biofilm bacteria can undergo coordinated dispersal and reversion to the planktonic form. Previously, we have established that low doses of nitric oxide (NO) are able to induce dispersal of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms in-vitro1,2 and in a small scale clinical study involving cystic fibrosis patients where the dispersal was associated with reduced tolerance to standard antibiotics.2 A small pilot biofilm-targeted RCT explored the dispersal properties of the low-dose NO as an adjunct therapy for antibiotics for cystic fibrosis patients.3 These results support a potential new anti-biofilm strategy utilising NO-releasing compounds in combination with antibiotics to disperse and clear biofilm infections. Work on the molecular mechanism of NO-mediated dispersal has shown that the effect is mediated by decreases in intracellular levels of cyclic-di-GMP.4 The regulation of biofilm formation by c-di-GMP is well established and known to occur across a broad range of bacteria. The dispersal properties of NO have also been observed against an extended spectrum of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast biofilms formed on glass slides.5 This may indicate the mechanism of dispersal by NO is non-specific and therefore applicable to polymicrobial biofilms that exist in chronic wounds. We will conduct translational studies that employ increasingly relevant & challenging substrates i.e. ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalents to prove the concept remains viable as a prospective route to treat chronic wounds in humans through improved debridement or as an adjunct therapy to commonly used wound dressings. Barraud N et al. 2006. J Bacteriol. 188(21):7344-53. Howlin RP et al. 2017. Mol Ther. 25(9):2104-2116. https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=eudract_number:2010-023529-39 Barraud N et al. 2009. J. Bacteriol. 191(23), 7333-42. Barraud N et al. 2009. Microb Biotechnol. 2(3):370-378. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The project objective was to establish the efficacy of low-dose NO to disperse biofilms of wound relevant microbes using highly analogous ex-vivo pig skin and human skin equivalent models. This was achieved, and the project followed the original plan closely, but with some modifications. Biofilms were formed using organism P. aeruginosa in a porcine skin model and an artificially grown human skin model and treated with low doses of NO in the form of SNP. The effect of NO on wound healing in the artificial human skin model was also examined. One of the key challenges within this project was the lengthy optimisation required for the porcine skin model. Following the proposed protocol, published in the journal of Wound Repair and Regeneration, we struggled to replicate the authors results in our initial attempts. Additional time was required to optimise the protocol and ensure adequate and stable biofilm growth on porcine skin. The protocol was successfully optimised with P. aeruginosa, but in the interests of time, a decision was mutually agreed upon part-way through the project to move forward only using P. aeruginosa and to not include use of S. aureus in the model. Work conducted falls under the patent filed by Nicolas Barraud, Jeremy S. Webb, Scott A. Rice and Staffan Kjelleberg, under "Methods and compositions for regulating biofilm development"; EP1899451A1. Future work includes prospective industry collaboration in the form of a longer and more in depth analysis of the impact of NO on human skin and the effects on wound healing the dispersal of wound relevant and biofilm forming microbes. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18046 Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems (Isabel Doutelero Soler) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to facilitate novel research investigating the impact of phosphate dosing and lead leaching on drinking water quality and safety. Phosphate is added to control plumbosolvency and corrosion in metallic pipes hence it is used to protect consumer's health and water quality. Current research is highlighting the essential role of pipe wall microbial biofilms on key processes within Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS), but the impact of phosphate dosing on biofilms remains currently unknown. Considering that biofilms degrade water quality and impact water safety through the potential hosting of undesirable microorganisms, realistic research on biofilm formation in DWDS is essential to understand the factors that influence their development. Currently large amounts of phosphate are dosed into DWDS to control lead-leaching from lead pipes, but there is little information about the surface processes that are involved in the leaching and the interactions with the biofilms in the drinking water pipe networks. iP3Bio is aligning to an initiative from UK Water Research to optimise phosphate dosing for lead control. The focus of that project is on surface chemistry and is ignoring the clearly important role of biofilms in the surface chemistry and phosphate mass balance of the distribution networks. The project therefore aims to provide the understanding of the impact of phosphate dosing on microbial mediated processes within DWDS. This knowledge will aid to determine the relationship between phosphate dosing and depletion on biofilm build-up rates on lead surfaces and inform water industry practices. The success of the project will aid Welsh Water and the UK water industry to optimise chemical doses in DWDS, thus favouring cost effective management and protecting public health. Dr Douterelo will lead the project and be responsible of the management. She is currently holding an EPSRC fellowship and therefore has management experience as PI, additionally she has managed research projects in the area of drinking water research for over 7 years, including working with water industry. The research team in Sheffield will have weekly meetings and monthly teleconferences will be set up with Welsh Water. Project progress will be tracked in a google drive allowing all project contributors overview. The main risks identified are with respect to recruitment, however the project team is aware of several potential candidates within the University of Sheffield who could carry out the role. To further mitigate this risk, the post award and marketing team in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering will assist in advertising the post. Another risk identified is delays in procurement. This is mitigated by the combination of field work and lab work where the timings between these can be shifted to ensure continued progress of the work. For the microbial analysis the team have worked with the companies previously and the lessons regarding timing from this is already incorporated into the project plan. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: Main Achievements: • Setting up biofilm reactors using different phosphate concentrations and successful one-month trials (in duplicate). • Successful removal of phosphate in drinking water by means of iron pellets. • Successful monitoring of water physico-chemistry and biofilm growth. • Successful DNA extraction and sequencing results for bacteria and fungi communities Dissemination: - Poster: Del Olmo., G, Rosales, E., Jensen, H., Karunakaran, E., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Optimisation of phosphate treatment in UK drinking water systems to prevent plumbosolvency: evaluation of its impact on biofilm development on infrastructure surfaces. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Poster: Rosales, E., Del Olmo, G., Boxall, J., Calero-Preciado, C., Husband, S., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation and risk of mobilisation in an experimental chlorinated Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Conference: Isabel Douterelo as a key note speaker, 8th IWA Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering Specialist Conference Japan 2019. - Journal: Del Olmo, Gonzalo, Arslan Ahmad, Henriette Jensen, Esther Karunakaran, Esther Rosales, Carolina Calero Preciado, Paul Gaskin, and Isabel Douterelo. "Influence of phosphate dosing on biofilms development on lead in chlorinated drinking water bioreactors." npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 6, no. 1 (2020): 1-14. (Doi 10.1038/s41522-020-00152-w). Feedback from Isabel Douterelo: - The project provided 'peace of mind', because we didn't know if biofilm was going to grow more after adding phosphate. - The relationship with the company was fine. They were engaged and practical. - Unfortunately unsuccessful in securing additional funding to continue this research by EPSRC. - Progress for the early Career Researcher in the research team, Gonzalo del Olmo is currently working in a Spanish Research institute. - Societal impacts: Better understanding of UK water industry practices and its impacts on water quality and public health. Feedback from Welsh Water: - How did it help them as a company? It helped them to understand what impacts phosphate dosing has on the biofilm community - quite useful. - We have been involved in the submissions of other EPSRC grants related to biofilm studies, which have not been successful. - The relationship with University of Sheffield is fine - they seem to understand what the industry issues are and the water companies as a whole. They've really taken a lead on drinking water supply systems and how they can work to improve them. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18046 Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems (Isabel Doutelero Soler) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to facilitate novel research investigating the impact of phosphate dosing and lead leaching on drinking water quality and safety. Phosphate is added to control plumbosolvency and corrosion in metallic pipes hence it is used to protect consumer's health and water quality. Current research is highlighting the essential role of pipe wall microbial biofilms on key processes within Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS), but the impact of phosphate dosing on biofilms remains currently unknown. Considering that biofilms degrade water quality and impact water safety through the potential hosting of undesirable microorganisms, realistic research on biofilm formation in DWDS is essential to understand the factors that influence their development. Currently large amounts of phosphate are dosed into DWDS to control lead-leaching from lead pipes, but there is little information about the surface processes that are involved in the leaching and the interactions with the biofilms in the drinking water pipe networks. iP3Bio is aligning to an initiative from UK Water Research to optimise phosphate dosing for lead control. The focus of that project is on surface chemistry and is ignoring the clearly important role of biofilms in the surface chemistry and phosphate mass balance of the distribution networks. The project therefore aims to provide the understanding of the impact of phosphate dosing on microbial mediated processes within DWDS. This knowledge will aid to determine the relationship between phosphate dosing and depletion on biofilm build-up rates on lead surfaces and inform water industry practices. The success of the project will aid Welsh Water and the UK water industry to optimise chemical doses in DWDS, thus favouring cost effective management and protecting public health. Dr Douterelo will lead the project and be responsible of the management. She is currently holding an EPSRC fellowship and therefore has management experience as PI, additionally she has managed research projects in the area of drinking water research for over 7 years, including working with water industry. The research team in Sheffield will have weekly meetings and monthly teleconferences will be set up with Welsh Water. Project progress will be tracked in a google drive allowing all project contributors overview. The main risks identified are with respect to recruitment, however the project team is aware of several potential candidates within the University of Sheffield who could carry out the role. To further mitigate this risk, the post award and marketing team in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering will assist in advertising the post. Another risk identified is delays in procurement. This is mitigated by the combination of field work and lab work where the timings between these can be shifted to ensure continued progress of the work. For the microbial analysis the team have worked with the companies previously and the lessons regarding timing from this is already incorporated into the project plan. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: Main Achievements: • Setting up biofilm reactors using different phosphate concentrations and successful one-month trials (in duplicate). • Successful removal of phosphate in drinking water by means of iron pellets. • Successful monitoring of water physico-chemistry and biofilm growth. • Successful DNA extraction and sequencing results for bacteria and fungi communities Dissemination: - Poster: Del Olmo., G, Rosales, E., Jensen, H., Karunakaran, E., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Optimisation of phosphate treatment in UK drinking water systems to prevent plumbosolvency: evaluation of its impact on biofilm development on infrastructure surfaces. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Poster: Rosales, E., Del Olmo, G., Boxall, J., Calero-Preciado, C., Husband, S., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation and risk of mobilisation in an experimental chlorinated Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Conference: Isabel Douterelo as a key note speaker, 8th IWA Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering Specialist Conference Japan 2019. - Journal: Del Olmo, Gonzalo, Arslan Ahmad, Henriette Jensen, Esther Karunakaran, Esther Rosales, Carolina Calero Preciado, Paul Gaskin, and Isabel Douterelo. "Influence of phosphate dosing on biofilms development on lead in chlorinated drinking water bioreactors." npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 6, no. 1 (2020): 1-14. (Doi 10.1038/s41522-020-00152-w). Feedback from Isabel Douterelo: - The project provided 'peace of mind', because we didn't know if biofilm was going to grow more after adding phosphate. - The relationship with the company was fine. They were engaged and practical. - Unfortunately unsuccessful in securing additional funding to continue this research by EPSRC. - Progress for the early Career Researcher in the research team, Gonzalo del Olmo is currently working in a Spanish Research institute. - Societal impacts: Better understanding of UK water industry practices and its impacts on water quality and public health. Feedback from Welsh Water: - How did it help them as a company? It helped them to understand what impacts phosphate dosing has on the biofilm community - quite useful. - We have been involved in the submissions of other EPSRC grants related to biofilm studies, which have not been successful. - The relationship with University of Sheffield is fine - they seem to understand what the industry issues are and the water companies as a whole. They've really taken a lead on drinking water supply systems and how they can work to improve them. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18046 Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems (Isabel Doutelero Soler) |
| Organisation | Welsh Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to facilitate novel research investigating the impact of phosphate dosing and lead leaching on drinking water quality and safety. Phosphate is added to control plumbosolvency and corrosion in metallic pipes hence it is used to protect consumer's health and water quality. Current research is highlighting the essential role of pipe wall microbial biofilms on key processes within Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS), but the impact of phosphate dosing on biofilms remains currently unknown. Considering that biofilms degrade water quality and impact water safety through the potential hosting of undesirable microorganisms, realistic research on biofilm formation in DWDS is essential to understand the factors that influence their development. Currently large amounts of phosphate are dosed into DWDS to control lead-leaching from lead pipes, but there is little information about the surface processes that are involved in the leaching and the interactions with the biofilms in the drinking water pipe networks. iP3Bio is aligning to an initiative from UK Water Research to optimise phosphate dosing for lead control. The focus of that project is on surface chemistry and is ignoring the clearly important role of biofilms in the surface chemistry and phosphate mass balance of the distribution networks. The project therefore aims to provide the understanding of the impact of phosphate dosing on microbial mediated processes within DWDS. This knowledge will aid to determine the relationship between phosphate dosing and depletion on biofilm build-up rates on lead surfaces and inform water industry practices. The success of the project will aid Welsh Water and the UK water industry to optimise chemical doses in DWDS, thus favouring cost effective management and protecting public health. Dr Douterelo will lead the project and be responsible of the management. She is currently holding an EPSRC fellowship and therefore has management experience as PI, additionally she has managed research projects in the area of drinking water research for over 7 years, including working with water industry. The research team in Sheffield will have weekly meetings and monthly teleconferences will be set up with Welsh Water. Project progress will be tracked in a google drive allowing all project contributors overview. The main risks identified are with respect to recruitment, however the project team is aware of several potential candidates within the University of Sheffield who could carry out the role. To further mitigate this risk, the post award and marketing team in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering will assist in advertising the post. Another risk identified is delays in procurement. This is mitigated by the combination of field work and lab work where the timings between these can be shifted to ensure continued progress of the work. For the microbial analysis the team have worked with the companies previously and the lessons regarding timing from this is already incorporated into the project plan. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Sheffield: Main Achievements: • Setting up biofilm reactors using different phosphate concentrations and successful one-month trials (in duplicate). • Successful removal of phosphate in drinking water by means of iron pellets. • Successful monitoring of water physico-chemistry and biofilm growth. • Successful DNA extraction and sequencing results for bacteria and fungi communities Dissemination: - Poster: Del Olmo., G, Rosales, E., Jensen, H., Karunakaran, E., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Optimisation of phosphate treatment in UK drinking water systems to prevent plumbosolvency: evaluation of its impact on biofilm development on infrastructure surfaces. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Poster: Rosales, E., Del Olmo, G., Boxall, J., Calero-Preciado, C., Husband, S., and Douterelo, I. (September 2019). Influence of phosphate dosing to prevent plumbosolvency on biofilm formation and risk of mobilisation in an experimental chlorinated Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Poster presented in EuroBiofilms 2019 Conference (Glasgow, UK). - Conference: Isabel Douterelo as a key note speaker, 8th IWA Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering Specialist Conference Japan 2019. - Journal: Del Olmo, Gonzalo, Arslan Ahmad, Henriette Jensen, Esther Karunakaran, Esther Rosales, Carolina Calero Preciado, Paul Gaskin, and Isabel Douterelo. "Influence of phosphate dosing on biofilms development on lead in chlorinated drinking water bioreactors." npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 6, no. 1 (2020): 1-14. (Doi 10.1038/s41522-020-00152-w). Feedback from Isabel Douterelo: - The project provided 'peace of mind', because we didn't know if biofilm was going to grow more after adding phosphate. - The relationship with the company was fine. They were engaged and practical. - Unfortunately unsuccessful in securing additional funding to continue this research by EPSRC. - Progress for the early Career Researcher in the research team, Gonzalo del Olmo is currently working in a Spanish Research institute. - Societal impacts: Better understanding of UK water industry practices and its impacts on water quality and public health. Feedback from Welsh Water: - How did it help them as a company? It helped them to understand what impacts phosphate dosing has on the biofilm community - quite useful. - We have been involved in the submissions of other EPSRC grants related to biofilm studies, which have not been successful. - The relationship with University of Sheffield is fine - they seem to understand what the industry issues are and the water companies as a whole. They've really taken a lead on drinking water supply systems and how they can work to improve them. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18047 Treatment of zinc-contaminated slurry in steel production by BioElectrochemical Systems (Mohamed Mamlouk) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using biofilm and microorganisms for removing zinc from blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) slurries produced in the integrated steelmaking process. This process generates large amounts of dust containing high level of iron. It can be recycled and reused as resource of iron. However, the presence of zinc in the dust limits recovery of iron as it could cause severe operational issues. Also the Zn level is too low to be recovered economically by conventional processes. BES is an emerging technology using the capacity of microoganisms to form biofilms and interact with electrodes. BESs have found applications in various areas, particularly waste treatment, pollution treatment and resource recovery from waste. One advantage of BES is harvesting electric energy from waste by biofilm on the anode oxidising organic matter in waste, therefore reducing external energy required for reduction reactions on the cathode, such as metal recovery (e.g. zinc or copper) or chemical production (e.g. H2O2). The objectives and measure of success are: Treatment and removal of organics, such as phenol, in coke oven wastewater by anode biofilm degrading organics with COD removal > 80%, and electricity generation. Bioleaching of zinc and heavy metals from slurry to liquid phase using Fe-oxidising bacteria, > 99% zinc removal from slurry, and removed by BES from leaching solution. Generation of H2O2 to react with Fe to produce OH• (Bioelectro-Fenton) and release zinc from slurry to liquid phase to be removed by BES. Zinc removal of >99% from slurry. Removal and recovery of zinc and heavy metals from Bioleaching/bioelectro-Fenton effluents at the cathode of BES with electrons provided by bioanode, no or low external energy required, zinc final concentration <0.8 ppm within 24 hours. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: What has been achieved: 1. A flexible and versatile BES platform for organic waste degradation. 2. A multi-module BES reactor for metal recovery from industrial wastes. 3. Optimization of the multi-module BES reactor for the recovery of Cu and Zn. 4. Proof of concept-Development of a versatile BES for treating coke oven effluent thus generating electrical energy. The results of the test involving the biodegradation of organics within MFC systems showed that coke oven effluent can be treated with within MFC resulting in significant reduction in COD coupled with current generation. This research also highlights the possibility of selective removal of Zn from steelmaking residue using biological processes starting with bioleaching. Due to the limited amount of time available for this project, only lab scale application of the technique could be developed. More time will be required to improve the overall processes and develop a larger scale system to further highlight the application of this technology. No IP has been generated yet. Future work will complete study to full understand the Zn precipitation process and exploit the possibility of developing a larger scale, pilot system to evaluate the potential of the technology at a larger scale size. Alternative avenues to remove Zn from the leachate will be explored without requiring the cathode pH of >7. The current approach is quite slow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18047 Treatment of zinc-contaminated slurry in steel production by BioElectrochemical Systems (Mohamed Mamlouk) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using biofilm and microorganisms for removing zinc from blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) slurries produced in the integrated steelmaking process. This process generates large amounts of dust containing high level of iron. It can be recycled and reused as resource of iron. However, the presence of zinc in the dust limits recovery of iron as it could cause severe operational issues. Also the Zn level is too low to be recovered economically by conventional processes. BES is an emerging technology using the capacity of microoganisms to form biofilms and interact with electrodes. BESs have found applications in various areas, particularly waste treatment, pollution treatment and resource recovery from waste. One advantage of BES is harvesting electric energy from waste by biofilm on the anode oxidising organic matter in waste, therefore reducing external energy required for reduction reactions on the cathode, such as metal recovery (e.g. zinc or copper) or chemical production (e.g. H2O2). The objectives and measure of success are: Treatment and removal of organics, such as phenol, in coke oven wastewater by anode biofilm degrading organics with COD removal > 80%, and electricity generation. Bioleaching of zinc and heavy metals from slurry to liquid phase using Fe-oxidising bacteria, > 99% zinc removal from slurry, and removed by BES from leaching solution. Generation of H2O2 to react with Fe to produce OH• (Bioelectro-Fenton) and release zinc from slurry to liquid phase to be removed by BES. Zinc removal of >99% from slurry. Removal and recovery of zinc and heavy metals from Bioleaching/bioelectro-Fenton effluents at the cathode of BES with electrons provided by bioanode, no or low external energy required, zinc final concentration <0.8 ppm within 24 hours. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: What has been achieved: 1. A flexible and versatile BES platform for organic waste degradation. 2. A multi-module BES reactor for metal recovery from industrial wastes. 3. Optimization of the multi-module BES reactor for the recovery of Cu and Zn. 4. Proof of concept-Development of a versatile BES for treating coke oven effluent thus generating electrical energy. The results of the test involving the biodegradation of organics within MFC systems showed that coke oven effluent can be treated with within MFC resulting in significant reduction in COD coupled with current generation. This research also highlights the possibility of selective removal of Zn from steelmaking residue using biological processes starting with bioleaching. Due to the limited amount of time available for this project, only lab scale application of the technique could be developed. More time will be required to improve the overall processes and develop a larger scale system to further highlight the application of this technology. No IP has been generated yet. Future work will complete study to full understand the Zn precipitation process and exploit the possibility of developing a larger scale, pilot system to evaluate the potential of the technology at a larger scale size. Alternative avenues to remove Zn from the leachate will be explored without requiring the cathode pH of >7. The current approach is quite slow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18047 Treatment of zinc-contaminated slurry in steel production by BioElectrochemical Systems (Mohamed Mamlouk) |
| Organisation | Tata Steel Europe |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using biofilm and microorganisms for removing zinc from blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) slurries produced in the integrated steelmaking process. This process generates large amounts of dust containing high level of iron. It can be recycled and reused as resource of iron. However, the presence of zinc in the dust limits recovery of iron as it could cause severe operational issues. Also the Zn level is too low to be recovered economically by conventional processes. BES is an emerging technology using the capacity of microoganisms to form biofilms and interact with electrodes. BESs have found applications in various areas, particularly waste treatment, pollution treatment and resource recovery from waste. One advantage of BES is harvesting electric energy from waste by biofilm on the anode oxidising organic matter in waste, therefore reducing external energy required for reduction reactions on the cathode, such as metal recovery (e.g. zinc or copper) or chemical production (e.g. H2O2). The objectives and measure of success are: Treatment and removal of organics, such as phenol, in coke oven wastewater by anode biofilm degrading organics with COD removal > 80%, and electricity generation. Bioleaching of zinc and heavy metals from slurry to liquid phase using Fe-oxidising bacteria, > 99% zinc removal from slurry, and removed by BES from leaching solution. Generation of H2O2 to react with Fe to produce OH• (Bioelectro-Fenton) and release zinc from slurry to liquid phase to be removed by BES. Zinc removal of >99% from slurry. Removal and recovery of zinc and heavy metals from Bioleaching/bioelectro-Fenton effluents at the cathode of BES with electrons provided by bioanode, no or low external energy required, zinc final concentration <0.8 ppm within 24 hours. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: What has been achieved: 1. A flexible and versatile BES platform for organic waste degradation. 2. A multi-module BES reactor for metal recovery from industrial wastes. 3. Optimization of the multi-module BES reactor for the recovery of Cu and Zn. 4. Proof of concept-Development of a versatile BES for treating coke oven effluent thus generating electrical energy. The results of the test involving the biodegradation of organics within MFC systems showed that coke oven effluent can be treated with within MFC resulting in significant reduction in COD coupled with current generation. This research also highlights the possibility of selective removal of Zn from steelmaking residue using biological processes starting with bioleaching. Due to the limited amount of time available for this project, only lab scale application of the technique could be developed. More time will be required to improve the overall processes and develop a larger scale system to further highlight the application of this technology. No IP has been generated yet. Future work will complete study to full understand the Zn precipitation process and exploit the possibility of developing a larger scale, pilot system to evaluate the potential of the technology at a larger scale size. Alternative avenues to remove Zn from the leachate will be explored without requiring the cathode pH of >7. The current approach is quite slow. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18049 New generation Colour-encoded Coatings for Surgical tools with intrinsic antimicrobial action (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Gencoa |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | 20% of Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) arise from Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). Surgical instruments act as fomites for pathogens of SSIs[1,2], becoming contaminated during surgical procedures via contact with the patient's skin flora or organs and tissues in the body. The development of advanced surgical instruments with an anti-microbial surface that prevents bacterial contamination during surgical processes has the potential to greatly reduce the problem of SSIs. This project aims to drive the development of highly durable antimicrobial surface coatings for surgical tools. The coatings are created using magnetron-sputter physical vapour deposition mastered at Gencoa. Preliminary tests produced Log6 reduction of bacteria at the surface, while delivering a wear-resistant coating able to withstand repeated cleaning cycles. Gencoa have also demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded surgical tools. A market survey commissioned by Gencoa indicates a positive response from NHS professionals towards colour-encoded surgical tools for prompt identification within operating theatres. Therefore, the project will also evaluate the capability to vary the surface colour using different magnetron sputtering processes, while maintaining the antimicrobial performance and durability. To progress this technology, the production method and surface characteristics need to be optimised for antimicrobial, durability and visual performance. This POC project will enable Gencoa's production parameters to be correlated with the detailed surface chemistry, surface structure and antimicrobial performance using Liverpool's advanced surface analysis techniques, alongside antimicrobial testing. A successful POC project will enable Gencoa to optimise the coating process with a view to upscaling for mass production, enabling Gencoa to move into the healthcare sector via future licence deals and/or a spin out venture. References: 1. Saito et al, Am.J.Infection Control, 14 (2014) 43 2. S. Dancer et al, J. Hospital Infection, 81 (2012) 231. The project will be divided in 5 work packages that will alternate iteratively across the coating optimisation process, completing a full iteration cycle every 2 months c.a., thus allowing 3 complete cycles of optimisation within the 6 months of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: What we did: - Gencoa's pre-project work had demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded coatings. As part of this project, Gencoa fabricated designed two types of coatings on model substrates. - UoL assessed the topography, chemical composition of two supplied coatings and controls using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Bioassays were undertaken with gram +ve and -ve bacteria to assess the antimicrobial performance of the two types of coatings. - Due to COVID, it was not possible to fabricate or assess the third type of coating. Results and conclusions: The XPS data provides a considerable amount of information regarding the relative concentrations of the elements present in the near surface region and the local chemical environments/states of the elements in the two types of coatings. AFM data enabled the surface topography of the coatings to be imaged. Significant differences in surface chemical composition and topography were observed between the two types of coatings. The bioassays showed that both coatings were antimicrobial, but one coating showed log 2 to log3 higher antimicrobial performance compared to the other, showing that this property was tunable. The POC project enabled a new generation of coatings to be created by Gencoa and evaluated by UoL. The combination of advanced coating technology used by Gencoa with advanced characterisation techniques used by UoL enabled differences in antimicrobial performance to be correlated to fabrication conditions and the resultant surface chemistry and topography. The existing IP relating to the proposed project is owned by Gencoa Ltd. Detailed know-how on correlating fabrication conditions to the nature of the surfaces and to their antimicrobial properties was created. Further work: The coatings methodology and know-how developed here formed the basis of two Innovate UK projects submitted by Gencoa, UoL and other partners to develop anti-bacterial and anti-viral coatings for high touch surfaces, thus expanding Gencoa's portfolio of products. Both applications were successful (combined total grant value ~£500K) and work on both projects has commenced. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18049 New generation Colour-encoded Coatings for Surgical tools with intrinsic antimicrobial action (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | 20% of Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) arise from Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). Surgical instruments act as fomites for pathogens of SSIs[1,2], becoming contaminated during surgical procedures via contact with the patient's skin flora or organs and tissues in the body. The development of advanced surgical instruments with an anti-microbial surface that prevents bacterial contamination during surgical processes has the potential to greatly reduce the problem of SSIs. This project aims to drive the development of highly durable antimicrobial surface coatings for surgical tools. The coatings are created using magnetron-sputter physical vapour deposition mastered at Gencoa. Preliminary tests produced Log6 reduction of bacteria at the surface, while delivering a wear-resistant coating able to withstand repeated cleaning cycles. Gencoa have also demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded surgical tools. A market survey commissioned by Gencoa indicates a positive response from NHS professionals towards colour-encoded surgical tools for prompt identification within operating theatres. Therefore, the project will also evaluate the capability to vary the surface colour using different magnetron sputtering processes, while maintaining the antimicrobial performance and durability. To progress this technology, the production method and surface characteristics need to be optimised for antimicrobial, durability and visual performance. This POC project will enable Gencoa's production parameters to be correlated with the detailed surface chemistry, surface structure and antimicrobial performance using Liverpool's advanced surface analysis techniques, alongside antimicrobial testing. A successful POC project will enable Gencoa to optimise the coating process with a view to upscaling for mass production, enabling Gencoa to move into the healthcare sector via future licence deals and/or a spin out venture. References: 1. Saito et al, Am.J.Infection Control, 14 (2014) 43 2. S. Dancer et al, J. Hospital Infection, 81 (2012) 231. The project will be divided in 5 work packages that will alternate iteratively across the coating optimisation process, completing a full iteration cycle every 2 months c.a., thus allowing 3 complete cycles of optimisation within the 6 months of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: What we did: - Gencoa's pre-project work had demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded coatings. As part of this project, Gencoa fabricated designed two types of coatings on model substrates. - UoL assessed the topography, chemical composition of two supplied coatings and controls using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Bioassays were undertaken with gram +ve and -ve bacteria to assess the antimicrobial performance of the two types of coatings. - Due to COVID, it was not possible to fabricate or assess the third type of coating. Results and conclusions: The XPS data provides a considerable amount of information regarding the relative concentrations of the elements present in the near surface region and the local chemical environments/states of the elements in the two types of coatings. AFM data enabled the surface topography of the coatings to be imaged. Significant differences in surface chemical composition and topography were observed between the two types of coatings. The bioassays showed that both coatings were antimicrobial, but one coating showed log 2 to log3 higher antimicrobial performance compared to the other, showing that this property was tunable. The POC project enabled a new generation of coatings to be created by Gencoa and evaluated by UoL. The combination of advanced coating technology used by Gencoa with advanced characterisation techniques used by UoL enabled differences in antimicrobial performance to be correlated to fabrication conditions and the resultant surface chemistry and topography. The existing IP relating to the proposed project is owned by Gencoa Ltd. Detailed know-how on correlating fabrication conditions to the nature of the surfaces and to their antimicrobial properties was created. Further work: The coatings methodology and know-how developed here formed the basis of two Innovate UK projects submitted by Gencoa, UoL and other partners to develop anti-bacterial and anti-viral coatings for high touch surfaces, thus expanding Gencoa's portfolio of products. Both applications were successful (combined total grant value ~£500K) and work on both projects has commenced. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18049 New generation Colour-encoded Coatings for Surgical tools with intrinsic antimicrobial action (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 20% of Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) arise from Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). Surgical instruments act as fomites for pathogens of SSIs[1,2], becoming contaminated during surgical procedures via contact with the patient's skin flora or organs and tissues in the body. The development of advanced surgical instruments with an anti-microbial surface that prevents bacterial contamination during surgical processes has the potential to greatly reduce the problem of SSIs. This project aims to drive the development of highly durable antimicrobial surface coatings for surgical tools. The coatings are created using magnetron-sputter physical vapour deposition mastered at Gencoa. Preliminary tests produced Log6 reduction of bacteria at the surface, while delivering a wear-resistant coating able to withstand repeated cleaning cycles. Gencoa have also demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded surgical tools. A market survey commissioned by Gencoa indicates a positive response from NHS professionals towards colour-encoded surgical tools for prompt identification within operating theatres. Therefore, the project will also evaluate the capability to vary the surface colour using different magnetron sputtering processes, while maintaining the antimicrobial performance and durability. To progress this technology, the production method and surface characteristics need to be optimised for antimicrobial, durability and visual performance. This POC project will enable Gencoa's production parameters to be correlated with the detailed surface chemistry, surface structure and antimicrobial performance using Liverpool's advanced surface analysis techniques, alongside antimicrobial testing. A successful POC project will enable Gencoa to optimise the coating process with a view to upscaling for mass production, enabling Gencoa to move into the healthcare sector via future licence deals and/or a spin out venture. References: 1. Saito et al, Am.J.Infection Control, 14 (2014) 43 2. S. Dancer et al, J. Hospital Infection, 81 (2012) 231. The project will be divided in 5 work packages that will alternate iteratively across the coating optimisation process, completing a full iteration cycle every 2 months c.a., thus allowing 3 complete cycles of optimisation within the 6 months of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: What we did: - Gencoa's pre-project work had demonstrated the ability to control colour and lustre, opening the route to creating antimicrobial, colour-coded coatings. As part of this project, Gencoa fabricated designed two types of coatings on model substrates. - UoL assessed the topography, chemical composition of two supplied coatings and controls using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Bioassays were undertaken with gram +ve and -ve bacteria to assess the antimicrobial performance of the two types of coatings. - Due to COVID, it was not possible to fabricate or assess the third type of coating. Results and conclusions: The XPS data provides a considerable amount of information regarding the relative concentrations of the elements present in the near surface region and the local chemical environments/states of the elements in the two types of coatings. AFM data enabled the surface topography of the coatings to be imaged. Significant differences in surface chemical composition and topography were observed between the two types of coatings. The bioassays showed that both coatings were antimicrobial, but one coating showed log 2 to log3 higher antimicrobial performance compared to the other, showing that this property was tunable. The POC project enabled a new generation of coatings to be created by Gencoa and evaluated by UoL. The combination of advanced coating technology used by Gencoa with advanced characterisation techniques used by UoL enabled differences in antimicrobial performance to be correlated to fabrication conditions and the resultant surface chemistry and topography. The existing IP relating to the proposed project is owned by Gencoa Ltd. Detailed know-how on correlating fabrication conditions to the nature of the surfaces and to their antimicrobial properties was created. Further work: The coatings methodology and know-how developed here formed the basis of two Innovate UK projects submitted by Gencoa, UoL and other partners to develop anti-bacterial and anti-viral coatings for high touch surfaces, thus expanding Gencoa's portfolio of products. Both applications were successful (combined total grant value ~£500K) and work on both projects has commenced. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18050 Development and evaluation of a dual function dressing to combat biofilm infection and exudatein chronic wounds (Andrew McBain) |
| Organisation | 3M |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Commercially available wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which manages high levels of exudate and effectively treats biofilm infections. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. The main aim of this project is to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of a newly developed wound dressing capable of absorbing high levels of exudate. This will facilitate the treatment of wound infection as well as the management of high levels of wound exudate with a single dressing. This will save the clinician time, making their roles easier, and will achieve a cost saving for the NHS. Crawford Healthcare has developed prototypes of a superabsorbent wound dressing with an antimicrobial wound contact layer containing Silver Oxysalts. In vitro and in vivo data has shown Silver Oxysalts to be effective against wound biofilms; however, the effectiveness of the new dressing against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The success of this project will be determined if the anti-biofilm efficacy of the wound dressing is as effective in vitro and in vivo as the combinations of dressings currently used in the clinic. Prototypes of the dressings have already been developed; however, their effectiveness against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The project will be split into three parts. As comparators, dressing combinations currently used in the clinic will be included in all tests. In addition, as negative and positive controls non-antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings and a Silver Oxysalt wound contact layer will be included. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Manchester: - We developed an array of techniques to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the ability of superabsorbent and antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings, to sequester and retain bacteria and thus prevent biofilm formation. The Covid-19 outbreak delayed some of the final experiments on the planktonic phase and prevented the completion of experiments using our established in vivo models. Work instead focused on in vitro models, and a comprehensive dataset was produced. A manuscript at an advanced stage of production. - A webinar was recorded by Wounds International which showcased some of the data. Over 1000 HCP attended the webinar and it is also available on demand. - We developed a series of experiments to benchmark the efficacy of superabsorbent dressings in their ability to absorb, transfer and retain bacteria. We showed that our combined dressing was especially effective at preventing the transfer of any bacteria to agar and minimising the release of viable bacteria. However, we also highlighted clear differences between each superabsorbent dressing in terms of performance in the parameters tested. Given that many of these dressings see clinical use, we highlight the need to carefully consider the appropriate choice of dressing to facilitate timely wound healing and effective wound management. - Other than the data, no specific IPR was generated as a result of this project. - ,This work could be further expanded by investigating the ability of the superabsorbent dressings to prevent biofilm formation using our established in vitro models. Animal studies could then be conducted to investigate the efficacy of a combined dressing in preventing biofilm infection, in vivo. - Successful application for NBIC POC3 to continue related research. NBIC Case study: Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which collectively addresses both issues. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. A Proof of Concept (POC) award from NBIC enabled researchers at the University of Manchester, Dr Gurdeep Singh and Professor Andrew McBain to work with Dr Helen Thomason, then Head of Scientific Research for Crawford Healthcare. Crawford Healthcare is a rapidly growing leader in developing innovative wound care and dermatological treatments and was acquired in 2018 by the world's largest wound care company, Acelity L.P. Inc. The main aim of the project was to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of combining an antimicrobial dressing with a wound dressing, capable of absorbing high levels of exudate, to facilitate the treatment of wound infection and to manage exudate with a single treatment. The project was highly successful, meeting all major aims, and a manuscript is currently in preparation. Science-based technology company 3M completed the acquisition of Acelity L.P. Inc. and its KCI subsidiaries in 2019. NBIC has recently supported the Dr Gurdeep Singh, Professor Andrew McBain and Dr Helen Thomason team to conduct further work on innovative wound care approaches, this time with 3M as the industrial partner. The main aim of the research is to develop an in vivo wound model to assess the effects of biofilm formation and anti-biofilm dressings on single-cell spray-on skin therapy to promote healing. Spray-on skin therapy is a novel and effective way to promote healing of wounds such as burns and venous and diabetic foot ulcers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18050 Development and evaluation of a dual function dressing to combat biofilm infection and exudatein chronic wounds (Andrew McBain) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Commercially available wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which manages high levels of exudate and effectively treats biofilm infections. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. The main aim of this project is to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of a newly developed wound dressing capable of absorbing high levels of exudate. This will facilitate the treatment of wound infection as well as the management of high levels of wound exudate with a single dressing. This will save the clinician time, making their roles easier, and will achieve a cost saving for the NHS. Crawford Healthcare has developed prototypes of a superabsorbent wound dressing with an antimicrobial wound contact layer containing Silver Oxysalts. In vitro and in vivo data has shown Silver Oxysalts to be effective against wound biofilms; however, the effectiveness of the new dressing against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The success of this project will be determined if the anti-biofilm efficacy of the wound dressing is as effective in vitro and in vivo as the combinations of dressings currently used in the clinic. Prototypes of the dressings have already been developed; however, their effectiveness against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The project will be split into three parts. As comparators, dressing combinations currently used in the clinic will be included in all tests. In addition, as negative and positive controls non-antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings and a Silver Oxysalt wound contact layer will be included. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Manchester: - We developed an array of techniques to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the ability of superabsorbent and antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings, to sequester and retain bacteria and thus prevent biofilm formation. The Covid-19 outbreak delayed some of the final experiments on the planktonic phase and prevented the completion of experiments using our established in vivo models. Work instead focused on in vitro models, and a comprehensive dataset was produced. A manuscript at an advanced stage of production. - A webinar was recorded by Wounds International which showcased some of the data. Over 1000 HCP attended the webinar and it is also available on demand. - We developed a series of experiments to benchmark the efficacy of superabsorbent dressings in their ability to absorb, transfer and retain bacteria. We showed that our combined dressing was especially effective at preventing the transfer of any bacteria to agar and minimising the release of viable bacteria. However, we also highlighted clear differences between each superabsorbent dressing in terms of performance in the parameters tested. Given that many of these dressings see clinical use, we highlight the need to carefully consider the appropriate choice of dressing to facilitate timely wound healing and effective wound management. - Other than the data, no specific IPR was generated as a result of this project. - ,This work could be further expanded by investigating the ability of the superabsorbent dressings to prevent biofilm formation using our established in vitro models. Animal studies could then be conducted to investigate the efficacy of a combined dressing in preventing biofilm infection, in vivo. - Successful application for NBIC POC3 to continue related research. NBIC Case study: Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which collectively addresses both issues. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. A Proof of Concept (POC) award from NBIC enabled researchers at the University of Manchester, Dr Gurdeep Singh and Professor Andrew McBain to work with Dr Helen Thomason, then Head of Scientific Research for Crawford Healthcare. Crawford Healthcare is a rapidly growing leader in developing innovative wound care and dermatological treatments and was acquired in 2018 by the world's largest wound care company, Acelity L.P. Inc. The main aim of the project was to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of combining an antimicrobial dressing with a wound dressing, capable of absorbing high levels of exudate, to facilitate the treatment of wound infection and to manage exudate with a single treatment. The project was highly successful, meeting all major aims, and a manuscript is currently in preparation. Science-based technology company 3M completed the acquisition of Acelity L.P. Inc. and its KCI subsidiaries in 2019. NBIC has recently supported the Dr Gurdeep Singh, Professor Andrew McBain and Dr Helen Thomason team to conduct further work on innovative wound care approaches, this time with 3M as the industrial partner. The main aim of the research is to develop an in vivo wound model to assess the effects of biofilm formation and anti-biofilm dressings on single-cell spray-on skin therapy to promote healing. Spray-on skin therapy is a novel and effective way to promote healing of wounds such as burns and venous and diabetic foot ulcers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18050 Development and evaluation of a dual function dressing to combat biofilm infection and exudatein chronic wounds (Andrew McBain) |
| Organisation | Systagenix Wound Management Manufacturing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Commercially available wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which manages high levels of exudate and effectively treats biofilm infections. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. The main aim of this project is to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of a newly developed wound dressing capable of absorbing high levels of exudate. This will facilitate the treatment of wound infection as well as the management of high levels of wound exudate with a single dressing. This will save the clinician time, making their roles easier, and will achieve a cost saving for the NHS. Crawford Healthcare has developed prototypes of a superabsorbent wound dressing with an antimicrobial wound contact layer containing Silver Oxysalts. In vitro and in vivo data has shown Silver Oxysalts to be effective against wound biofilms; however, the effectiveness of the new dressing against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The success of this project will be determined if the anti-biofilm efficacy of the wound dressing is as effective in vitro and in vivo as the combinations of dressings currently used in the clinic. Prototypes of the dressings have already been developed; however, their effectiveness against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The project will be split into three parts. As comparators, dressing combinations currently used in the clinic will be included in all tests. In addition, as negative and positive controls non-antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings and a Silver Oxysalt wound contact layer will be included. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Manchester: - We developed an array of techniques to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the ability of superabsorbent and antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings, to sequester and retain bacteria and thus prevent biofilm formation. The Covid-19 outbreak delayed some of the final experiments on the planktonic phase and prevented the completion of experiments using our established in vivo models. Work instead focused on in vitro models, and a comprehensive dataset was produced. A manuscript at an advanced stage of production. - A webinar was recorded by Wounds International which showcased some of the data. Over 1000 HCP attended the webinar and it is also available on demand. - We developed a series of experiments to benchmark the efficacy of superabsorbent dressings in their ability to absorb, transfer and retain bacteria. We showed that our combined dressing was especially effective at preventing the transfer of any bacteria to agar and minimising the release of viable bacteria. However, we also highlighted clear differences between each superabsorbent dressing in terms of performance in the parameters tested. Given that many of these dressings see clinical use, we highlight the need to carefully consider the appropriate choice of dressing to facilitate timely wound healing and effective wound management. - Other than the data, no specific IPR was generated as a result of this project. - ,This work could be further expanded by investigating the ability of the superabsorbent dressings to prevent biofilm formation using our established in vitro models. Animal studies could then be conducted to investigate the efficacy of a combined dressing in preventing biofilm infection, in vivo. - Successful application for NBIC POC3 to continue related research. NBIC Case study: Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which collectively addresses both issues. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. A Proof of Concept (POC) award from NBIC enabled researchers at the University of Manchester, Dr Gurdeep Singh and Professor Andrew McBain to work with Dr Helen Thomason, then Head of Scientific Research for Crawford Healthcare. Crawford Healthcare is a rapidly growing leader in developing innovative wound care and dermatological treatments and was acquired in 2018 by the world's largest wound care company, Acelity L.P. Inc. The main aim of the project was to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of combining an antimicrobial dressing with a wound dressing, capable of absorbing high levels of exudate, to facilitate the treatment of wound infection and to manage exudate with a single treatment. The project was highly successful, meeting all major aims, and a manuscript is currently in preparation. Science-based technology company 3M completed the acquisition of Acelity L.P. Inc. and its KCI subsidiaries in 2019. NBIC has recently supported the Dr Gurdeep Singh, Professor Andrew McBain and Dr Helen Thomason team to conduct further work on innovative wound care approaches, this time with 3M as the industrial partner. The main aim of the research is to develop an in vivo wound model to assess the effects of biofilm formation and anti-biofilm dressings on single-cell spray-on skin therapy to promote healing. Spray-on skin therapy is a novel and effective way to promote healing of wounds such as burns and venous and diabetic foot ulcers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18050 Development and evaluation of a dual function dressing to combat biofilm infection and exudatein chronic wounds (Andrew McBain) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Commercially available wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which manages high levels of exudate and effectively treats biofilm infections. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. The main aim of this project is to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of a newly developed wound dressing capable of absorbing high levels of exudate. This will facilitate the treatment of wound infection as well as the management of high levels of wound exudate with a single dressing. This will save the clinician time, making their roles easier, and will achieve a cost saving for the NHS. Crawford Healthcare has developed prototypes of a superabsorbent wound dressing with an antimicrobial wound contact layer containing Silver Oxysalts. In vitro and in vivo data has shown Silver Oxysalts to be effective against wound biofilms; however, the effectiveness of the new dressing against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The success of this project will be determined if the anti-biofilm efficacy of the wound dressing is as effective in vitro and in vivo as the combinations of dressings currently used in the clinic. Prototypes of the dressings have already been developed; however, their effectiveness against wound biofilms has not been assessed. The project will be split into three parts. As comparators, dressing combinations currently used in the clinic will be included in all tests. In addition, as negative and positive controls non-antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings and a Silver Oxysalt wound contact layer will be included. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Manchester: - We developed an array of techniques to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the ability of superabsorbent and antimicrobial superabsorbent dressings, to sequester and retain bacteria and thus prevent biofilm formation. The Covid-19 outbreak delayed some of the final experiments on the planktonic phase and prevented the completion of experiments using our established in vivo models. Work instead focused on in vitro models, and a comprehensive dataset was produced. A manuscript at an advanced stage of production. - A webinar was recorded by Wounds International which showcased some of the data. Over 1000 HCP attended the webinar and it is also available on demand. - We developed a series of experiments to benchmark the efficacy of superabsorbent dressings in their ability to absorb, transfer and retain bacteria. We showed that our combined dressing was especially effective at preventing the transfer of any bacteria to agar and minimising the release of viable bacteria. However, we also highlighted clear differences between each superabsorbent dressing in terms of performance in the parameters tested. Given that many of these dressings see clinical use, we highlight the need to carefully consider the appropriate choice of dressing to facilitate timely wound healing and effective wound management. - Other than the data, no specific IPR was generated as a result of this project. - ,This work could be further expanded by investigating the ability of the superabsorbent dressings to prevent biofilm formation using our established in vitro models. Animal studies could then be conducted to investigate the efficacy of a combined dressing in preventing biofilm infection, in vivo. - Successful application for NBIC POC3 to continue related research. NBIC Case study: Two major clinical challenges in the treatment of chronic wounds are the management of wound exudate and the effective treatment of biofilm-related infections. Wound dressings are available to absorb exudate from highly exuding wounds and to treat wound biofilm infections; however, there is no commercially available single product, which collectively addresses both issues. To treat infected wounds with high levels of exudate a clinician currently uses two dressings; an anti-microbial dressing and a dressing to manage high exudate levels. A Proof of Concept (POC) award from NBIC enabled researchers at the University of Manchester, Dr Gurdeep Singh and Professor Andrew McBain to work with Dr Helen Thomason, then Head of Scientific Research for Crawford Healthcare. Crawford Healthcare is a rapidly growing leader in developing innovative wound care and dermatological treatments and was acquired in 2018 by the world's largest wound care company, Acelity L.P. Inc. The main aim of the project was to assess the anti-biofilm efficacy of combining an antimicrobial dressing with a wound dressing, capable of absorbing high levels of exudate, to facilitate the treatment of wound infection and to manage exudate with a single treatment. The project was highly successful, meeting all major aims, and a manuscript is currently in preparation. Science-based technology company 3M completed the acquisition of Acelity L.P. Inc. and its KCI subsidiaries in 2019. NBIC has recently supported the Dr Gurdeep Singh, Professor Andrew McBain and Dr Helen Thomason team to conduct further work on innovative wound care approaches, this time with 3M as the industrial partner. The main aim of the research is to develop an in vivo wound model to assess the effects of biofilm formation and anti-biofilm dressings on single-cell spray-on skin therapy to promote healing. Spray-on skin therapy is a novel and effective way to promote healing of wounds such as burns and venous and diabetic foot ulcers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18051 Advanced testing platforms to address key performance variables for antimicrobial products on domestic surfaces (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to develop robust testing platforms to evaluate performance under realistic working conditions for two key surface-cleaning products within Unilever portfolio (i.e. laundry liquid and gel-like surface cleanser). The work levers on state-of-the-art surface-sensitive techniques and advanced biological testing recently developed by the Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces of the University of Liverpool, based on the combination of electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, spatially-resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and fluorescent microscopy. The holistic approach proposed here will unravel for the first time contributions from chemical and biological soiling on domestic surfaces and correlate these to performance of approved antimicrobial technologies. This PoC funding will set the foundations for longer-term collaborations, based on direct industrial investment from Unilever, and aiming to generate new products able to prevent biofilms on domestic hard and soft surfaces. This is a key strategic interest for Unilever and UoL's OPIHAS and we see this short-term project as a spring-board for more focused and lengthy research activities moving forward. The project will address two of the priority areas of NBIC remit: • Prevention of biofilms. • Detection of underpinning processes during biofilm formation. Initially, we would focus on bacterial attachment-detachment events and the subsequent biofilm formation on stainless steel and ceramic tails, using relevant bacterial species in single strain communities, and subsequently proceed to multi-species consortia. We will use bacterial metataxonomic information obtained from in-homes consumer studies to develop realistic models for surface contamination under domestic scenarios, exploiting additional omics techniques (e.g. transcriptomics, qPCR), to define when bacteria can no longer be considered "physical" particles interacting with surfaces. The influence of surface chemistry and soil characteristics on triggering irreversible attachment on single cells and subsequent biofilms development will be probed using key gene markers relevant to the consumer problems and perceived benefits (e.g. malodour production). The project will be divided in 6 work packages that will alternate and coexist across the 8 months duration of the project. Chemical, physical, and biological characterisation will be performed under clean and soiled conditions, increasing progressively the level of complexity from single bacterial species to co-cultures. A summarised description of key tasks, milestones and deliverables and the estimated timescale is provided below. The project plan will be reviewed every 2 months and managed dynamically, for timely troubleshooting and prioritisation of tasks. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: - In the initial stages of the project we tested several coatings from active components from Unilever's portfolio of products, demonstrating suitability of Liverpool's OPIHAS spectroscopic techniques to detect the actives applied on a model surface. This task was particularly challenging, considering the low concentrations of active under working conditions that lay below detection limit for several analytical techniques. From these initial results, a set of active components was selected for further analysis. Subsequently we probe the distribution of these shortlisted actives across the model surface, providing unprecedented data regarding the properties of these coatings. Finally, we performed biological experiments to probe the effect of the coatings on biofilm formation, and to provide new insights regarding the correlation with the chemistry directly at the surface. - The project allowed us to establish an experimental protocol for testing the chemical distribution of active components on surfaces of commercial interest. This chemical information was correlated directly at the surface with biological probing to unravel the effect of the actives on the formation of biofilms. The data generated from this testing platform will inform the design and formulation of new products, to complement other industrial standard efficacy tests and to support new IP claims. The versatility of the approach used here will allow translation into other areas within Liverpool's OPIHAS and Unilever strategic development. - Strategic discussions are in progress to explore new avenues to expand the scope of the research, beyond the PoC project, covering other areas within Unilever and Liverpool's OPIHAS remits. - The results from this PoC work will set the foundations for a joint PhD project, to explore specific areas that the partners have identified as promising opportunities from the preliminary data generated in the PoC stage. - Currently, the data and specific information regarding the project is to be considered commercially sensitive and confidential to share any part of the results in the public domain. The partners may consider, without commitment, to disclose further information once the IP positioning for both partner organisations is protected. - The PI, Yuri Diaz Fernandez, used this project for the basis of his PhD which has since been awarded and Yuri has left the university to take on the role of Science Leader for the Nano area at LGC Group. Feedback from Unilever: - This has not given us any new IP claims, because we already had some proof of concept data ourselves. This expanded the understanding the mechanism of action, this what this piece of research was bout. - Via the PhD there will be opportunity for new IP claims. So again, we were limited with what we could get across to Liverpool with the POC. We already have protected those actives, so we already have IP in that space, have got the measurement to allow more fundamental understanding. - Learning and clarity to be brought to other POC projects. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18051 Advanced testing platforms to address key performance variables for antimicrobial products on domestic surfaces (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to develop robust testing platforms to evaluate performance under realistic working conditions for two key surface-cleaning products within Unilever portfolio (i.e. laundry liquid and gel-like surface cleanser). The work levers on state-of-the-art surface-sensitive techniques and advanced biological testing recently developed by the Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces of the University of Liverpool, based on the combination of electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, spatially-resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and fluorescent microscopy. The holistic approach proposed here will unravel for the first time contributions from chemical and biological soiling on domestic surfaces and correlate these to performance of approved antimicrobial technologies. This PoC funding will set the foundations for longer-term collaborations, based on direct industrial investment from Unilever, and aiming to generate new products able to prevent biofilms on domestic hard and soft surfaces. This is a key strategic interest for Unilever and UoL's OPIHAS and we see this short-term project as a spring-board for more focused and lengthy research activities moving forward. The project will address two of the priority areas of NBIC remit: • Prevention of biofilms. • Detection of underpinning processes during biofilm formation. Initially, we would focus on bacterial attachment-detachment events and the subsequent biofilm formation on stainless steel and ceramic tails, using relevant bacterial species in single strain communities, and subsequently proceed to multi-species consortia. We will use bacterial metataxonomic information obtained from in-homes consumer studies to develop realistic models for surface contamination under domestic scenarios, exploiting additional omics techniques (e.g. transcriptomics, qPCR), to define when bacteria can no longer be considered "physical" particles interacting with surfaces. The influence of surface chemistry and soil characteristics on triggering irreversible attachment on single cells and subsequent biofilms development will be probed using key gene markers relevant to the consumer problems and perceived benefits (e.g. malodour production). The project will be divided in 6 work packages that will alternate and coexist across the 8 months duration of the project. Chemical, physical, and biological characterisation will be performed under clean and soiled conditions, increasing progressively the level of complexity from single bacterial species to co-cultures. A summarised description of key tasks, milestones and deliverables and the estimated timescale is provided below. The project plan will be reviewed every 2 months and managed dynamically, for timely troubleshooting and prioritisation of tasks. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: - In the initial stages of the project we tested several coatings from active components from Unilever's portfolio of products, demonstrating suitability of Liverpool's OPIHAS spectroscopic techniques to detect the actives applied on a model surface. This task was particularly challenging, considering the low concentrations of active under working conditions that lay below detection limit for several analytical techniques. From these initial results, a set of active components was selected for further analysis. Subsequently we probe the distribution of these shortlisted actives across the model surface, providing unprecedented data regarding the properties of these coatings. Finally, we performed biological experiments to probe the effect of the coatings on biofilm formation, and to provide new insights regarding the correlation with the chemistry directly at the surface. - The project allowed us to establish an experimental protocol for testing the chemical distribution of active components on surfaces of commercial interest. This chemical information was correlated directly at the surface with biological probing to unravel the effect of the actives on the formation of biofilms. The data generated from this testing platform will inform the design and formulation of new products, to complement other industrial standard efficacy tests and to support new IP claims. The versatility of the approach used here will allow translation into other areas within Liverpool's OPIHAS and Unilever strategic development. - Strategic discussions are in progress to explore new avenues to expand the scope of the research, beyond the PoC project, covering other areas within Unilever and Liverpool's OPIHAS remits. - The results from this PoC work will set the foundations for a joint PhD project, to explore specific areas that the partners have identified as promising opportunities from the preliminary data generated in the PoC stage. - Currently, the data and specific information regarding the project is to be considered commercially sensitive and confidential to share any part of the results in the public domain. The partners may consider, without commitment, to disclose further information once the IP positioning for both partner organisations is protected. - The PI, Yuri Diaz Fernandez, used this project for the basis of his PhD which has since been awarded and Yuri has left the university to take on the role of Science Leader for the Nano area at LGC Group. Feedback from Unilever: - This has not given us any new IP claims, because we already had some proof of concept data ourselves. This expanded the understanding the mechanism of action, this what this piece of research was bout. - Via the PhD there will be opportunity for new IP claims. So again, we were limited with what we could get across to Liverpool with the POC. We already have protected those actives, so we already have IP in that space, have got the measurement to allow more fundamental understanding. - Learning and clarity to be brought to other POC projects. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 01POC18051 Advanced testing platforms to address key performance variables for antimicrobial products on domestic surfaces (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project aims to develop robust testing platforms to evaluate performance under realistic working conditions for two key surface-cleaning products within Unilever portfolio (i.e. laundry liquid and gel-like surface cleanser). The work levers on state-of-the-art surface-sensitive techniques and advanced biological testing recently developed by the Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces of the University of Liverpool, based on the combination of electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, spatially-resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and fluorescent microscopy. The holistic approach proposed here will unravel for the first time contributions from chemical and biological soiling on domestic surfaces and correlate these to performance of approved antimicrobial technologies. This PoC funding will set the foundations for longer-term collaborations, based on direct industrial investment from Unilever, and aiming to generate new products able to prevent biofilms on domestic hard and soft surfaces. This is a key strategic interest for Unilever and UoL's OPIHAS and we see this short-term project as a spring-board for more focused and lengthy research activities moving forward. The project will address two of the priority areas of NBIC remit: • Prevention of biofilms. • Detection of underpinning processes during biofilm formation. Initially, we would focus on bacterial attachment-detachment events and the subsequent biofilm formation on stainless steel and ceramic tails, using relevant bacterial species in single strain communities, and subsequently proceed to multi-species consortia. We will use bacterial metataxonomic information obtained from in-homes consumer studies to develop realistic models for surface contamination under domestic scenarios, exploiting additional omics techniques (e.g. transcriptomics, qPCR), to define when bacteria can no longer be considered "physical" particles interacting with surfaces. The influence of surface chemistry and soil characteristics on triggering irreversible attachment on single cells and subsequent biofilms development will be probed using key gene markers relevant to the consumer problems and perceived benefits (e.g. malodour production). The project will be divided in 6 work packages that will alternate and coexist across the 8 months duration of the project. Chemical, physical, and biological characterisation will be performed under clean and soiled conditions, increasing progressively the level of complexity from single bacterial species to co-cultures. A summarised description of key tasks, milestones and deliverables and the estimated timescale is provided below. The project plan will be reviewed every 2 months and managed dynamically, for timely troubleshooting and prioritisation of tasks. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Liverpool: - In the initial stages of the project we tested several coatings from active components from Unilever's portfolio of products, demonstrating suitability of Liverpool's OPIHAS spectroscopic techniques to detect the actives applied on a model surface. This task was particularly challenging, considering the low concentrations of active under working conditions that lay below detection limit for several analytical techniques. From these initial results, a set of active components was selected for further analysis. Subsequently we probe the distribution of these shortlisted actives across the model surface, providing unprecedented data regarding the properties of these coatings. Finally, we performed biological experiments to probe the effect of the coatings on biofilm formation, and to provide new insights regarding the correlation with the chemistry directly at the surface. - The project allowed us to establish an experimental protocol for testing the chemical distribution of active components on surfaces of commercial interest. This chemical information was correlated directly at the surface with biological probing to unravel the effect of the actives on the formation of biofilms. The data generated from this testing platform will inform the design and formulation of new products, to complement other industrial standard efficacy tests and to support new IP claims. The versatility of the approach used here will allow translation into other areas within Liverpool's OPIHAS and Unilever strategic development. - Strategic discussions are in progress to explore new avenues to expand the scope of the research, beyond the PoC project, covering other areas within Unilever and Liverpool's OPIHAS remits. - The results from this PoC work will set the foundations for a joint PhD project, to explore specific areas that the partners have identified as promising opportunities from the preliminary data generated in the PoC stage. - Currently, the data and specific information regarding the project is to be considered commercially sensitive and confidential to share any part of the results in the public domain. The partners may consider, without commitment, to disclose further information once the IP positioning for both partner organisations is protected. - The PI, Yuri Diaz Fernandez, used this project for the basis of his PhD which has since been awarded and Yuri has left the university to take on the role of Science Leader for the Nano area at LGC Group. Feedback from Unilever: - This has not given us any new IP claims, because we already had some proof of concept data ourselves. This expanded the understanding the mechanism of action, this what this piece of research was bout. - Via the PhD there will be opportunity for new IP claims. So again, we were limited with what we could get across to Liverpool with the POC. We already have protected those actives, so we already have IP in that space, have got the measurement to allow more fundamental understanding. - Learning and clarity to be brought to other POC projects. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19024 Commercialisation of a burn wound biofilm model to provide a new service for pre-clinical research and testing in academia and industry. (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to commercialise a novel ex-vivo model of burn wound biofilm formation, and ultimately make this widely accessible to academia and industry as a UKAS-accredited service. This will fill an unmet need in providing a robust, reproducible, and representative pre-clinical laboratory model of wound biofilm formation suitable for use in both academic research and industry applications. The availability of this model as a UKAS-accredited service will support pre-clinical development or validation of technologies to detect, prevent, or manage wound biofilms. Such data is vital when compiling regulatory dossiers to support product claims relating to antibiofilm activity. Using ex-vivo porcine skin as the substrate for biofilm formation provides a much more realistic representation of wound biofilms than currently available in-vitro models, in which biofilms are grown on abiotic surfaces. The use of a bespoke tool to generate uniform burn wound arrays on sections of porcine skin permits high-throughput screening of panels of candidate antimicrobial/ antibiofilm agents. The model is also suitable for evaluating wound care products such as dressings. Because the model utilises surplus tissues generated as waste from other sectors (e.g. food industry), this can also contribute to reducing the use of animals in research and product testing. The initial small-scale project proposed here will: • Demonstrate the feasibility of operating this ex-vivo model within an accredited commercial R&D laboratory. • Develop protocols compatible with UKAS accreditation for testing prospective antibiofilm agents. • Develop a portfolio of data to support application to UKAS for accreditation to ISO 17025. To achieve this, we will use the model to compare the antibiofilm activity of a topical antiseptic used in wound care, with candidate antibiofilm agents derived from repurposing of existing drugs. Success will be measured by the implementation of this model at Perfectus and the development of protocols/data to support UKAS accreditation. The project will be divided into 3 work packages (WPs) undertaken at either Bath or Perfectus Biomed. These WPs will support transfer of the burn wound model to Perfectus, and the development of a validated platform that can subsequently be accredited. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project aims to support Perfectus to commercialise a new burn wound model we have developed. We are providing knowledge and training to the company in set up and operation of the wound model. Perfectus are providing industry expertise and development of ISO protocols. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bath: Perfectus Biomed has now applied to UKAS for accreditation of the wound model. It is anticipated that the decision on this will be returned in ~2-3 months. Once accredited Perfectus will offer the model as a new service, and are speaking to clients ahead of official accreditation to make them aware this model will be available soon. When accredited Perfectus will launch the service on their website and create a social media campaign to promote this. It is expected that the University of Bath media relations department will also publicise this. We have constructed new bespoke burn wound tools and provided training to the company. Perfectus are in the process of optimising the wound model in house. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19024 Commercialisation of a burn wound biofilm model to provide a new service for pre-clinical research and testing in academia and industry. (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | Perfectus Biomed Ltd. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to commercialise a novel ex-vivo model of burn wound biofilm formation, and ultimately make this widely accessible to academia and industry as a UKAS-accredited service. This will fill an unmet need in providing a robust, reproducible, and representative pre-clinical laboratory model of wound biofilm formation suitable for use in both academic research and industry applications. The availability of this model as a UKAS-accredited service will support pre-clinical development or validation of technologies to detect, prevent, or manage wound biofilms. Such data is vital when compiling regulatory dossiers to support product claims relating to antibiofilm activity. Using ex-vivo porcine skin as the substrate for biofilm formation provides a much more realistic representation of wound biofilms than currently available in-vitro models, in which biofilms are grown on abiotic surfaces. The use of a bespoke tool to generate uniform burn wound arrays on sections of porcine skin permits high-throughput screening of panels of candidate antimicrobial/ antibiofilm agents. The model is also suitable for evaluating wound care products such as dressings. Because the model utilises surplus tissues generated as waste from other sectors (e.g. food industry), this can also contribute to reducing the use of animals in research and product testing. The initial small-scale project proposed here will: • Demonstrate the feasibility of operating this ex-vivo model within an accredited commercial R&D laboratory. • Develop protocols compatible with UKAS accreditation for testing prospective antibiofilm agents. • Develop a portfolio of data to support application to UKAS for accreditation to ISO 17025. To achieve this, we will use the model to compare the antibiofilm activity of a topical antiseptic used in wound care, with candidate antibiofilm agents derived from repurposing of existing drugs. Success will be measured by the implementation of this model at Perfectus and the development of protocols/data to support UKAS accreditation. The project will be divided into 3 work packages (WPs) undertaken at either Bath or Perfectus Biomed. These WPs will support transfer of the burn wound model to Perfectus, and the development of a validated platform that can subsequently be accredited. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project aims to support Perfectus to commercialise a new burn wound model we have developed. We are providing knowledge and training to the company in set up and operation of the wound model. Perfectus are providing industry expertise and development of ISO protocols. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bath: Perfectus Biomed has now applied to UKAS for accreditation of the wound model. It is anticipated that the decision on this will be returned in ~2-3 months. Once accredited Perfectus will offer the model as a new service, and are speaking to clients ahead of official accreditation to make them aware this model will be available soon. When accredited Perfectus will launch the service on their website and create a social media campaign to promote this. It is expected that the University of Bath media relations department will also publicise this. We have constructed new bespoke burn wound tools and provided training to the company. Perfectus are in the process of optimising the wound model in house. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19024 Commercialisation of a burn wound biofilm model to provide a new service for pre-clinical research and testing in academia and industry. (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to commercialise a novel ex-vivo model of burn wound biofilm formation, and ultimately make this widely accessible to academia and industry as a UKAS-accredited service. This will fill an unmet need in providing a robust, reproducible, and representative pre-clinical laboratory model of wound biofilm formation suitable for use in both academic research and industry applications. The availability of this model as a UKAS-accredited service will support pre-clinical development or validation of technologies to detect, prevent, or manage wound biofilms. Such data is vital when compiling regulatory dossiers to support product claims relating to antibiofilm activity. Using ex-vivo porcine skin as the substrate for biofilm formation provides a much more realistic representation of wound biofilms than currently available in-vitro models, in which biofilms are grown on abiotic surfaces. The use of a bespoke tool to generate uniform burn wound arrays on sections of porcine skin permits high-throughput screening of panels of candidate antimicrobial/ antibiofilm agents. The model is also suitable for evaluating wound care products such as dressings. Because the model utilises surplus tissues generated as waste from other sectors (e.g. food industry), this can also contribute to reducing the use of animals in research and product testing. The initial small-scale project proposed here will: • Demonstrate the feasibility of operating this ex-vivo model within an accredited commercial R&D laboratory. • Develop protocols compatible with UKAS accreditation for testing prospective antibiofilm agents. • Develop a portfolio of data to support application to UKAS for accreditation to ISO 17025. To achieve this, we will use the model to compare the antibiofilm activity of a topical antiseptic used in wound care, with candidate antibiofilm agents derived from repurposing of existing drugs. Success will be measured by the implementation of this model at Perfectus and the development of protocols/data to support UKAS accreditation. The project will be divided into 3 work packages (WPs) undertaken at either Bath or Perfectus Biomed. These WPs will support transfer of the burn wound model to Perfectus, and the development of a validated platform that can subsequently be accredited. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project aims to support Perfectus to commercialise a new burn wound model we have developed. We are providing knowledge and training to the company in set up and operation of the wound model. Perfectus are providing industry expertise and development of ISO protocols. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bath: Perfectus Biomed has now applied to UKAS for accreditation of the wound model. It is anticipated that the decision on this will be returned in ~2-3 months. Once accredited Perfectus will offer the model as a new service, and are speaking to clients ahead of official accreditation to make them aware this model will be available soon. When accredited Perfectus will launch the service on their website and create a social media campaign to promote this. It is expected that the University of Bath media relations department will also publicise this. We have constructed new bespoke burn wound tools and provided training to the company. Perfectus are in the process of optimising the wound model in house. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19029 Algae-powered MicroProcessors (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | Arm Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BACKGROUND Work in the applicant's lab over the last ten years has shown that systems comprising biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms (algae) on electrodes can generate sufficient power to run small electronic items (e.g. McCormick AJ, et al. (2011) Photosynthetic biofilms in pure culture harness solar energy in a mediator less bio-photovoltaic (BPV) cell system" Energy Environmental Science 4:4699-4709). These power-generating systems are known as biophotovoltaic devices (BPV). Their power density is presently up to 10 mW m-2 (McCormick et al), and BPV offer the possibility of powering low-energy devices in off-grid locations (eg isolated areas in developing countries). Importantly, unlike conventional photovoltaics, they generate power both in the dark (using metabolites from photosynthesis) and in the light, and can be made from more environmentally friendly materials. BPV are therefore an exciting and very beneficial way of utilizing biofilms. In collaboration with Arm, world leaders in microprocessor design, we have shown in preliminary experiments that an algal biofilm can in principle run a low power microprocessor. This offers the exciting prospect of using the biofilms to power some of the billions of devices in the Internet of Things. The BPV device used in the preliminary experiments was too large to be practicable (chamber approx. 250mL). However, our calculations suggest we can scale down to a small chamber containing an electrode of a few sq cm and made of recycled material. This would be much more appropriate for widespread implementation. AIM Proof of concept that • an electrode of a few cm2 can be used to power an ARM Cortex-M0 microprocessor under lab conditions • power generation is stable under outside environmental conditions SUCCESS Will be measured by powering the Cortex-M0 microprocessor in the lab using a biofilm max area 100 cm2, and showing this can also power the Cortex-M0 under outdoor conditions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Cambridge: - We have successfully powered a microprocessor with photosynthetic (cyanobacterial) cells forming a biofilm in a miniature biophotovoltaic device in lab and uncontrolled conditions. We plan to develop applications for this novel technology. - The main challenge in this project was the COVID19 outbreak, which prevented lab experiments for 1/3 of the total project length. However, by this stage it was appropriate to focus on outdoor experiments. - We have successfully demonstrated that small (75 x 25 x 31 mm) biophotovoltaic devices powered by algal biofilms generate sufficient electricity to power an ARM microprocessor continuously and stably for a period of a month, both in the lab and outdoors. - The construction and use of the BPVs able to operate a microprocessor constitute know-how. The work may be protectable as IP, and we will discuss this with our collaborators. - We expect a joint publication in due course with our collaborators, and we hope to secure further funding to continue the collaboration. - Journal titled 'Powering a microprocessor by photosynthesis' was published in 'Energy & Environmental Science' in May 2022. DOI 10.1039/d2ee00233g |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19029 Algae-powered MicroProcessors (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BACKGROUND Work in the applicant's lab over the last ten years has shown that systems comprising biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms (algae) on electrodes can generate sufficient power to run small electronic items (e.g. McCormick AJ, et al. (2011) Photosynthetic biofilms in pure culture harness solar energy in a mediator less bio-photovoltaic (BPV) cell system" Energy Environmental Science 4:4699-4709). These power-generating systems are known as biophotovoltaic devices (BPV). Their power density is presently up to 10 mW m-2 (McCormick et al), and BPV offer the possibility of powering low-energy devices in off-grid locations (eg isolated areas in developing countries). Importantly, unlike conventional photovoltaics, they generate power both in the dark (using metabolites from photosynthesis) and in the light, and can be made from more environmentally friendly materials. BPV are therefore an exciting and very beneficial way of utilizing biofilms. In collaboration with Arm, world leaders in microprocessor design, we have shown in preliminary experiments that an algal biofilm can in principle run a low power microprocessor. This offers the exciting prospect of using the biofilms to power some of the billions of devices in the Internet of Things. The BPV device used in the preliminary experiments was too large to be practicable (chamber approx. 250mL). However, our calculations suggest we can scale down to a small chamber containing an electrode of a few sq cm and made of recycled material. This would be much more appropriate for widespread implementation. AIM Proof of concept that • an electrode of a few cm2 can be used to power an ARM Cortex-M0 microprocessor under lab conditions • power generation is stable under outside environmental conditions SUCCESS Will be measured by powering the Cortex-M0 microprocessor in the lab using a biofilm max area 100 cm2, and showing this can also power the Cortex-M0 under outdoor conditions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Cambridge: - We have successfully powered a microprocessor with photosynthetic (cyanobacterial) cells forming a biofilm in a miniature biophotovoltaic device in lab and uncontrolled conditions. We plan to develop applications for this novel technology. - The main challenge in this project was the COVID19 outbreak, which prevented lab experiments for 1/3 of the total project length. However, by this stage it was appropriate to focus on outdoor experiments. - We have successfully demonstrated that small (75 x 25 x 31 mm) biophotovoltaic devices powered by algal biofilms generate sufficient electricity to power an ARM microprocessor continuously and stably for a period of a month, both in the lab and outdoors. - The construction and use of the BPVs able to operate a microprocessor constitute know-how. The work may be protectable as IP, and we will discuss this with our collaborators. - We expect a joint publication in due course with our collaborators, and we hope to secure further funding to continue the collaboration. - Journal titled 'Powering a microprocessor by photosynthesis' was published in 'Energy & Environmental Science' in May 2022. DOI 10.1039/d2ee00233g |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19029 Algae-powered MicroProcessors (Christopher Howe) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | BACKGROUND Work in the applicant's lab over the last ten years has shown that systems comprising biofilms of photosynthetic microorganisms (algae) on electrodes can generate sufficient power to run small electronic items (e.g. McCormick AJ, et al. (2011) Photosynthetic biofilms in pure culture harness solar energy in a mediator less bio-photovoltaic (BPV) cell system" Energy Environmental Science 4:4699-4709). These power-generating systems are known as biophotovoltaic devices (BPV). Their power density is presently up to 10 mW m-2 (McCormick et al), and BPV offer the possibility of powering low-energy devices in off-grid locations (eg isolated areas in developing countries). Importantly, unlike conventional photovoltaics, they generate power both in the dark (using metabolites from photosynthesis) and in the light, and can be made from more environmentally friendly materials. BPV are therefore an exciting and very beneficial way of utilizing biofilms. In collaboration with Arm, world leaders in microprocessor design, we have shown in preliminary experiments that an algal biofilm can in principle run a low power microprocessor. This offers the exciting prospect of using the biofilms to power some of the billions of devices in the Internet of Things. The BPV device used in the preliminary experiments was too large to be practicable (chamber approx. 250mL). However, our calculations suggest we can scale down to a small chamber containing an electrode of a few sq cm and made of recycled material. This would be much more appropriate for widespread implementation. AIM Proof of concept that • an electrode of a few cm2 can be used to power an ARM Cortex-M0 microprocessor under lab conditions • power generation is stable under outside environmental conditions SUCCESS Will be measured by powering the Cortex-M0 microprocessor in the lab using a biofilm max area 100 cm2, and showing this can also power the Cortex-M0 under outdoor conditions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Cambridge: - We have successfully powered a microprocessor with photosynthetic (cyanobacterial) cells forming a biofilm in a miniature biophotovoltaic device in lab and uncontrolled conditions. We plan to develop applications for this novel technology. - The main challenge in this project was the COVID19 outbreak, which prevented lab experiments for 1/3 of the total project length. However, by this stage it was appropriate to focus on outdoor experiments. - We have successfully demonstrated that small (75 x 25 x 31 mm) biophotovoltaic devices powered by algal biofilms generate sufficient electricity to power an ARM microprocessor continuously and stably for a period of a month, both in the lab and outdoors. - The construction and use of the BPVs able to operate a microprocessor constitute know-how. The work may be protectable as IP, and we will discuss this with our collaborators. - We expect a joint publication in due course with our collaborators, and we hope to secure further funding to continue the collaboration. - Journal titled 'Powering a microprocessor by photosynthesis' was published in 'Energy & Environmental Science' in May 2022. DOI 10.1039/d2ee00233g |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19032 Development of the first ESPRIT-AM antimicrobial self-sealing vascular access graft (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | ESP Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Due to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, the number of people requiring implantable devices is growing. The leading cause of failure of implantable medical devices is biofilm infection, which can cause severe complications including reduced device functionality and secondary/systemic infections; both can cause significant trauma for patients. Therefore, development of antimicrobial medical devices that reduce biofilm infection is critical. This is exemplified by current commercially available vascular access graft (VAG) technologies, where no antimicrobial product currently exists. Overarching Aim: Develop standard operating procedures for the production of novel VAG early prototypes coated with antimicrobial levels of silver salts, to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available ePTFE VAGs and their potential for future commercialisation. This will lay the foundation for future funding applications aimed at development and marketing of antimicrobial VAGs and subsequently other medical devices. ESP Technology has developed a patented formulation and deposition process that makes a microporous perfluoroelastomer (Flexomer) layer on the outside of expanded ePTFE VAG tubes (ESPRIT). The Flexomer significantly reduces post-needle bleeding, a major complication during haemodialysis. This project aims to combine the advancements made by ESP Technology in reduction of post-needle bleeding with the well-documented antimicrobial activity of silver salts; to produce the next generation antimicrobial VAG (ESPRIT-AM). The anti-biofilm activity of the ESPRIT-AM early prototype will be tested against pathogens commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infection and their antimicrobial performance will be compared with commercially available ePTFE VAGs using in vitro medical implant device models. Success of this project will be measured via: • development of standard operating procedures that are able to reliably determine the antimicrobial efficacy of VAG prototypes • generation of preliminary data to demonstrate the potential for commercial development of the ESPRITAM experimentally (TRL2) • production of an early prototype ESPRIT-AM VAG (TRL3). A critical property of any anti-biofilm coating is that it is not toxic to the patient. We will: 1. test tubing manufactured in WP1 for silver salt leaching via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to indicate host exposure levels 2. determine compound toxicity to host cells via cytotoxicity testing using simple mammalian cell lines (M3). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Nottingham Trent University: - This project generated a working medical tubing biofilm infection model and produced original research data that is suitable for publication. - Preliminary data produced in this project will be used to support future funding applications and has already been successfully used to secure a PhD studentship to continue this work. The PhD will use preliminary data produced in this project to further develop antimicrobial materials suitable for use in medical implantation. The data produced in this project will be published in due course with additional experiments completed during the PhD studentship. - Due to the uncertainty surrounding our main industrial partner, next steps for the academic partner are to establish new collaborations with industrial partners in the vascular access graft, or similar, field and to engage in further dialogue with the SME on this project in the hope that they are able to re-establish operations after the current COVID restrictions are lifted. - Once industrial collaborators have been identified we will aim to use the models and SOPs developed in this project to submit an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst primer application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19032 Development of the first ESPRIT-AM antimicrobial self-sealing vascular access graft (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | Harman Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Due to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, the number of people requiring implantable devices is growing. The leading cause of failure of implantable medical devices is biofilm infection, which can cause severe complications including reduced device functionality and secondary/systemic infections; both can cause significant trauma for patients. Therefore, development of antimicrobial medical devices that reduce biofilm infection is critical. This is exemplified by current commercially available vascular access graft (VAG) technologies, where no antimicrobial product currently exists. Overarching Aim: Develop standard operating procedures for the production of novel VAG early prototypes coated with antimicrobial levels of silver salts, to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available ePTFE VAGs and their potential for future commercialisation. This will lay the foundation for future funding applications aimed at development and marketing of antimicrobial VAGs and subsequently other medical devices. ESP Technology has developed a patented formulation and deposition process that makes a microporous perfluoroelastomer (Flexomer) layer on the outside of expanded ePTFE VAG tubes (ESPRIT). The Flexomer significantly reduces post-needle bleeding, a major complication during haemodialysis. This project aims to combine the advancements made by ESP Technology in reduction of post-needle bleeding with the well-documented antimicrobial activity of silver salts; to produce the next generation antimicrobial VAG (ESPRIT-AM). The anti-biofilm activity of the ESPRIT-AM early prototype will be tested against pathogens commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infection and their antimicrobial performance will be compared with commercially available ePTFE VAGs using in vitro medical implant device models. Success of this project will be measured via: • development of standard operating procedures that are able to reliably determine the antimicrobial efficacy of VAG prototypes • generation of preliminary data to demonstrate the potential for commercial development of the ESPRITAM experimentally (TRL2) • production of an early prototype ESPRIT-AM VAG (TRL3). A critical property of any anti-biofilm coating is that it is not toxic to the patient. We will: 1. test tubing manufactured in WP1 for silver salt leaching via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to indicate host exposure levels 2. determine compound toxicity to host cells via cytotoxicity testing using simple mammalian cell lines (M3). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Nottingham Trent University: - This project generated a working medical tubing biofilm infection model and produced original research data that is suitable for publication. - Preliminary data produced in this project will be used to support future funding applications and has already been successfully used to secure a PhD studentship to continue this work. The PhD will use preliminary data produced in this project to further develop antimicrobial materials suitable for use in medical implantation. The data produced in this project will be published in due course with additional experiments completed during the PhD studentship. - Due to the uncertainty surrounding our main industrial partner, next steps for the academic partner are to establish new collaborations with industrial partners in the vascular access graft, or similar, field and to engage in further dialogue with the SME on this project in the hope that they are able to re-establish operations after the current COVID restrictions are lifted. - Once industrial collaborators have been identified we will aim to use the models and SOPs developed in this project to submit an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst primer application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19032 Development of the first ESPRIT-AM antimicrobial self-sealing vascular access graft (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Due to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, the number of people requiring implantable devices is growing. The leading cause of failure of implantable medical devices is biofilm infection, which can cause severe complications including reduced device functionality and secondary/systemic infections; both can cause significant trauma for patients. Therefore, development of antimicrobial medical devices that reduce biofilm infection is critical. This is exemplified by current commercially available vascular access graft (VAG) technologies, where no antimicrobial product currently exists. Overarching Aim: Develop standard operating procedures for the production of novel VAG early prototypes coated with antimicrobial levels of silver salts, to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available ePTFE VAGs and their potential for future commercialisation. This will lay the foundation for future funding applications aimed at development and marketing of antimicrobial VAGs and subsequently other medical devices. ESP Technology has developed a patented formulation and deposition process that makes a microporous perfluoroelastomer (Flexomer) layer on the outside of expanded ePTFE VAG tubes (ESPRIT). The Flexomer significantly reduces post-needle bleeding, a major complication during haemodialysis. This project aims to combine the advancements made by ESP Technology in reduction of post-needle bleeding with the well-documented antimicrobial activity of silver salts; to produce the next generation antimicrobial VAG (ESPRIT-AM). The anti-biofilm activity of the ESPRIT-AM early prototype will be tested against pathogens commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infection and their antimicrobial performance will be compared with commercially available ePTFE VAGs using in vitro medical implant device models. Success of this project will be measured via: • development of standard operating procedures that are able to reliably determine the antimicrobial efficacy of VAG prototypes • generation of preliminary data to demonstrate the potential for commercial development of the ESPRITAM experimentally (TRL2) • production of an early prototype ESPRIT-AM VAG (TRL3). A critical property of any anti-biofilm coating is that it is not toxic to the patient. We will: 1. test tubing manufactured in WP1 for silver salt leaching via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to indicate host exposure levels 2. determine compound toxicity to host cells via cytotoxicity testing using simple mammalian cell lines (M3). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Nottingham Trent University: - This project generated a working medical tubing biofilm infection model and produced original research data that is suitable for publication. - Preliminary data produced in this project will be used to support future funding applications and has already been successfully used to secure a PhD studentship to continue this work. The PhD will use preliminary data produced in this project to further develop antimicrobial materials suitable for use in medical implantation. The data produced in this project will be published in due course with additional experiments completed during the PhD studentship. - Due to the uncertainty surrounding our main industrial partner, next steps for the academic partner are to establish new collaborations with industrial partners in the vascular access graft, or similar, field and to engage in further dialogue with the SME on this project in the hope that they are able to re-establish operations after the current COVID restrictions are lifted. - Once industrial collaborators have been identified we will aim to use the models and SOPs developed in this project to submit an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst primer application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19032 Development of the first ESPRIT-AM antimicrobial self-sealing vascular access graft (Samantha McLean) |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Due to an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, the number of people requiring implantable devices is growing. The leading cause of failure of implantable medical devices is biofilm infection, which can cause severe complications including reduced device functionality and secondary/systemic infections; both can cause significant trauma for patients. Therefore, development of antimicrobial medical devices that reduce biofilm infection is critical. This is exemplified by current commercially available vascular access graft (VAG) technologies, where no antimicrobial product currently exists. Overarching Aim: Develop standard operating procedures for the production of novel VAG early prototypes coated with antimicrobial levels of silver salts, to evaluate their antibiofilm efficacy compared to currently commercially available ePTFE VAGs and their potential for future commercialisation. This will lay the foundation for future funding applications aimed at development and marketing of antimicrobial VAGs and subsequently other medical devices. ESP Technology has developed a patented formulation and deposition process that makes a microporous perfluoroelastomer (Flexomer) layer on the outside of expanded ePTFE VAG tubes (ESPRIT). The Flexomer significantly reduces post-needle bleeding, a major complication during haemodialysis. This project aims to combine the advancements made by ESP Technology in reduction of post-needle bleeding with the well-documented antimicrobial activity of silver salts; to produce the next generation antimicrobial VAG (ESPRIT-AM). The anti-biofilm activity of the ESPRIT-AM early prototype will be tested against pathogens commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infection and their antimicrobial performance will be compared with commercially available ePTFE VAGs using in vitro medical implant device models. Success of this project will be measured via: • development of standard operating procedures that are able to reliably determine the antimicrobial efficacy of VAG prototypes • generation of preliminary data to demonstrate the potential for commercial development of the ESPRITAM experimentally (TRL2) • production of an early prototype ESPRIT-AM VAG (TRL3). A critical property of any anti-biofilm coating is that it is not toxic to the patient. We will: 1. test tubing manufactured in WP1 for silver salt leaching via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to indicate host exposure levels 2. determine compound toxicity to host cells via cytotoxicity testing using simple mammalian cell lines (M3). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Nottingham Trent University: - This project generated a working medical tubing biofilm infection model and produced original research data that is suitable for publication. - Preliminary data produced in this project will be used to support future funding applications and has already been successfully used to secure a PhD studentship to continue this work. The PhD will use preliminary data produced in this project to further develop antimicrobial materials suitable for use in medical implantation. The data produced in this project will be published in due course with additional experiments completed during the PhD studentship. - Due to the uncertainty surrounding our main industrial partner, next steps for the academic partner are to establish new collaborations with industrial partners in the vascular access graft, or similar, field and to engage in further dialogue with the SME on this project in the hope that they are able to re-establish operations after the current COVID restrictions are lifted. - Once industrial collaborators have been identified we will aim to use the models and SOPs developed in this project to submit an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst primer application. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19033 Enhanced biofilm detection methods and the use of UVC light in their remediation and control on historic buildings and artefacts. (Joy Watts) |
| Organisation | Historic England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this proposal is to develop better early detection methods and refine the conditions of the UVC treatment regime for different stone and mortar surfaces- creating a set of 'working guidelines' to best control biofilm growth on a range of historic buildings around England. This research builds upon a preliminary collaboration between the partners, UVC was found to be an effective treatment for biofilm control at Newport Roman Villa. To increase sensitivity of biofilm detection on stone, novel methods were trialed, including: ERDAS IMAGINE, a remote sensing software, to map and monitor the intensity and extent of colour change due to biofilms on these surfaces and NIR (near infrared) analysis of biofilm impacted surfaces. Initial results indicate that these tools enabled provided early biofilm detection and provided a rapid and reliable analysis of the effectiveness of UVC. In this study a number of controlled studies will be performed in situ to determine the effectiveness of different UVC treatment conditions in directly controlling biofilms. Simultaneously, biofilms will be subjected to DNA extraction and sequenced using NGS to examine changes in the microbial communities before and after UVC treatment. In combination with ERDAS and NIR spectra from the Newport Villa to determine if chlorophyll and accessory pigment profiles could act as a signature marker for rapid evaluation of biofilm contamination. As a measure of success, SOPs for historic site treatment with UVC, will be developed and disseminated through Historic England's network of conservation professionals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Portsmouth: - The major aim of this proposal was to develop a set of 'working guidelines' for the use of UV-C for application to harmful biofilms on historic sites. Originally the aims of proposal included a number of field-based trials which due to Covid-19 restrictions were unable to occur. Though final experiments and field testing have been delayed due to Covid-19 and other circumstances, results of completed experiments have enabled the refinement of the methodology of using UV-C to reduce the impact of biofilms on historic buildings. - The major aim of the proposal has been achieved with a set of guidelines now created for Historic England to apply UV-C to historic sites. We have identified a major agent present in stone/mortar decaying biofilms- species of the Leptolynbya genera. We have isolated spectral patterns useful in the determination of treatment efficacy. The time of treatment and wavelength used has been determined using spectral signatures of decline providing a potential risk marker to assay in other substrates. - Further studies are being performed to apply this developed methodology in situ. Two publications are close to completion- the first a technical guidance document which requires the in-field testing that is ongoing and secondly a manuscript detailing the microbial community found in these biofilms and the effects of UV-C on the composition of the microbial community present. Both publications will cite NBIC as a funder of this research. - Feedback to NBIC: We wish to thank NBIC for all of their help, support and understanding during this difficult time. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19033 Enhanced biofilm detection methods and the use of UVC light in their remediation and control on historic buildings and artefacts. (Joy Watts) |
| Organisation | Isle of Wight Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this proposal is to develop better early detection methods and refine the conditions of the UVC treatment regime for different stone and mortar surfaces- creating a set of 'working guidelines' to best control biofilm growth on a range of historic buildings around England. This research builds upon a preliminary collaboration between the partners, UVC was found to be an effective treatment for biofilm control at Newport Roman Villa. To increase sensitivity of biofilm detection on stone, novel methods were trialed, including: ERDAS IMAGINE, a remote sensing software, to map and monitor the intensity and extent of colour change due to biofilms on these surfaces and NIR (near infrared) analysis of biofilm impacted surfaces. Initial results indicate that these tools enabled provided early biofilm detection and provided a rapid and reliable analysis of the effectiveness of UVC. In this study a number of controlled studies will be performed in situ to determine the effectiveness of different UVC treatment conditions in directly controlling biofilms. Simultaneously, biofilms will be subjected to DNA extraction and sequenced using NGS to examine changes in the microbial communities before and after UVC treatment. In combination with ERDAS and NIR spectra from the Newport Villa to determine if chlorophyll and accessory pigment profiles could act as a signature marker for rapid evaluation of biofilm contamination. As a measure of success, SOPs for historic site treatment with UVC, will be developed and disseminated through Historic England's network of conservation professionals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Portsmouth: - The major aim of this proposal was to develop a set of 'working guidelines' for the use of UV-C for application to harmful biofilms on historic sites. Originally the aims of proposal included a number of field-based trials which due to Covid-19 restrictions were unable to occur. Though final experiments and field testing have been delayed due to Covid-19 and other circumstances, results of completed experiments have enabled the refinement of the methodology of using UV-C to reduce the impact of biofilms on historic buildings. - The major aim of the proposal has been achieved with a set of guidelines now created for Historic England to apply UV-C to historic sites. We have identified a major agent present in stone/mortar decaying biofilms- species of the Leptolynbya genera. We have isolated spectral patterns useful in the determination of treatment efficacy. The time of treatment and wavelength used has been determined using spectral signatures of decline providing a potential risk marker to assay in other substrates. - Further studies are being performed to apply this developed methodology in situ. Two publications are close to completion- the first a technical guidance document which requires the in-field testing that is ongoing and secondly a manuscript detailing the microbial community found in these biofilms and the effects of UV-C on the composition of the microbial community present. Both publications will cite NBIC as a funder of this research. - Feedback to NBIC: We wish to thank NBIC for all of their help, support and understanding during this difficult time. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19033 Enhanced biofilm detection methods and the use of UVC light in their remediation and control on historic buildings and artefacts. (Joy Watts) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this proposal is to develop better early detection methods and refine the conditions of the UVC treatment regime for different stone and mortar surfaces- creating a set of 'working guidelines' to best control biofilm growth on a range of historic buildings around England. This research builds upon a preliminary collaboration between the partners, UVC was found to be an effective treatment for biofilm control at Newport Roman Villa. To increase sensitivity of biofilm detection on stone, novel methods were trialed, including: ERDAS IMAGINE, a remote sensing software, to map and monitor the intensity and extent of colour change due to biofilms on these surfaces and NIR (near infrared) analysis of biofilm impacted surfaces. Initial results indicate that these tools enabled provided early biofilm detection and provided a rapid and reliable analysis of the effectiveness of UVC. In this study a number of controlled studies will be performed in situ to determine the effectiveness of different UVC treatment conditions in directly controlling biofilms. Simultaneously, biofilms will be subjected to DNA extraction and sequenced using NGS to examine changes in the microbial communities before and after UVC treatment. In combination with ERDAS and NIR spectra from the Newport Villa to determine if chlorophyll and accessory pigment profiles could act as a signature marker for rapid evaluation of biofilm contamination. As a measure of success, SOPs for historic site treatment with UVC, will be developed and disseminated through Historic England's network of conservation professionals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Portsmouth: - The major aim of this proposal was to develop a set of 'working guidelines' for the use of UV-C for application to harmful biofilms on historic sites. Originally the aims of proposal included a number of field-based trials which due to Covid-19 restrictions were unable to occur. Though final experiments and field testing have been delayed due to Covid-19 and other circumstances, results of completed experiments have enabled the refinement of the methodology of using UV-C to reduce the impact of biofilms on historic buildings. - The major aim of the proposal has been achieved with a set of guidelines now created for Historic England to apply UV-C to historic sites. We have identified a major agent present in stone/mortar decaying biofilms- species of the Leptolynbya genera. We have isolated spectral patterns useful in the determination of treatment efficacy. The time of treatment and wavelength used has been determined using spectral signatures of decline providing a potential risk marker to assay in other substrates. - Further studies are being performed to apply this developed methodology in situ. Two publications are close to completion- the first a technical guidance document which requires the in-field testing that is ongoing and secondly a manuscript detailing the microbial community found in these biofilms and the effects of UV-C on the composition of the microbial community present. Both publications will cite NBIC as a funder of this research. - Feedback to NBIC: We wish to thank NBIC for all of their help, support and understanding during this difficult time. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19033 Enhanced biofilm detection methods and the use of UVC light in their remediation and control on historic buildings and artefacts. (Joy Watts) |
| Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this proposal is to develop better early detection methods and refine the conditions of the UVC treatment regime for different stone and mortar surfaces- creating a set of 'working guidelines' to best control biofilm growth on a range of historic buildings around England. This research builds upon a preliminary collaboration between the partners, UVC was found to be an effective treatment for biofilm control at Newport Roman Villa. To increase sensitivity of biofilm detection on stone, novel methods were trialed, including: ERDAS IMAGINE, a remote sensing software, to map and monitor the intensity and extent of colour change due to biofilms on these surfaces and NIR (near infrared) analysis of biofilm impacted surfaces. Initial results indicate that these tools enabled provided early biofilm detection and provided a rapid and reliable analysis of the effectiveness of UVC. In this study a number of controlled studies will be performed in situ to determine the effectiveness of different UVC treatment conditions in directly controlling biofilms. Simultaneously, biofilms will be subjected to DNA extraction and sequenced using NGS to examine changes in the microbial communities before and after UVC treatment. In combination with ERDAS and NIR spectra from the Newport Villa to determine if chlorophyll and accessory pigment profiles could act as a signature marker for rapid evaluation of biofilm contamination. As a measure of success, SOPs for historic site treatment with UVC, will be developed and disseminated through Historic England's network of conservation professionals. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Portsmouth: - The major aim of this proposal was to develop a set of 'working guidelines' for the use of UV-C for application to harmful biofilms on historic sites. Originally the aims of proposal included a number of field-based trials which due to Covid-19 restrictions were unable to occur. Though final experiments and field testing have been delayed due to Covid-19 and other circumstances, results of completed experiments have enabled the refinement of the methodology of using UV-C to reduce the impact of biofilms on historic buildings. - The major aim of the proposal has been achieved with a set of guidelines now created for Historic England to apply UV-C to historic sites. We have identified a major agent present in stone/mortar decaying biofilms- species of the Leptolynbya genera. We have isolated spectral patterns useful in the determination of treatment efficacy. The time of treatment and wavelength used has been determined using spectral signatures of decline providing a potential risk marker to assay in other substrates. - Further studies are being performed to apply this developed methodology in situ. Two publications are close to completion- the first a technical guidance document which requires the in-field testing that is ongoing and secondly a manuscript detailing the microbial community found in these biofilms and the effects of UV-C on the composition of the microbial community present. Both publications will cite NBIC as a funder of this research. - Feedback to NBIC: We wish to thank NBIC for all of their help, support and understanding during this difficult time. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19034 e-Biofuels from CO2 conversion using Microbial electrosynthesis (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using microbial electrosynthesis (MES) with biofilm and microorganisms and renewable energy to synthesize bio-fuels, such as butanol and hexanol, with high selectivity and efficiency. MES relies on microorganisms as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. The benefit of this approach is to produce target biochemicals with increased carbon efficiency, limited use of additives for redox balance or pH control, enhanced microbial growth, and enhanced product recovery. To achieve the goal, the objectives are: 1) Investigate optimum conditions for electro-active biofilm (for acetate production, acetate is the starting point for longer chain products) development with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE). GDE with improved CO2 mass transfer can achieve fast start up time within 10 days, and acetate concentration >7 g/L. 2) Clarify the role of the electrode (electric energy) in the production of butanol and hexanol when external electron donors are present (bio-electrochemistry vs. electro-fermentation vs. fermentation). Gain understanding on the role of the electrode potentials especially in presence of an external electron donors (formate, ethanol or more generally biomass). 3) Target the specific production of butanol and hexanol via MES, with high selectivity and yield. Optimizing operational conditions such as pH using continuous feeding regime and providing external electron donors other than formate for the developed biocathode. Concentration target 1-5 g/L. 4) Investigate the feasible routes for the production of medium-chain alkanes via combined MES and further biotransformation using engineered microorganisms. Attain evaluation of feasibility of alkane production from various feedstocks with engineered E-coli, and design and implement molecular pathways for alkane production with rational alterations. This project will be managed by Newcastle with input from Shell. Dr Yu will be managing research activities. PI will meet the PDRA regularly to guide and monitor research progress. Research projects will be offered to master students to assist PDRA. Collaboration will take place both virtually and through meetings. A bi-monthly Skype meeting will connect researchers of both institutions to share results, identify research questions and make plans. A final meeting will be organised to evaluate the outputs against the set objectives, and plan for next step and funding applications. The major risk associated with WP 3 is the yield of desired alcohol products not high enough with MES. This can be overcome by adding external electron donors in the form of formate or ethanol, and investigate reactor process mode to remove bioproducts periodically to push the forward reaction of MES. In addition, although the interactions between work packages and tasks is the strength of this approach, each work package can produce important results on its own, which can reduce the risk for the whole project. The risks of failure in each work package are low or medium and will be mitigated by referring to a formal risk register at our monthly Skype meetings. Projects meetings will help track research progress and support decisions on research direction. The overall risk of the project is thus limited which ensures valuable outcomes for Shell. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Through this project, the main outputs including publications and conference talk [1-3]s. A review paper on synthesis of multicarbon products from CO2 was published in Sustainable Energy and Fuels. • These findings clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. • These findings of using Formate and ethanol as extra electro donors clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. It also opens the possibility of using organic waste streams as potential electron donors for MES for integrated system development. • The modification of GDEs with PANI led to a faster start-up of CO2 conversion (6 days vs. 17 days) and a higher production of acetate and butyrate. • Continuous operational mode enhanced acetate production and increased CE from 58% to 83% from fed-batch to continuous operation, respectively; acetate production rate was increase 4-5 folds with continuous mode. pH was also easier to be maintained to the value in favour of MES. • Combination of MES with further biotransformation or Kolbe electrolysis can provide possible route for medium chain alkane synthesis for drop-in fuel production. Through the results from this study, we have secured further funding through UKRI Circular Chemical Economy centre (EP/V011863/1) and BBSRC HVB PoC grant (HVB PoC HVB-2021/01 (Yu)) on "Enhance selectivity for high value bioproducts from CO2 and waste organics through microbial electrosynthesis" with Genome-scale metabolic modelling of microbial communities involved in the MES process can help design experiments to identify complex microbial interactions and community dynamics, as well as parameters controlling community compositions. A new collaboration with industrial partner Argent Energy is currently ongoing with these projects. 8 publications reported: 10.1039/D1SE00861G , 10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.015, 10.1039/d0fd00132e, 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116310, 10.1038/s41522-020-00151-x, 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137853, 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132548; 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145934. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19034 e-Biofuels from CO2 conversion using Microbial electrosynthesis (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using microbial electrosynthesis (MES) with biofilm and microorganisms and renewable energy to synthesize bio-fuels, such as butanol and hexanol, with high selectivity and efficiency. MES relies on microorganisms as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. The benefit of this approach is to produce target biochemicals with increased carbon efficiency, limited use of additives for redox balance or pH control, enhanced microbial growth, and enhanced product recovery. To achieve the goal, the objectives are: 1) Investigate optimum conditions for electro-active biofilm (for acetate production, acetate is the starting point for longer chain products) development with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE). GDE with improved CO2 mass transfer can achieve fast start up time within 10 days, and acetate concentration >7 g/L. 2) Clarify the role of the electrode (electric energy) in the production of butanol and hexanol when external electron donors are present (bio-electrochemistry vs. electro-fermentation vs. fermentation). Gain understanding on the role of the electrode potentials especially in presence of an external electron donors (formate, ethanol or more generally biomass). 3) Target the specific production of butanol and hexanol via MES, with high selectivity and yield. Optimizing operational conditions such as pH using continuous feeding regime and providing external electron donors other than formate for the developed biocathode. Concentration target 1-5 g/L. 4) Investigate the feasible routes for the production of medium-chain alkanes via combined MES and further biotransformation using engineered microorganisms. Attain evaluation of feasibility of alkane production from various feedstocks with engineered E-coli, and design and implement molecular pathways for alkane production with rational alterations. This project will be managed by Newcastle with input from Shell. Dr Yu will be managing research activities. PI will meet the PDRA regularly to guide and monitor research progress. Research projects will be offered to master students to assist PDRA. Collaboration will take place both virtually and through meetings. A bi-monthly Skype meeting will connect researchers of both institutions to share results, identify research questions and make plans. A final meeting will be organised to evaluate the outputs against the set objectives, and plan for next step and funding applications. The major risk associated with WP 3 is the yield of desired alcohol products not high enough with MES. This can be overcome by adding external electron donors in the form of formate or ethanol, and investigate reactor process mode to remove bioproducts periodically to push the forward reaction of MES. In addition, although the interactions between work packages and tasks is the strength of this approach, each work package can produce important results on its own, which can reduce the risk for the whole project. The risks of failure in each work package are low or medium and will be mitigated by referring to a formal risk register at our monthly Skype meetings. Projects meetings will help track research progress and support decisions on research direction. The overall risk of the project is thus limited which ensures valuable outcomes for Shell. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Through this project, the main outputs including publications and conference talk [1-3]s. A review paper on synthesis of multicarbon products from CO2 was published in Sustainable Energy and Fuels. • These findings clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. • These findings of using Formate and ethanol as extra electro donors clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. It also opens the possibility of using organic waste streams as potential electron donors for MES for integrated system development. • The modification of GDEs with PANI led to a faster start-up of CO2 conversion (6 days vs. 17 days) and a higher production of acetate and butyrate. • Continuous operational mode enhanced acetate production and increased CE from 58% to 83% from fed-batch to continuous operation, respectively; acetate production rate was increase 4-5 folds with continuous mode. pH was also easier to be maintained to the value in favour of MES. • Combination of MES with further biotransformation or Kolbe electrolysis can provide possible route for medium chain alkane synthesis for drop-in fuel production. Through the results from this study, we have secured further funding through UKRI Circular Chemical Economy centre (EP/V011863/1) and BBSRC HVB PoC grant (HVB PoC HVB-2021/01 (Yu)) on "Enhance selectivity for high value bioproducts from CO2 and waste organics through microbial electrosynthesis" with Genome-scale metabolic modelling of microbial communities involved in the MES process can help design experiments to identify complex microbial interactions and community dynamics, as well as parameters controlling community compositions. A new collaboration with industrial partner Argent Energy is currently ongoing with these projects. 8 publications reported: 10.1039/D1SE00861G , 10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.015, 10.1039/d0fd00132e, 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116310, 10.1038/s41522-020-00151-x, 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137853, 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132548; 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145934. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19034 e-Biofuels from CO2 conversion using Microbial electrosynthesis (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Shell Global Solutions International BV |
| Department | Shell Research Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable and scalable Bioelectrochemical System (BES) using microbial electrosynthesis (MES) with biofilm and microorganisms and renewable energy to synthesize bio-fuels, such as butanol and hexanol, with high selectivity and efficiency. MES relies on microorganisms as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. The benefit of this approach is to produce target biochemicals with increased carbon efficiency, limited use of additives for redox balance or pH control, enhanced microbial growth, and enhanced product recovery. To achieve the goal, the objectives are: 1) Investigate optimum conditions for electro-active biofilm (for acetate production, acetate is the starting point for longer chain products) development with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE). GDE with improved CO2 mass transfer can achieve fast start up time within 10 days, and acetate concentration >7 g/L. 2) Clarify the role of the electrode (electric energy) in the production of butanol and hexanol when external electron donors are present (bio-electrochemistry vs. electro-fermentation vs. fermentation). Gain understanding on the role of the electrode potentials especially in presence of an external electron donors (formate, ethanol or more generally biomass). 3) Target the specific production of butanol and hexanol via MES, with high selectivity and yield. Optimizing operational conditions such as pH using continuous feeding regime and providing external electron donors other than formate for the developed biocathode. Concentration target 1-5 g/L. 4) Investigate the feasible routes for the production of medium-chain alkanes via combined MES and further biotransformation using engineered microorganisms. Attain evaluation of feasibility of alkane production from various feedstocks with engineered E-coli, and design and implement molecular pathways for alkane production with rational alterations. This project will be managed by Newcastle with input from Shell. Dr Yu will be managing research activities. PI will meet the PDRA regularly to guide and monitor research progress. Research projects will be offered to master students to assist PDRA. Collaboration will take place both virtually and through meetings. A bi-monthly Skype meeting will connect researchers of both institutions to share results, identify research questions and make plans. A final meeting will be organised to evaluate the outputs against the set objectives, and plan for next step and funding applications. The major risk associated with WP 3 is the yield of desired alcohol products not high enough with MES. This can be overcome by adding external electron donors in the form of formate or ethanol, and investigate reactor process mode to remove bioproducts periodically to push the forward reaction of MES. In addition, although the interactions between work packages and tasks is the strength of this approach, each work package can produce important results on its own, which can reduce the risk for the whole project. The risks of failure in each work package are low or medium and will be mitigated by referring to a formal risk register at our monthly Skype meetings. Projects meetings will help track research progress and support decisions on research direction. The overall risk of the project is thus limited which ensures valuable outcomes for Shell. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Through this project, the main outputs including publications and conference talk [1-3]s. A review paper on synthesis of multicarbon products from CO2 was published in Sustainable Energy and Fuels. • These findings clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. • These findings of using Formate and ethanol as extra electro donors clarify the role of different electron donors in production of medium chain carboxylates from CO2, which need to be taken into consideration for improving the selectivity and, consequently efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis. It also opens the possibility of using organic waste streams as potential electron donors for MES for integrated system development. • The modification of GDEs with PANI led to a faster start-up of CO2 conversion (6 days vs. 17 days) and a higher production of acetate and butyrate. • Continuous operational mode enhanced acetate production and increased CE from 58% to 83% from fed-batch to continuous operation, respectively; acetate production rate was increase 4-5 folds with continuous mode. pH was also easier to be maintained to the value in favour of MES. • Combination of MES with further biotransformation or Kolbe electrolysis can provide possible route for medium chain alkane synthesis for drop-in fuel production. Through the results from this study, we have secured further funding through UKRI Circular Chemical Economy centre (EP/V011863/1) and BBSRC HVB PoC grant (HVB PoC HVB-2021/01 (Yu)) on "Enhance selectivity for high value bioproducts from CO2 and waste organics through microbial electrosynthesis" with Genome-scale metabolic modelling of microbial communities involved in the MES process can help design experiments to identify complex microbial interactions and community dynamics, as well as parameters controlling community compositions. A new collaboration with industrial partner Argent Energy is currently ongoing with these projects. 8 publications reported: 10.1039/D1SE00861G , 10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.015, 10.1039/d0fd00132e, 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116310, 10.1038/s41522-020-00151-x, 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137853, 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132548; 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145934. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19040 Electrical Sensors for Environmental & Civil Engineers: In-situ online biofilm characterisation (Andy Nichols) |
| Organisation | Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Safe water is a human right and >58% of the global population is now supplied by a piped water source. Biofilms form on the inner surfaces of drinking water distribution system (DWDS) pipes, impacting water safety and quality via the processes they mediate or their mobilisation into the bulk-water. It is therefore vital to accurately detect and understand DWDS biofilms to inform sustainable management practices, safeguarding future water quality - a need aligning with NBIC's strategic priorities of improving biofilm detection and management. However, no sensing method currently exists that enables in-situ biofilm detection in real-time. Furthermore, laboratory analytical techniques are often limited to specific biofilm components (e.g. molecular analysis of the microbiome, protein/ carbohydrate assays) and the biomass of DWDS biofilm samples is often below limits-of-detection for techniques which would capture all biofilm elements (cells, extracellular-polymeric substances and associated organic/inorganic particles). This project aims to prove a novel electrical sensing technique based on an approach previously applied to sediment monitoring in storm-water systems. Using low power excitation and instrumentation, the sensor will detect and interpret the electrical impedance fingerprint of the surrounding media. Designed as a thin flexible film, the sensor can be attached to any surface, making it ideal for translation to pipe inner walls. The proposed project will determine the applicability of the sensor to detect/quantify DWDS biofilms which are thinner and more heterogenic than sediments. The first success indicator will be a demonstrable correlation between sensor-derived data and biofilm parameters measured via laboratory-based techniques, including total and intact cell counts (via flow cytometry), biofilm coverage fraction and average patch-size (via scanning electron microscopy). Further indicators of success will be the submission of an abstract to Hydrosensoft 2021 and the adoption of the technology by industry partners with the view to developing a high-TRL product. Experiments are designed to demonstrate that electrical properties measured by low-cost printed circuit 13 / 37 board (PCB) sensors can detect and quantify the total amount of biofilm on a surface. The application domain is DWDS so high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE), a common pipe material, will be used as a positive control. To control for effects of the PCB surface and/or its energisation on biofilm development, "coupons" of three different substrates will be tested (n=15): i. HDPE (positive) ii. HDPE+PCB un-energised (control for substrate) iii. HDPE+PCB energised (for measurements) Coupons will be submerged in a bench-top tank, fed with a steady flow of drinking water from the local network and operated at 20? to encourage biofilm growth (WP1). Biofilm growth will be monitored over time (WP2). Coupons (n=3) of each substrate type will be removed at fortnightly intervals and biofilm formation will be ascertained by: microbial cell enumeration (and viability) using flow cytometry visualisation; and spatial coverage parameters (biofilm area ratio and patch-size) based on scanning-electron microscopy. The energised PCB sensors (substrate iii) will collect electrical impedance data (one-minute each hour) at a range of voltages and frequencies up to 20kHz. The electrical impedance spectrogram, plotted over time, will enable visualisation of the change in spectral response with biofilm formation. Electrical data will be correlated with the measured biofilm parameters to establish a method for electrical detection/quantification of biofilms (WP3), with uncertainty quantified. Dissemination (WP4) will be via: a project report, conference attendance (HydroSenSoft 2021) and an end-of-project engagement event exploring practical implications and potential applications with end users of the technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A novel system was developed to enable in-situ measurement of electrical properties of biofilms developed under laboratory control but with real-world relevance. The new laboratory equipment was tested and developed for robust exploration of biofilm sensors. Flow cytometry results found no significant differences in the cell counts (total or intact) between the five different HDPE coupon or PCB surfaces, suggesting that the energised sensors or surface material did not affect biofilm cell growth rate. However, SEM images did show some differences in biofilm appearance on each of the coupon surfaces, with the uncoated energised PCB having the most different appearance. This indicates that although the cell counts of the biofilm were similar between surfaces and un-energised/energised conditions, there were differences in the biofilm EPS and physical structure. Additional testing is needed to fully explore these findings and determine their implications, though the results further demonstrate the need to detect and quantify biofilms holistically rather than relying on microbial cell analysis. The weak negative trend seen early in the experiment on the coated sensors suggests that, whilst uncontrolled variables masked development of the trend, a correlation between biofilm growth and electrical impedance exists. Due to the visible degradation of the gold uncoated sensors, and the negative trend being seen on the coated sensors, it can be concluded that whilst a different conductive sensor surface may give different results, sensors coated in a thin insulator are preferable to those coated in gold. By modifying the test setup to reduce uncontrolled variables, an improved relationship between electrical and flow cytometry results may be established, leading to an integrated sensor for determining biofilm growth in-situ. Identified next steps: Many of the limitations of the experimental system of the current project can be eliminated by removing the requirement for the long cables of differing lengths in the water. The ultimate solution to this would be to integrate the sensor electronics that perform the impedance measurement into the sensor PCB itself, however in the short-term, a pseudo-in-place measurement system can be used. This would require a jig separate from the tank in which the biofilm is allowed to grow. Once biofilm has been grown on the sensors (or not), each sensor can be removed from the main tank and inserted in the jig, a container mimicking conditions in the tank and with electrical connections at the bottom. The electrical test is carried out on the sensor in the jig where it is then put back into the main tank or taken for flow cytometry. The jig maintains constant external conditions at each test run whilst also minimising parasitic impedance. This would eliminate the noise from most parts of the system and allow each sample to be compared to the other samples as previously uncontrolled and unmeasured variables can be controlled and / or measured, at the cost of requiring more manual effort to run each test. Vehicles for next steps to be realised: The collected data will act as a proof of concept that the electrical sensing technology can be used to infer physical properties of biofilms with further development. This evidence will be used to secure HEIF funding to develop the idea to TRL4/5, followed by venture capital investment to develop the technology to a TRL6/7 product. At this stage, the intention is to take the product to TRL8/9 via partnering and licensing IP with one of our existing partners in sensor manufacture (e.g. Acoustic Sensing Technologies Ltd / ADS LLC), or to create a spin-out company to develop the product, with the intention of distributing through EMS, making use of their extensive market knowledge and industry contact network. Academically, this proof of concept and subsequent work will provide the basis for a much larger (>£500k) EPSRC application. The highly interdisciplinary proposal would examine the in-situ formation of biofilms in urban water infrastructure, using the new technology to provide laboratory and field data. Also under investigation will be the potential to use electrical stimulation to control biofilm development. Project partners in Sheffield will include Dr Nichols (hydraulics & sensors), Dr Fish (biofilms & flow cytometry) and Dr Davidson (impedance spectroscopy), along with Dr Rodenburg (biofilm scanning electron microscopy) and Prof Boxall (pipe hydraulics and discolouration). Industrial collaboration will be sought from EMS, and a range of water companies accessible through the existing links of Twenty65 and The Sheffield Water Centre. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19040 Electrical Sensors for Environmental & Civil Engineers: In-situ online biofilm characterisation (Andy Nichols) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Safe water is a human right and >58% of the global population is now supplied by a piped water source. Biofilms form on the inner surfaces of drinking water distribution system (DWDS) pipes, impacting water safety and quality via the processes they mediate or their mobilisation into the bulk-water. It is therefore vital to accurately detect and understand DWDS biofilms to inform sustainable management practices, safeguarding future water quality - a need aligning with NBIC's strategic priorities of improving biofilm detection and management. However, no sensing method currently exists that enables in-situ biofilm detection in real-time. Furthermore, laboratory analytical techniques are often limited to specific biofilm components (e.g. molecular analysis of the microbiome, protein/ carbohydrate assays) and the biomass of DWDS biofilm samples is often below limits-of-detection for techniques which would capture all biofilm elements (cells, extracellular-polymeric substances and associated organic/inorganic particles). This project aims to prove a novel electrical sensing technique based on an approach previously applied to sediment monitoring in storm-water systems. Using low power excitation and instrumentation, the sensor will detect and interpret the electrical impedance fingerprint of the surrounding media. Designed as a thin flexible film, the sensor can be attached to any surface, making it ideal for translation to pipe inner walls. The proposed project will determine the applicability of the sensor to detect/quantify DWDS biofilms which are thinner and more heterogenic than sediments. The first success indicator will be a demonstrable correlation between sensor-derived data and biofilm parameters measured via laboratory-based techniques, including total and intact cell counts (via flow cytometry), biofilm coverage fraction and average patch-size (via scanning electron microscopy). Further indicators of success will be the submission of an abstract to Hydrosensoft 2021 and the adoption of the technology by industry partners with the view to developing a high-TRL product. Experiments are designed to demonstrate that electrical properties measured by low-cost printed circuit 13 / 37 board (PCB) sensors can detect and quantify the total amount of biofilm on a surface. The application domain is DWDS so high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE), a common pipe material, will be used as a positive control. To control for effects of the PCB surface and/or its energisation on biofilm development, "coupons" of three different substrates will be tested (n=15): i. HDPE (positive) ii. HDPE+PCB un-energised (control for substrate) iii. HDPE+PCB energised (for measurements) Coupons will be submerged in a bench-top tank, fed with a steady flow of drinking water from the local network and operated at 20? to encourage biofilm growth (WP1). Biofilm growth will be monitored over time (WP2). Coupons (n=3) of each substrate type will be removed at fortnightly intervals and biofilm formation will be ascertained by: microbial cell enumeration (and viability) using flow cytometry visualisation; and spatial coverage parameters (biofilm area ratio and patch-size) based on scanning-electron microscopy. The energised PCB sensors (substrate iii) will collect electrical impedance data (one-minute each hour) at a range of voltages and frequencies up to 20kHz. The electrical impedance spectrogram, plotted over time, will enable visualisation of the change in spectral response with biofilm formation. Electrical data will be correlated with the measured biofilm parameters to establish a method for electrical detection/quantification of biofilms (WP3), with uncertainty quantified. Dissemination (WP4) will be via: a project report, conference attendance (HydroSenSoft 2021) and an end-of-project engagement event exploring practical implications and potential applications with end users of the technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A novel system was developed to enable in-situ measurement of electrical properties of biofilms developed under laboratory control but with real-world relevance. The new laboratory equipment was tested and developed for robust exploration of biofilm sensors. Flow cytometry results found no significant differences in the cell counts (total or intact) between the five different HDPE coupon or PCB surfaces, suggesting that the energised sensors or surface material did not affect biofilm cell growth rate. However, SEM images did show some differences in biofilm appearance on each of the coupon surfaces, with the uncoated energised PCB having the most different appearance. This indicates that although the cell counts of the biofilm were similar between surfaces and un-energised/energised conditions, there were differences in the biofilm EPS and physical structure. Additional testing is needed to fully explore these findings and determine their implications, though the results further demonstrate the need to detect and quantify biofilms holistically rather than relying on microbial cell analysis. The weak negative trend seen early in the experiment on the coated sensors suggests that, whilst uncontrolled variables masked development of the trend, a correlation between biofilm growth and electrical impedance exists. Due to the visible degradation of the gold uncoated sensors, and the negative trend being seen on the coated sensors, it can be concluded that whilst a different conductive sensor surface may give different results, sensors coated in a thin insulator are preferable to those coated in gold. By modifying the test setup to reduce uncontrolled variables, an improved relationship between electrical and flow cytometry results may be established, leading to an integrated sensor for determining biofilm growth in-situ. Identified next steps: Many of the limitations of the experimental system of the current project can be eliminated by removing the requirement for the long cables of differing lengths in the water. The ultimate solution to this would be to integrate the sensor electronics that perform the impedance measurement into the sensor PCB itself, however in the short-term, a pseudo-in-place measurement system can be used. This would require a jig separate from the tank in which the biofilm is allowed to grow. Once biofilm has been grown on the sensors (or not), each sensor can be removed from the main tank and inserted in the jig, a container mimicking conditions in the tank and with electrical connections at the bottom. The electrical test is carried out on the sensor in the jig where it is then put back into the main tank or taken for flow cytometry. The jig maintains constant external conditions at each test run whilst also minimising parasitic impedance. This would eliminate the noise from most parts of the system and allow each sample to be compared to the other samples as previously uncontrolled and unmeasured variables can be controlled and / or measured, at the cost of requiring more manual effort to run each test. Vehicles for next steps to be realised: The collected data will act as a proof of concept that the electrical sensing technology can be used to infer physical properties of biofilms with further development. This evidence will be used to secure HEIF funding to develop the idea to TRL4/5, followed by venture capital investment to develop the technology to a TRL6/7 product. At this stage, the intention is to take the product to TRL8/9 via partnering and licensing IP with one of our existing partners in sensor manufacture (e.g. Acoustic Sensing Technologies Ltd / ADS LLC), or to create a spin-out company to develop the product, with the intention of distributing through EMS, making use of their extensive market knowledge and industry contact network. Academically, this proof of concept and subsequent work will provide the basis for a much larger (>£500k) EPSRC application. The highly interdisciplinary proposal would examine the in-situ formation of biofilms in urban water infrastructure, using the new technology to provide laboratory and field data. Also under investigation will be the potential to use electrical stimulation to control biofilm development. Project partners in Sheffield will include Dr Nichols (hydraulics & sensors), Dr Fish (biofilms & flow cytometry) and Dr Davidson (impedance spectroscopy), along with Dr Rodenburg (biofilm scanning electron microscopy) and Prof Boxall (pipe hydraulics and discolouration). Industrial collaboration will be sought from EMS, and a range of water companies accessible through the existing links of Twenty65 and The Sheffield Water Centre. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19040 Electrical Sensors for Environmental & Civil Engineers: In-situ online biofilm characterisation (Andy Nichols) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Safe water is a human right and >58% of the global population is now supplied by a piped water source. Biofilms form on the inner surfaces of drinking water distribution system (DWDS) pipes, impacting water safety and quality via the processes they mediate or their mobilisation into the bulk-water. It is therefore vital to accurately detect and understand DWDS biofilms to inform sustainable management practices, safeguarding future water quality - a need aligning with NBIC's strategic priorities of improving biofilm detection and management. However, no sensing method currently exists that enables in-situ biofilm detection in real-time. Furthermore, laboratory analytical techniques are often limited to specific biofilm components (e.g. molecular analysis of the microbiome, protein/ carbohydrate assays) and the biomass of DWDS biofilm samples is often below limits-of-detection for techniques which would capture all biofilm elements (cells, extracellular-polymeric substances and associated organic/inorganic particles). This project aims to prove a novel electrical sensing technique based on an approach previously applied to sediment monitoring in storm-water systems. Using low power excitation and instrumentation, the sensor will detect and interpret the electrical impedance fingerprint of the surrounding media. Designed as a thin flexible film, the sensor can be attached to any surface, making it ideal for translation to pipe inner walls. The proposed project will determine the applicability of the sensor to detect/quantify DWDS biofilms which are thinner and more heterogenic than sediments. The first success indicator will be a demonstrable correlation between sensor-derived data and biofilm parameters measured via laboratory-based techniques, including total and intact cell counts (via flow cytometry), biofilm coverage fraction and average patch-size (via scanning electron microscopy). Further indicators of success will be the submission of an abstract to Hydrosensoft 2021 and the adoption of the technology by industry partners with the view to developing a high-TRL product. Experiments are designed to demonstrate that electrical properties measured by low-cost printed circuit 13 / 37 board (PCB) sensors can detect and quantify the total amount of biofilm on a surface. The application domain is DWDS so high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE), a common pipe material, will be used as a positive control. To control for effects of the PCB surface and/or its energisation on biofilm development, "coupons" of three different substrates will be tested (n=15): i. HDPE (positive) ii. HDPE+PCB un-energised (control for substrate) iii. HDPE+PCB energised (for measurements) Coupons will be submerged in a bench-top tank, fed with a steady flow of drinking water from the local network and operated at 20? to encourage biofilm growth (WP1). Biofilm growth will be monitored over time (WP2). Coupons (n=3) of each substrate type will be removed at fortnightly intervals and biofilm formation will be ascertained by: microbial cell enumeration (and viability) using flow cytometry visualisation; and spatial coverage parameters (biofilm area ratio and patch-size) based on scanning-electron microscopy. The energised PCB sensors (substrate iii) will collect electrical impedance data (one-minute each hour) at a range of voltages and frequencies up to 20kHz. The electrical impedance spectrogram, plotted over time, will enable visualisation of the change in spectral response with biofilm formation. Electrical data will be correlated with the measured biofilm parameters to establish a method for electrical detection/quantification of biofilms (WP3), with uncertainty quantified. Dissemination (WP4) will be via: a project report, conference attendance (HydroSenSoft 2021) and an end-of-project engagement event exploring practical implications and potential applications with end users of the technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A novel system was developed to enable in-situ measurement of electrical properties of biofilms developed under laboratory control but with real-world relevance. The new laboratory equipment was tested and developed for robust exploration of biofilm sensors. Flow cytometry results found no significant differences in the cell counts (total or intact) between the five different HDPE coupon or PCB surfaces, suggesting that the energised sensors or surface material did not affect biofilm cell growth rate. However, SEM images did show some differences in biofilm appearance on each of the coupon surfaces, with the uncoated energised PCB having the most different appearance. This indicates that although the cell counts of the biofilm were similar between surfaces and un-energised/energised conditions, there were differences in the biofilm EPS and physical structure. Additional testing is needed to fully explore these findings and determine their implications, though the results further demonstrate the need to detect and quantify biofilms holistically rather than relying on microbial cell analysis. The weak negative trend seen early in the experiment on the coated sensors suggests that, whilst uncontrolled variables masked development of the trend, a correlation between biofilm growth and electrical impedance exists. Due to the visible degradation of the gold uncoated sensors, and the negative trend being seen on the coated sensors, it can be concluded that whilst a different conductive sensor surface may give different results, sensors coated in a thin insulator are preferable to those coated in gold. By modifying the test setup to reduce uncontrolled variables, an improved relationship between electrical and flow cytometry results may be established, leading to an integrated sensor for determining biofilm growth in-situ. Identified next steps: Many of the limitations of the experimental system of the current project can be eliminated by removing the requirement for the long cables of differing lengths in the water. The ultimate solution to this would be to integrate the sensor electronics that perform the impedance measurement into the sensor PCB itself, however in the short-term, a pseudo-in-place measurement system can be used. This would require a jig separate from the tank in which the biofilm is allowed to grow. Once biofilm has been grown on the sensors (or not), each sensor can be removed from the main tank and inserted in the jig, a container mimicking conditions in the tank and with electrical connections at the bottom. The electrical test is carried out on the sensor in the jig where it is then put back into the main tank or taken for flow cytometry. The jig maintains constant external conditions at each test run whilst also minimising parasitic impedance. This would eliminate the noise from most parts of the system and allow each sample to be compared to the other samples as previously uncontrolled and unmeasured variables can be controlled and / or measured, at the cost of requiring more manual effort to run each test. Vehicles for next steps to be realised: The collected data will act as a proof of concept that the electrical sensing technology can be used to infer physical properties of biofilms with further development. This evidence will be used to secure HEIF funding to develop the idea to TRL4/5, followed by venture capital investment to develop the technology to a TRL6/7 product. At this stage, the intention is to take the product to TRL8/9 via partnering and licensing IP with one of our existing partners in sensor manufacture (e.g. Acoustic Sensing Technologies Ltd / ADS LLC), or to create a spin-out company to develop the product, with the intention of distributing through EMS, making use of their extensive market knowledge and industry contact network. Academically, this proof of concept and subsequent work will provide the basis for a much larger (>£500k) EPSRC application. The highly interdisciplinary proposal would examine the in-situ formation of biofilms in urban water infrastructure, using the new technology to provide laboratory and field data. Also under investigation will be the potential to use electrical stimulation to control biofilm development. Project partners in Sheffield will include Dr Nichols (hydraulics & sensors), Dr Fish (biofilms & flow cytometry) and Dr Davidson (impedance spectroscopy), along with Dr Rodenburg (biofilm scanning electron microscopy) and Prof Boxall (pipe hydraulics and discolouration). Industrial collaboration will be sought from EMS, and a range of water companies accessible through the existing links of Twenty65 and The Sheffield Water Centre. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19041 Gas Plasma for the Prevention and Management of Osteomyelitis Biofilms (Angela Oates) |
| Organisation | Adtec Plasma Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Adtec SteriPlas is a CE marked topical antimicrobial medical device with known activity against wound biofilms, however, its efficacy in osteomyelitis (OM) biofilms is unknown. The overall objective of this project is to develop a OM biofilm infection model to support the optimisation and evaluation of a cold plasma technology for the management of OM biofilms. Evaluating Project Success Our project plan outlined in Q7 and attached documentation, detail the work packages, objectives and timelines for this project. Our key indicators of success are: • Development and validation of a OM biofilm model. Successful model device will support stable Staphylococcus aureus biofilm populations at reproducible densities over a defined period of time. • Identification of an optimal plasma dosing strategy for OM infections. The optimal dosing strategy will be identified as the one with the greatest efficacy against OM biofilms in the model. • Quality and robustness of data. A successful project will have high quality and meaningful data that will support rapid translation for clinical benefit. We will apply rigorous experimental approaches and quality control measures to ensure data are robust and reproducible these include: standardisation of experimental parameters such as model dimensions, bacterial growth phase and densities, media batches, inclusion of positive and negative controls along with technical and biological replicates. • Partner and clinical stakeholder satisfaction. The project represents close collaboration between the University of Hull and Adtec, who provide commercial input throughout. A final report will be generated and circulated to our partners alongside clinical stakeholders. We will measure the success of the project against their satisfaction and further success in securing follow on funding to deliver the next phase of plasma assessment in a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Delivering the project; expertise on methodology and data analysis. Adtec Plasma Technology: Knowledge on device, training and input on clinical treatment. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - The overall aim of this project is to develop an osteomyelitis biofilm infection model to support the evaluation and optimisation of a cold plasma technology for the management of osteomyelitis biofilms. We successfully developed a model system which mimicked the porous bone structure associated osteomyelitis and supported the growth of osteomyelitis associated MRSA biofilms on bone-like structure. Using this model we were able to assess how well the cold plasma can penetrate through porous bone and its efficacy on OM biofilms. We were also able to optimise a plasma doing strategy with this model using the framework of current plasma therapeutic dosing strategies used in clinical settings. - The laboratory model developed herein supports the hypothesis that non-thermal plasma can travel through porous structures. Biological matter can however, impede this pathway and impact plasma efficacy, as such dosing strategies and delivery mechanisms will need to be evaluated and enhanced to improve efficacy in a clinical setting. - Know how: OM model design, production and validation. - Data from this work is being appraised by our partner company and will be used to inform their product development, application and marketing strategies. A key aspect of this is the understanding of the need to adapt current therapeutic treatment pathways if adopted for the treatment of OM and how this may impact its utility in a clinical setting and as such market uptake. In addition this project has also been successful in developing a new effective collaborative partnership with the partner company and we are exploring new projects ideas. Our partner company are also now working with our clinical colleagues at our associated hospital sits to help deliver clinical trials in patients. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19041 Gas Plasma for the Prevention and Management of Osteomyelitis Biofilms (Angela Oates) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Adtec SteriPlas is a CE marked topical antimicrobial medical device with known activity against wound biofilms, however, its efficacy in osteomyelitis (OM) biofilms is unknown. The overall objective of this project is to develop a OM biofilm infection model to support the optimisation and evaluation of a cold plasma technology for the management of OM biofilms. Evaluating Project Success Our project plan outlined in Q7 and attached documentation, detail the work packages, objectives and timelines for this project. Our key indicators of success are: • Development and validation of a OM biofilm model. Successful model device will support stable Staphylococcus aureus biofilm populations at reproducible densities over a defined period of time. • Identification of an optimal plasma dosing strategy for OM infections. The optimal dosing strategy will be identified as the one with the greatest efficacy against OM biofilms in the model. • Quality and robustness of data. A successful project will have high quality and meaningful data that will support rapid translation for clinical benefit. We will apply rigorous experimental approaches and quality control measures to ensure data are robust and reproducible these include: standardisation of experimental parameters such as model dimensions, bacterial growth phase and densities, media batches, inclusion of positive and negative controls along with technical and biological replicates. • Partner and clinical stakeholder satisfaction. The project represents close collaboration between the University of Hull and Adtec, who provide commercial input throughout. A final report will be generated and circulated to our partners alongside clinical stakeholders. We will measure the success of the project against their satisfaction and further success in securing follow on funding to deliver the next phase of plasma assessment in a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Delivering the project; expertise on methodology and data analysis. Adtec Plasma Technology: Knowledge on device, training and input on clinical treatment. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - The overall aim of this project is to develop an osteomyelitis biofilm infection model to support the evaluation and optimisation of a cold plasma technology for the management of osteomyelitis biofilms. We successfully developed a model system which mimicked the porous bone structure associated osteomyelitis and supported the growth of osteomyelitis associated MRSA biofilms on bone-like structure. Using this model we were able to assess how well the cold plasma can penetrate through porous bone and its efficacy on OM biofilms. We were also able to optimise a plasma doing strategy with this model using the framework of current plasma therapeutic dosing strategies used in clinical settings. - The laboratory model developed herein supports the hypothesis that non-thermal plasma can travel through porous structures. Biological matter can however, impede this pathway and impact plasma efficacy, as such dosing strategies and delivery mechanisms will need to be evaluated and enhanced to improve efficacy in a clinical setting. - Know how: OM model design, production and validation. - Data from this work is being appraised by our partner company and will be used to inform their product development, application and marketing strategies. A key aspect of this is the understanding of the need to adapt current therapeutic treatment pathways if adopted for the treatment of OM and how this may impact its utility in a clinical setting and as such market uptake. In addition this project has also been successful in developing a new effective collaborative partnership with the partner company and we are exploring new projects ideas. Our partner company are also now working with our clinical colleagues at our associated hospital sits to help deliver clinical trials in patients. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19041 Gas Plasma for the Prevention and Management of Osteomyelitis Biofilms (Angela Oates) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Adtec SteriPlas is a CE marked topical antimicrobial medical device with known activity against wound biofilms, however, its efficacy in osteomyelitis (OM) biofilms is unknown. The overall objective of this project is to develop a OM biofilm infection model to support the optimisation and evaluation of a cold plasma technology for the management of OM biofilms. Evaluating Project Success Our project plan outlined in Q7 and attached documentation, detail the work packages, objectives and timelines for this project. Our key indicators of success are: • Development and validation of a OM biofilm model. Successful model device will support stable Staphylococcus aureus biofilm populations at reproducible densities over a defined period of time. • Identification of an optimal plasma dosing strategy for OM infections. The optimal dosing strategy will be identified as the one with the greatest efficacy against OM biofilms in the model. • Quality and robustness of data. A successful project will have high quality and meaningful data that will support rapid translation for clinical benefit. We will apply rigorous experimental approaches and quality control measures to ensure data are robust and reproducible these include: standardisation of experimental parameters such as model dimensions, bacterial growth phase and densities, media batches, inclusion of positive and negative controls along with technical and biological replicates. • Partner and clinical stakeholder satisfaction. The project represents close collaboration between the University of Hull and Adtec, who provide commercial input throughout. A final report will be generated and circulated to our partners alongside clinical stakeholders. We will measure the success of the project against their satisfaction and further success in securing follow on funding to deliver the next phase of plasma assessment in a clinical setting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Delivering the project; expertise on methodology and data analysis. Adtec Plasma Technology: Knowledge on device, training and input on clinical treatment. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - The overall aim of this project is to develop an osteomyelitis biofilm infection model to support the evaluation and optimisation of a cold plasma technology for the management of osteomyelitis biofilms. We successfully developed a model system which mimicked the porous bone structure associated osteomyelitis and supported the growth of osteomyelitis associated MRSA biofilms on bone-like structure. Using this model we were able to assess how well the cold plasma can penetrate through porous bone and its efficacy on OM biofilms. We were also able to optimise a plasma doing strategy with this model using the framework of current plasma therapeutic dosing strategies used in clinical settings. - The laboratory model developed herein supports the hypothesis that non-thermal plasma can travel through porous structures. Biological matter can however, impede this pathway and impact plasma efficacy, as such dosing strategies and delivery mechanisms will need to be evaluated and enhanced to improve efficacy in a clinical setting. - Know how: OM model design, production and validation. - Data from this work is being appraised by our partner company and will be used to inform their product development, application and marketing strategies. A key aspect of this is the understanding of the need to adapt current therapeutic treatment pathways if adopted for the treatment of OM and how this may impact its utility in a clinical setting and as such market uptake. In addition this project has also been successful in developing a new effective collaborative partnership with the partner company and we are exploring new projects ideas. Our partner company are also now working with our clinical colleagues at our associated hospital sits to help deliver clinical trials in patients. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19046 Examining the potential of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) to prevent and proactively manage bacterial and fungal infections in a dynamic ex-vivo ocular model system (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | Destiny Pharma |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics, a problem exacerbated by the rise of AMR in a wide range of organisms. Biofilms are responsible for several chronic, ocular infections in man e.g. bacterial keratitis and lacrimal/periorbital infections (Bispo P.J.M. et al, Pathogens 2015, 4, 111-136). Preliminary data (appended) illustrate XF-drug activity in multiple in vivo models of dermal bacterial infection and in a pilot study of in a guinea pig mycological dermatophytosis model. This project seeks to expand the knowledge of a novel series of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) against fungal and bacterial biofilms. The pathogens are clinical isolates from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and fungal (Candida albicans). A porcine corneal explant culture system has been developed for longer-term (12-72h) infection that allows us to study the initial, planktonic, infection as well as microcolony and mature biofilm formation. Over the longer times, the microbes cause disruption of the epithelium and will penetrate into deeper layers of the corneum resulting in ulceration and eventual tissue destruction. Success will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy. The efficacy of 2 drugs, XF-73 and DPD-207, on developing and established biofilms will be recorded using colony forming unit (CFU) counts from homogenised tissues. Tissue damage will be scored by the degree of corneal opacity and by the size and depth of ulceration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this NBIC funded proof of concept project. |
| Impact | We detected reproducible PA biofilms on living corneal tissue, demonstrating that the ex vivo porcine model can be used to study tissue/biofilm interactions for at least 24hr. The damage to the corneum closely mimics the rapid damage seen in human corneal infections with PA and so we believe that porcine cornea, easily available through the food industry, can be an important substitute for human corneas and in vivo animal studies. Although the SA strain used could form biofilms on plastic (MBEC assay), no biofilm formation was seen in the porcine model. It is likely that rapid internalisation by phagocytic corneal epithelial cells allows a slow colonisation of the corneum, protected from some antibiotics and the host immune system. Although both XF-73 and DPD-207 could effectively kill SA in planktonic and biofilm forms, only XF-73 could prevent SA infection in the corneal model. This may correlate with more effective killing of intracellular bacteria by this compound. The use of rapidly permeant antibacterials such as compound XF-73 is vital in the treatment of MRSA corneal infections and is a more effective treatment than ciprofloxacin. Our findings concerning the intracellular location of SA in the corneum will be disseminated by publication in an ophthalmology journal. We believe that this will influence clinical practice for the treatment of MRSA infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19046 Examining the potential of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) to prevent and proactively manage bacterial and fungal infections in a dynamic ex-vivo ocular model system (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics, a problem exacerbated by the rise of AMR in a wide range of organisms. Biofilms are responsible for several chronic, ocular infections in man e.g. bacterial keratitis and lacrimal/periorbital infections (Bispo P.J.M. et al, Pathogens 2015, 4, 111-136). Preliminary data (appended) illustrate XF-drug activity in multiple in vivo models of dermal bacterial infection and in a pilot study of in a guinea pig mycological dermatophytosis model. This project seeks to expand the knowledge of a novel series of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) against fungal and bacterial biofilms. The pathogens are clinical isolates from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and fungal (Candida albicans). A porcine corneal explant culture system has been developed for longer-term (12-72h) infection that allows us to study the initial, planktonic, infection as well as microcolony and mature biofilm formation. Over the longer times, the microbes cause disruption of the epithelium and will penetrate into deeper layers of the corneum resulting in ulceration and eventual tissue destruction. Success will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy. The efficacy of 2 drugs, XF-73 and DPD-207, on developing and established biofilms will be recorded using colony forming unit (CFU) counts from homogenised tissues. Tissue damage will be scored by the degree of corneal opacity and by the size and depth of ulceration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this NBIC funded proof of concept project. |
| Impact | We detected reproducible PA biofilms on living corneal tissue, demonstrating that the ex vivo porcine model can be used to study tissue/biofilm interactions for at least 24hr. The damage to the corneum closely mimics the rapid damage seen in human corneal infections with PA and so we believe that porcine cornea, easily available through the food industry, can be an important substitute for human corneas and in vivo animal studies. Although the SA strain used could form biofilms on plastic (MBEC assay), no biofilm formation was seen in the porcine model. It is likely that rapid internalisation by phagocytic corneal epithelial cells allows a slow colonisation of the corneum, protected from some antibiotics and the host immune system. Although both XF-73 and DPD-207 could effectively kill SA in planktonic and biofilm forms, only XF-73 could prevent SA infection in the corneal model. This may correlate with more effective killing of intracellular bacteria by this compound. The use of rapidly permeant antibacterials such as compound XF-73 is vital in the treatment of MRSA corneal infections and is a more effective treatment than ciprofloxacin. Our findings concerning the intracellular location of SA in the corneum will be disseminated by publication in an ophthalmology journal. We believe that this will influence clinical practice for the treatment of MRSA infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19046 Examining the potential of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) to prevent and proactively manage bacterial and fungal infections in a dynamic ex-vivo ocular model system (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In established eye infections, biofilms often form and are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics, a problem exacerbated by the rise of AMR in a wide range of organisms. Biofilms are responsible for several chronic, ocular infections in man e.g. bacterial keratitis and lacrimal/periorbital infections (Bispo P.J.M. et al, Pathogens 2015, 4, 111-136). Preliminary data (appended) illustrate XF-drug activity in multiple in vivo models of dermal bacterial infection and in a pilot study of in a guinea pig mycological dermatophytosis model. This project seeks to expand the knowledge of a novel series of pharmaceutical agents (XF-drugs) against fungal and bacterial biofilms. The pathogens are clinical isolates from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and fungal (Candida albicans). A porcine corneal explant culture system has been developed for longer-term (12-72h) infection that allows us to study the initial, planktonic, infection as well as microcolony and mature biofilm formation. Over the longer times, the microbes cause disruption of the epithelium and will penetrate into deeper layers of the corneum resulting in ulceration and eventual tissue destruction. Success will be determined as the establishment of infections using a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens, recorded using confocal microscopy. The efficacy of 2 drugs, XF-73 and DPD-207, on developing and established biofilms will be recorded using colony forming unit (CFU) counts from homogenised tissues. Tissue damage will be scored by the degree of corneal opacity and by the size and depth of ulceration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this NBIC funded proof of concept project. |
| Impact | We detected reproducible PA biofilms on living corneal tissue, demonstrating that the ex vivo porcine model can be used to study tissue/biofilm interactions for at least 24hr. The damage to the corneum closely mimics the rapid damage seen in human corneal infections with PA and so we believe that porcine cornea, easily available through the food industry, can be an important substitute for human corneas and in vivo animal studies. Although the SA strain used could form biofilms on plastic (MBEC assay), no biofilm formation was seen in the porcine model. It is likely that rapid internalisation by phagocytic corneal epithelial cells allows a slow colonisation of the corneum, protected from some antibiotics and the host immune system. Although both XF-73 and DPD-207 could effectively kill SA in planktonic and biofilm forms, only XF-73 could prevent SA infection in the corneal model. This may correlate with more effective killing of intracellular bacteria by this compound. The use of rapidly permeant antibacterials such as compound XF-73 is vital in the treatment of MRSA corneal infections and is a more effective treatment than ciprofloxacin. Our findings concerning the intracellular location of SA in the corneum will be disseminated by publication in an ophthalmology journal. We believe that this will influence clinical practice for the treatment of MRSA infections. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19052 In-situ Underwater Optical Sensors (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Chelsea Technologies Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is a major demand in marine, freshwater, oil and gas sectors for miniaturized underwater sensors to monitor microbial contamination, e.g. bacteria and algae, at high sensitivity and with the ability to work in remote, unmanned environments. However, a serious, unsolved problem in sensor technology is biofouling, which disrupts measurements, sometimes in less than a week (figure bottom right). This is also a barrier to developing more ambitious sensors capable of detecting the onset of microfouling biofilms at submerged surfaces, which lead to multi-billion economic costs per annum. This project brings together a world-leader in underwater optical sensors (CTG) and the University ofLiverpool (UoL), who specialise in anti-biofilm materials and the spectroscopic detection of biofilms. The project will modify CTG's V-Lux miniature multi-parameter fluorometer (Fig, bottom left). The V-Lux can be configured with multiple UV LED sources that excite and detect fluorescence in Algae, dissolved Aromatic Hydrocarbons or Bacterial Tryptophan, with sensitivity at the parts-per-trillion level (Fig, top). The project will: - Create photoactive nanostructured TiO2 coatings on sensor windows that are activated by inbuilt UV LED excitation sources to generate reactive oxygen species to deliver self-cleaning and self-disinfecting anti-biofouling functions. - Modify the V-Lux unit to enable the underwater detection of bacterial biofilms at submerged surfaces. A successful project will bring to market much needed anti-biofouling underwater sensors, plus a new sensor range dedicated to the detection of underwater biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A suitable photoactive coating has been identified and successfully deposited on prototype sensor windows. The coatings were characterised by specialised surface analysis techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and AFM. A suitable apparatus was constructed to undertake photoradiation bioassays. Single species bioassays showed the coatings were extremely effective in preventing and destroying biofilms under LED radiation of selected wavelengths that are used in CTL sensors. An alternative and cheaper anti-biofouling approach also became apparent during the project. Both approaches are currently being evaluated by the collaboration partner Chelsea Technologies. Two viable approaches to implementing photoactivated anti-biofouling approaches to in situ underwater sensors have been identified. Both are technically feasible and affordable for a working device. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19052 In-situ Underwater Optical Sensors (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is a major demand in marine, freshwater, oil and gas sectors for miniaturized underwater sensors to monitor microbial contamination, e.g. bacteria and algae, at high sensitivity and with the ability to work in remote, unmanned environments. However, a serious, unsolved problem in sensor technology is biofouling, which disrupts measurements, sometimes in less than a week (figure bottom right). This is also a barrier to developing more ambitious sensors capable of detecting the onset of microfouling biofilms at submerged surfaces, which lead to multi-billion economic costs per annum. This project brings together a world-leader in underwater optical sensors (CTG) and the University ofLiverpool (UoL), who specialise in anti-biofilm materials and the spectroscopic detection of biofilms. The project will modify CTG's V-Lux miniature multi-parameter fluorometer (Fig, bottom left). The V-Lux can be configured with multiple UV LED sources that excite and detect fluorescence in Algae, dissolved Aromatic Hydrocarbons or Bacterial Tryptophan, with sensitivity at the parts-per-trillion level (Fig, top). The project will: - Create photoactive nanostructured TiO2 coatings on sensor windows that are activated by inbuilt UV LED excitation sources to generate reactive oxygen species to deliver self-cleaning and self-disinfecting anti-biofouling functions. - Modify the V-Lux unit to enable the underwater detection of bacterial biofilms at submerged surfaces. A successful project will bring to market much needed anti-biofouling underwater sensors, plus a new sensor range dedicated to the detection of underwater biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A suitable photoactive coating has been identified and successfully deposited on prototype sensor windows. The coatings were characterised by specialised surface analysis techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and AFM. A suitable apparatus was constructed to undertake photoradiation bioassays. Single species bioassays showed the coatings were extremely effective in preventing and destroying biofilms under LED radiation of selected wavelengths that are used in CTL sensors. An alternative and cheaper anti-biofouling approach also became apparent during the project. Both approaches are currently being evaluated by the collaboration partner Chelsea Technologies. Two viable approaches to implementing photoactivated anti-biofouling approaches to in situ underwater sensors have been identified. Both are technically feasible and affordable for a working device. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19052 In-situ Underwater Optical Sensors (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | There is a major demand in marine, freshwater, oil and gas sectors for miniaturized underwater sensors to monitor microbial contamination, e.g. bacteria and algae, at high sensitivity and with the ability to work in remote, unmanned environments. However, a serious, unsolved problem in sensor technology is biofouling, which disrupts measurements, sometimes in less than a week (figure bottom right). This is also a barrier to developing more ambitious sensors capable of detecting the onset of microfouling biofilms at submerged surfaces, which lead to multi-billion economic costs per annum. This project brings together a world-leader in underwater optical sensors (CTG) and the University ofLiverpool (UoL), who specialise in anti-biofilm materials and the spectroscopic detection of biofilms. The project will modify CTG's V-Lux miniature multi-parameter fluorometer (Fig, bottom left). The V-Lux can be configured with multiple UV LED sources that excite and detect fluorescence in Algae, dissolved Aromatic Hydrocarbons or Bacterial Tryptophan, with sensitivity at the parts-per-trillion level (Fig, top). The project will: - Create photoactive nanostructured TiO2 coatings on sensor windows that are activated by inbuilt UV LED excitation sources to generate reactive oxygen species to deliver self-cleaning and self-disinfecting anti-biofouling functions. - Modify the V-Lux unit to enable the underwater detection of bacterial biofilms at submerged surfaces. A successful project will bring to market much needed anti-biofouling underwater sensors, plus a new sensor range dedicated to the detection of underwater biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | A suitable photoactive coating has been identified and successfully deposited on prototype sensor windows. The coatings were characterised by specialised surface analysis techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and AFM. A suitable apparatus was constructed to undertake photoradiation bioassays. Single species bioassays showed the coatings were extremely effective in preventing and destroying biofilms under LED radiation of selected wavelengths that are used in CTL sensors. An alternative and cheaper anti-biofouling approach also became apparent during the project. Both approaches are currently being evaluated by the collaboration partner Chelsea Technologies. Two viable approaches to implementing photoactivated anti-biofouling approaches to in situ underwater sensors have been identified. Both are technically feasible and affordable for a working device. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19064 Branched functional polymers for disrupting bacterial biofilms (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is: To develop a polymer system that can be used disrupt a wide range of biofilms, exposing the constituent bacteria to antimicrobials. Biofilms in wounds protect bacteria from the effects of antimicrobials. There is therefore a substantial benefit in the combined application of these therapeutics in conjunction with materials that disrupt biofilms. In this work we aim to scope the use of "biofilm-disrupting polymers" in a range of biofilms containing bacteria of relevance in infected wounds. In previous work we have shown that highly branched polymers penetrate model infected wounds and loosened colonising bacteria in tissue models of skin. Recently we also showed that the polymers disrupt biofilms containing Gram positive bacteria. This project will further extend the use of these polymers to include disruption of other biofilms including those formed by Gram negative bacteria. Success will be measured by determining the effectiveness of an optimised system to disrupt biofilms. Time to disrupt the film will be used as a measurable factor as well as the extent of disruption. Partial success will be indicated if the system disrupts only certain biofilms but it is not effective against all biofilms tested. We have de-risked this project in that preliminary data has been published on the surprising ability of this class of polymers to disrupt biofilms. Rimmer (Bradford) and Percival (5D) currently collaborate on a Innovate UK, which is on track and successful. They also successfully co-supervised a PhD CASE award. They will manage their work packages and will meet in person or via teleconference at least once per month with milestone review meetings at appropriate points. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bradford: Polymers with branched structure and antibiotic groups at the chain ends bind to bacteria and some of these polymers respond to binding by losing water. In previous work we had shown that on binding the polymers disrupted biofilms. To further investigate this behaviour we prepared three classes of polymer functionalised with either polymyxin (to bind to Gram-negative bacteria), vancomycin (to bind to Gram-positive bacteria) or carboxylic acid groups (non-binding). Initial data indicated that the non-binding carboxylic acid polymers were unexpectedly effective but further investigations showed that HB-PNIPAM with ligands that bind to bacteria were required to disrupt biofilms. - Conclusions: 1. The disruption of biofilms by highly branched polymers is highly dependent on structure and architecture. 2. We produced materials that disrupted biofilms. 3. Libraries of polymers were produced and characterised. Sets of well-defined of materials were produced and data sets have been produced for future programmes. 4. The current data will provide a foundation for future formulations that can disrupt biofilms but more work is required to find the optimised formulations. 5. Initial data suggested that carboxylic acid-functional HB-PNIPAM disrupted biofilms but in the CDC Biofilm reactor it was shown that a range of these polymers was not effective. On the other hand a vancomycin-functional HB-PNIPAM did reduce the amount of Gram-positive S. aureus strains - No IP was produced but the data will form the basis of improved polymer design for the disruption of biofilms. - The key next steps are to design further polymers with ligands that selectively bind to Gram-positive or Gram-negative species. The initial work had pointed to the possibility of using carboxylic acid-functional polymers. This would have been a major step change in the cost-effectiveness of these materials. However, further work showed that these materials were less effective than originally thought and further work will focus of the polymyxin and/or vancomycin-functional polymers. In other work we have scaled the synthesis of these polymers to produce kg quantities and our current work is leading us to discover more cost-effective functionalities (more cost effective than the current antibiotics that are used). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19064 Branched functional polymers for disrupting bacterial biofilms (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim is: To develop a polymer system that can be used disrupt a wide range of biofilms, exposing the constituent bacteria to antimicrobials. Biofilms in wounds protect bacteria from the effects of antimicrobials. There is therefore a substantial benefit in the combined application of these therapeutics in conjunction with materials that disrupt biofilms. In this work we aim to scope the use of "biofilm-disrupting polymers" in a range of biofilms containing bacteria of relevance in infected wounds. In previous work we have shown that highly branched polymers penetrate model infected wounds and loosened colonising bacteria in tissue models of skin. Recently we also showed that the polymers disrupt biofilms containing Gram positive bacteria. This project will further extend the use of these polymers to include disruption of other biofilms including those formed by Gram negative bacteria. Success will be measured by determining the effectiveness of an optimised system to disrupt biofilms. Time to disrupt the film will be used as a measurable factor as well as the extent of disruption. Partial success will be indicated if the system disrupts only certain biofilms but it is not effective against all biofilms tested. We have de-risked this project in that preliminary data has been published on the surprising ability of this class of polymers to disrupt biofilms. Rimmer (Bradford) and Percival (5D) currently collaborate on a Innovate UK, which is on track and successful. They also successfully co-supervised a PhD CASE award. They will manage their work packages and will meet in person or via teleconference at least once per month with milestone review meetings at appropriate points. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bradford: Polymers with branched structure and antibiotic groups at the chain ends bind to bacteria and some of these polymers respond to binding by losing water. In previous work we had shown that on binding the polymers disrupted biofilms. To further investigate this behaviour we prepared three classes of polymer functionalised with either polymyxin (to bind to Gram-negative bacteria), vancomycin (to bind to Gram-positive bacteria) or carboxylic acid groups (non-binding). Initial data indicated that the non-binding carboxylic acid polymers were unexpectedly effective but further investigations showed that HB-PNIPAM with ligands that bind to bacteria were required to disrupt biofilms. - Conclusions: 1. The disruption of biofilms by highly branched polymers is highly dependent on structure and architecture. 2. We produced materials that disrupted biofilms. 3. Libraries of polymers were produced and characterised. Sets of well-defined of materials were produced and data sets have been produced for future programmes. 4. The current data will provide a foundation for future formulations that can disrupt biofilms but more work is required to find the optimised formulations. 5. Initial data suggested that carboxylic acid-functional HB-PNIPAM disrupted biofilms but in the CDC Biofilm reactor it was shown that a range of these polymers was not effective. On the other hand a vancomycin-functional HB-PNIPAM did reduce the amount of Gram-positive S. aureus strains - No IP was produced but the data will form the basis of improved polymer design for the disruption of biofilms. - The key next steps are to design further polymers with ligands that selectively bind to Gram-positive or Gram-negative species. The initial work had pointed to the possibility of using carboxylic acid-functional polymers. This would have been a major step change in the cost-effectiveness of these materials. However, further work showed that these materials were less effective than originally thought and further work will focus of the polymyxin and/or vancomycin-functional polymers. In other work we have scaled the synthesis of these polymers to produce kg quantities and our current work is leading us to discover more cost-effective functionalities (more cost effective than the current antibiotics that are used). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19064 Branched functional polymers for disrupting bacterial biofilms (Stephen Rimmer) |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim is: To develop a polymer system that can be used disrupt a wide range of biofilms, exposing the constituent bacteria to antimicrobials. Biofilms in wounds protect bacteria from the effects of antimicrobials. There is therefore a substantial benefit in the combined application of these therapeutics in conjunction with materials that disrupt biofilms. In this work we aim to scope the use of "biofilm-disrupting polymers" in a range of biofilms containing bacteria of relevance in infected wounds. In previous work we have shown that highly branched polymers penetrate model infected wounds and loosened colonising bacteria in tissue models of skin. Recently we also showed that the polymers disrupt biofilms containing Gram positive bacteria. This project will further extend the use of these polymers to include disruption of other biofilms including those formed by Gram negative bacteria. Success will be measured by determining the effectiveness of an optimised system to disrupt biofilms. Time to disrupt the film will be used as a measurable factor as well as the extent of disruption. Partial success will be indicated if the system disrupts only certain biofilms but it is not effective against all biofilms tested. We have de-risked this project in that preliminary data has been published on the surprising ability of this class of polymers to disrupt biofilms. Rimmer (Bradford) and Percival (5D) currently collaborate on a Innovate UK, which is on track and successful. They also successfully co-supervised a PhD CASE award. They will manage their work packages and will meet in person or via teleconference at least once per month with milestone review meetings at appropriate points. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Bradford: Polymers with branched structure and antibiotic groups at the chain ends bind to bacteria and some of these polymers respond to binding by losing water. In previous work we had shown that on binding the polymers disrupted biofilms. To further investigate this behaviour we prepared three classes of polymer functionalised with either polymyxin (to bind to Gram-negative bacteria), vancomycin (to bind to Gram-positive bacteria) or carboxylic acid groups (non-binding). Initial data indicated that the non-binding carboxylic acid polymers were unexpectedly effective but further investigations showed that HB-PNIPAM with ligands that bind to bacteria were required to disrupt biofilms. - Conclusions: 1. The disruption of biofilms by highly branched polymers is highly dependent on structure and architecture. 2. We produced materials that disrupted biofilms. 3. Libraries of polymers were produced and characterised. Sets of well-defined of materials were produced and data sets have been produced for future programmes. 4. The current data will provide a foundation for future formulations that can disrupt biofilms but more work is required to find the optimised formulations. 5. Initial data suggested that carboxylic acid-functional HB-PNIPAM disrupted biofilms but in the CDC Biofilm reactor it was shown that a range of these polymers was not effective. On the other hand a vancomycin-functional HB-PNIPAM did reduce the amount of Gram-positive S. aureus strains - No IP was produced but the data will form the basis of improved polymer design for the disruption of biofilms. - The key next steps are to design further polymers with ligands that selectively bind to Gram-positive or Gram-negative species. The initial work had pointed to the possibility of using carboxylic acid-functional polymers. This would have been a major step change in the cost-effectiveness of these materials. However, further work showed that these materials were less effective than originally thought and further work will focus of the polymyxin and/or vancomycin-functional polymers. In other work we have scaled the synthesis of these polymers to produce kg quantities and our current work is leading us to discover more cost-effective functionalities (more cost effective than the current antibiotics that are used). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19086 HullSense (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Objective: We propose to design, build and test a working prototype biofilm sensor that will sense biofilms in real time on a ship's hull to allow optimised in-water hull cleaning. Biofouling on commercial vessels is managed using antifouling coatings and mechanical cleaning of the hull, which is often conducted in-water. Timing of these in-water cleans is critical. If cleaning occurs too frequently, the life of the antifouling coating can be compromised. This results in considerable additional costs in terms of dry docking, preparation and re-coating. In turn this causes costly unscheduled interruptions to planned charters resulting in damage to reputation and perceived reliability. If cleaning is not done frequently enough, the vessel is left steaming with a compromised hull with increased fuel consumption and increased environmental emissions. Our sensor will allow direct measurement of biofilm accumulation on a hull to enable in-water hull cleaning to be correctly scheduled to: • extend the longevity of coating systems; • reduce fuel consumption; • reduce green-house gas emissions; • reduce other harmful ship exhaust emissions (e.g. SOx, NOx, particulates); • minimise the spreading of biofouling organisms and, in particular, harmful & invasive species; • reduce health and safety issues with divers in commercial settings, and; • save money through better targeted cleaning. Success for this project will be to develop a real time sensor that: • Is able to detect commercially relevant levels of microfouling in real time and convey this to the user. • Has been calibrated and substantiated against traditional laboratory based methods of biofilm quantification. • Is able to survive extended deployment on the exterior of a working commercial vessel. Ultimately we seek to use this project to demonstrate the proof of concept of this novel biofilm detection technology. This will enable us to seek follow on funding to take the sensor to the next stage of commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19086 HullSense (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Objective: We propose to design, build and test a working prototype biofilm sensor that will sense biofilms in real time on a ship's hull to allow optimised in-water hull cleaning. Biofouling on commercial vessels is managed using antifouling coatings and mechanical cleaning of the hull, which is often conducted in-water. Timing of these in-water cleans is critical. If cleaning occurs too frequently, the life of the antifouling coating can be compromised. This results in considerable additional costs in terms of dry docking, preparation and re-coating. In turn this causes costly unscheduled interruptions to planned charters resulting in damage to reputation and perceived reliability. If cleaning is not done frequently enough, the vessel is left steaming with a compromised hull with increased fuel consumption and increased environmental emissions. Our sensor will allow direct measurement of biofilm accumulation on a hull to enable in-water hull cleaning to be correctly scheduled to: • extend the longevity of coating systems; • reduce fuel consumption; • reduce green-house gas emissions; • reduce other harmful ship exhaust emissions (e.g. SOx, NOx, particulates); • minimise the spreading of biofouling organisms and, in particular, harmful & invasive species; • reduce health and safety issues with divers in commercial settings, and; • save money through better targeted cleaning. Success for this project will be to develop a real time sensor that: • Is able to detect commercially relevant levels of microfouling in real time and convey this to the user. • Has been calibrated and substantiated against traditional laboratory based methods of biofilm quantification. • Is able to survive extended deployment on the exterior of a working commercial vessel. Ultimately we seek to use this project to demonstrate the proof of concept of this novel biofilm detection technology. This will enable us to seek follow on funding to take the sensor to the next stage of commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19086 HullSense (Karen Tait) |
| Organisation | Valeport |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Objective: We propose to design, build and test a working prototype biofilm sensor that will sense biofilms in real time on a ship's hull to allow optimised in-water hull cleaning. Biofouling on commercial vessels is managed using antifouling coatings and mechanical cleaning of the hull, which is often conducted in-water. Timing of these in-water cleans is critical. If cleaning occurs too frequently, the life of the antifouling coating can be compromised. This results in considerable additional costs in terms of dry docking, preparation and re-coating. In turn this causes costly unscheduled interruptions to planned charters resulting in damage to reputation and perceived reliability. If cleaning is not done frequently enough, the vessel is left steaming with a compromised hull with increased fuel consumption and increased environmental emissions. Our sensor will allow direct measurement of biofilm accumulation on a hull to enable in-water hull cleaning to be correctly scheduled to: • extend the longevity of coating systems; • reduce fuel consumption; • reduce green-house gas emissions; • reduce other harmful ship exhaust emissions (e.g. SOx, NOx, particulates); • minimise the spreading of biofouling organisms and, in particular, harmful & invasive species; • reduce health and safety issues with divers in commercial settings, and; • save money through better targeted cleaning. Success for this project will be to develop a real time sensor that: • Is able to detect commercially relevant levels of microfouling in real time and convey this to the user. • Has been calibrated and substantiated against traditional laboratory based methods of biofilm quantification. • Is able to survive extended deployment on the exterior of a working commercial vessel. Ultimately we seek to use this project to demonstrate the proof of concept of this novel biofilm detection technology. This will enable us to seek follow on funding to take the sensor to the next stage of commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19091 Development of new antibiofilm agents through repurposing of existing licensed drugs (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to identify existing drugs with the potential to be repurposed as antibiofilm agents. Our initial focus for this work will be catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), for which we have identified biofilm-related drug targets in key pathogens and possess representative pre-clinical models of catheter biofilm formation. However, we expect our findings to have broad relevance to biofilm-related infections. CAUTI are the second most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide, involving biofilm formation by bacterial species of particular concern (with regard to antibiotic resistance). CAUTIs are estimated to cost the NHS £1.0-2.5Bn and account for ~2100 deaths p.a. Proteus mirabilis is a key pathogen in CAUTI and forms extensive crystalline biofilms that block catheters, leading to serious clinical complications. We have identified efflux systems important for P. mirabilis biofilm formation and shown inhibitors of these pumps can attenuate biofilm formation. These include the drugs fluoxetine and thioridazine, which significantly reduced biofilm formation by P. mirabilis and other species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) in models of infection. We now propose to undertake a comprehensive survey of licensed drugs for interaction with biofilm associated efflux targets and potential antibiofilm activity. Our established molecular models of target efflux systems will allow us to conduct in-silico screening of ~10,000 drugs with regulatory approvals. Many of these compounds are commercially available or have progressed to at least phase II trials. Top ranked candidate compounds will be evaluated for biological activity. Success will be indicated by identification of 5-6 candidate drugs for further development. Our primary objective is to identify drugs that can be repurposed without modification, but drugs identified could also serve as new chemical scaffolds for development of potent biofilm disruptors. The identification of candidate drugs will provide the foundation from which we can understand the relevant IP landscape and engage industry partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19091 Development of new antibiofilm agents through repurposing of existing licensed drugs (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to identify existing drugs with the potential to be repurposed as antibiofilm agents. Our initial focus for this work will be catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), for which we have identified biofilm-related drug targets in key pathogens and possess representative pre-clinical models of catheter biofilm formation. However, we expect our findings to have broad relevance to biofilm-related infections. CAUTI are the second most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide, involving biofilm formation by bacterial species of particular concern (with regard to antibiotic resistance). CAUTIs are estimated to cost the NHS £1.0-2.5Bn and account for ~2100 deaths p.a. Proteus mirabilis is a key pathogen in CAUTI and forms extensive crystalline biofilms that block catheters, leading to serious clinical complications. We have identified efflux systems important for P. mirabilis biofilm formation and shown inhibitors of these pumps can attenuate biofilm formation. These include the drugs fluoxetine and thioridazine, which significantly reduced biofilm formation by P. mirabilis and other species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) in models of infection. We now propose to undertake a comprehensive survey of licensed drugs for interaction with biofilm associated efflux targets and potential antibiofilm activity. Our established molecular models of target efflux systems will allow us to conduct in-silico screening of ~10,000 drugs with regulatory approvals. Many of these compounds are commercially available or have progressed to at least phase II trials. Top ranked candidate compounds will be evaluated for biological activity. Success will be indicated by identification of 5-6 candidate drugs for further development. Our primary objective is to identify drugs that can be repurposed without modification, but drugs identified could also serve as new chemical scaffolds for development of potent biofilm disruptors. The identification of candidate drugs will provide the foundation from which we can understand the relevant IP landscape and engage industry partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19091 Development of new antibiofilm agents through repurposing of existing licensed drugs (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to identify existing drugs with the potential to be repurposed as antibiofilm agents. Our initial focus for this work will be catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), for which we have identified biofilm-related drug targets in key pathogens and possess representative pre-clinical models of catheter biofilm formation. However, we expect our findings to have broad relevance to biofilm-related infections. CAUTI are the second most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide, involving biofilm formation by bacterial species of particular concern (with regard to antibiotic resistance). CAUTIs are estimated to cost the NHS £1.0-2.5Bn and account for ~2100 deaths p.a. Proteus mirabilis is a key pathogen in CAUTI and forms extensive crystalline biofilms that block catheters, leading to serious clinical complications. We have identified efflux systems important for P. mirabilis biofilm formation and shown inhibitors of these pumps can attenuate biofilm formation. These include the drugs fluoxetine and thioridazine, which significantly reduced biofilm formation by P. mirabilis and other species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) in models of infection. We now propose to undertake a comprehensive survey of licensed drugs for interaction with biofilm associated efflux targets and potential antibiofilm activity. Our established molecular models of target efflux systems will allow us to conduct in-silico screening of ~10,000 drugs with regulatory approvals. Many of these compounds are commercially available or have progressed to at least phase II trials. Top ranked candidate compounds will be evaluated for biological activity. Success will be indicated by identification of 5-6 candidate drugs for further development. Our primary objective is to identify drugs that can be repurposed without modification, but drugs identified could also serve as new chemical scaffolds for development of potent biofilm disruptors. The identification of candidate drugs will provide the foundation from which we can understand the relevant IP landscape and engage industry partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19091 Development of new antibiofilm agents through repurposing of existing licensed drugs (Brian Jones) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our overall aim is to identify existing drugs with the potential to be repurposed as antibiofilm agents. Our initial focus for this work will be catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), for which we have identified biofilm-related drug targets in key pathogens and possess representative pre-clinical models of catheter biofilm formation. However, we expect our findings to have broad relevance to biofilm-related infections. CAUTI are the second most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide, involving biofilm formation by bacterial species of particular concern (with regard to antibiotic resistance). CAUTIs are estimated to cost the NHS £1.0-2.5Bn and account for ~2100 deaths p.a. Proteus mirabilis is a key pathogen in CAUTI and forms extensive crystalline biofilms that block catheters, leading to serious clinical complications. We have identified efflux systems important for P. mirabilis biofilm formation and shown inhibitors of these pumps can attenuate biofilm formation. These include the drugs fluoxetine and thioridazine, which significantly reduced biofilm formation by P. mirabilis and other species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) in models of infection. We now propose to undertake a comprehensive survey of licensed drugs for interaction with biofilm associated efflux targets and potential antibiofilm activity. Our established molecular models of target efflux systems will allow us to conduct in-silico screening of ~10,000 drugs with regulatory approvals. Many of these compounds are commercially available or have progressed to at least phase II trials. Top ranked candidate compounds will be evaluated for biological activity. Success will be indicated by identification of 5-6 candidate drugs for further development. Our primary objective is to identify drugs that can be repurposed without modification, but drugs identified could also serve as new chemical scaffolds for development of potent biofilm disruptors. The identification of candidate drugs will provide the foundation from which we can understand the relevant IP landscape and engage industry partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19093 Detection of biofilms that give rise to wound infection; development of a prototype point-of-care device based on rapid detection and analysis of microbial volatiles. (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | Altered Carbon Ltd. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will stimulate innovation in the field of diagnostics (detection) within wound care, developing technology that could improve patient outcomes. The detection and characterisation of wound biofilms throughout the infection process is vital to provide rapid diagnostics that are capable of both detecting infection, and to assess the requirement/ effectiveness of medical interventions (e.g. effective antibiotic use). The overall study aim is to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect, identify and quantify microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach is based on graphene sensors which can be designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. UWE has recently developed a novel perfusion wound biofilm model (based on a collagen matrix; see figure) that enables growth of wound-associated microorganisms as mono and mixed species biofilms. Utilising advanced mass spectrometry (MS) techniques (Gas Chromatography-MS and Selected Ion Flow Tube-MS), the headspace gases emanating from these biofilm cultures have been identified and quantified, enabling differentiation of species known to cause wound infections. This knowledge has been used to create a Biofilm Volatile Reference Library (BVRL). Within the proposed project, we intend to exploit this knowledge in collaboration with a volatile sensing technology provider to develop a prototype diagnostic technology platform, with future applications within the clinical space. Success will be measured by the selection and validation of arrays of fabricated graphene sensors based on those that optimally respond to gases known to differentiate wound biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of West England (UWE) Bristol: - The overall study aim was to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach was based on graphene sensors developed by Altered Carbon which were designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. Key organisms implicated in wound infection (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes) were successfully cultured within the UWE collagen wound biofilm model enabling growth of reproducible steady state biofilms. This enabled the microbial biofilm volatile compound headspace to be analysed using graphene sensor arrays developed by Altered Carbon and mapped to real time volatile compound quantification data generated through use of Selected Ion Flow Tube - Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). - When testing the Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, certain sensor elements were more responsive to bacterial biofilm headspace samples, demonstrating clear responses that occurred at the same time as key compounds were measured by SIFT-MS from the biofilm headspace samples. This enabled refinement of the response signal of fabricated graphene sensors, based on graphene element spectral analysis, in response to exposure to each species of bacterial biofilms. The spectral analysis demonstrated that the signal features between sample types (i.e. bacterial biofilm types) are sufficiently different to be exploited by machine learning algorithms within future exploitation projects. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting, and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the sensor response of the Altered Carbon sensor array to key microbial volatiles. UWE Bristol and Altered Carbon will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been undertaken and have been identified to exploit the successful project outcomes: 1. A grant application has been submitted to Innovate UK (~£200,000) based on outcomes of this successful industry/academia collaboration, whereby the application of graphene based sensors is being developed for food spoilage detection. 2. A KEEP+ application is being prepared by Altered Carbon to help support their research in this area and to enable continued access to UWE laboratories for further testing of the sensor array systems built within this project. 3. Future grant applications are currently being prepared to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19093 Detection of biofilms that give rise to wound infection; development of a prototype point-of-care device based on rapid detection and analysis of microbial volatiles. (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will stimulate innovation in the field of diagnostics (detection) within wound care, developing technology that could improve patient outcomes. The detection and characterisation of wound biofilms throughout the infection process is vital to provide rapid diagnostics that are capable of both detecting infection, and to assess the requirement/ effectiveness of medical interventions (e.g. effective antibiotic use). The overall study aim is to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect, identify and quantify microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach is based on graphene sensors which can be designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. UWE has recently developed a novel perfusion wound biofilm model (based on a collagen matrix; see figure) that enables growth of wound-associated microorganisms as mono and mixed species biofilms. Utilising advanced mass spectrometry (MS) techniques (Gas Chromatography-MS and Selected Ion Flow Tube-MS), the headspace gases emanating from these biofilm cultures have been identified and quantified, enabling differentiation of species known to cause wound infections. This knowledge has been used to create a Biofilm Volatile Reference Library (BVRL). Within the proposed project, we intend to exploit this knowledge in collaboration with a volatile sensing technology provider to develop a prototype diagnostic technology platform, with future applications within the clinical space. Success will be measured by the selection and validation of arrays of fabricated graphene sensors based on those that optimally respond to gases known to differentiate wound biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of West England (UWE) Bristol: - The overall study aim was to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach was based on graphene sensors developed by Altered Carbon which were designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. Key organisms implicated in wound infection (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes) were successfully cultured within the UWE collagen wound biofilm model enabling growth of reproducible steady state biofilms. This enabled the microbial biofilm volatile compound headspace to be analysed using graphene sensor arrays developed by Altered Carbon and mapped to real time volatile compound quantification data generated through use of Selected Ion Flow Tube - Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). - When testing the Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, certain sensor elements were more responsive to bacterial biofilm headspace samples, demonstrating clear responses that occurred at the same time as key compounds were measured by SIFT-MS from the biofilm headspace samples. This enabled refinement of the response signal of fabricated graphene sensors, based on graphene element spectral analysis, in response to exposure to each species of bacterial biofilms. The spectral analysis demonstrated that the signal features between sample types (i.e. bacterial biofilm types) are sufficiently different to be exploited by machine learning algorithms within future exploitation projects. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting, and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the sensor response of the Altered Carbon sensor array to key microbial volatiles. UWE Bristol and Altered Carbon will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been undertaken and have been identified to exploit the successful project outcomes: 1. A grant application has been submitted to Innovate UK (~£200,000) based on outcomes of this successful industry/academia collaboration, whereby the application of graphene based sensors is being developed for food spoilage detection. 2. A KEEP+ application is being prepared by Altered Carbon to help support their research in this area and to enable continued access to UWE laboratories for further testing of the sensor array systems built within this project. 3. Future grant applications are currently being prepared to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19093 Detection of biofilms that give rise to wound infection; development of a prototype point-of-care device based on rapid detection and analysis of microbial volatiles. (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | This project will stimulate innovation in the field of diagnostics (detection) within wound care, developing technology that could improve patient outcomes. The detection and characterisation of wound biofilms throughout the infection process is vital to provide rapid diagnostics that are capable of both detecting infection, and to assess the requirement/ effectiveness of medical interventions (e.g. effective antibiotic use). The overall study aim is to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect, identify and quantify microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach is based on graphene sensors which can be designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. UWE has recently developed a novel perfusion wound biofilm model (based on a collagen matrix; see figure) that enables growth of wound-associated microorganisms as mono and mixed species biofilms. Utilising advanced mass spectrometry (MS) techniques (Gas Chromatography-MS and Selected Ion Flow Tube-MS), the headspace gases emanating from these biofilm cultures have been identified and quantified, enabling differentiation of species known to cause wound infections. This knowledge has been used to create a Biofilm Volatile Reference Library (BVRL). Within the proposed project, we intend to exploit this knowledge in collaboration with a volatile sensing technology provider to develop a prototype diagnostic technology platform, with future applications within the clinical space. Success will be measured by the selection and validation of arrays of fabricated graphene sensors based on those that optimally respond to gases known to differentiate wound biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of West England (UWE) Bristol: - The overall study aim was to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach was based on graphene sensors developed by Altered Carbon which were designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. Key organisms implicated in wound infection (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes) were successfully cultured within the UWE collagen wound biofilm model enabling growth of reproducible steady state biofilms. This enabled the microbial biofilm volatile compound headspace to be analysed using graphene sensor arrays developed by Altered Carbon and mapped to real time volatile compound quantification data generated through use of Selected Ion Flow Tube - Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). - When testing the Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, certain sensor elements were more responsive to bacterial biofilm headspace samples, demonstrating clear responses that occurred at the same time as key compounds were measured by SIFT-MS from the biofilm headspace samples. This enabled refinement of the response signal of fabricated graphene sensors, based on graphene element spectral analysis, in response to exposure to each species of bacterial biofilms. The spectral analysis demonstrated that the signal features between sample types (i.e. bacterial biofilm types) are sufficiently different to be exploited by machine learning algorithms within future exploitation projects. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting, and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the sensor response of the Altered Carbon sensor array to key microbial volatiles. UWE Bristol and Altered Carbon will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been undertaken and have been identified to exploit the successful project outcomes: 1. A grant application has been submitted to Innovate UK (~£200,000) based on outcomes of this successful industry/academia collaboration, whereby the application of graphene based sensors is being developed for food spoilage detection. 2. A KEEP+ application is being prepared by Altered Carbon to help support their research in this area and to enable continued access to UWE laboratories for further testing of the sensor array systems built within this project. 3. Future grant applications are currently being prepared to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19093 Detection of biofilms that give rise to wound infection; development of a prototype point-of-care device based on rapid detection and analysis of microbial volatiles. (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will stimulate innovation in the field of diagnostics (detection) within wound care, developing technology that could improve patient outcomes. The detection and characterisation of wound biofilms throughout the infection process is vital to provide rapid diagnostics that are capable of both detecting infection, and to assess the requirement/ effectiveness of medical interventions (e.g. effective antibiotic use). The overall study aim is to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect, identify and quantify microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach is based on graphene sensors which can be designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. UWE has recently developed a novel perfusion wound biofilm model (based on a collagen matrix; see figure) that enables growth of wound-associated microorganisms as mono and mixed species biofilms. Utilising advanced mass spectrometry (MS) techniques (Gas Chromatography-MS and Selected Ion Flow Tube-MS), the headspace gases emanating from these biofilm cultures have been identified and quantified, enabling differentiation of species known to cause wound infections. This knowledge has been used to create a Biofilm Volatile Reference Library (BVRL). Within the proposed project, we intend to exploit this knowledge in collaboration with a volatile sensing technology provider to develop a prototype diagnostic technology platform, with future applications within the clinical space. Success will be measured by the selection and validation of arrays of fabricated graphene sensors based on those that optimally respond to gases known to differentiate wound biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of West England (UWE) Bristol: - The overall study aim was to develop a proof-of-concept device to detect microbial volatiles produced by microbial biofilms associated with wound infection processes, for application within wound diagnostics. This technological approach was based on graphene sensors developed by Altered Carbon which were designed and fabricated to selectively bind target gases of interest. Key organisms implicated in wound infection (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes) were successfully cultured within the UWE collagen wound biofilm model enabling growth of reproducible steady state biofilms. This enabled the microbial biofilm volatile compound headspace to be analysed using graphene sensor arrays developed by Altered Carbon and mapped to real time volatile compound quantification data generated through use of Selected Ion Flow Tube - Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). - When testing the Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, certain sensor elements were more responsive to bacterial biofilm headspace samples, demonstrating clear responses that occurred at the same time as key compounds were measured by SIFT-MS from the biofilm headspace samples. This enabled refinement of the response signal of fabricated graphene sensors, based on graphene element spectral analysis, in response to exposure to each species of bacterial biofilms. The spectral analysis demonstrated that the signal features between sample types (i.e. bacterial biofilm types) are sufficiently different to be exploited by machine learning algorithms within future exploitation projects. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting, and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - This proof-of-concept study has resulted in identification of a suitable Altered Carbon graphene sensor array, that with further refinement and tuning has the potential to lead to development of a sensor array capable of discriminating between P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilms and sterile control samples. This work lays the foundation for development of a sensor system that can be applied to identification of these bacterial species in a clinical setting and funding is now being sought to exploit these study findings. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the sensor response of the Altered Carbon sensor array to key microbial volatiles. UWE Bristol and Altered Carbon will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been undertaken and have been identified to exploit the successful project outcomes: 1. A grant application has been submitted to Innovate UK (~£200,000) based on outcomes of this successful industry/academia collaboration, whereby the application of graphene based sensors is being developed for food spoilage detection. 2. A KEEP+ application is being prepared by Altered Carbon to help support their research in this area and to enable continued access to UWE laboratories for further testing of the sensor array systems built within this project. 3. Future grant applications are currently being prepared to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19095 Impact of ozone application on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on drain covers under food processing-relevant conditions (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | Anacail Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We aim to determine the impact and efficacy of Anacail's ozone application to Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) biofilms in a food processing setting, using stainless steel discs and factory-relevant drain covers. We have developed a model drain system and high-dose ozone-generating unit that reduced viable counts of Lmo in biofilms by 5.2 log10 (Attachment). However, it is unclear whether the cells convert to a viable non-culturable state (VBNC), undetectable by standard methods but could still act as an inoculum source. Therefore, the aim is to determine the impact of high-dose ozone treatment on Listeria biofilms, in terms of the efficacy of treatment and the resulting physiological status of the biofilm. The work comprises two phases: quantification of culturable and VBNC Lmo biofilms formed on (A) standardised stainless steel discs and (B) on industry-sourced drain covers. Both systems will use waste vegetable washing water to mimic industrial processing situations and assessments will be posttreatment under industry relevant temperatures. The performance of high-dose ozone will be compared to an industry-relevant chemical sanitiser (quaternary ammonium compounds) on Lmo biofilms. A secondary aim is to determine whether inherent antimicrobial resistance encoded by qacH alters the outcome, using Lmo variants. Success will be measured from development of novel data on the impact of ozone treatment on viability of Lmo in industry-relevant biofilms, compared to industry standard santitisers. In turn, this data will inform on optimisation of ozone delivery as a feasible treatment option and will inform on risk management for Lmo in food processing situations. Experimentation will use Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) strain ATCC 7644, serotype 1/2a associated with human illness and compare with an industry-relevant problem Lmo isolate encoding qacH genes for resistance to chemical sanitisers, to test in situ high-dose ozone treatment on antimicrobial resistance strains. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The James Hutton Institute: - The project followed the plan for the first three month, i.e. Phase A, using stainless steel discs as proxies for drain covers. however, in December 2019, we learnt that Anacail Ltd had gone into administration and was no longer operational. As such, they were no longer able to act as a project partner and carry out ozone treatments. Initially, we explored other treatment options, e.g. substitution of hydrogen peroxide for ozone. However, since we were no longer able to progress without Anacail as a project partner, we came to the joint decision with NBIC to end the project prematurely. - The key outputs were: 1. SS discs were a reasonable proxy for SS drain covers for assessing ozone-treatment of Lmo biofilms, under conditions akin to fresh produce production. 2. Ozone treatment of 188 ppm over 30 minutes resulted in ~ 2 orders of magnitude decrease in Lmo biofilms on SS discs. 3. It was not possible to assess viability using a commercial Live/Dead staining kit, since ozone (and peroxide) treatment affected efficacy of one of the dyes, resulting in a large over-estimate in viability. - Some milestones were completed but there was insufficient time to attempt alternative viability measurements, or to complete the measurements with SS drain covers. The next steps are to seek an alternative partner that may be suitable to continue or expand on the initial project findings. - Know-how was generated for the ineffectiveness of a commercial viability kit on ozone / peroxide treated bacterial cells. Although this project was aborted when the industrial partner went into administration, we are still able to make use of the partial findings elsewhere. In particular, the data on Listeria monocytogenes resistance to ozone in biofilm sataus, and impact of peroxide treatment on the cell membrane has helped to inform a PhD studentship project that aims to understand the impact of ozone on the stress response of microbes associated with fresh produce. This is an ongoing PhD project and so there are no tangible outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19095 Impact of ozone application on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on drain covers under food processing-relevant conditions (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | James Hutton Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We aim to determine the impact and efficacy of Anacail's ozone application to Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) biofilms in a food processing setting, using stainless steel discs and factory-relevant drain covers. We have developed a model drain system and high-dose ozone-generating unit that reduced viable counts of Lmo in biofilms by 5.2 log10 (Attachment). However, it is unclear whether the cells convert to a viable non-culturable state (VBNC), undetectable by standard methods but could still act as an inoculum source. Therefore, the aim is to determine the impact of high-dose ozone treatment on Listeria biofilms, in terms of the efficacy of treatment and the resulting physiological status of the biofilm. The work comprises two phases: quantification of culturable and VBNC Lmo biofilms formed on (A) standardised stainless steel discs and (B) on industry-sourced drain covers. Both systems will use waste vegetable washing water to mimic industrial processing situations and assessments will be posttreatment under industry relevant temperatures. The performance of high-dose ozone will be compared to an industry-relevant chemical sanitiser (quaternary ammonium compounds) on Lmo biofilms. A secondary aim is to determine whether inherent antimicrobial resistance encoded by qacH alters the outcome, using Lmo variants. Success will be measured from development of novel data on the impact of ozone treatment on viability of Lmo in industry-relevant biofilms, compared to industry standard santitisers. In turn, this data will inform on optimisation of ozone delivery as a feasible treatment option and will inform on risk management for Lmo in food processing situations. Experimentation will use Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) strain ATCC 7644, serotype 1/2a associated with human illness and compare with an industry-relevant problem Lmo isolate encoding qacH genes for resistance to chemical sanitisers, to test in situ high-dose ozone treatment on antimicrobial resistance strains. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The James Hutton Institute: - The project followed the plan for the first three month, i.e. Phase A, using stainless steel discs as proxies for drain covers. however, in December 2019, we learnt that Anacail Ltd had gone into administration and was no longer operational. As such, they were no longer able to act as a project partner and carry out ozone treatments. Initially, we explored other treatment options, e.g. substitution of hydrogen peroxide for ozone. However, since we were no longer able to progress without Anacail as a project partner, we came to the joint decision with NBIC to end the project prematurely. - The key outputs were: 1. SS discs were a reasonable proxy for SS drain covers for assessing ozone-treatment of Lmo biofilms, under conditions akin to fresh produce production. 2. Ozone treatment of 188 ppm over 30 minutes resulted in ~ 2 orders of magnitude decrease in Lmo biofilms on SS discs. 3. It was not possible to assess viability using a commercial Live/Dead staining kit, since ozone (and peroxide) treatment affected efficacy of one of the dyes, resulting in a large over-estimate in viability. - Some milestones were completed but there was insufficient time to attempt alternative viability measurements, or to complete the measurements with SS drain covers. The next steps are to seek an alternative partner that may be suitable to continue or expand on the initial project findings. - Know-how was generated for the ineffectiveness of a commercial viability kit on ozone / peroxide treated bacterial cells. Although this project was aborted when the industrial partner went into administration, we are still able to make use of the partial findings elsewhere. In particular, the data on Listeria monocytogenes resistance to ozone in biofilm sataus, and impact of peroxide treatment on the cell membrane has helped to inform a PhD studentship project that aims to understand the impact of ozone on the stress response of microbes associated with fresh produce. This is an ongoing PhD project and so there are no tangible outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19095 Impact of ozone application on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on drain covers under food processing-relevant conditions (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We aim to determine the impact and efficacy of Anacail's ozone application to Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) biofilms in a food processing setting, using stainless steel discs and factory-relevant drain covers. We have developed a model drain system and high-dose ozone-generating unit that reduced viable counts of Lmo in biofilms by 5.2 log10 (Attachment). However, it is unclear whether the cells convert to a viable non-culturable state (VBNC), undetectable by standard methods but could still act as an inoculum source. Therefore, the aim is to determine the impact of high-dose ozone treatment on Listeria biofilms, in terms of the efficacy of treatment and the resulting physiological status of the biofilm. The work comprises two phases: quantification of culturable and VBNC Lmo biofilms formed on (A) standardised stainless steel discs and (B) on industry-sourced drain covers. Both systems will use waste vegetable washing water to mimic industrial processing situations and assessments will be posttreatment under industry relevant temperatures. The performance of high-dose ozone will be compared to an industry-relevant chemical sanitiser (quaternary ammonium compounds) on Lmo biofilms. A secondary aim is to determine whether inherent antimicrobial resistance encoded by qacH alters the outcome, using Lmo variants. Success will be measured from development of novel data on the impact of ozone treatment on viability of Lmo in industry-relevant biofilms, compared to industry standard santitisers. In turn, this data will inform on optimisation of ozone delivery as a feasible treatment option and will inform on risk management for Lmo in food processing situations. Experimentation will use Listeria monocytogenes (Lmo) strain ATCC 7644, serotype 1/2a associated with human illness and compare with an industry-relevant problem Lmo isolate encoding qacH genes for resistance to chemical sanitisers, to test in situ high-dose ozone treatment on antimicrobial resistance strains. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The James Hutton Institute: - The project followed the plan for the first three month, i.e. Phase A, using stainless steel discs as proxies for drain covers. however, in December 2019, we learnt that Anacail Ltd had gone into administration and was no longer operational. As such, they were no longer able to act as a project partner and carry out ozone treatments. Initially, we explored other treatment options, e.g. substitution of hydrogen peroxide for ozone. However, since we were no longer able to progress without Anacail as a project partner, we came to the joint decision with NBIC to end the project prematurely. - The key outputs were: 1. SS discs were a reasonable proxy for SS drain covers for assessing ozone-treatment of Lmo biofilms, under conditions akin to fresh produce production. 2. Ozone treatment of 188 ppm over 30 minutes resulted in ~ 2 orders of magnitude decrease in Lmo biofilms on SS discs. 3. It was not possible to assess viability using a commercial Live/Dead staining kit, since ozone (and peroxide) treatment affected efficacy of one of the dyes, resulting in a large over-estimate in viability. - Some milestones were completed but there was insufficient time to attempt alternative viability measurements, or to complete the measurements with SS drain covers. The next steps are to seek an alternative partner that may be suitable to continue or expand on the initial project findings. - Know-how was generated for the ineffectiveness of a commercial viability kit on ozone / peroxide treated bacterial cells. Although this project was aborted when the industrial partner went into administration, we are still able to make use of the partial findings elsewhere. In particular, the data on Listeria monocytogenes resistance to ozone in biofilm sataus, and impact of peroxide treatment on the cell membrane has helped to inform a PhD studentship project that aims to understand the impact of ozone on the stress response of microbes associated with fresh produce. This is an ongoing PhD project and so there are no tangible outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19100 Bacterial networking; why it's not always beneficial to build bridges and make connections. (Gavin Melaugh) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We aim to use Comamonas denitrificans as a model system with which to understand how filamentous bacteria induce network formation in suspended microbial communities. This will provide Veolia UK with fundamental insight into how network formation occurs in their activated sludge flocs at Seafield WWTW in Edinburgh. This insight will facilitate the design of new methods that prevent (NBIC thematic area) microbial network formation as opposed to employing rather costly methods to treat the symptoms (sludge bulking). We plan to manipulate the concentration of filamentous cells in the suspension in a manner that reduces the propensity of the system to network. In the context of the NBIC thematic area of engineering, here, we will be making the first steps in designing a microbial suspension in which the mechanical interactions are optimised to prevent the formation of microbial networks. Insight from the model system will help us probe the fundamental science of microbial network formation in real activated sludge samples provided by Veolia. Building on the design concepts in this POC project, we will continue the collaboration via the application of larger grants. In this case, we will propose to engineer microbial consortia that maximise flocculation and settling, whilst minimising water retention in the sludge in order to reduce dewatering costs. The success of the POC project will be measured academically via the impact of the publications resulting from the fundamental science. This will provide a platform from which to apply for larger grants and fellowships, facilitating Gavin Melaugh's ambition of becoming a principal investigator. Progression from TRL 2 (beginning) to TRL 3 (end) will be a success from Veolia's perspective, providing a foundation with which to continue the collaboration longer term via the application of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership via Innovate UK with the view to progressing to TRL 4. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Edinburgh: This project demonstrated than Comamonas denitrificans, a bacteria isolated from activated sludge, could be used as a model organism with which to understand the aggregation/flocculation behaviour of filamentous bacteria. Experiments and simulations reveal that filamentous cells form network-like structures that depend crucially on the concentration of cells, the length distribution of the cells, and the degree of cohesion (stickiness) between cells. These bacterial networks display mechanical properties analogous to colloidal gels, e.g., collapse and fracture. Moving forward, two papers will result from the work undertaken during this project: 1 - a simulation study which is to be submitted immediately; and 2 - a joint experimental/simulation study which is a month or two away from being submitted. A PhD, through the Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT has been awarded, and the proposed work is building on the work developed in this POC. At this stage, it is pending on a student from the CDT signing up for it. This work has strengthened the collaboration with Veolia who are involved in the SOFI PhD, and are sponsoring another PhD through the Edinburgh Earth, Ecology, and Environment Doctoral Training Partnership (E4 DTP), which will focus on the microbial generation of nitrous oxide in wastewater treatment. Again this is pending our applicant, who has interview on 25th Feb 2022, getting into the program. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19100 Bacterial networking; why it's not always beneficial to build bridges and make connections. (Gavin Melaugh) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We aim to use Comamonas denitrificans as a model system with which to understand how filamentous bacteria induce network formation in suspended microbial communities. This will provide Veolia UK with fundamental insight into how network formation occurs in their activated sludge flocs at Seafield WWTW in Edinburgh. This insight will facilitate the design of new methods that prevent (NBIC thematic area) microbial network formation as opposed to employing rather costly methods to treat the symptoms (sludge bulking). We plan to manipulate the concentration of filamentous cells in the suspension in a manner that reduces the propensity of the system to network. In the context of the NBIC thematic area of engineering, here, we will be making the first steps in designing a microbial suspension in which the mechanical interactions are optimised to prevent the formation of microbial networks. Insight from the model system will help us probe the fundamental science of microbial network formation in real activated sludge samples provided by Veolia. Building on the design concepts in this POC project, we will continue the collaboration via the application of larger grants. In this case, we will propose to engineer microbial consortia that maximise flocculation and settling, whilst minimising water retention in the sludge in order to reduce dewatering costs. The success of the POC project will be measured academically via the impact of the publications resulting from the fundamental science. This will provide a platform from which to apply for larger grants and fellowships, facilitating Gavin Melaugh's ambition of becoming a principal investigator. Progression from TRL 2 (beginning) to TRL 3 (end) will be a success from Veolia's perspective, providing a foundation with which to continue the collaboration longer term via the application of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership via Innovate UK with the view to progressing to TRL 4. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Edinburgh: This project demonstrated than Comamonas denitrificans, a bacteria isolated from activated sludge, could be used as a model organism with which to understand the aggregation/flocculation behaviour of filamentous bacteria. Experiments and simulations reveal that filamentous cells form network-like structures that depend crucially on the concentration of cells, the length distribution of the cells, and the degree of cohesion (stickiness) between cells. These bacterial networks display mechanical properties analogous to colloidal gels, e.g., collapse and fracture. Moving forward, two papers will result from the work undertaken during this project: 1 - a simulation study which is to be submitted immediately; and 2 - a joint experimental/simulation study which is a month or two away from being submitted. A PhD, through the Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT has been awarded, and the proposed work is building on the work developed in this POC. At this stage, it is pending on a student from the CDT signing up for it. This work has strengthened the collaboration with Veolia who are involved in the SOFI PhD, and are sponsoring another PhD through the Edinburgh Earth, Ecology, and Environment Doctoral Training Partnership (E4 DTP), which will focus on the microbial generation of nitrous oxide in wastewater treatment. Again this is pending our applicant, who has interview on 25th Feb 2022, getting into the program. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19100 Bacterial networking; why it's not always beneficial to build bridges and make connections. (Gavin Melaugh) |
| Organisation | Veolia Environmental Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We aim to use Comamonas denitrificans as a model system with which to understand how filamentous bacteria induce network formation in suspended microbial communities. This will provide Veolia UK with fundamental insight into how network formation occurs in their activated sludge flocs at Seafield WWTW in Edinburgh. This insight will facilitate the design of new methods that prevent (NBIC thematic area) microbial network formation as opposed to employing rather costly methods to treat the symptoms (sludge bulking). We plan to manipulate the concentration of filamentous cells in the suspension in a manner that reduces the propensity of the system to network. In the context of the NBIC thematic area of engineering, here, we will be making the first steps in designing a microbial suspension in which the mechanical interactions are optimised to prevent the formation of microbial networks. Insight from the model system will help us probe the fundamental science of microbial network formation in real activated sludge samples provided by Veolia. Building on the design concepts in this POC project, we will continue the collaboration via the application of larger grants. In this case, we will propose to engineer microbial consortia that maximise flocculation and settling, whilst minimising water retention in the sludge in order to reduce dewatering costs. The success of the POC project will be measured academically via the impact of the publications resulting from the fundamental science. This will provide a platform from which to apply for larger grants and fellowships, facilitating Gavin Melaugh's ambition of becoming a principal investigator. Progression from TRL 2 (beginning) to TRL 3 (end) will be a success from Veolia's perspective, providing a foundation with which to continue the collaboration longer term via the application of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership via Innovate UK with the view to progressing to TRL 4. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Edinburgh: This project demonstrated than Comamonas denitrificans, a bacteria isolated from activated sludge, could be used as a model organism with which to understand the aggregation/flocculation behaviour of filamentous bacteria. Experiments and simulations reveal that filamentous cells form network-like structures that depend crucially on the concentration of cells, the length distribution of the cells, and the degree of cohesion (stickiness) between cells. These bacterial networks display mechanical properties analogous to colloidal gels, e.g., collapse and fracture. Moving forward, two papers will result from the work undertaken during this project: 1 - a simulation study which is to be submitted immediately; and 2 - a joint experimental/simulation study which is a month or two away from being submitted. A PhD, through the Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces (SOFI) CDT has been awarded, and the proposed work is building on the work developed in this POC. At this stage, it is pending on a student from the CDT signing up for it. This work has strengthened the collaboration with Veolia who are involved in the SOFI PhD, and are sponsoring another PhD through the Edinburgh Earth, Ecology, and Environment Doctoral Training Partnership (E4 DTP), which will focus on the microbial generation of nitrous oxide in wastewater treatment. Again this is pending our applicant, who has interview on 25th Feb 2022, getting into the program. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19105 Developing passive RFID technology to monitor Candida albicans biofilm growth on medical devices (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Techniques used to identify the presence of a biofilm growing on a medical device surface usually requires its removal for sampling and organism identification. An ideal technology would allow constant monitoring of biofilm growth in situ and enable early detection to facilitate rapid treatment or unnecessary replacement. Such a technology should ideally be low cost, low maintenance and be adaptable to a variety of medical device surfaces without complex manufacturing processes. Our preliminary data supporting this application suggests that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), an inexpensive and flexible technology in common everyday use, can be employed to detect yeast biofilm growth on devices in situ. RFID monitoring can be continuous and the signal is read remotely, conceivably at the bedside within a "smart hospital" setting or within the patient's home with updates or alerts sent to a relevant clinician. RFID sensor design can be tailored to detect changes in electrical properties of the biofilm, such as those that occur within different stages of maturation. RFID sensors can therefore be designed to recognize defined signatures that are easily recognized and highly reproducible. Our proposal aims to develop RFID as a promising biofilm detection technology and has the following TLR2 level aims: To optimise our current RFID Candida albicans biofilm detection sensor designs as adhesive "stickers" that can be applied to a range of tracheostomy tubing products (Figure 1). To test the ability of RFID biofilm detection stickers to monitor Candida albicans biofilm maturation in real time within a human body phantom. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Kent: - We achieved the development of a successful design that can be retrofitted to the surface of tubing of a variety of diameters. The design is passive (without a battery) and the antennae tuned so that a strong response achieved when a frequency of 860MHz is used (compatible with UK/UE clinical settings), this can easily be tuned to US or other frequencies for international use. The sensor was designed in silico and then constructed and tested in a gelatin phantom. The sensor was able to reproducibly report the growth of a fungal biofilm at a distance of 20cm outside of the phantom, which represents the human neck. - We have achieved the milestone aims of the PoC project. This has led to the production of a prototype sensor that can detect Candida albicans biofilms within a phantom. - The prototype development contains intellectual property that resides with the University of Kent. Further work is required to develop a product that will satisfy the needs of our Industrial partner to support a joint patent of this product. - Following this PoC work we have conducted several meetings with our industrial partner to plan the next stage. We will apply for further joint funding e.g. via the Royal Society Industrial fellowship scheme to further align our research interests in this area. The future work will focus on a properly manufactured sensor integrated within Smiths Medical devices to generate a functional prototype. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19105 Developing passive RFID technology to monitor Candida albicans biofilm growth on medical devices (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | Smiths Medical |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Techniques used to identify the presence of a biofilm growing on a medical device surface usually requires its removal for sampling and organism identification. An ideal technology would allow constant monitoring of biofilm growth in situ and enable early detection to facilitate rapid treatment or unnecessary replacement. Such a technology should ideally be low cost, low maintenance and be adaptable to a variety of medical device surfaces without complex manufacturing processes. Our preliminary data supporting this application suggests that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), an inexpensive and flexible technology in common everyday use, can be employed to detect yeast biofilm growth on devices in situ. RFID monitoring can be continuous and the signal is read remotely, conceivably at the bedside within a "smart hospital" setting or within the patient's home with updates or alerts sent to a relevant clinician. RFID sensor design can be tailored to detect changes in electrical properties of the biofilm, such as those that occur within different stages of maturation. RFID sensors can therefore be designed to recognize defined signatures that are easily recognized and highly reproducible. Our proposal aims to develop RFID as a promising biofilm detection technology and has the following TLR2 level aims: To optimise our current RFID Candida albicans biofilm detection sensor designs as adhesive "stickers" that can be applied to a range of tracheostomy tubing products (Figure 1). To test the ability of RFID biofilm detection stickers to monitor Candida albicans biofilm maturation in real time within a human body phantom. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Kent: - We achieved the development of a successful design that can be retrofitted to the surface of tubing of a variety of diameters. The design is passive (without a battery) and the antennae tuned so that a strong response achieved when a frequency of 860MHz is used (compatible with UK/UE clinical settings), this can easily be tuned to US or other frequencies for international use. The sensor was designed in silico and then constructed and tested in a gelatin phantom. The sensor was able to reproducibly report the growth of a fungal biofilm at a distance of 20cm outside of the phantom, which represents the human neck. - We have achieved the milestone aims of the PoC project. This has led to the production of a prototype sensor that can detect Candida albicans biofilms within a phantom. - The prototype development contains intellectual property that resides with the University of Kent. Further work is required to develop a product that will satisfy the needs of our Industrial partner to support a joint patent of this product. - Following this PoC work we have conducted several meetings with our industrial partner to plan the next stage. We will apply for further joint funding e.g. via the Royal Society Industrial fellowship scheme to further align our research interests in this area. The future work will focus on a properly manufactured sensor integrated within Smiths Medical devices to generate a functional prototype. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19105 Developing passive RFID technology to monitor Candida albicans biofilm growth on medical devices (Campbell Gourlay) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Techniques used to identify the presence of a biofilm growing on a medical device surface usually requires its removal for sampling and organism identification. An ideal technology would allow constant monitoring of biofilm growth in situ and enable early detection to facilitate rapid treatment or unnecessary replacement. Such a technology should ideally be low cost, low maintenance and be adaptable to a variety of medical device surfaces without complex manufacturing processes. Our preliminary data supporting this application suggests that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), an inexpensive and flexible technology in common everyday use, can be employed to detect yeast biofilm growth on devices in situ. RFID monitoring can be continuous and the signal is read remotely, conceivably at the bedside within a "smart hospital" setting or within the patient's home with updates or alerts sent to a relevant clinician. RFID sensor design can be tailored to detect changes in electrical properties of the biofilm, such as those that occur within different stages of maturation. RFID sensors can therefore be designed to recognize defined signatures that are easily recognized and highly reproducible. Our proposal aims to develop RFID as a promising biofilm detection technology and has the following TLR2 level aims: To optimise our current RFID Candida albicans biofilm detection sensor designs as adhesive "stickers" that can be applied to a range of tracheostomy tubing products (Figure 1). To test the ability of RFID biofilm detection stickers to monitor Candida albicans biofilm maturation in real time within a human body phantom. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Kent: - We achieved the development of a successful design that can be retrofitted to the surface of tubing of a variety of diameters. The design is passive (without a battery) and the antennae tuned so that a strong response achieved when a frequency of 860MHz is used (compatible with UK/UE clinical settings), this can easily be tuned to US or other frequencies for international use. The sensor was designed in silico and then constructed and tested in a gelatin phantom. The sensor was able to reproducibly report the growth of a fungal biofilm at a distance of 20cm outside of the phantom, which represents the human neck. - We have achieved the milestone aims of the PoC project. This has led to the production of a prototype sensor that can detect Candida albicans biofilms within a phantom. - The prototype development contains intellectual property that resides with the University of Kent. Further work is required to develop a product that will satisfy the needs of our Industrial partner to support a joint patent of this product. - Following this PoC work we have conducted several meetings with our industrial partner to plan the next stage. We will apply for further joint funding e.g. via the Royal Society Industrial fellowship scheme to further align our research interests in this area. The future work will focus on a properly manufactured sensor integrated within Smiths Medical devices to generate a functional prototype. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19108 Label-free Multimodal Imaging Platform for Detection of Biofilms (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | M Squared Lasers Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Problems being addressed: 1. The lack of consistent and rapid diagnostic approaches for the identification of bacterial biofilms and their species composition in clinical samples. 2. The lack of high resolution imaging platform for pharmaceutical testing of anti-biofilm treatments. Objective: To provide evidence that an integrated multimodal imaging platform based on advanced Raman spectroscopic imaging techniques can provide rapid and label-free identification of pathogenic bacteria within biofilms in clinical or industrial samples without sample processing. Scientific basis: An imaging system that can provide vibrational 'chemical' signatures from Raman techniques in a spectroscopic imaging manner (using resonance and coherent affects for rapid acquisition) and can also perform two-photon autofluorescence and second harmonic generation in a sequential manner has been setup in collaboration with the industrial partner that enables imaging in 3D of biological samples noninvasively and non-destructively. This will be used for in situ characterisation of biofilms including the extracellular matrix and functional activity (in case of live samples). We have evidence of species as well as strain-level differentiation using the label-free Raman approach (Fig.1 and Fig. 2). In figure 2, in particular we show that unsupervised classification of bacteria cultured from clinical isolates and laboratory strains of S. aureus and P aeroginosa is possible by using their Raman spectra (unpublished results). This project represents an exciting development in biofilm diagnostics with the integration of the existing detection technologies developed at Southampton and the volumetric approach of M Squared Life providing a new imaging platform that has the potential to offer rapid biofilm detection and enhanced understanding of their characteristics and responses, for instance, to image drug penetration and effect for developing novel anti-microbial strategies to counter AMR. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: - Most core milestones associated with the project were completed successfully. Only species differentiation of a co-species biofilm with CARS imaging remained unfulfilled; however, other CARS-imaging related milestones were successful. In particular, the development and optimisation of the multi-excitation Raman method and acquisition of the related datasets were achieved for planktonic bacteria. Additionally, validation of the method in simulated CF sputum was also achieved with high accuracy. Elucidation of drug-resistance profiles of S. aureus was also shown with 100% accuracy, even in the more complex sputum model. - The use of 785nm and 532nm excitations enabled the pre-resonance of two biomolecules within the bacteria in the study, creating pronounced spectral differences based on the excitation. Combining these two excitation wavelengths and using chemometric analyses, classification accuracies were greater than the accuracies achieved with either single excitation wavelength. For bacteria in artificial sputum, SVM was capable of 99.75% accuracy, with no inter-species classification errors and perfect differentiation of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. - The two key outputs associated with this project are the multi-excitation Raman method that was developed, and the research paper and patent associated with it. These are currently in the process of being submitted. - We will carry the findings of this work forward and seek to apply the methods in a variety of other studies pertaining to label-free biofilm imaging and AMR profile determination. In particular, we hope to apply this information to CARS imaging of co-species biofilms, where the imaging of biomarkers associated with each species would allow label-free discrimination and localisation each species within the sample. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19108 Label-free Multimodal Imaging Platform for Detection of Biofilms (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Problems being addressed: 1. The lack of consistent and rapid diagnostic approaches for the identification of bacterial biofilms and their species composition in clinical samples. 2. The lack of high resolution imaging platform for pharmaceutical testing of anti-biofilm treatments. Objective: To provide evidence that an integrated multimodal imaging platform based on advanced Raman spectroscopic imaging techniques can provide rapid and label-free identification of pathogenic bacteria within biofilms in clinical or industrial samples without sample processing. Scientific basis: An imaging system that can provide vibrational 'chemical' signatures from Raman techniques in a spectroscopic imaging manner (using resonance and coherent affects for rapid acquisition) and can also perform two-photon autofluorescence and second harmonic generation in a sequential manner has been setup in collaboration with the industrial partner that enables imaging in 3D of biological samples noninvasively and non-destructively. This will be used for in situ characterisation of biofilms including the extracellular matrix and functional activity (in case of live samples). We have evidence of species as well as strain-level differentiation using the label-free Raman approach (Fig.1 and Fig. 2). In figure 2, in particular we show that unsupervised classification of bacteria cultured from clinical isolates and laboratory strains of S. aureus and P aeroginosa is possible by using their Raman spectra (unpublished results). This project represents an exciting development in biofilm diagnostics with the integration of the existing detection technologies developed at Southampton and the volumetric approach of M Squared Life providing a new imaging platform that has the potential to offer rapid biofilm detection and enhanced understanding of their characteristics and responses, for instance, to image drug penetration and effect for developing novel anti-microbial strategies to counter AMR. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: - Most core milestones associated with the project were completed successfully. Only species differentiation of a co-species biofilm with CARS imaging remained unfulfilled; however, other CARS-imaging related milestones were successful. In particular, the development and optimisation of the multi-excitation Raman method and acquisition of the related datasets were achieved for planktonic bacteria. Additionally, validation of the method in simulated CF sputum was also achieved with high accuracy. Elucidation of drug-resistance profiles of S. aureus was also shown with 100% accuracy, even in the more complex sputum model. - The use of 785nm and 532nm excitations enabled the pre-resonance of two biomolecules within the bacteria in the study, creating pronounced spectral differences based on the excitation. Combining these two excitation wavelengths and using chemometric analyses, classification accuracies were greater than the accuracies achieved with either single excitation wavelength. For bacteria in artificial sputum, SVM was capable of 99.75% accuracy, with no inter-species classification errors and perfect differentiation of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. - The two key outputs associated with this project are the multi-excitation Raman method that was developed, and the research paper and patent associated with it. These are currently in the process of being submitted. - We will carry the findings of this work forward and seek to apply the methods in a variety of other studies pertaining to label-free biofilm imaging and AMR profile determination. In particular, we hope to apply this information to CARS imaging of co-species biofilms, where the imaging of biomarkers associated with each species would allow label-free discrimination and localisation each species within the sample. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19108 Label-free Multimodal Imaging Platform for Detection of Biofilms (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Problems being addressed: 1. The lack of consistent and rapid diagnostic approaches for the identification of bacterial biofilms and their species composition in clinical samples. 2. The lack of high resolution imaging platform for pharmaceutical testing of anti-biofilm treatments. Objective: To provide evidence that an integrated multimodal imaging platform based on advanced Raman spectroscopic imaging techniques can provide rapid and label-free identification of pathogenic bacteria within biofilms in clinical or industrial samples without sample processing. Scientific basis: An imaging system that can provide vibrational 'chemical' signatures from Raman techniques in a spectroscopic imaging manner (using resonance and coherent affects for rapid acquisition) and can also perform two-photon autofluorescence and second harmonic generation in a sequential manner has been setup in collaboration with the industrial partner that enables imaging in 3D of biological samples noninvasively and non-destructively. This will be used for in situ characterisation of biofilms including the extracellular matrix and functional activity (in case of live samples). We have evidence of species as well as strain-level differentiation using the label-free Raman approach (Fig.1 and Fig. 2). In figure 2, in particular we show that unsupervised classification of bacteria cultured from clinical isolates and laboratory strains of S. aureus and P aeroginosa is possible by using their Raman spectra (unpublished results). This project represents an exciting development in biofilm diagnostics with the integration of the existing detection technologies developed at Southampton and the volumetric approach of M Squared Life providing a new imaging platform that has the potential to offer rapid biofilm detection and enhanced understanding of their characteristics and responses, for instance, to image drug penetration and effect for developing novel anti-microbial strategies to counter AMR. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: - Most core milestones associated with the project were completed successfully. Only species differentiation of a co-species biofilm with CARS imaging remained unfulfilled; however, other CARS-imaging related milestones were successful. In particular, the development and optimisation of the multi-excitation Raman method and acquisition of the related datasets were achieved for planktonic bacteria. Additionally, validation of the method in simulated CF sputum was also achieved with high accuracy. Elucidation of drug-resistance profiles of S. aureus was also shown with 100% accuracy, even in the more complex sputum model. - The use of 785nm and 532nm excitations enabled the pre-resonance of two biomolecules within the bacteria in the study, creating pronounced spectral differences based on the excitation. Combining these two excitation wavelengths and using chemometric analyses, classification accuracies were greater than the accuracies achieved with either single excitation wavelength. For bacteria in artificial sputum, SVM was capable of 99.75% accuracy, with no inter-species classification errors and perfect differentiation of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. - The two key outputs associated with this project are the multi-excitation Raman method that was developed, and the research paper and patent associated with it. These are currently in the process of being submitted. - We will carry the findings of this work forward and seek to apply the methods in a variety of other studies pertaining to label-free biofilm imaging and AMR profile determination. In particular, we hope to apply this information to CARS imaging of co-species biofilms, where the imaging of biomarkers associated with each species would allow label-free discrimination and localisation each species within the sample. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19108 Label-free Multimodal Imaging Platform for Detection of Biofilms (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Problems being addressed: 1. The lack of consistent and rapid diagnostic approaches for the identification of bacterial biofilms and their species composition in clinical samples. 2. The lack of high resolution imaging platform for pharmaceutical testing of anti-biofilm treatments. Objective: To provide evidence that an integrated multimodal imaging platform based on advanced Raman spectroscopic imaging techniques can provide rapid and label-free identification of pathogenic bacteria within biofilms in clinical or industrial samples without sample processing. Scientific basis: An imaging system that can provide vibrational 'chemical' signatures from Raman techniques in a spectroscopic imaging manner (using resonance and coherent affects for rapid acquisition) and can also perform two-photon autofluorescence and second harmonic generation in a sequential manner has been setup in collaboration with the industrial partner that enables imaging in 3D of biological samples noninvasively and non-destructively. This will be used for in situ characterisation of biofilms including the extracellular matrix and functional activity (in case of live samples). We have evidence of species as well as strain-level differentiation using the label-free Raman approach (Fig.1 and Fig. 2). In figure 2, in particular we show that unsupervised classification of bacteria cultured from clinical isolates and laboratory strains of S. aureus and P aeroginosa is possible by using their Raman spectra (unpublished results). This project represents an exciting development in biofilm diagnostics with the integration of the existing detection technologies developed at Southampton and the volumetric approach of M Squared Life providing a new imaging platform that has the potential to offer rapid biofilm detection and enhanced understanding of their characteristics and responses, for instance, to image drug penetration and effect for developing novel anti-microbial strategies to counter AMR. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: - Most core milestones associated with the project were completed successfully. Only species differentiation of a co-species biofilm with CARS imaging remained unfulfilled; however, other CARS-imaging related milestones were successful. In particular, the development and optimisation of the multi-excitation Raman method and acquisition of the related datasets were achieved for planktonic bacteria. Additionally, validation of the method in simulated CF sputum was also achieved with high accuracy. Elucidation of drug-resistance profiles of S. aureus was also shown with 100% accuracy, even in the more complex sputum model. - The use of 785nm and 532nm excitations enabled the pre-resonance of two biomolecules within the bacteria in the study, creating pronounced spectral differences based on the excitation. Combining these two excitation wavelengths and using chemometric analyses, classification accuracies were greater than the accuracies achieved with either single excitation wavelength. For bacteria in artificial sputum, SVM was capable of 99.75% accuracy, with no inter-species classification errors and perfect differentiation of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. - The two key outputs associated with this project are the multi-excitation Raman method that was developed, and the research paper and patent associated with it. These are currently in the process of being submitted. - We will carry the findings of this work forward and seek to apply the methods in a variety of other studies pertaining to label-free biofilm imaging and AMR profile determination. In particular, we hope to apply this information to CARS imaging of co-species biofilms, where the imaging of biomarkers associated with each species would allow label-free discrimination and localisation each species within the sample. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19111 Rapid Screening Platform for Shortlisting Coatings Against Infection (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | Montana State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a rapid screening platform in the form of a microfluidic chip to short list best coating options for tackling the biofilm formation in urological devices. At the University of Southampton (SOTON), we have successfully developed a high-throughput microfluidic screening platform to evaluate new stent architectures and surface modifications (e.g. coatings) by replicating the dynamic fluid flow conditions within a stented urinary tract. This test platform has allowed us to rapidly develop and evaluate patented (internationally) novel stent designs that significantly reduce (>90%) the deposition of encrusting particles. In this project, we will (1) leverage our platform to assess the ability of new coating materials to resist encrustation and biofilm formation on stents, and (2) extend the capabilities of our platform to include in vitro biological testing of microbial cell-device interactions and chemical processes. New coating materials in the form of multilayer composites will be manufactured by depositing nanoscale layers onto the surface of urinary stent products. The combination of layers with different chemical compositions will enable multilayer coatings exhibiting antimicrobial activity via multiple mechanisms including bactericidal, anti-adhesive, and erodible surfaces. Success of deliverables will lead to the establishment of the first rapid screening platform (attached figure) in short listing coating options to allow biofilms prevention in urological devices. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories not only in urological devices but also knee and hip implants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The plan and expected outcomes were impacted due to COVID laboratory closures or reduced access. Despite this, our team adapted to the limitations and delivered the project with small variations in specific activities. Additionally, we recruited a post-graduate research (PGR) student to continue the project, and utilised the partnerships formed (and the contractual agreement signed) to raise follow on funding (both internally and externally) from EPSRC IAA and NIHR i4i PDA. The completed milestones associated with each work package (WP1, 2, 3) are: WP1: Literature review completed, and candidate coating materials identified. The article has been invited (by the editor) for submission to a special issue of MDPI journal on the topic of "Hybrid Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Fabrication, Properties and Applications". WP2: CFD simulations conducted to assess impact of coating materials with enhanced permeability. Microfluidic manufacture and bacterial cell culture prevented due to COVID lab access restrictions. WP3: Deposition of coatings on completed onto static well plates to assess antimicrobial effects of various coatings. The team defined a PGR project (Title: Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation) and recruited a student who started in July. The PGR is continuing the static cell work, and is planning to continue plans from this NBIC project for dynamic cell work using microfluidic devices Moreover, NBIC network has enabled us to apply for following funding to continue partnerships build within the projects funded by NBIC so far. - EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2021 - 2022 ACCELERATING IMPACT FUNDING "Finalising The Business Case and Realising External Investment For University Created Innovative Urological Products". Amount: £ 62,790.00 - Dates: 04/01/2021 to 31/01/2022 - NIHR i4i PDA Call 21 "Can novel ureteric stents offer a better patient outcome compared to existing standard ureteric stents (CASSETTE)". Amount £1,375,896.00 - Dates: 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2024 (Intend to fund letter received and we are working on legal and contractual aspect of the project before finalising the start date and receiving the award letter). The successful delivery of these will provide a pathway for our research translation to real world, impacting patients' quality of life. NBIC has a fantastic continually growing network of experts both scientific and industrial, clinical and non-clinical field. Future work: • Publish review article "Recent developments and opportunities in layer-by-layer assembled coatings to prevent device-associated urinary tract infections: A review" • Publish research article on coating manufacture, characterisation, and cell work. • Continue work on coating deposition, characterisation, static cell culture through the existing PGR project. Extend this work to dynamic cell culture in microfluidic devices. • Seek protection and commercialisation of potential IP related to coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. • Seek funding to support and extend ongoing PGR project work - we have applied for an IfLS PhD Studentship for this purpose. • Seek larger-scale funding to support a larger research team and expanded technical efforts on coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19111 Rapid Screening Platform for Shortlisting Coatings Against Infection (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a rapid screening platform in the form of a microfluidic chip to short list best coating options for tackling the biofilm formation in urological devices. At the University of Southampton (SOTON), we have successfully developed a high-throughput microfluidic screening platform to evaluate new stent architectures and surface modifications (e.g. coatings) by replicating the dynamic fluid flow conditions within a stented urinary tract. This test platform has allowed us to rapidly develop and evaluate patented (internationally) novel stent designs that significantly reduce (>90%) the deposition of encrusting particles. In this project, we will (1) leverage our platform to assess the ability of new coating materials to resist encrustation and biofilm formation on stents, and (2) extend the capabilities of our platform to include in vitro biological testing of microbial cell-device interactions and chemical processes. New coating materials in the form of multilayer composites will be manufactured by depositing nanoscale layers onto the surface of urinary stent products. The combination of layers with different chemical compositions will enable multilayer coatings exhibiting antimicrobial activity via multiple mechanisms including bactericidal, anti-adhesive, and erodible surfaces. Success of deliverables will lead to the establishment of the first rapid screening platform (attached figure) in short listing coating options to allow biofilms prevention in urological devices. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories not only in urological devices but also knee and hip implants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The plan and expected outcomes were impacted due to COVID laboratory closures or reduced access. Despite this, our team adapted to the limitations and delivered the project with small variations in specific activities. Additionally, we recruited a post-graduate research (PGR) student to continue the project, and utilised the partnerships formed (and the contractual agreement signed) to raise follow on funding (both internally and externally) from EPSRC IAA and NIHR i4i PDA. The completed milestones associated with each work package (WP1, 2, 3) are: WP1: Literature review completed, and candidate coating materials identified. The article has been invited (by the editor) for submission to a special issue of MDPI journal on the topic of "Hybrid Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Fabrication, Properties and Applications". WP2: CFD simulations conducted to assess impact of coating materials with enhanced permeability. Microfluidic manufacture and bacterial cell culture prevented due to COVID lab access restrictions. WP3: Deposition of coatings on completed onto static well plates to assess antimicrobial effects of various coatings. The team defined a PGR project (Title: Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation) and recruited a student who started in July. The PGR is continuing the static cell work, and is planning to continue plans from this NBIC project for dynamic cell work using microfluidic devices Moreover, NBIC network has enabled us to apply for following funding to continue partnerships build within the projects funded by NBIC so far. - EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2021 - 2022 ACCELERATING IMPACT FUNDING "Finalising The Business Case and Realising External Investment For University Created Innovative Urological Products". Amount: £ 62,790.00 - Dates: 04/01/2021 to 31/01/2022 - NIHR i4i PDA Call 21 "Can novel ureteric stents offer a better patient outcome compared to existing standard ureteric stents (CASSETTE)". Amount £1,375,896.00 - Dates: 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2024 (Intend to fund letter received and we are working on legal and contractual aspect of the project before finalising the start date and receiving the award letter). The successful delivery of these will provide a pathway for our research translation to real world, impacting patients' quality of life. NBIC has a fantastic continually growing network of experts both scientific and industrial, clinical and non-clinical field. Future work: • Publish review article "Recent developments and opportunities in layer-by-layer assembled coatings to prevent device-associated urinary tract infections: A review" • Publish research article on coating manufacture, characterisation, and cell work. • Continue work on coating deposition, characterisation, static cell culture through the existing PGR project. Extend this work to dynamic cell culture in microfluidic devices. • Seek protection and commercialisation of potential IP related to coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. • Seek funding to support and extend ongoing PGR project work - we have applied for an IfLS PhD Studentship for this purpose. • Seek larger-scale funding to support a larger research team and expanded technical efforts on coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19111 Rapid Screening Platform for Shortlisting Coatings Against Infection (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a rapid screening platform in the form of a microfluidic chip to short list best coating options for tackling the biofilm formation in urological devices. At the University of Southampton (SOTON), we have successfully developed a high-throughput microfluidic screening platform to evaluate new stent architectures and surface modifications (e.g. coatings) by replicating the dynamic fluid flow conditions within a stented urinary tract. This test platform has allowed us to rapidly develop and evaluate patented (internationally) novel stent designs that significantly reduce (>90%) the deposition of encrusting particles. In this project, we will (1) leverage our platform to assess the ability of new coating materials to resist encrustation and biofilm formation on stents, and (2) extend the capabilities of our platform to include in vitro biological testing of microbial cell-device interactions and chemical processes. New coating materials in the form of multilayer composites will be manufactured by depositing nanoscale layers onto the surface of urinary stent products. The combination of layers with different chemical compositions will enable multilayer coatings exhibiting antimicrobial activity via multiple mechanisms including bactericidal, anti-adhesive, and erodible surfaces. Success of deliverables will lead to the establishment of the first rapid screening platform (attached figure) in short listing coating options to allow biofilms prevention in urological devices. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories not only in urological devices but also knee and hip implants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The plan and expected outcomes were impacted due to COVID laboratory closures or reduced access. Despite this, our team adapted to the limitations and delivered the project with small variations in specific activities. Additionally, we recruited a post-graduate research (PGR) student to continue the project, and utilised the partnerships formed (and the contractual agreement signed) to raise follow on funding (both internally and externally) from EPSRC IAA and NIHR i4i PDA. The completed milestones associated with each work package (WP1, 2, 3) are: WP1: Literature review completed, and candidate coating materials identified. The article has been invited (by the editor) for submission to a special issue of MDPI journal on the topic of "Hybrid Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Fabrication, Properties and Applications". WP2: CFD simulations conducted to assess impact of coating materials with enhanced permeability. Microfluidic manufacture and bacterial cell culture prevented due to COVID lab access restrictions. WP3: Deposition of coatings on completed onto static well plates to assess antimicrobial effects of various coatings. The team defined a PGR project (Title: Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation) and recruited a student who started in July. The PGR is continuing the static cell work, and is planning to continue plans from this NBIC project for dynamic cell work using microfluidic devices Moreover, NBIC network has enabled us to apply for following funding to continue partnerships build within the projects funded by NBIC so far. - EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2021 - 2022 ACCELERATING IMPACT FUNDING "Finalising The Business Case and Realising External Investment For University Created Innovative Urological Products". Amount: £ 62,790.00 - Dates: 04/01/2021 to 31/01/2022 - NIHR i4i PDA Call 21 "Can novel ureteric stents offer a better patient outcome compared to existing standard ureteric stents (CASSETTE)". Amount £1,375,896.00 - Dates: 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2024 (Intend to fund letter received and we are working on legal and contractual aspect of the project before finalising the start date and receiving the award letter). The successful delivery of these will provide a pathway for our research translation to real world, impacting patients' quality of life. NBIC has a fantastic continually growing network of experts both scientific and industrial, clinical and non-clinical field. Future work: • Publish review article "Recent developments and opportunities in layer-by-layer assembled coatings to prevent device-associated urinary tract infections: A review" • Publish research article on coating manufacture, characterisation, and cell work. • Continue work on coating deposition, characterisation, static cell culture through the existing PGR project. Extend this work to dynamic cell culture in microfluidic devices. • Seek protection and commercialisation of potential IP related to coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. • Seek funding to support and extend ongoing PGR project work - we have applied for an IfLS PhD Studentship for this purpose. • Seek larger-scale funding to support a larger research team and expanded technical efforts on coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19111 Rapid Screening Platform for Shortlisting Coatings Against Infection (Andrew Hamilton) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to establish a rapid screening platform in the form of a microfluidic chip to short list best coating options for tackling the biofilm formation in urological devices. At the University of Southampton (SOTON), we have successfully developed a high-throughput microfluidic screening platform to evaluate new stent architectures and surface modifications (e.g. coatings) by replicating the dynamic fluid flow conditions within a stented urinary tract. This test platform has allowed us to rapidly develop and evaluate patented (internationally) novel stent designs that significantly reduce (>90%) the deposition of encrusting particles. In this project, we will (1) leverage our platform to assess the ability of new coating materials to resist encrustation and biofilm formation on stents, and (2) extend the capabilities of our platform to include in vitro biological testing of microbial cell-device interactions and chemical processes. New coating materials in the form of multilayer composites will be manufactured by depositing nanoscale layers onto the surface of urinary stent products. The combination of layers with different chemical compositions will enable multilayer coatings exhibiting antimicrobial activity via multiple mechanisms including bactericidal, anti-adhesive, and erodible surfaces. Success of deliverables will lead to the establishment of the first rapid screening platform (attached figure) in short listing coating options to allow biofilms prevention in urological devices. It is envisaged that the developed platform will have significant potential for translation into research and development (R&D) and clinical laboratories not only in urological devices but also knee and hip implants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Southampton: The plan and expected outcomes were impacted due to COVID laboratory closures or reduced access. Despite this, our team adapted to the limitations and delivered the project with small variations in specific activities. Additionally, we recruited a post-graduate research (PGR) student to continue the project, and utilised the partnerships formed (and the contractual agreement signed) to raise follow on funding (both internally and externally) from EPSRC IAA and NIHR i4i PDA. The completed milestones associated with each work package (WP1, 2, 3) are: WP1: Literature review completed, and candidate coating materials identified. The article has been invited (by the editor) for submission to a special issue of MDPI journal on the topic of "Hybrid Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Fabrication, Properties and Applications". WP2: CFD simulations conducted to assess impact of coating materials with enhanced permeability. Microfluidic manufacture and bacterial cell culture prevented due to COVID lab access restrictions. WP3: Deposition of coatings on completed onto static well plates to assess antimicrobial effects of various coatings. The team defined a PGR project (Title: Layer by layer (LBL) coating on urological devices to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation) and recruited a student who started in July. The PGR is continuing the static cell work, and is planning to continue plans from this NBIC project for dynamic cell work using microfluidic devices Moreover, NBIC network has enabled us to apply for following funding to continue partnerships build within the projects funded by NBIC so far. - EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2021 - 2022 ACCELERATING IMPACT FUNDING "Finalising The Business Case and Realising External Investment For University Created Innovative Urological Products". Amount: £ 62,790.00 - Dates: 04/01/2021 to 31/01/2022 - NIHR i4i PDA Call 21 "Can novel ureteric stents offer a better patient outcome compared to existing standard ureteric stents (CASSETTE)". Amount £1,375,896.00 - Dates: 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2024 (Intend to fund letter received and we are working on legal and contractual aspect of the project before finalising the start date and receiving the award letter). The successful delivery of these will provide a pathway for our research translation to real world, impacting patients' quality of life. NBIC has a fantastic continually growing network of experts both scientific and industrial, clinical and non-clinical field. Future work: • Publish review article "Recent developments and opportunities in layer-by-layer assembled coatings to prevent device-associated urinary tract infections: A review" • Publish research article on coating manufacture, characterisation, and cell work. • Continue work on coating deposition, characterisation, static cell culture through the existing PGR project. Extend this work to dynamic cell culture in microfluidic devices. • Seek protection and commercialisation of potential IP related to coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. • Seek funding to support and extend ongoing PGR project work - we have applied for an IfLS PhD Studentship for this purpose. • Seek larger-scale funding to support a larger research team and expanded technical efforts on coatings, microfluidic rapid screening devices. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19116 Advanced Biofilm Removal mediated by Targeted Microbubbles Generated by Fluidic Oscillation. (William Zimmerman) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Biofilm formation and subsequent removal is a significant problem in several applications such as fermenters, bioreactors, and pharmaceuticals. Desai and Zimmerman have invented a novel fluidic oscillator for low cost high throughput microbubble generation. The oscillator (DZFO) is a no-moving part device that generates microbubbles via conversion of steady flow into oscillatory flow. Chemicals in water, if ionic, tend to disassociate in water and get organised on the microbubble surface. These microbubbles are inexpensive. Microbubbles previously have shown surface cleaning characteristics due to the insonant US field (Leighton et al, @Southampton). We would like to design and develop a system capable of generating these oscillating microbubbles using the DZFO having a lower energy with additional parameters such as chemical moieties on the microbubble surface, to provide an additional microparticle bead cleaning effect. This technology would be used for both static and dynamic biofilm cleaning which is then applicable to several sectors. We would like to test microbubbles to remove biofilms in continuous processes in fermentation, pharmaceutical, bioreactor, and food processing. Perlemax, also as an end user would like to take this technology for developing on this hypothesis and pushing it up the TRL ladder. Preliminary tests have been done to show visually the biofilm removal with significant efficacy using fluidic oscillator mediated microbubbles when used in clean water. Additional chemical moieties on microbubble surface have resulted in additional cleaning action with reduced processing time but assessed visually. TUoS with the state of the art facility and expertise of Mukherjee, using the Perlemax technology and expertise, will test this hypothesis and will pursue a proper scientific and analytical study using confocal, SEM, and other physicochemical characterisations, to demonstrate unequivocally the efficiency of this hypothesis and its application to industrial processes and demonstrate biofilm removal efficiency in a scientific manner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Sheffield: - The overall objective of this project was to test the biofilm removal efficiency using microbubbles generated from the DZFO. Our initial plan was to test a range of biofilms from static to dynamic, lab culture single and multi-species biofilm to environmental biofilms. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this was not completely accomplished. The environmental and multispecies biofilm is still left to be explored, which we hope to achieve with future grants based on the initial success we have achieved in this research. - The results presented have been discussed with the BRITEST pharma and chemicals sector consortium and are expected to be highlighted in the April 2021 symposium on Cleaning and Decontamination hosted by the UK Fluids Network. - The key findings in this research are that biofilm removal is very effective using DZFO microbubbles, where biofilm is removed in less than 3 minutes for a 1 day old biofilm and about 10 minutes on an average for a 5 days old biofilm. This is a significant success as compared to work done by Agarwal et al, where they could remove biofilm less effectively but requiring one hour of processing time. - Dynamic sparging in media simulant was very effective in biofilm removal thereby demonstrating the utility for online continuous biofilm removal in a bioreactor, when compared to an offline maintenance cycle solution - 0.01% surfactant. - Next steps: 1. Further grant application to test these valuable findings onto several environmental biofilms. Also test some of the mixed culture biofilm, which are more relevant to the pharmaceutical sector. 2. Based on these results we would like to collaborate with pharmaceutical industries to work on their biofilm related problems. 3. In this period of 6 months in this research, we have discussed with researchers in the water industry, where they have expressed interests in future collaboration in their biofilm research in pipes. We are hopeful in future collaboration with the water industry. 4. In the meantime TUoS and Perlemax with the guidance of Prof. Zimmerman and Dr. Desai would like to finish some of the unfinished jobs in this research due to COVID-19 related closure, with the help of interns/apprentices/trainees in Perlemax labs and future Masters Students in TUoS labs. The protocols set up for imaging these biofilms will be sufficient for the students and interns to be able to work with. 5. We would also like to publish the data in a good impact factor journal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19116 Advanced Biofilm Removal mediated by Targeted Microbubbles Generated by Fluidic Oscillation. (William Zimmerman) |
| Organisation | Perlemax |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Biofilm formation and subsequent removal is a significant problem in several applications such as fermenters, bioreactors, and pharmaceuticals. Desai and Zimmerman have invented a novel fluidic oscillator for low cost high throughput microbubble generation. The oscillator (DZFO) is a no-moving part device that generates microbubbles via conversion of steady flow into oscillatory flow. Chemicals in water, if ionic, tend to disassociate in water and get organised on the microbubble surface. These microbubbles are inexpensive. Microbubbles previously have shown surface cleaning characteristics due to the insonant US field (Leighton et al, @Southampton). We would like to design and develop a system capable of generating these oscillating microbubbles using the DZFO having a lower energy with additional parameters such as chemical moieties on the microbubble surface, to provide an additional microparticle bead cleaning effect. This technology would be used for both static and dynamic biofilm cleaning which is then applicable to several sectors. We would like to test microbubbles to remove biofilms in continuous processes in fermentation, pharmaceutical, bioreactor, and food processing. Perlemax, also as an end user would like to take this technology for developing on this hypothesis and pushing it up the TRL ladder. Preliminary tests have been done to show visually the biofilm removal with significant efficacy using fluidic oscillator mediated microbubbles when used in clean water. Additional chemical moieties on microbubble surface have resulted in additional cleaning action with reduced processing time but assessed visually. TUoS with the state of the art facility and expertise of Mukherjee, using the Perlemax technology and expertise, will test this hypothesis and will pursue a proper scientific and analytical study using confocal, SEM, and other physicochemical characterisations, to demonstrate unequivocally the efficiency of this hypothesis and its application to industrial processes and demonstrate biofilm removal efficiency in a scientific manner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Sheffield: - The overall objective of this project was to test the biofilm removal efficiency using microbubbles generated from the DZFO. Our initial plan was to test a range of biofilms from static to dynamic, lab culture single and multi-species biofilm to environmental biofilms. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this was not completely accomplished. The environmental and multispecies biofilm is still left to be explored, which we hope to achieve with future grants based on the initial success we have achieved in this research. - The results presented have been discussed with the BRITEST pharma and chemicals sector consortium and are expected to be highlighted in the April 2021 symposium on Cleaning and Decontamination hosted by the UK Fluids Network. - The key findings in this research are that biofilm removal is very effective using DZFO microbubbles, where biofilm is removed in less than 3 minutes for a 1 day old biofilm and about 10 minutes on an average for a 5 days old biofilm. This is a significant success as compared to work done by Agarwal et al, where they could remove biofilm less effectively but requiring one hour of processing time. - Dynamic sparging in media simulant was very effective in biofilm removal thereby demonstrating the utility for online continuous biofilm removal in a bioreactor, when compared to an offline maintenance cycle solution - 0.01% surfactant. - Next steps: 1. Further grant application to test these valuable findings onto several environmental biofilms. Also test some of the mixed culture biofilm, which are more relevant to the pharmaceutical sector. 2. Based on these results we would like to collaborate with pharmaceutical industries to work on their biofilm related problems. 3. In this period of 6 months in this research, we have discussed with researchers in the water industry, where they have expressed interests in future collaboration in their biofilm research in pipes. We are hopeful in future collaboration with the water industry. 4. In the meantime TUoS and Perlemax with the guidance of Prof. Zimmerman and Dr. Desai would like to finish some of the unfinished jobs in this research due to COVID-19 related closure, with the help of interns/apprentices/trainees in Perlemax labs and future Masters Students in TUoS labs. The protocols set up for imaging these biofilms will be sufficient for the students and interns to be able to work with. 5. We would also like to publish the data in a good impact factor journal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19116 Advanced Biofilm Removal mediated by Targeted Microbubbles Generated by Fluidic Oscillation. (William Zimmerman) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Biofilm formation and subsequent removal is a significant problem in several applications such as fermenters, bioreactors, and pharmaceuticals. Desai and Zimmerman have invented a novel fluidic oscillator for low cost high throughput microbubble generation. The oscillator (DZFO) is a no-moving part device that generates microbubbles via conversion of steady flow into oscillatory flow. Chemicals in water, if ionic, tend to disassociate in water and get organised on the microbubble surface. These microbubbles are inexpensive. Microbubbles previously have shown surface cleaning characteristics due to the insonant US field (Leighton et al, @Southampton). We would like to design and develop a system capable of generating these oscillating microbubbles using the DZFO having a lower energy with additional parameters such as chemical moieties on the microbubble surface, to provide an additional microparticle bead cleaning effect. This technology would be used for both static and dynamic biofilm cleaning which is then applicable to several sectors. We would like to test microbubbles to remove biofilms in continuous processes in fermentation, pharmaceutical, bioreactor, and food processing. Perlemax, also as an end user would like to take this technology for developing on this hypothesis and pushing it up the TRL ladder. Preliminary tests have been done to show visually the biofilm removal with significant efficacy using fluidic oscillator mediated microbubbles when used in clean water. Additional chemical moieties on microbubble surface have resulted in additional cleaning action with reduced processing time but assessed visually. TUoS with the state of the art facility and expertise of Mukherjee, using the Perlemax technology and expertise, will test this hypothesis and will pursue a proper scientific and analytical study using confocal, SEM, and other physicochemical characterisations, to demonstrate unequivocally the efficiency of this hypothesis and its application to industrial processes and demonstrate biofilm removal efficiency in a scientific manner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from The University of Sheffield: - The overall objective of this project was to test the biofilm removal efficiency using microbubbles generated from the DZFO. Our initial plan was to test a range of biofilms from static to dynamic, lab culture single and multi-species biofilm to environmental biofilms. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this was not completely accomplished. The environmental and multispecies biofilm is still left to be explored, which we hope to achieve with future grants based on the initial success we have achieved in this research. - The results presented have been discussed with the BRITEST pharma and chemicals sector consortium and are expected to be highlighted in the April 2021 symposium on Cleaning and Decontamination hosted by the UK Fluids Network. - The key findings in this research are that biofilm removal is very effective using DZFO microbubbles, where biofilm is removed in less than 3 minutes for a 1 day old biofilm and about 10 minutes on an average for a 5 days old biofilm. This is a significant success as compared to work done by Agarwal et al, where they could remove biofilm less effectively but requiring one hour of processing time. - Dynamic sparging in media simulant was very effective in biofilm removal thereby demonstrating the utility for online continuous biofilm removal in a bioreactor, when compared to an offline maintenance cycle solution - 0.01% surfactant. - Next steps: 1. Further grant application to test these valuable findings onto several environmental biofilms. Also test some of the mixed culture biofilm, which are more relevant to the pharmaceutical sector. 2. Based on these results we would like to collaborate with pharmaceutical industries to work on their biofilm related problems. 3. In this period of 6 months in this research, we have discussed with researchers in the water industry, where they have expressed interests in future collaboration in their biofilm research in pipes. We are hopeful in future collaboration with the water industry. 4. In the meantime TUoS and Perlemax with the guidance of Prof. Zimmerman and Dr. Desai would like to finish some of the unfinished jobs in this research due to COVID-19 related closure, with the help of interns/apprentices/trainees in Perlemax labs and future Masters Students in TUoS labs. The protocols set up for imaging these biofilms will be sufficient for the students and interns to be able to work with. 5. We would also like to publish the data in a good impact factor journal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19126 Automated in-situ detection and monitoring of marine biofilm erosion and mechanical properties via custom optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, resulting in increased frictional drag and fuel penalties. However, as not all biofilm drag is equally costly, "low drag" microfouling may be an acceptable loss to some ship operators. Fouling control coatings minimise biofilm drag by minimising biofilm load. Biofilm disruption by a sustained burst of speed (>> average operational speed) may provide operators with a means of fouling management. Flow conditions during biofilm formation affect growth, mechanical properties and resilience to mechanical disruption. Hydrodynamic stress can cause biofilm erosion and detachment, leading to lower profile, lower drag biofilms. Biomass loss patterns are likely related to various physico-mechanical properties of biofilms such as viscoelasticity, biofilm cohesion, adhesion to the surface, and roughness profiles. This project will relate the resilience of biofilm to disruption in shear and biofilm frictional drag to mechanical properties of biofilms. We will test how: 1. flow conditions during growth influence biomechanical properties and frictional drag of marine biofilm formed on different antifouling surfaces; 2. biofilm biophysical properties determine biofilm erosion in high flow; 3. biofilm frictional drag changes as biofilm structure, extent and biophysical parameters change. Our experimental approach addresses the disparity between the scales at which drag is measured (metre scale flow cell) and the scale at which physico-mechanical measurements are collected (micro to millimetre scale) by imaging hundreds of fields of view along the lengths of fouled drag test pieces. Optical coherence tomography images of biofilms will be collected with a fully automated micropositioning system. While a novel, co-registered air-jet indenter recently developed at Newcastle will be adopted for non-destructive determination of biofilm viscoelasticity at the exact positions where erosion is measured. The outcomes will be: 1) shortened timescale for screening the antifouling surfaces; and 2) pilot experimental data for validating in-house computational models of biofilm erosion in flow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: - We have achieved the project objectives as planned. - We have validated the air-jet system and has successfully designed and manufactured the bespoken automated stage to accommodate both air-jet indenter and OCT. This new system has been successfully deployed to measure marine biofilms. - The air-jet was manufactured, and the test results were validated against hydrogels tested by another commercial mechanical testing rig (rheometer). The in-house designed bespoken automated stage has been manufactured and deployed for biofilm imaging and testing. The in-house designed software has been developed to couple air-jet, OCT and automated stage. The new coupled automated bioimaging and biomechanical testing system has been adopted to obtain biofilm microstructure and mechanics for marine biofilms. - We are applying IP protection for this unique automated imaging and test rigs for biofilms. The patent paperwork is in progress. - We are planning to write a paper on biofilm mechanics for a well regarded journal (Biotechnology and Bioengineering). We have secured another NBIC grant (3rd round POC) and have tried DARPA (outline proposal submitted, not funded). We just submitted an EPSRC IAA to exploit its wider industrial applications. - NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are extremely impressed with the tremendous support from NBIC in a timely manner when the COVID has significantly impacted the project (e.g. lab closure and researchers infected by COVID). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19126 Automated in-situ detection and monitoring of marine biofilm erosion and mechanical properties via custom optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, resulting in increased frictional drag and fuel penalties. However, as not all biofilm drag is equally costly, "low drag" microfouling may be an acceptable loss to some ship operators. Fouling control coatings minimise biofilm drag by minimising biofilm load. Biofilm disruption by a sustained burst of speed (>> average operational speed) may provide operators with a means of fouling management. Flow conditions during biofilm formation affect growth, mechanical properties and resilience to mechanical disruption. Hydrodynamic stress can cause biofilm erosion and detachment, leading to lower profile, lower drag biofilms. Biomass loss patterns are likely related to various physico-mechanical properties of biofilms such as viscoelasticity, biofilm cohesion, adhesion to the surface, and roughness profiles. This project will relate the resilience of biofilm to disruption in shear and biofilm frictional drag to mechanical properties of biofilms. We will test how: 1. flow conditions during growth influence biomechanical properties and frictional drag of marine biofilm formed on different antifouling surfaces; 2. biofilm biophysical properties determine biofilm erosion in high flow; 3. biofilm frictional drag changes as biofilm structure, extent and biophysical parameters change. Our experimental approach addresses the disparity between the scales at which drag is measured (metre scale flow cell) and the scale at which physico-mechanical measurements are collected (micro to millimetre scale) by imaging hundreds of fields of view along the lengths of fouled drag test pieces. Optical coherence tomography images of biofilms will be collected with a fully automated micropositioning system. While a novel, co-registered air-jet indenter recently developed at Newcastle will be adopted for non-destructive determination of biofilm viscoelasticity at the exact positions where erosion is measured. The outcomes will be: 1) shortened timescale for screening the antifouling surfaces; and 2) pilot experimental data for validating in-house computational models of biofilm erosion in flow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: - We have achieved the project objectives as planned. - We have validated the air-jet system and has successfully designed and manufactured the bespoken automated stage to accommodate both air-jet indenter and OCT. This new system has been successfully deployed to measure marine biofilms. - The air-jet was manufactured, and the test results were validated against hydrogels tested by another commercial mechanical testing rig (rheometer). The in-house designed bespoken automated stage has been manufactured and deployed for biofilm imaging and testing. The in-house designed software has been developed to couple air-jet, OCT and automated stage. The new coupled automated bioimaging and biomechanical testing system has been adopted to obtain biofilm microstructure and mechanics for marine biofilms. - We are applying IP protection for this unique automated imaging and test rigs for biofilms. The patent paperwork is in progress. - We are planning to write a paper on biofilm mechanics for a well regarded journal (Biotechnology and Bioengineering). We have secured another NBIC grant (3rd round POC) and have tried DARPA (outline proposal submitted, not funded). We just submitted an EPSRC IAA to exploit its wider industrial applications. - NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are extremely impressed with the tremendous support from NBIC in a timely manner when the COVID has significantly impacted the project (e.g. lab closure and researchers infected by COVID). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19126 Automated in-situ detection and monitoring of marine biofilm erosion and mechanical properties via custom optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, resulting in increased frictional drag and fuel penalties. However, as not all biofilm drag is equally costly, "low drag" microfouling may be an acceptable loss to some ship operators. Fouling control coatings minimise biofilm drag by minimising biofilm load. Biofilm disruption by a sustained burst of speed (>> average operational speed) may provide operators with a means of fouling management. Flow conditions during biofilm formation affect growth, mechanical properties and resilience to mechanical disruption. Hydrodynamic stress can cause biofilm erosion and detachment, leading to lower profile, lower drag biofilms. Biomass loss patterns are likely related to various physico-mechanical properties of biofilms such as viscoelasticity, biofilm cohesion, adhesion to the surface, and roughness profiles. This project will relate the resilience of biofilm to disruption in shear and biofilm frictional drag to mechanical properties of biofilms. We will test how: 1. flow conditions during growth influence biomechanical properties and frictional drag of marine biofilm formed on different antifouling surfaces; 2. biofilm biophysical properties determine biofilm erosion in high flow; 3. biofilm frictional drag changes as biofilm structure, extent and biophysical parameters change. Our experimental approach addresses the disparity between the scales at which drag is measured (metre scale flow cell) and the scale at which physico-mechanical measurements are collected (micro to millimetre scale) by imaging hundreds of fields of view along the lengths of fouled drag test pieces. Optical coherence tomography images of biofilms will be collected with a fully automated micropositioning system. While a novel, co-registered air-jet indenter recently developed at Newcastle will be adopted for non-destructive determination of biofilm viscoelasticity at the exact positions where erosion is measured. The outcomes will be: 1) shortened timescale for screening the antifouling surfaces; and 2) pilot experimental data for validating in-house computational models of biofilm erosion in flow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: - We have achieved the project objectives as planned. - We have validated the air-jet system and has successfully designed and manufactured the bespoken automated stage to accommodate both air-jet indenter and OCT. This new system has been successfully deployed to measure marine biofilms. - The air-jet was manufactured, and the test results were validated against hydrogels tested by another commercial mechanical testing rig (rheometer). The in-house designed bespoken automated stage has been manufactured and deployed for biofilm imaging and testing. The in-house designed software has been developed to couple air-jet, OCT and automated stage. The new coupled automated bioimaging and biomechanical testing system has been adopted to obtain biofilm microstructure and mechanics for marine biofilms. - We are applying IP protection for this unique automated imaging and test rigs for biofilms. The patent paperwork is in progress. - We are planning to write a paper on biofilm mechanics for a well regarded journal (Biotechnology and Bioengineering). We have secured another NBIC grant (3rd round POC) and have tried DARPA (outline proposal submitted, not funded). We just submitted an EPSRC IAA to exploit its wider industrial applications. - NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are extremely impressed with the tremendous support from NBIC in a timely manner when the COVID has significantly impacted the project (e.g. lab closure and researchers infected by COVID). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19126 Automated in-situ detection and monitoring of marine biofilm erosion and mechanical properties via custom optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, resulting in increased frictional drag and fuel penalties. However, as not all biofilm drag is equally costly, "low drag" microfouling may be an acceptable loss to some ship operators. Fouling control coatings minimise biofilm drag by minimising biofilm load. Biofilm disruption by a sustained burst of speed (>> average operational speed) may provide operators with a means of fouling management. Flow conditions during biofilm formation affect growth, mechanical properties and resilience to mechanical disruption. Hydrodynamic stress can cause biofilm erosion and detachment, leading to lower profile, lower drag biofilms. Biomass loss patterns are likely related to various physico-mechanical properties of biofilms such as viscoelasticity, biofilm cohesion, adhesion to the surface, and roughness profiles. This project will relate the resilience of biofilm to disruption in shear and biofilm frictional drag to mechanical properties of biofilms. We will test how: 1. flow conditions during growth influence biomechanical properties and frictional drag of marine biofilm formed on different antifouling surfaces; 2. biofilm biophysical properties determine biofilm erosion in high flow; 3. biofilm frictional drag changes as biofilm structure, extent and biophysical parameters change. Our experimental approach addresses the disparity between the scales at which drag is measured (metre scale flow cell) and the scale at which physico-mechanical measurements are collected (micro to millimetre scale) by imaging hundreds of fields of view along the lengths of fouled drag test pieces. Optical coherence tomography images of biofilms will be collected with a fully automated micropositioning system. While a novel, co-registered air-jet indenter recently developed at Newcastle will be adopted for non-destructive determination of biofilm viscoelasticity at the exact positions where erosion is measured. The outcomes will be: 1) shortened timescale for screening the antifouling surfaces; and 2) pilot experimental data for validating in-house computational models of biofilm erosion in flow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Newcastle University: - We have achieved the project objectives as planned. - We have validated the air-jet system and has successfully designed and manufactured the bespoken automated stage to accommodate both air-jet indenter and OCT. This new system has been successfully deployed to measure marine biofilms. - The air-jet was manufactured, and the test results were validated against hydrogels tested by another commercial mechanical testing rig (rheometer). The in-house designed bespoken automated stage has been manufactured and deployed for biofilm imaging and testing. The in-house designed software has been developed to couple air-jet, OCT and automated stage. The new coupled automated bioimaging and biomechanical testing system has been adopted to obtain biofilm microstructure and mechanics for marine biofilms. - We are applying IP protection for this unique automated imaging and test rigs for biofilms. The patent paperwork is in progress. - We are planning to write a paper on biofilm mechanics for a well regarded journal (Biotechnology and Bioengineering). We have secured another NBIC grant (3rd round POC) and have tried DARPA (outline proposal submitted, not funded). We just submitted an EPSRC IAA to exploit its wider industrial applications. - NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are extremely impressed with the tremendous support from NBIC in a timely manner when the COVID has significantly impacted the project (e.g. lab closure and researchers infected by COVID). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19128 Validation of the Oxi-Cell Ozone System for the Elimination of Biofilms (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Oxi-Tech have developed the in-line ozone production system Oxi-Cell for water treatment. Oxi-Cell provides an in situ electrolytic process generating dissolved ozone in cold water from the electrolysis of the water. Ozone is recognised as a powerful yet environmentally clean disinfectant. This project will determine the effectiveness of Oxi-Cell in combatting bacterial growth by 2 key indicator organisms relevant to Oxi-Tech's target. We will investigate the effectiveness of the Oxi-Cell ozone device against planktonic and biofilm cultures within model systems designed to be representative of the working conditions expected within the target market settings. The efficacy of Oxi-Cell technologies will be assessed through confocal microscopic examination of the biofilm and colony forming unit enumeration following treatment with ozone. Oxi-Tech will use this information to validate the antimicrobial efficacy of their product which will assist market entry by Oxi-Cell. In brief we will develop model systems to expose both planktonic and biofilm cultures to 1.5 mg/L ozone. The biofilms will be grown on coupons representative of the materials found within water systems. Biofilm formation will be assessed through confocal microscopy with Live/Dead staining. All research will be carried out within a class 2 laboratory in adherence with appropriate risk assessments and disinfection procedures. Ozone gas exposure is a low risk within this project. The risk of exposure to ozone gas is mitigated through the following steps: - Ozone generation will only take place within the liquid filled portions of the Oxi-Cell ensuring that the ozone is dissolved within fluids. - All air vents from the system will be fitted with an activated carbon filter to reduce exposure to any ozone which comes out of solution. - The class 2 laboratory in which the experiments will take place equipped with an efficient air handling system which would significantly reduce any potential exposure. - The model system will be fitted with an ozone sensor which will alarm should ozone levels rise to an unsafe level. The laboratory would then be evacuated. - All ozone treated fluids will be left for 30 minutes following treatment before handling. This will allow time for all ozone to revert to molecular oxygen. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19128 Validation of the Oxi-Cell Ozone System for the Elimination of Biofilms (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Oxi-Tech Solutions Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Oxi-Tech have developed the in-line ozone production system Oxi-Cell for water treatment. Oxi-Cell provides an in situ electrolytic process generating dissolved ozone in cold water from the electrolysis of the water. Ozone is recognised as a powerful yet environmentally clean disinfectant. This project will determine the effectiveness of Oxi-Cell in combatting bacterial growth by 2 key indicator organisms relevant to Oxi-Tech's target. We will investigate the effectiveness of the Oxi-Cell ozone device against planktonic and biofilm cultures within model systems designed to be representative of the working conditions expected within the target market settings. The efficacy of Oxi-Cell technologies will be assessed through confocal microscopic examination of the biofilm and colony forming unit enumeration following treatment with ozone. Oxi-Tech will use this information to validate the antimicrobial efficacy of their product which will assist market entry by Oxi-Cell. In brief we will develop model systems to expose both planktonic and biofilm cultures to 1.5 mg/L ozone. The biofilms will be grown on coupons representative of the materials found within water systems. Biofilm formation will be assessed through confocal microscopy with Live/Dead staining. All research will be carried out within a class 2 laboratory in adherence with appropriate risk assessments and disinfection procedures. Ozone gas exposure is a low risk within this project. The risk of exposure to ozone gas is mitigated through the following steps: - Ozone generation will only take place within the liquid filled portions of the Oxi-Cell ensuring that the ozone is dissolved within fluids. - All air vents from the system will be fitted with an activated carbon filter to reduce exposure to any ozone which comes out of solution. - The class 2 laboratory in which the experiments will take place equipped with an efficient air handling system which would significantly reduce any potential exposure. - The model system will be fitted with an ozone sensor which will alarm should ozone levels rise to an unsafe level. The laboratory would then be evacuated. - All ozone treated fluids will be left for 30 minutes following treatment before handling. This will allow time for all ozone to revert to molecular oxygen. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19128 Validation of the Oxi-Cell Ozone System for the Elimination of Biofilms (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Oxi-Tech have developed the in-line ozone production system Oxi-Cell for water treatment. Oxi-Cell provides an in situ electrolytic process generating dissolved ozone in cold water from the electrolysis of the water. Ozone is recognised as a powerful yet environmentally clean disinfectant. This project will determine the effectiveness of Oxi-Cell in combatting bacterial growth by 2 key indicator organisms relevant to Oxi-Tech's target. We will investigate the effectiveness of the Oxi-Cell ozone device against planktonic and biofilm cultures within model systems designed to be representative of the working conditions expected within the target market settings. The efficacy of Oxi-Cell technologies will be assessed through confocal microscopic examination of the biofilm and colony forming unit enumeration following treatment with ozone. Oxi-Tech will use this information to validate the antimicrobial efficacy of their product which will assist market entry by Oxi-Cell. In brief we will develop model systems to expose both planktonic and biofilm cultures to 1.5 mg/L ozone. The biofilms will be grown on coupons representative of the materials found within water systems. Biofilm formation will be assessed through confocal microscopy with Live/Dead staining. All research will be carried out within a class 2 laboratory in adherence with appropriate risk assessments and disinfection procedures. Ozone gas exposure is a low risk within this project. The risk of exposure to ozone gas is mitigated through the following steps: - Ozone generation will only take place within the liquid filled portions of the Oxi-Cell ensuring that the ozone is dissolved within fluids. - All air vents from the system will be fitted with an activated carbon filter to reduce exposure to any ozone which comes out of solution. - The class 2 laboratory in which the experiments will take place equipped with an efficient air handling system which would significantly reduce any potential exposure. - The model system will be fitted with an ozone sensor which will alarm should ozone levels rise to an unsafe level. The laboratory would then be evacuated. - All ozone treated fluids will be left for 30 minutes following treatment before handling. This will allow time for all ozone to revert to molecular oxygen. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19129 Plasma for the prevention and management of chronic wound biofilms (Matthew Hardman) |
| Organisation | Fourth State Medicine Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to directly evaluate the safety, efficacy and performance characteristics of an innovative new treatment for the management and prevention of biofilms in human chronic wounds. The market opportunity: There is an urgent need for new treatments that are able to disrupt existing biofilms and prevent wound biofilm formation without promoting antimicrobial resistance. Current approaches: Current state-of-the-art chronic wound treatments, such a cell-based therapies, are almost exclusively focused on wound cell activation and closure. Yet, wounds regularly persist unhealed for many years, often with recurrent and recalcitrant infections. Evidence now shows that bacterial biofilms play a major role in delayed healing and antibiotic treatment failure. Indeed, the rate of antibiotic therapy is reportedly 10 times higher in chronic wound patients. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market effective non-antimicrobial strategies for the management of biofilms in chronic wounds. This will reduce antibiotic resistance and lead to faster healing with reduced wound reoccurrence. Fourth State Medicine Ltd Innovation: This proposal represents a totally disruptive approach to biofilm management, repurposing an existing technology from the cosmetic to wound care market. Fourth State Medicine Ltd's highly innovative solution to biofilm management is built around their patented plasma engine capable of targeted application of both hot and cold plasma. Our study in brief: In the context of wound management, we will test an entirely new sequential plasma delivery approach. Powerful hot plasma will first locally disrupt established wound biofilm, while minimally invasive cold plasma will ensure subsequent prevention of biofilm re-formation. This approach is tailored to fit within current clinical practice, maximising applicability and generalisability. Evaluating success: We will evaluate success using carefully designed work-package-linked project deliverables. We will use clinically relevant models with defined readout parameters to address efficacy, safety and reproducibility. Fourth State Medicine Ltd (4SM) have developed an innovative platform technology, used to power their CE-marked hot/cold plasma Nebulaskin cosmetic device (Fig 1). Our pilot data demonstrates clear efficacy of cold plasma against non-biofilm bacteria (Fig 2) and the ability of cold plasma to prevent the formation of biofilm (Fig 3). This POC project will significantly extend this work, for the first time, applying both hot and cold plasma to established wound-associated bacterial biofilms (Fig 4), evaluating efficacy, selectivity and safety. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - This NIBC funded POC project addressed a major area of unmet need, development of chronic wound biofilms. It brought together Fourth state Medicine, an SME who have developed to device for the controlled delivery of atmospheric plasma, and the University of Hull, who have extensive wound biology/microbiology expertise. The project demonstrated that remotely delivered cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) delivers substantial anti-microbial efficacy against nosocomial wound pathogens. Moreover, remotely delivered CAP prevents biofilm formation across a range of wound bacteria. Crucially, the plasma technology is compatible with gas delivery and NPWT dressings currently in clinical use and offers therapeutic delivery modalities that can be easily integrated into the current patient pathway. There were some challenges posted by Coivd-19 but alternative studies were implemented that add values to further translation of this technology. - Our results clearly demonstrate that short-term remotely delivered CAP is able to prevent the formation of wound relevant biofilms. This mode of delivery is perfectly suited to a wearable, easy to apply wound dressing technology, and has considerable promise for future development. - This project has now been successful in obtaining follow on industry funding (from a leading wound care company) to further explore implementation of this technology. - Feedback to NBIC: We have found the POC process to be well managed, rewarding and have significantly benefited from being involved. NBIC is doing a fantastic job of bringing the biofilm community together. This POC project and other NBIC interactions and collaborations have grown our collaborator network and added significant value to ongoing project. Dr Katerina Steventon has been particularly important in realising these benefits. Feedback from Fourth State Medicine: - We have secured follow on funding from Innovate UK to a tune of £79897. The in kind contribution from Fourth State Medicine is £21,000. Project title: Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19129 Plasma for the prevention and management of chronic wound biofilms (Matthew Hardman) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to directly evaluate the safety, efficacy and performance characteristics of an innovative new treatment for the management and prevention of biofilms in human chronic wounds. The market opportunity: There is an urgent need for new treatments that are able to disrupt existing biofilms and prevent wound biofilm formation without promoting antimicrobial resistance. Current approaches: Current state-of-the-art chronic wound treatments, such a cell-based therapies, are almost exclusively focused on wound cell activation and closure. Yet, wounds regularly persist unhealed for many years, often with recurrent and recalcitrant infections. Evidence now shows that bacterial biofilms play a major role in delayed healing and antibiotic treatment failure. Indeed, the rate of antibiotic therapy is reportedly 10 times higher in chronic wound patients. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market effective non-antimicrobial strategies for the management of biofilms in chronic wounds. This will reduce antibiotic resistance and lead to faster healing with reduced wound reoccurrence. Fourth State Medicine Ltd Innovation: This proposal represents a totally disruptive approach to biofilm management, repurposing an existing technology from the cosmetic to wound care market. Fourth State Medicine Ltd's highly innovative solution to biofilm management is built around their patented plasma engine capable of targeted application of both hot and cold plasma. Our study in brief: In the context of wound management, we will test an entirely new sequential plasma delivery approach. Powerful hot plasma will first locally disrupt established wound biofilm, while minimally invasive cold plasma will ensure subsequent prevention of biofilm re-formation. This approach is tailored to fit within current clinical practice, maximising applicability and generalisability. Evaluating success: We will evaluate success using carefully designed work-package-linked project deliverables. We will use clinically relevant models with defined readout parameters to address efficacy, safety and reproducibility. Fourth State Medicine Ltd (4SM) have developed an innovative platform technology, used to power their CE-marked hot/cold plasma Nebulaskin cosmetic device (Fig 1). Our pilot data demonstrates clear efficacy of cold plasma against non-biofilm bacteria (Fig 2) and the ability of cold plasma to prevent the formation of biofilm (Fig 3). This POC project will significantly extend this work, for the first time, applying both hot and cold plasma to established wound-associated bacterial biofilms (Fig 4), evaluating efficacy, selectivity and safety. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - This NIBC funded POC project addressed a major area of unmet need, development of chronic wound biofilms. It brought together Fourth state Medicine, an SME who have developed to device for the controlled delivery of atmospheric plasma, and the University of Hull, who have extensive wound biology/microbiology expertise. The project demonstrated that remotely delivered cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) delivers substantial anti-microbial efficacy against nosocomial wound pathogens. Moreover, remotely delivered CAP prevents biofilm formation across a range of wound bacteria. Crucially, the plasma technology is compatible with gas delivery and NPWT dressings currently in clinical use and offers therapeutic delivery modalities that can be easily integrated into the current patient pathway. There were some challenges posted by Coivd-19 but alternative studies were implemented that add values to further translation of this technology. - Our results clearly demonstrate that short-term remotely delivered CAP is able to prevent the formation of wound relevant biofilms. This mode of delivery is perfectly suited to a wearable, easy to apply wound dressing technology, and has considerable promise for future development. - This project has now been successful in obtaining follow on industry funding (from a leading wound care company) to further explore implementation of this technology. - Feedback to NBIC: We have found the POC process to be well managed, rewarding and have significantly benefited from being involved. NBIC is doing a fantastic job of bringing the biofilm community together. This POC project and other NBIC interactions and collaborations have grown our collaborator network and added significant value to ongoing project. Dr Katerina Steventon has been particularly important in realising these benefits. Feedback from Fourth State Medicine: - We have secured follow on funding from Innovate UK to a tune of £79897. The in kind contribution from Fourth State Medicine is £21,000. Project title: Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19129 Plasma for the prevention and management of chronic wound biofilms (Matthew Hardman) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to directly evaluate the safety, efficacy and performance characteristics of an innovative new treatment for the management and prevention of biofilms in human chronic wounds. The market opportunity: There is an urgent need for new treatments that are able to disrupt existing biofilms and prevent wound biofilm formation without promoting antimicrobial resistance. Current approaches: Current state-of-the-art chronic wound treatments, such a cell-based therapies, are almost exclusively focused on wound cell activation and closure. Yet, wounds regularly persist unhealed for many years, often with recurrent and recalcitrant infections. Evidence now shows that bacterial biofilms play a major role in delayed healing and antibiotic treatment failure. Indeed, the rate of antibiotic therapy is reportedly 10 times higher in chronic wound patients. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market effective non-antimicrobial strategies for the management of biofilms in chronic wounds. This will reduce antibiotic resistance and lead to faster healing with reduced wound reoccurrence. Fourth State Medicine Ltd Innovation: This proposal represents a totally disruptive approach to biofilm management, repurposing an existing technology from the cosmetic to wound care market. Fourth State Medicine Ltd's highly innovative solution to biofilm management is built around their patented plasma engine capable of targeted application of both hot and cold plasma. Our study in brief: In the context of wound management, we will test an entirely new sequential plasma delivery approach. Powerful hot plasma will first locally disrupt established wound biofilm, while minimally invasive cold plasma will ensure subsequent prevention of biofilm re-formation. This approach is tailored to fit within current clinical practice, maximising applicability and generalisability. Evaluating success: We will evaluate success using carefully designed work-package-linked project deliverables. We will use clinically relevant models with defined readout parameters to address efficacy, safety and reproducibility. Fourth State Medicine Ltd (4SM) have developed an innovative platform technology, used to power their CE-marked hot/cold plasma Nebulaskin cosmetic device (Fig 1). Our pilot data demonstrates clear efficacy of cold plasma against non-biofilm bacteria (Fig 2) and the ability of cold plasma to prevent the formation of biofilm (Fig 3). This POC project will significantly extend this work, for the first time, applying both hot and cold plasma to established wound-associated bacterial biofilms (Fig 4), evaluating efficacy, selectivity and safety. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Hull: - This NIBC funded POC project addressed a major area of unmet need, development of chronic wound biofilms. It brought together Fourth state Medicine, an SME who have developed to device for the controlled delivery of atmospheric plasma, and the University of Hull, who have extensive wound biology/microbiology expertise. The project demonstrated that remotely delivered cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) delivers substantial anti-microbial efficacy against nosocomial wound pathogens. Moreover, remotely delivered CAP prevents biofilm formation across a range of wound bacteria. Crucially, the plasma technology is compatible with gas delivery and NPWT dressings currently in clinical use and offers therapeutic delivery modalities that can be easily integrated into the current patient pathway. There were some challenges posted by Coivd-19 but alternative studies were implemented that add values to further translation of this technology. - Our results clearly demonstrate that short-term remotely delivered CAP is able to prevent the formation of wound relevant biofilms. This mode of delivery is perfectly suited to a wearable, easy to apply wound dressing technology, and has considerable promise for future development. - This project has now been successful in obtaining follow on industry funding (from a leading wound care company) to further explore implementation of this technology. - Feedback to NBIC: We have found the POC process to be well managed, rewarding and have significantly benefited from being involved. NBIC is doing a fantastic job of bringing the biofilm community together. This POC project and other NBIC interactions and collaborations have grown our collaborator network and added significant value to ongoing project. Dr Katerina Steventon has been particularly important in realising these benefits. Feedback from Fourth State Medicine: - We have secured follow on funding from Innovate UK to a tune of £79897. The in kind contribution from Fourth State Medicine is £21,000. Project title: Development and application of a new technology for the targeted management of biofilms in human chronic wounds. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19131 Development of a non-thermal plasma applicator for the decontamination of medical endoscopes (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | Creo Medical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proof-of-principle study aims to develop non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a novel technological approach for the decontamination of endoscope operating channels, as part of existing re-processing procedures within hospital facilities. This project will build upon existing collaborative research undertaken by UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that demonstrated basic in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a NTP generator system against planktonic bacteria (see attached figure). The main project objective is to develop and optimise a bespoke nonthermal plasma applicator for effective decontamination of medically relevant microbial biofilms grown within endoscope operating channels. NTPs are partially ionised gases that contain highly reactive particles, including: electronically excited atoms, molecules, ionic and free radical species, and has potential applications for sterilisation and disinfection within biological and medical fields. It has multiple advantages in the decontamination/ sterilisation of hard surfaces as it is non-wetting, does not contain potentially harmful biocides, and it leaves no chemical residue. Recent technological breakthroughs have resulted in the ability to produce low temperature plasmas under atmospheric conditions, which has enabled Creo Medical to develop NTP technology with a range of potential biomedical applications. The success of this project will be measured by development of a novel NTP applicator specifically designed for treatment of endoscope operating channels and concomitant antimicrobial data showing the capability of this system in reducing biofilm bioburden within a laboratory model. This will give confidence and results to enable future industrial capital investment, and support bids to UK research councils to move the research towards practical exploitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of the West of England: - Overall, the results of this proof-of-concept study have demonstrated that the Creo Medical Ltd. developed non-thermal plasma applicator is capable of significant decontamination of surrogate endoscope operating channels contaminated with bacterial biofilms. Further collaborative optimisation and testing is now required to produce a fully functioning clinical prototype device for integration into endoscope reprocessing work flows. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the non-thermal plasma device for the decontamination of medical endoscopes. UWE Bristol and Creo Medical will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been identified and work towards them has already been undertaken to exploit the successful project outcomes. A grant application to Innovate UK Smart Grants was initially developed to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. However, due to the positive outcomes of this study and the desire of Creo Medical Ltd. for rapid research and development to enable technological implementation and commercialisation, they have now committed to direct funding a collaborative project between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical. This project will start on 1st February 2021 (subject to contracts). - Feedback to NBIC: The NBIC POC process has enabled key business engagement and collaboration between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that would not have been otherwise possible. In addition, the consortium would like to thank NBIC for providing extension funds that enabled successful completion of this grant within the context of the global pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19131 Development of a non-thermal plasma applicator for the decontamination of medical endoscopes (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proof-of-principle study aims to develop non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a novel technological approach for the decontamination of endoscope operating channels, as part of existing re-processing procedures within hospital facilities. This project will build upon existing collaborative research undertaken by UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that demonstrated basic in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a NTP generator system against planktonic bacteria (see attached figure). The main project objective is to develop and optimise a bespoke nonthermal plasma applicator for effective decontamination of medically relevant microbial biofilms grown within endoscope operating channels. NTPs are partially ionised gases that contain highly reactive particles, including: electronically excited atoms, molecules, ionic and free radical species, and has potential applications for sterilisation and disinfection within biological and medical fields. It has multiple advantages in the decontamination/ sterilisation of hard surfaces as it is non-wetting, does not contain potentially harmful biocides, and it leaves no chemical residue. Recent technological breakthroughs have resulted in the ability to produce low temperature plasmas under atmospheric conditions, which has enabled Creo Medical to develop NTP technology with a range of potential biomedical applications. The success of this project will be measured by development of a novel NTP applicator specifically designed for treatment of endoscope operating channels and concomitant antimicrobial data showing the capability of this system in reducing biofilm bioburden within a laboratory model. This will give confidence and results to enable future industrial capital investment, and support bids to UK research councils to move the research towards practical exploitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of the West of England: - Overall, the results of this proof-of-concept study have demonstrated that the Creo Medical Ltd. developed non-thermal plasma applicator is capable of significant decontamination of surrogate endoscope operating channels contaminated with bacterial biofilms. Further collaborative optimisation and testing is now required to produce a fully functioning clinical prototype device for integration into endoscope reprocessing work flows. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the non-thermal plasma device for the decontamination of medical endoscopes. UWE Bristol and Creo Medical will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been identified and work towards them has already been undertaken to exploit the successful project outcomes. A grant application to Innovate UK Smart Grants was initially developed to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. However, due to the positive outcomes of this study and the desire of Creo Medical Ltd. for rapid research and development to enable technological implementation and commercialisation, they have now committed to direct funding a collaborative project between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical. This project will start on 1st February 2021 (subject to contracts). - Feedback to NBIC: The NBIC POC process has enabled key business engagement and collaboration between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that would not have been otherwise possible. In addition, the consortium would like to thank NBIC for providing extension funds that enabled successful completion of this grant within the context of the global pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19131 Development of a non-thermal plasma applicator for the decontamination of medical endoscopes (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | PENTAX Medical Company |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proof-of-principle study aims to develop non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a novel technological approach for the decontamination of endoscope operating channels, as part of existing re-processing procedures within hospital facilities. This project will build upon existing collaborative research undertaken by UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that demonstrated basic in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a NTP generator system against planktonic bacteria (see attached figure). The main project objective is to develop and optimise a bespoke nonthermal plasma applicator for effective decontamination of medically relevant microbial biofilms grown within endoscope operating channels. NTPs are partially ionised gases that contain highly reactive particles, including: electronically excited atoms, molecules, ionic and free radical species, and has potential applications for sterilisation and disinfection within biological and medical fields. It has multiple advantages in the decontamination/ sterilisation of hard surfaces as it is non-wetting, does not contain potentially harmful biocides, and it leaves no chemical residue. Recent technological breakthroughs have resulted in the ability to produce low temperature plasmas under atmospheric conditions, which has enabled Creo Medical to develop NTP technology with a range of potential biomedical applications. The success of this project will be measured by development of a novel NTP applicator specifically designed for treatment of endoscope operating channels and concomitant antimicrobial data showing the capability of this system in reducing biofilm bioburden within a laboratory model. This will give confidence and results to enable future industrial capital investment, and support bids to UK research councils to move the research towards practical exploitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of the West of England: - Overall, the results of this proof-of-concept study have demonstrated that the Creo Medical Ltd. developed non-thermal plasma applicator is capable of significant decontamination of surrogate endoscope operating channels contaminated with bacterial biofilms. Further collaborative optimisation and testing is now required to produce a fully functioning clinical prototype device for integration into endoscope reprocessing work flows. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the non-thermal plasma device for the decontamination of medical endoscopes. UWE Bristol and Creo Medical will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been identified and work towards them has already been undertaken to exploit the successful project outcomes. A grant application to Innovate UK Smart Grants was initially developed to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. However, due to the positive outcomes of this study and the desire of Creo Medical Ltd. for rapid research and development to enable technological implementation and commercialisation, they have now committed to direct funding a collaborative project between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical. This project will start on 1st February 2021 (subject to contracts). - Feedback to NBIC: The NBIC POC process has enabled key business engagement and collaboration between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that would not have been otherwise possible. In addition, the consortium would like to thank NBIC for providing extension funds that enabled successful completion of this grant within the context of the global pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19131 Development of a non-thermal plasma applicator for the decontamination of medical endoscopes (Robin Thorn) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This proof-of-principle study aims to develop non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a novel technological approach for the decontamination of endoscope operating channels, as part of existing re-processing procedures within hospital facilities. This project will build upon existing collaborative research undertaken by UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that demonstrated basic in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a NTP generator system against planktonic bacteria (see attached figure). The main project objective is to develop and optimise a bespoke nonthermal plasma applicator for effective decontamination of medically relevant microbial biofilms grown within endoscope operating channels. NTPs are partially ionised gases that contain highly reactive particles, including: electronically excited atoms, molecules, ionic and free radical species, and has potential applications for sterilisation and disinfection within biological and medical fields. It has multiple advantages in the decontamination/ sterilisation of hard surfaces as it is non-wetting, does not contain potentially harmful biocides, and it leaves no chemical residue. Recent technological breakthroughs have resulted in the ability to produce low temperature plasmas under atmospheric conditions, which has enabled Creo Medical to develop NTP technology with a range of potential biomedical applications. The success of this project will be measured by development of a novel NTP applicator specifically designed for treatment of endoscope operating channels and concomitant antimicrobial data showing the capability of this system in reducing biofilm bioburden within a laboratory model. This will give confidence and results to enable future industrial capital investment, and support bids to UK research councils to move the research towards practical exploitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of the West of England: - Overall, the results of this proof-of-concept study have demonstrated that the Creo Medical Ltd. developed non-thermal plasma applicator is capable of significant decontamination of surrogate endoscope operating channels contaminated with bacterial biofilms. Further collaborative optimisation and testing is now required to produce a fully functioning clinical prototype device for integration into endoscope reprocessing work flows. - The project has resulted in the generation of data sets related to the development of the non-thermal plasma device for the decontamination of medical endoscopes. UWE Bristol and Creo Medical will co-own the Intellectual Property Rights in these results together with any derivatives thereof, and may take such steps as it may decide from time to time, at its expense, to register and maintain any protection for the Intellectual Property Rights in the results, including filing and maintaining patent applications. No current patents based on the project outcomes are pending. - Due to the success of this project, a number of key next steps have already been identified and work towards them has already been undertaken to exploit the successful project outcomes. A grant application to Innovate UK Smart Grants was initially developed to exploit the scientific technological outcomes from this NBIC project. However, due to the positive outcomes of this study and the desire of Creo Medical Ltd. for rapid research and development to enable technological implementation and commercialisation, they have now committed to direct funding a collaborative project between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical. This project will start on 1st February 2021 (subject to contracts). - Feedback to NBIC: The NBIC POC process has enabled key business engagement and collaboration between UWE Bristol and Creo Medical that would not have been otherwise possible. In addition, the consortium would like to thank NBIC for providing extension funds that enabled successful completion of this grant within the context of the global pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19134 Standardised complex wound biofilm models - a robust antimicrobial screening tool (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | BluTest Laboratories Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the feasibility of a rapid and reproducible commercial assay for testing and screening of active agents against complex multi-species wound biofilms. We aim to develop a high throughput biofilm assay platform capable of testing the anti-biofilm efficacy of bioactive compounds, while simultaneously assessing the impact on inflammatory biomarkers. The concept of the study is to provide a simple and robust platform for a complex problem, using easily quantifiable parameters that enables laboratory personnel within an industrial setting to readily undertake biofilm testing and inflammatory biomarker assessment. Complex wound biofilm models, informed from real patient microbiome analysis at the University of Glasgow (UoG), will be integrated into mammalian cell coculture systems. The USP for this model is our ability to enhance claims support for anti-biofilm molecules, both in terms of a microbial effect and how this alters inflammation. These models will be developed, tested and validated at the University of Glasgow (UoG) prior to technology transfer to BluTest Laboratories (BTL). These model systems will be implemented through training SOPs and onsite training prior to embedding into the established quality assurances systems. This models will then be made commercially available, working with partners such as Smith & Nephew (see letter of support). Success will be measured two-fold, technology transfer of robust high throughout complex wound biofilm model, and future revenues generated by commercial success at BTL. This project fits with the overall mission of NBIC, where we have established a network of research and innovation capacity by forging a close collaboration between industry and academia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Glasgow: - Overall, the project followed the original plan with only small deviations from those stated in the work plans. - A clinically relevant multi-species biofilm model was developed containing a total of 10- bacterial and 1 fungal species. Previous microbiome analyses by the research group were used to guide the development of the complex polymicrobial wound biofilm model (Smith et al., 2016; Townsend., 2017), which ultimately contained 11- microbial species (10 bacteria and 1 fungal species). - The complex biofilm model was utilised effectively to assess the efficacy of three conventional anti-biofilm washes (CHX, PVP and H2O2). Development of a complex 3D-co-culture system to used to identify potential biomarkers (at a gene and protein level) which could dictate effectiveness of novel treatments moving forward. - Appropriate in-house training was provided for a member of BLT, to grow and treat the biofilms, as well as to handle and process the tissue model. Defined SOPs for all methods were also produced and provided to BLT as part of the technology transfer. - All three conventional anti-biofilm wound washes were effective in reducing the viability of the complex polymicrobial biofilm. However, unique transcriptional and proteomic responses were observed when assessing the response of a 3D skin epidermis model to treated and untreated biofilms. This study has succeeded in identifying possible genes or proteins that could be used as possible biomarkers of inflammation in future anti-biofilm treatment studies. - Considering progressing a patent application. The model composition, SOPs how to construct this and quantitative and qualitative measures have now been transferred to BluTest Laboratories and this is part of their Biofilm Assay Portfolio. - The results of the current study are being compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal.. - We used the basis of the model to support a grant application to EPSRC to the value of £369,080 to Glasgow and £1.7M in total: • https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/V005839/1 • https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/materials-science-institute/news/17m-project-to-explore-groundbreaking-new-treatment-for-biofilm-infections-in-foot-ulcers-1 This model's application will help us drive further exploration in this space. - Blutest have appointed one of Gordon's PhD students as a biofilm specialist and Gordon has supported a PostDoc role. Published paper: 10.1038/s41522-022-00286-z |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19134 Standardised complex wound biofilm models - a robust antimicrobial screening tool (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the feasibility of a rapid and reproducible commercial assay for testing and screening of active agents against complex multi-species wound biofilms. We aim to develop a high throughput biofilm assay platform capable of testing the anti-biofilm efficacy of bioactive compounds, while simultaneously assessing the impact on inflammatory biomarkers. The concept of the study is to provide a simple and robust platform for a complex problem, using easily quantifiable parameters that enables laboratory personnel within an industrial setting to readily undertake biofilm testing and inflammatory biomarker assessment. Complex wound biofilm models, informed from real patient microbiome analysis at the University of Glasgow (UoG), will be integrated into mammalian cell coculture systems. The USP for this model is our ability to enhance claims support for anti-biofilm molecules, both in terms of a microbial effect and how this alters inflammation. These models will be developed, tested and validated at the University of Glasgow (UoG) prior to technology transfer to BluTest Laboratories (BTL). These model systems will be implemented through training SOPs and onsite training prior to embedding into the established quality assurances systems. This models will then be made commercially available, working with partners such as Smith & Nephew (see letter of support). Success will be measured two-fold, technology transfer of robust high throughout complex wound biofilm model, and future revenues generated by commercial success at BTL. This project fits with the overall mission of NBIC, where we have established a network of research and innovation capacity by forging a close collaboration between industry and academia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Glasgow: - Overall, the project followed the original plan with only small deviations from those stated in the work plans. - A clinically relevant multi-species biofilm model was developed containing a total of 10- bacterial and 1 fungal species. Previous microbiome analyses by the research group were used to guide the development of the complex polymicrobial wound biofilm model (Smith et al., 2016; Townsend., 2017), which ultimately contained 11- microbial species (10 bacteria and 1 fungal species). - The complex biofilm model was utilised effectively to assess the efficacy of three conventional anti-biofilm washes (CHX, PVP and H2O2). Development of a complex 3D-co-culture system to used to identify potential biomarkers (at a gene and protein level) which could dictate effectiveness of novel treatments moving forward. - Appropriate in-house training was provided for a member of BLT, to grow and treat the biofilms, as well as to handle and process the tissue model. Defined SOPs for all methods were also produced and provided to BLT as part of the technology transfer. - All three conventional anti-biofilm wound washes were effective in reducing the viability of the complex polymicrobial biofilm. However, unique transcriptional and proteomic responses were observed when assessing the response of a 3D skin epidermis model to treated and untreated biofilms. This study has succeeded in identifying possible genes or proteins that could be used as possible biomarkers of inflammation in future anti-biofilm treatment studies. - Considering progressing a patent application. The model composition, SOPs how to construct this and quantitative and qualitative measures have now been transferred to BluTest Laboratories and this is part of their Biofilm Assay Portfolio. - The results of the current study are being compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal.. - We used the basis of the model to support a grant application to EPSRC to the value of £369,080 to Glasgow and £1.7M in total: • https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/V005839/1 • https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/materials-science-institute/news/17m-project-to-explore-groundbreaking-new-treatment-for-biofilm-infections-in-foot-ulcers-1 This model's application will help us drive further exploration in this space. - Blutest have appointed one of Gordon's PhD students as a biofilm specialist and Gordon has supported a PostDoc role. Published paper: 10.1038/s41522-022-00286-z |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19134 Standardised complex wound biofilm models - a robust antimicrobial screening tool (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the feasibility of a rapid and reproducible commercial assay for testing and screening of active agents against complex multi-species wound biofilms. We aim to develop a high throughput biofilm assay platform capable of testing the anti-biofilm efficacy of bioactive compounds, while simultaneously assessing the impact on inflammatory biomarkers. The concept of the study is to provide a simple and robust platform for a complex problem, using easily quantifiable parameters that enables laboratory personnel within an industrial setting to readily undertake biofilm testing and inflammatory biomarker assessment. Complex wound biofilm models, informed from real patient microbiome analysis at the University of Glasgow (UoG), will be integrated into mammalian cell coculture systems. The USP for this model is our ability to enhance claims support for anti-biofilm molecules, both in terms of a microbial effect and how this alters inflammation. These models will be developed, tested and validated at the University of Glasgow (UoG) prior to technology transfer to BluTest Laboratories (BTL). These model systems will be implemented through training SOPs and onsite training prior to embedding into the established quality assurances systems. This models will then be made commercially available, working with partners such as Smith & Nephew (see letter of support). Success will be measured two-fold, technology transfer of robust high throughout complex wound biofilm model, and future revenues generated by commercial success at BTL. This project fits with the overall mission of NBIC, where we have established a network of research and innovation capacity by forging a close collaboration between industry and academia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Glasgow: - Overall, the project followed the original plan with only small deviations from those stated in the work plans. - A clinically relevant multi-species biofilm model was developed containing a total of 10- bacterial and 1 fungal species. Previous microbiome analyses by the research group were used to guide the development of the complex polymicrobial wound biofilm model (Smith et al., 2016; Townsend., 2017), which ultimately contained 11- microbial species (10 bacteria and 1 fungal species). - The complex biofilm model was utilised effectively to assess the efficacy of three conventional anti-biofilm washes (CHX, PVP and H2O2). Development of a complex 3D-co-culture system to used to identify potential biomarkers (at a gene and protein level) which could dictate effectiveness of novel treatments moving forward. - Appropriate in-house training was provided for a member of BLT, to grow and treat the biofilms, as well as to handle and process the tissue model. Defined SOPs for all methods were also produced and provided to BLT as part of the technology transfer. - All three conventional anti-biofilm wound washes were effective in reducing the viability of the complex polymicrobial biofilm. However, unique transcriptional and proteomic responses were observed when assessing the response of a 3D skin epidermis model to treated and untreated biofilms. This study has succeeded in identifying possible genes or proteins that could be used as possible biomarkers of inflammation in future anti-biofilm treatment studies. - Considering progressing a patent application. The model composition, SOPs how to construct this and quantitative and qualitative measures have now been transferred to BluTest Laboratories and this is part of their Biofilm Assay Portfolio. - The results of the current study are being compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal.. - We used the basis of the model to support a grant application to EPSRC to the value of £369,080 to Glasgow and £1.7M in total: • https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/V005839/1 • https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/materials-science-institute/news/17m-project-to-explore-groundbreaking-new-treatment-for-biofilm-infections-in-foot-ulcers-1 This model's application will help us drive further exploration in this space. - Blutest have appointed one of Gordon's PhD students as a biofilm specialist and Gordon has supported a PostDoc role. Published paper: 10.1038/s41522-022-00286-z |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19140 Rapid Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Wounds (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project Objectives OB1: Test the feasibility of rapid quantitative detection of bacteria/ biofilm in a wound-mimicking sample using a novel aptamer-beacon-based optical fluorescence detection technique. - OB1.1: Selection of aptamer: Wound-relevant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens will be used as targets. A range of DNA-aptamers reported in the literature to be specific against Gram-negative bacteria will be compared for affinity both in standard saline solution and simulated wound fluid, and the best selected. - OB1.2: Design of aptamer beacon: The chosen aptamer will be used to design a novel aptamer beacon (APCON). APCON's fluorescence will be switched on after binding with bacteria and quantitatively measured using a colour meter. Different designs will be compared and the best selected based on quenching and fluorescence efficiency. - OB1.3: Specificity and dynamic range test: Detection of a range of concentration of target Gram negative species will be explored against a background of Gram-positive bacteria in a simulated wound fluid. Bacteria will be grown both as biofilms and planktonic cultures for the test with APCON. Enzymes will be employed to break bacterial biofilms to access bacteria. OB2: Test the feasibility of determination of rapid antibiotic susceptibility. Both kinds of antibiotics will be explored - against which the bacteria is resistant and susceptible. Effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings on biofilm-forming bacteria will also be established. Success Measurands - SM1: Demonstration of detection of Gram-negative bacteria in a wound-relevant medium in presence of Gram-positive bacteria and protein constituents for a dynamic range of 103/mL-108/mL within 30 min. The key parameters to enable cutting down the diagnostic time will be identified as future opportunities to bring this in line with current standard of care patient treatment times. - SM2: Demonstration of determination of antibiotic susceptibility/ resistance and effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings in line with antimicrobial stewardship in wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Loughborough University: We provided Smith & Nephew with validation data from our rapid single-step bacterial detection assay in a wound-mimic buffer provided by Smith & Nephew. We also shared the data on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test with response time and minimum inhibitory concentration using antimicrobial products of Smith & Nephew. These data encouraged Smith & Nephew to consider investing in a market analysis exercise for a rapid point-of-care wound diagnostic test to determine the key functional specifications needed and cost targets. Smith & Nephew helped by giving an industry steer. They advised on what could be the potential functional requirement specs of a rapid point-of-care wound test and shared wound-mimic buffer and their commercial antimicrobial products for evaluating our test under development. |
| Impact | Feedback from Loughborough University: - An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully designed and validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states and determination of antimicrobial sensitivity. - An Intellectual Property application is under consideration by the University's IP team. - A number of journal paper manuscripts have been drafted and will be submitted after the IP application is completed by the University. - The key next step is to extend this technology to validate wound relevant clinical isolates and wound samples by developing a "broad-spectrum" APCON probe and a "broad-spectrum" biofilm disintegrator. - This project has strengthened our engagement with Smith+Nephew. We have also got on board clinicians from Birmingham City University and academics from Lancaster University. - We are working on a grant submission to RCUK on the basis of the results from this NBIC POC2 project. NBIC case study: We regularly help our academic community to find suitable industrial partners to collaborate with on progressing a real-world application of their technology or knowledge either via our workshops, making direct contact or by targeted partner searches. One such partner is Dr Sourav Ghosh from Loughborough University. Loughborough were planning on joining NBIC and as part of our discussions described a diagnostic technology for which they needed a partner. We worked with Dr Ghosh on framing the offering to potentially solve a critical unmet need and then circulating it to our industrial community. The technology is a simple portable test that can perform within 30-45 minutes a single-step detection of whole bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility. This could for example be in a chronic wound. Dr Ghosh said, "We were looking to find a company who could validate this as an unmet need and with whom we could work together to further develop the test into a useful format. The search that NBIC did for us led to some useful contacts. Ultimately we ended up putting in a POC application with a global leader in this field (Smith & Nephew) which was successful!" Smith & Nephew is a leading medical technology company, operating in around 100 countries globally. Dr Iain Webster, Research & Innovation Director at Smith & Nephew said, "Improperly diagnosed wounds place a heavy burden on global healthcare systems. In the UK, approximately 30% of the wounds are not definitively diagnosed. The economic cost of this to the wider society is comparable with that of managing obesity, which was £27 billion in 2014-15. This proposed rapid, definitive and cost-effective diagnostic test for wound infections could transform the therapy pathways for this problem." The streamlined partner search and NBIC application process allowed both parties to work together to efficiently formulate and submit a POC application. The whole process - from circulating the offering to the community to submitting the NBIC POC application as an industry sponsored collaborative piece of work - only took three weeks. The project will start once the contracting phase is completed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19140 Rapid Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Wounds (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project Objectives OB1: Test the feasibility of rapid quantitative detection of bacteria/ biofilm in a wound-mimicking sample using a novel aptamer-beacon-based optical fluorescence detection technique. - OB1.1: Selection of aptamer: Wound-relevant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens will be used as targets. A range of DNA-aptamers reported in the literature to be specific against Gram-negative bacteria will be compared for affinity both in standard saline solution and simulated wound fluid, and the best selected. - OB1.2: Design of aptamer beacon: The chosen aptamer will be used to design a novel aptamer beacon (APCON). APCON's fluorescence will be switched on after binding with bacteria and quantitatively measured using a colour meter. Different designs will be compared and the best selected based on quenching and fluorescence efficiency. - OB1.3: Specificity and dynamic range test: Detection of a range of concentration of target Gram negative species will be explored against a background of Gram-positive bacteria in a simulated wound fluid. Bacteria will be grown both as biofilms and planktonic cultures for the test with APCON. Enzymes will be employed to break bacterial biofilms to access bacteria. OB2: Test the feasibility of determination of rapid antibiotic susceptibility. Both kinds of antibiotics will be explored - against which the bacteria is resistant and susceptible. Effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings on biofilm-forming bacteria will also be established. Success Measurands - SM1: Demonstration of detection of Gram-negative bacteria in a wound-relevant medium in presence of Gram-positive bacteria and protein constituents for a dynamic range of 103/mL-108/mL within 30 min. The key parameters to enable cutting down the diagnostic time will be identified as future opportunities to bring this in line with current standard of care patient treatment times. - SM2: Demonstration of determination of antibiotic susceptibility/ resistance and effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings in line with antimicrobial stewardship in wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Loughborough University: We provided Smith & Nephew with validation data from our rapid single-step bacterial detection assay in a wound-mimic buffer provided by Smith & Nephew. We also shared the data on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test with response time and minimum inhibitory concentration using antimicrobial products of Smith & Nephew. These data encouraged Smith & Nephew to consider investing in a market analysis exercise for a rapid point-of-care wound diagnostic test to determine the key functional specifications needed and cost targets. Smith & Nephew helped by giving an industry steer. They advised on what could be the potential functional requirement specs of a rapid point-of-care wound test and shared wound-mimic buffer and their commercial antimicrobial products for evaluating our test under development. |
| Impact | Feedback from Loughborough University: - An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully designed and validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states and determination of antimicrobial sensitivity. - An Intellectual Property application is under consideration by the University's IP team. - A number of journal paper manuscripts have been drafted and will be submitted after the IP application is completed by the University. - The key next step is to extend this technology to validate wound relevant clinical isolates and wound samples by developing a "broad-spectrum" APCON probe and a "broad-spectrum" biofilm disintegrator. - This project has strengthened our engagement with Smith+Nephew. We have also got on board clinicians from Birmingham City University and academics from Lancaster University. - We are working on a grant submission to RCUK on the basis of the results from this NBIC POC2 project. NBIC case study: We regularly help our academic community to find suitable industrial partners to collaborate with on progressing a real-world application of their technology or knowledge either via our workshops, making direct contact or by targeted partner searches. One such partner is Dr Sourav Ghosh from Loughborough University. Loughborough were planning on joining NBIC and as part of our discussions described a diagnostic technology for which they needed a partner. We worked with Dr Ghosh on framing the offering to potentially solve a critical unmet need and then circulating it to our industrial community. The technology is a simple portable test that can perform within 30-45 minutes a single-step detection of whole bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility. This could for example be in a chronic wound. Dr Ghosh said, "We were looking to find a company who could validate this as an unmet need and with whom we could work together to further develop the test into a useful format. The search that NBIC did for us led to some useful contacts. Ultimately we ended up putting in a POC application with a global leader in this field (Smith & Nephew) which was successful!" Smith & Nephew is a leading medical technology company, operating in around 100 countries globally. Dr Iain Webster, Research & Innovation Director at Smith & Nephew said, "Improperly diagnosed wounds place a heavy burden on global healthcare systems. In the UK, approximately 30% of the wounds are not definitively diagnosed. The economic cost of this to the wider society is comparable with that of managing obesity, which was £27 billion in 2014-15. This proposed rapid, definitive and cost-effective diagnostic test for wound infections could transform the therapy pathways for this problem." The streamlined partner search and NBIC application process allowed both parties to work together to efficiently formulate and submit a POC application. The whole process - from circulating the offering to the community to submitting the NBIC POC application as an industry sponsored collaborative piece of work - only took three weeks. The project will start once the contracting phase is completed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 02POC19140 Rapid Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Wounds (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project Objectives OB1: Test the feasibility of rapid quantitative detection of bacteria/ biofilm in a wound-mimicking sample using a novel aptamer-beacon-based optical fluorescence detection technique. - OB1.1: Selection of aptamer: Wound-relevant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens will be used as targets. A range of DNA-aptamers reported in the literature to be specific against Gram-negative bacteria will be compared for affinity both in standard saline solution and simulated wound fluid, and the best selected. - OB1.2: Design of aptamer beacon: The chosen aptamer will be used to design a novel aptamer beacon (APCON). APCON's fluorescence will be switched on after binding with bacteria and quantitatively measured using a colour meter. Different designs will be compared and the best selected based on quenching and fluorescence efficiency. - OB1.3: Specificity and dynamic range test: Detection of a range of concentration of target Gram negative species will be explored against a background of Gram-positive bacteria in a simulated wound fluid. Bacteria will be grown both as biofilms and planktonic cultures for the test with APCON. Enzymes will be employed to break bacterial biofilms to access bacteria. OB2: Test the feasibility of determination of rapid antibiotic susceptibility. Both kinds of antibiotics will be explored - against which the bacteria is resistant and susceptible. Effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings on biofilm-forming bacteria will also be established. Success Measurands - SM1: Demonstration of detection of Gram-negative bacteria in a wound-relevant medium in presence of Gram-positive bacteria and protein constituents for a dynamic range of 103/mL-108/mL within 30 min. The key parameters to enable cutting down the diagnostic time will be identified as future opportunities to bring this in line with current standard of care patient treatment times. - SM2: Demonstration of determination of antibiotic susceptibility/ resistance and effectiveness of antimicrobial dressings in line with antimicrobial stewardship in wound care. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Loughborough University: We provided Smith & Nephew with validation data from our rapid single-step bacterial detection assay in a wound-mimic buffer provided by Smith & Nephew. We also shared the data on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test with response time and minimum inhibitory concentration using antimicrobial products of Smith & Nephew. These data encouraged Smith & Nephew to consider investing in a market analysis exercise for a rapid point-of-care wound diagnostic test to determine the key functional specifications needed and cost targets. Smith & Nephew helped by giving an industry steer. They advised on what could be the potential functional requirement specs of a rapid point-of-care wound test and shared wound-mimic buffer and their commercial antimicrobial products for evaluating our test under development. |
| Impact | Feedback from Loughborough University: - An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully designed and validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states and determination of antimicrobial sensitivity. - An Intellectual Property application is under consideration by the University's IP team. - A number of journal paper manuscripts have been drafted and will be submitted after the IP application is completed by the University. - The key next step is to extend this technology to validate wound relevant clinical isolates and wound samples by developing a "broad-spectrum" APCON probe and a "broad-spectrum" biofilm disintegrator. - This project has strengthened our engagement with Smith+Nephew. We have also got on board clinicians from Birmingham City University and academics from Lancaster University. - We are working on a grant submission to RCUK on the basis of the results from this NBIC POC2 project. NBIC case study: We regularly help our academic community to find suitable industrial partners to collaborate with on progressing a real-world application of their technology or knowledge either via our workshops, making direct contact or by targeted partner searches. One such partner is Dr Sourav Ghosh from Loughborough University. Loughborough were planning on joining NBIC and as part of our discussions described a diagnostic technology for which they needed a partner. We worked with Dr Ghosh on framing the offering to potentially solve a critical unmet need and then circulating it to our industrial community. The technology is a simple portable test that can perform within 30-45 minutes a single-step detection of whole bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility. This could for example be in a chronic wound. Dr Ghosh said, "We were looking to find a company who could validate this as an unmet need and with whom we could work together to further develop the test into a useful format. The search that NBIC did for us led to some useful contacts. Ultimately we ended up putting in a POC application with a global leader in this field (Smith & Nephew) which was successful!" Smith & Nephew is a leading medical technology company, operating in around 100 countries globally. Dr Iain Webster, Research & Innovation Director at Smith & Nephew said, "Improperly diagnosed wounds place a heavy burden on global healthcare systems. In the UK, approximately 30% of the wounds are not definitively diagnosed. The economic cost of this to the wider society is comparable with that of managing obesity, which was £27 billion in 2014-15. This proposed rapid, definitive and cost-effective diagnostic test for wound infections could transform the therapy pathways for this problem." The streamlined partner search and NBIC application process allowed both parties to work together to efficiently formulate and submit a POC application. The whole process - from circulating the offering to the community to submitting the NBIC POC application as an industry sponsored collaborative piece of work - only took three weeks. The project will start once the contracting phase is completed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-015 Develop a computational tool for marine biofilm management (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, leading to increased frictional drag and globally significant fuel penalties. Research of marine biofilm in flow (e.g. erosion, drag) is limited by experimental bottlenecks - it can take months for biofilms to grow and approximating ship flow conditions requires large, expensive equipment. Computational modelling of fouling biofilm deformation and drag in flow would provide lowcost, rapid insights complementary to biological and biomechanical experiments and accelerate the development of next generation fouling control coatings. This project - to prove the concept of meso scale modelling as a practical industrial tool for marine fouling - will develop a Discrete Element biofilm Model (DEM) coupled to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD-DEM) to predict biofilm deformation and frictional drag in a well-defined experimental system: a meso-scale marine flow cell. Our model will be built on an established modelling framework of Newcastle University's state of the art DEM biofilm model (NUFEB, https://research.ncl.ac.uk/nufeb/science/), but with new features in calibrated biofilm cohesion and surface adhesion. From our live PoC 2 project on biofilm erosion and mechanics we will have multiple flow cell experimental datasets (biofilm mechanical properties, structural changes in flow and frictional drag), which will enable us to calibrate the biofilm model with mechanical properties realistic for marine fouling. The calibrated DEM will be coupled to CFD to model the flow cell hydrodynamics under arbitrary flow and biofilm conditions, again for comparison with the experimental data. Environmental biofilms grown in different conditions will have different makeup and physical-mechanical properties. Additional biofilm experiments will be undertaken in parallel with the modelling work, and then will be used to expand the test of the computational model. Our objectives are to validate the biofilm model parameters against those of experimental fouling biofilms and scope the utility of the computational model for accelerated marine fouling tests. Through the ongoing NBIC POC funded project, we will have a maximum of 8 experimental datasets of biofilm biomechanical properties, measured with Newcastle's unique air-jet indenter system, and biofilm structure in flow, measured with optical coherence tomography, as well as frictional drag coefficient measured by pressure drop in the flow cell. The biomechanical properties will allow us to calibrate the viscoelastic parameters between individual particles in our DEM model. Our industrial partner (JL) would provide us experimental data about shear induced erosion, biofilm deformation and biofilm detachment. We would then use these experimental results to calibrate the cohesive interactions parameters between biofilm particles and adhesive interactions for biofilm particles/solid surface particles in our modelling. Further tests in flow cells will be done to verify the computational modelling developed. With these calibrated properties, the coupled DEM-CFD via OpenFoam (open source) will allow for prediction of marine biofilm removal and drag under marine industrial relevant hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, this will enable us to rapidly evaluate the antifouling performance of different fouling control paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | This project developed a computational model to predict the key biofilm processes of erosion, deformation and detachment. We have demonstrated that increased adhesive strength of biofilms and materials surfaces can reduce the erosion and even cause re-attachment. In general, most of biofilm detached subjected to 15Pa wall shear stress. This would address the influence of biofilms on the drag on marine vessels with the aim of improving development of anti-fouling coatings to reduce fuel costs. We submitted a journal paper to submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering shortly after the project completed. Our next step is to use the key pilot data generated in NBIC to apply for an EPSRC grant to be submitted by June/July 2022. NBIC provided the detailed feedback in timely manner. NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are very impressed with the support from NBIC in a timely manner when the PI had a significant family bereavement towards the end of the project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-015 Develop a computational tool for marine biofilm management (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, leading to increased frictional drag and globally significant fuel penalties. Research of marine biofilm in flow (e.g. erosion, drag) is limited by experimental bottlenecks - it can take months for biofilms to grow and approximating ship flow conditions requires large, expensive equipment. Computational modelling of fouling biofilm deformation and drag in flow would provide lowcost, rapid insights complementary to biological and biomechanical experiments and accelerate the development of next generation fouling control coatings. This project - to prove the concept of meso scale modelling as a practical industrial tool for marine fouling - will develop a Discrete Element biofilm Model (DEM) coupled to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD-DEM) to predict biofilm deformation and frictional drag in a well-defined experimental system: a meso-scale marine flow cell. Our model will be built on an established modelling framework of Newcastle University's state of the art DEM biofilm model (NUFEB, https://research.ncl.ac.uk/nufeb/science/), but with new features in calibrated biofilm cohesion and surface adhesion. From our live PoC 2 project on biofilm erosion and mechanics we will have multiple flow cell experimental datasets (biofilm mechanical properties, structural changes in flow and frictional drag), which will enable us to calibrate the biofilm model with mechanical properties realistic for marine fouling. The calibrated DEM will be coupled to CFD to model the flow cell hydrodynamics under arbitrary flow and biofilm conditions, again for comparison with the experimental data. Environmental biofilms grown in different conditions will have different makeup and physical-mechanical properties. Additional biofilm experiments will be undertaken in parallel with the modelling work, and then will be used to expand the test of the computational model. Our objectives are to validate the biofilm model parameters against those of experimental fouling biofilms and scope the utility of the computational model for accelerated marine fouling tests. Through the ongoing NBIC POC funded project, we will have a maximum of 8 experimental datasets of biofilm biomechanical properties, measured with Newcastle's unique air-jet indenter system, and biofilm structure in flow, measured with optical coherence tomography, as well as frictional drag coefficient measured by pressure drop in the flow cell. The biomechanical properties will allow us to calibrate the viscoelastic parameters between individual particles in our DEM model. Our industrial partner (JL) would provide us experimental data about shear induced erosion, biofilm deformation and biofilm detachment. We would then use these experimental results to calibrate the cohesive interactions parameters between biofilm particles and adhesive interactions for biofilm particles/solid surface particles in our modelling. Further tests in flow cells will be done to verify the computational modelling developed. With these calibrated properties, the coupled DEM-CFD via OpenFoam (open source) will allow for prediction of marine biofilm removal and drag under marine industrial relevant hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, this will enable us to rapidly evaluate the antifouling performance of different fouling control paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | This project developed a computational model to predict the key biofilm processes of erosion, deformation and detachment. We have demonstrated that increased adhesive strength of biofilms and materials surfaces can reduce the erosion and even cause re-attachment. In general, most of biofilm detached subjected to 15Pa wall shear stress. This would address the influence of biofilms on the drag on marine vessels with the aim of improving development of anti-fouling coatings to reduce fuel costs. We submitted a journal paper to submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering shortly after the project completed. Our next step is to use the key pilot data generated in NBIC to apply for an EPSRC grant to be submitted by June/July 2022. NBIC provided the detailed feedback in timely manner. NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are very impressed with the support from NBIC in a timely manner when the PI had a significant family bereavement towards the end of the project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-015 Develop a computational tool for marine biofilm management (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, leading to increased frictional drag and globally significant fuel penalties. Research of marine biofilm in flow (e.g. erosion, drag) is limited by experimental bottlenecks - it can take months for biofilms to grow and approximating ship flow conditions requires large, expensive equipment. Computational modelling of fouling biofilm deformation and drag in flow would provide lowcost, rapid insights complementary to biological and biomechanical experiments and accelerate the development of next generation fouling control coatings. This project - to prove the concept of meso scale modelling as a practical industrial tool for marine fouling - will develop a Discrete Element biofilm Model (DEM) coupled to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD-DEM) to predict biofilm deformation and frictional drag in a well-defined experimental system: a meso-scale marine flow cell. Our model will be built on an established modelling framework of Newcastle University's state of the art DEM biofilm model (NUFEB, https://research.ncl.ac.uk/nufeb/science/), but with new features in calibrated biofilm cohesion and surface adhesion. From our live PoC 2 project on biofilm erosion and mechanics we will have multiple flow cell experimental datasets (biofilm mechanical properties, structural changes in flow and frictional drag), which will enable us to calibrate the biofilm model with mechanical properties realistic for marine fouling. The calibrated DEM will be coupled to CFD to model the flow cell hydrodynamics under arbitrary flow and biofilm conditions, again for comparison with the experimental data. Environmental biofilms grown in different conditions will have different makeup and physical-mechanical properties. Additional biofilm experiments will be undertaken in parallel with the modelling work, and then will be used to expand the test of the computational model. Our objectives are to validate the biofilm model parameters against those of experimental fouling biofilms and scope the utility of the computational model for accelerated marine fouling tests. Through the ongoing NBIC POC funded project, we will have a maximum of 8 experimental datasets of biofilm biomechanical properties, measured with Newcastle's unique air-jet indenter system, and biofilm structure in flow, measured with optical coherence tomography, as well as frictional drag coefficient measured by pressure drop in the flow cell. The biomechanical properties will allow us to calibrate the viscoelastic parameters between individual particles in our DEM model. Our industrial partner (JL) would provide us experimental data about shear induced erosion, biofilm deformation and biofilm detachment. We would then use these experimental results to calibrate the cohesive interactions parameters between biofilm particles and adhesive interactions for biofilm particles/solid surface particles in our modelling. Further tests in flow cells will be done to verify the computational modelling developed. With these calibrated properties, the coupled DEM-CFD via OpenFoam (open source) will allow for prediction of marine biofilm removal and drag under marine industrial relevant hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, this will enable us to rapidly evaluate the antifouling performance of different fouling control paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | This project developed a computational model to predict the key biofilm processes of erosion, deformation and detachment. We have demonstrated that increased adhesive strength of biofilms and materials surfaces can reduce the erosion and even cause re-attachment. In general, most of biofilm detached subjected to 15Pa wall shear stress. This would address the influence of biofilms on the drag on marine vessels with the aim of improving development of anti-fouling coatings to reduce fuel costs. We submitted a journal paper to submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering shortly after the project completed. Our next step is to use the key pilot data generated in NBIC to apply for an EPSRC grant to be submitted by June/July 2022. NBIC provided the detailed feedback in timely manner. NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are very impressed with the support from NBIC in a timely manner when the PI had a significant family bereavement towards the end of the project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-015 Develop a computational tool for marine biofilm management (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Ships are fouled by marine biofilms, leading to increased frictional drag and globally significant fuel penalties. Research of marine biofilm in flow (e.g. erosion, drag) is limited by experimental bottlenecks - it can take months for biofilms to grow and approximating ship flow conditions requires large, expensive equipment. Computational modelling of fouling biofilm deformation and drag in flow would provide lowcost, rapid insights complementary to biological and biomechanical experiments and accelerate the development of next generation fouling control coatings. This project - to prove the concept of meso scale modelling as a practical industrial tool for marine fouling - will develop a Discrete Element biofilm Model (DEM) coupled to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD-DEM) to predict biofilm deformation and frictional drag in a well-defined experimental system: a meso-scale marine flow cell. Our model will be built on an established modelling framework of Newcastle University's state of the art DEM biofilm model (NUFEB, https://research.ncl.ac.uk/nufeb/science/), but with new features in calibrated biofilm cohesion and surface adhesion. From our live PoC 2 project on biofilm erosion and mechanics we will have multiple flow cell experimental datasets (biofilm mechanical properties, structural changes in flow and frictional drag), which will enable us to calibrate the biofilm model with mechanical properties realistic for marine fouling. The calibrated DEM will be coupled to CFD to model the flow cell hydrodynamics under arbitrary flow and biofilm conditions, again for comparison with the experimental data. Environmental biofilms grown in different conditions will have different makeup and physical-mechanical properties. Additional biofilm experiments will be undertaken in parallel with the modelling work, and then will be used to expand the test of the computational model. Our objectives are to validate the biofilm model parameters against those of experimental fouling biofilms and scope the utility of the computational model for accelerated marine fouling tests. Through the ongoing NBIC POC funded project, we will have a maximum of 8 experimental datasets of biofilm biomechanical properties, measured with Newcastle's unique air-jet indenter system, and biofilm structure in flow, measured with optical coherence tomography, as well as frictional drag coefficient measured by pressure drop in the flow cell. The biomechanical properties will allow us to calibrate the viscoelastic parameters between individual particles in our DEM model. Our industrial partner (JL) would provide us experimental data about shear induced erosion, biofilm deformation and biofilm detachment. We would then use these experimental results to calibrate the cohesive interactions parameters between biofilm particles and adhesive interactions for biofilm particles/solid surface particles in our modelling. Further tests in flow cells will be done to verify the computational modelling developed. With these calibrated properties, the coupled DEM-CFD via OpenFoam (open source) will allow for prediction of marine biofilm removal and drag under marine industrial relevant hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, this will enable us to rapidly evaluate the antifouling performance of different fouling control paints. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | This project developed a computational model to predict the key biofilm processes of erosion, deformation and detachment. We have demonstrated that increased adhesive strength of biofilms and materials surfaces can reduce the erosion and even cause re-attachment. In general, most of biofilm detached subjected to 15Pa wall shear stress. This would address the influence of biofilms on the drag on marine vessels with the aim of improving development of anti-fouling coatings to reduce fuel costs. We submitted a journal paper to submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering shortly after the project completed. Our next step is to use the key pilot data generated in NBIC to apply for an EPSRC grant to be submitted by June/July 2022. NBIC provided the detailed feedback in timely manner. NBIC always responded the question promptly. We are very pleased with the NBIC POC process. The NBIC staff are remarkably supportive and helpful. We are very impressed with the support from NBIC in a timely manner when the PI had a significant family bereavement towards the end of the project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-019 Biofilm Production of Phaeodactylum Tricornutum for Fucoxanthin (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to investigate the potential for the cultivation of the biofilm-forming microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, for the production of fucoxanthin on a moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR) (see Appendix 1). The MMBR platform has been developed and tested during previous research projects (Innovate UK: 132192, and NBIC A0789) reaching a TRL level of 4 and has been proven suitable for the cultivation of multiple microalgae species including Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella sorokiniana at pilot scale (2019). Comparisons of growth rates to conventional planktonic production systems have been favourable (see Appendix 3). However, the MMBR platform has not yet been utilised to explore the production of more novel and commercially interesting strains such as the benthic diatom P. tricornutum (TRL 1-2). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Confidential pending potential exploitation of IP. Specific environmental benefits could include a reduction in energy use (24%), reduction in water use (16%) alongside a reduction in other chemical use of 28%. The consortium will look to make a submission for the Smart Grant scheme (Innovate UK). We have already made a Future Leaders Fellowship application (UKRI) based on developing the membrane technology with commercial partners across the microalgal value chain (awaiting to hear feedback). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-019 Biofilm Production of Phaeodactylum Tricornutum for Fucoxanthin (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to investigate the potential for the cultivation of the biofilm-forming microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, for the production of fucoxanthin on a moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR) (see Appendix 1). The MMBR platform has been developed and tested during previous research projects (Innovate UK: 132192, and NBIC A0789) reaching a TRL level of 4 and has been proven suitable for the cultivation of multiple microalgae species including Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella sorokiniana at pilot scale (2019). Comparisons of growth rates to conventional planktonic production systems have been favourable (see Appendix 3). However, the MMBR platform has not yet been utilised to explore the production of more novel and commercially interesting strains such as the benthic diatom P. tricornutum (TRL 1-2). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Confidential pending potential exploitation of IP. Specific environmental benefits could include a reduction in energy use (24%), reduction in water use (16%) alongside a reduction in other chemical use of 28%. The consortium will look to make a submission for the Smart Grant scheme (Innovate UK). We have already made a Future Leaders Fellowship application (UKRI) based on developing the membrane technology with commercial partners across the microalgal value chain (awaiting to hear feedback). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-019 Biofilm Production of Phaeodactylum Tricornutum for Fucoxanthin (Mike Allen) |
| Organisation | Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to investigate the potential for the cultivation of the biofilm-forming microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, for the production of fucoxanthin on a moving membrane bioreactor (MMBR) (see Appendix 1). The MMBR platform has been developed and tested during previous research projects (Innovate UK: 132192, and NBIC A0789) reaching a TRL level of 4 and has been proven suitable for the cultivation of multiple microalgae species including Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella sorokiniana at pilot scale (2019). Comparisons of growth rates to conventional planktonic production systems have been favourable (see Appendix 3). However, the MMBR platform has not yet been utilised to explore the production of more novel and commercially interesting strains such as the benthic diatom P. tricornutum (TRL 1-2). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Confidential pending potential exploitation of IP. Specific environmental benefits could include a reduction in energy use (24%), reduction in water use (16%) alongside a reduction in other chemical use of 28%. The consortium will look to make a submission for the Smart Grant scheme (Innovate UK). We have already made a Future Leaders Fellowship application (UKRI) based on developing the membrane technology with commercial partners across the microalgal value chain (awaiting to hear feedback). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-020 Novel XF drugs in the topical management of Candida albicans biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to determine the effectiveness of novel XF-drugs in inhibiting fungal biofilms of Candida albicans via twin mechanisms of action, namely [1] innate antifungal and [2] light activated (photodynamic). Success will be measured post treatment, by significant reduction (compared to untreated controls) in viable Candida numbers, biofilm thickness and pathogenic outcome of biofilms infecting in vitro oral mucosal models (Figure 1). Experiments will involve three XF-drugs and will establish minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) against C. albicans. The inhibitory effects of XF-drugs determined on CDC bioreactor generated biofilms will be established by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which will enable biovolume and live/dead ratios of fungal cells to be determined. Constructed biofilms will be used to infect reconstituted human oral mucosa and comparisons made between C. albicans tissue invasion and lactate dehydrogenase activity for XF-drug treated and untreated biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Following from this project we will begin to prepare a manuscript for publication and Destiny Pharma will determine the next steps in the development process for anti-fungal indications for the XF drugs, particularly XF 73 and XF 70. This project has demonstrated that XF drugs are effective treatment options for Candida biofilms. The low MIC values make the XF drugs competitive treatment alternatives, with dramatic effects against both biofilms and subsequent tissue effects observed. We concluded that XF drugs kill (XF-73 and XF-70) or reduce (DPD-207) Candida biofilms, in addition to reducing the pathogenicity of Candida biofilms towards human oral epithelium. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-020 Novel XF drugs in the topical management of Candida albicans biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Destiny Pharma |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to determine the effectiveness of novel XF-drugs in inhibiting fungal biofilms of Candida albicans via twin mechanisms of action, namely [1] innate antifungal and [2] light activated (photodynamic). Success will be measured post treatment, by significant reduction (compared to untreated controls) in viable Candida numbers, biofilm thickness and pathogenic outcome of biofilms infecting in vitro oral mucosal models (Figure 1). Experiments will involve three XF-drugs and will establish minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) against C. albicans. The inhibitory effects of XF-drugs determined on CDC bioreactor generated biofilms will be established by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which will enable biovolume and live/dead ratios of fungal cells to be determined. Constructed biofilms will be used to infect reconstituted human oral mucosa and comparisons made between C. albicans tissue invasion and lactate dehydrogenase activity for XF-drug treated and untreated biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Following from this project we will begin to prepare a manuscript for publication and Destiny Pharma will determine the next steps in the development process for anti-fungal indications for the XF drugs, particularly XF 73 and XF 70. This project has demonstrated that XF drugs are effective treatment options for Candida biofilms. The low MIC values make the XF drugs competitive treatment alternatives, with dramatic effects against both biofilms and subsequent tissue effects observed. We concluded that XF drugs kill (XF-73 and XF-70) or reduce (DPD-207) Candida biofilms, in addition to reducing the pathogenicity of Candida biofilms towards human oral epithelium. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-020 Novel XF drugs in the topical management of Candida albicans biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to determine the effectiveness of novel XF-drugs in inhibiting fungal biofilms of Candida albicans via twin mechanisms of action, namely [1] innate antifungal and [2] light activated (photodynamic). Success will be measured post treatment, by significant reduction (compared to untreated controls) in viable Candida numbers, biofilm thickness and pathogenic outcome of biofilms infecting in vitro oral mucosal models (Figure 1). Experiments will involve three XF-drugs and will establish minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) against C. albicans. The inhibitory effects of XF-drugs determined on CDC bioreactor generated biofilms will be established by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which will enable biovolume and live/dead ratios of fungal cells to be determined. Constructed biofilms will be used to infect reconstituted human oral mucosa and comparisons made between C. albicans tissue invasion and lactate dehydrogenase activity for XF-drug treated and untreated biofilms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Following from this project we will begin to prepare a manuscript for publication and Destiny Pharma will determine the next steps in the development process for anti-fungal indications for the XF drugs, particularly XF 73 and XF 70. This project has demonstrated that XF drugs are effective treatment options for Candida biofilms. The low MIC values make the XF drugs competitive treatment alternatives, with dramatic effects against both biofilms and subsequent tissue effects observed. We concluded that XF drugs kill (XF-73 and XF-70) or reduce (DPD-207) Candida biofilms, in addition to reducing the pathogenicity of Candida biofilms towards human oral epithelium. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-042 Development of molecular support to Detect biofilm causing pathogens within chronic infections (Karen Ousey) |
| Organisation | Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a methodology which will allow for biofilm forming genes to be easily detected from a patient or dressing swab sample. This methodology would ultimately become a tool to confirm the presence of biofilm forming bacteria within a chronic wound or infection site. The study aims to compare the presence and expression of biofilm forming genes on patient skin and within chronic wounds in order to determine a significant difference in gene expression of biofilm pathogens. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, demonstrating a variation in the genetic expression of bacteria within a chronic environment compared to the same species of commensal skin organisms. Currently swab samples are taken from patients in order to determine the presence of infection but the biofilm forming nature of the organisms is not assessed. This leaves clinicians unable to confirm the presence of a biofilm infection within a chronic wound - in many cases this is suspected but not confirmed. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a multiplex QPCR offering that can quickly and cheaply screen wound isolates for the presence of biofilm forming genes and the expression of RNA relating to the expression of these genes. In order to assess the biofilm status of the pathogens we aim to use QPCR techniques, Multiplexing techniques and also Sanger sequencing in order to determine if the same bacterial strain is inhabiting the skin and the wound. Plan: Perectus Biomed have primers that identify biofilm forming genes in Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. scientists will extend this list to additional wound pathogens including E. coli, Klebsiella phneumoni and streptococcus entericus. Following primer design, a clinical study will be established and patients will be chosen according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Swab samples will be taken from chronic wounds and healthy skin on the contralateral (uninjured) limb. Sequencing techniques will be utilised to draw a comparison between the microbiota of intact skin and infected wounds. The biofilm gene status of the organisms will be compared between healthy skin and wounds, and between patients. Output: assess potential of a multiplex QPCR assay to identify markers / genes that are linked to wound chronicity and biofilm formation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Huddersfield: have provided subject expertise to Perfectus in relation to wound management, wound types and how biofilm is assessed and understood in clinical practice. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have submitted the IREAS and HRA applications to allow the sample to be accessed. Perfectus have provided the scientific expertise for development of the model. they have addressed uncertainties surrounding transport mediums which have now been fully explored and we have a safe and effective transport medium for the samples. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have provided the sample for biofilm for the study. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Huddersfield: This study has demonstrated that it was possible to sample from patients with minimal training and basic instructions and transport the samples to a partner laboratory for processing. Kits were prepared to be stored at room temperature prior to use and 4°C after use. This demonstrates that the assay could be introduced to a typical clinic without the need for specialist equipment or staff. Genetic material was harvested from the microorganisms collected and the genomic DNA was of sufficient concentration and quality for use in qPCR for species identification. mRNA was found to be at a low concentration and did not yield consistent results. However, the observation of some positive results suggests that the principle of the assay works, if mRNA is present in high enough concentration. Combining the bacterial detection data with the results of the patient questionnaire has provided information about the presence and absence of correlations for various factors. This will identify red flags, or confirm known red flags, about certain factors increasing risks for wounds and could be used to guide treatment. Further work: A paper based on this study is being prepared for submission to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and abstracts have been submitted for poster presentation at two wound care conferences. This study has shown that this method of sampling could work in principle, however a higher concentration of mRNA would be required to get meaningful qPCR data. This could involve optimising the collection of the samples and the extraction process. Further testing could involve testing for expression of a range of biofilm genes covering different areas of biofilm formation. Further information could also be gained from the species detection data using sequencing to identify the strains isolated from wound and contralateral samples to look for genetic variation. As sequencing technology becomes more affordable and accessible over the coming decade, there may be an option to investigate a sequencing based approach for this assay. We intend to: Publish the results in a peer reviewed journal and develop a model for detection of biofilm pathogens. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-042 Development of molecular support to Detect biofilm causing pathogens within chronic infections (Karen Ousey) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a methodology which will allow for biofilm forming genes to be easily detected from a patient or dressing swab sample. This methodology would ultimately become a tool to confirm the presence of biofilm forming bacteria within a chronic wound or infection site. The study aims to compare the presence and expression of biofilm forming genes on patient skin and within chronic wounds in order to determine a significant difference in gene expression of biofilm pathogens. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, demonstrating a variation in the genetic expression of bacteria within a chronic environment compared to the same species of commensal skin organisms. Currently swab samples are taken from patients in order to determine the presence of infection but the biofilm forming nature of the organisms is not assessed. This leaves clinicians unable to confirm the presence of a biofilm infection within a chronic wound - in many cases this is suspected but not confirmed. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a multiplex QPCR offering that can quickly and cheaply screen wound isolates for the presence of biofilm forming genes and the expression of RNA relating to the expression of these genes. In order to assess the biofilm status of the pathogens we aim to use QPCR techniques, Multiplexing techniques and also Sanger sequencing in order to determine if the same bacterial strain is inhabiting the skin and the wound. Plan: Perectus Biomed have primers that identify biofilm forming genes in Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. scientists will extend this list to additional wound pathogens including E. coli, Klebsiella phneumoni and streptococcus entericus. Following primer design, a clinical study will be established and patients will be chosen according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Swab samples will be taken from chronic wounds and healthy skin on the contralateral (uninjured) limb. Sequencing techniques will be utilised to draw a comparison between the microbiota of intact skin and infected wounds. The biofilm gene status of the organisms will be compared between healthy skin and wounds, and between patients. Output: assess potential of a multiplex QPCR assay to identify markers / genes that are linked to wound chronicity and biofilm formation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Huddersfield: have provided subject expertise to Perfectus in relation to wound management, wound types and how biofilm is assessed and understood in clinical practice. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have submitted the IREAS and HRA applications to allow the sample to be accessed. Perfectus have provided the scientific expertise for development of the model. they have addressed uncertainties surrounding transport mediums which have now been fully explored and we have a safe and effective transport medium for the samples. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have provided the sample for biofilm for the study. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Huddersfield: This study has demonstrated that it was possible to sample from patients with minimal training and basic instructions and transport the samples to a partner laboratory for processing. Kits were prepared to be stored at room temperature prior to use and 4°C after use. This demonstrates that the assay could be introduced to a typical clinic without the need for specialist equipment or staff. Genetic material was harvested from the microorganisms collected and the genomic DNA was of sufficient concentration and quality for use in qPCR for species identification. mRNA was found to be at a low concentration and did not yield consistent results. However, the observation of some positive results suggests that the principle of the assay works, if mRNA is present in high enough concentration. Combining the bacterial detection data with the results of the patient questionnaire has provided information about the presence and absence of correlations for various factors. This will identify red flags, or confirm known red flags, about certain factors increasing risks for wounds and could be used to guide treatment. Further work: A paper based on this study is being prepared for submission to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and abstracts have been submitted for poster presentation at two wound care conferences. This study has shown that this method of sampling could work in principle, however a higher concentration of mRNA would be required to get meaningful qPCR data. This could involve optimising the collection of the samples and the extraction process. Further testing could involve testing for expression of a range of biofilm genes covering different areas of biofilm formation. Further information could also be gained from the species detection data using sequencing to identify the strains isolated from wound and contralateral samples to look for genetic variation. As sequencing technology becomes more affordable and accessible over the coming decade, there may be an option to investigate a sequencing based approach for this assay. We intend to: Publish the results in a peer reviewed journal and develop a model for detection of biofilm pathogens. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-042 Development of molecular support to Detect biofilm causing pathogens within chronic infections (Karen Ousey) |
| Organisation | Perfectus Biomed Ltd. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a methodology which will allow for biofilm forming genes to be easily detected from a patient or dressing swab sample. This methodology would ultimately become a tool to confirm the presence of biofilm forming bacteria within a chronic wound or infection site. The study aims to compare the presence and expression of biofilm forming genes on patient skin and within chronic wounds in order to determine a significant difference in gene expression of biofilm pathogens. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, demonstrating a variation in the genetic expression of bacteria within a chronic environment compared to the same species of commensal skin organisms. Currently swab samples are taken from patients in order to determine the presence of infection but the biofilm forming nature of the organisms is not assessed. This leaves clinicians unable to confirm the presence of a biofilm infection within a chronic wound - in many cases this is suspected but not confirmed. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a multiplex QPCR offering that can quickly and cheaply screen wound isolates for the presence of biofilm forming genes and the expression of RNA relating to the expression of these genes. In order to assess the biofilm status of the pathogens we aim to use QPCR techniques, Multiplexing techniques and also Sanger sequencing in order to determine if the same bacterial strain is inhabiting the skin and the wound. Plan: Perectus Biomed have primers that identify biofilm forming genes in Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. scientists will extend this list to additional wound pathogens including E. coli, Klebsiella phneumoni and streptococcus entericus. Following primer design, a clinical study will be established and patients will be chosen according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Swab samples will be taken from chronic wounds and healthy skin on the contralateral (uninjured) limb. Sequencing techniques will be utilised to draw a comparison between the microbiota of intact skin and infected wounds. The biofilm gene status of the organisms will be compared between healthy skin and wounds, and between patients. Output: assess potential of a multiplex QPCR assay to identify markers / genes that are linked to wound chronicity and biofilm formation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Huddersfield: have provided subject expertise to Perfectus in relation to wound management, wound types and how biofilm is assessed and understood in clinical practice. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have submitted the IREAS and HRA applications to allow the sample to be accessed. Perfectus have provided the scientific expertise for development of the model. they have addressed uncertainties surrounding transport mediums which have now been fully explored and we have a safe and effective transport medium for the samples. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have provided the sample for biofilm for the study. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Huddersfield: This study has demonstrated that it was possible to sample from patients with minimal training and basic instructions and transport the samples to a partner laboratory for processing. Kits were prepared to be stored at room temperature prior to use and 4°C after use. This demonstrates that the assay could be introduced to a typical clinic without the need for specialist equipment or staff. Genetic material was harvested from the microorganisms collected and the genomic DNA was of sufficient concentration and quality for use in qPCR for species identification. mRNA was found to be at a low concentration and did not yield consistent results. However, the observation of some positive results suggests that the principle of the assay works, if mRNA is present in high enough concentration. Combining the bacterial detection data with the results of the patient questionnaire has provided information about the presence and absence of correlations for various factors. This will identify red flags, or confirm known red flags, about certain factors increasing risks for wounds and could be used to guide treatment. Further work: A paper based on this study is being prepared for submission to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and abstracts have been submitted for poster presentation at two wound care conferences. This study has shown that this method of sampling could work in principle, however a higher concentration of mRNA would be required to get meaningful qPCR data. This could involve optimising the collection of the samples and the extraction process. Further testing could involve testing for expression of a range of biofilm genes covering different areas of biofilm formation. Further information could also be gained from the species detection data using sequencing to identify the strains isolated from wound and contralateral samples to look for genetic variation. As sequencing technology becomes more affordable and accessible over the coming decade, there may be an option to investigate a sequencing based approach for this assay. We intend to: Publish the results in a peer reviewed journal and develop a model for detection of biofilm pathogens. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-042 Development of molecular support to Detect biofilm causing pathogens within chronic infections (Karen Ousey) |
| Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To develop a methodology which will allow for biofilm forming genes to be easily detected from a patient or dressing swab sample. This methodology would ultimately become a tool to confirm the presence of biofilm forming bacteria within a chronic wound or infection site. The study aims to compare the presence and expression of biofilm forming genes on patient skin and within chronic wounds in order to determine a significant difference in gene expression of biofilm pathogens. Success will result from meaningful reproducible data, demonstrating a variation in the genetic expression of bacteria within a chronic environment compared to the same species of commensal skin organisms. Currently swab samples are taken from patients in order to determine the presence of infection but the biofilm forming nature of the organisms is not assessed. This leaves clinicians unable to confirm the presence of a biofilm infection within a chronic wound - in many cases this is suspected but not confirmed. The ultimate aim of the study (following on from this small-scale project) will be to develop a multiplex QPCR offering that can quickly and cheaply screen wound isolates for the presence of biofilm forming genes and the expression of RNA relating to the expression of these genes. In order to assess the biofilm status of the pathogens we aim to use QPCR techniques, Multiplexing techniques and also Sanger sequencing in order to determine if the same bacterial strain is inhabiting the skin and the wound. Plan: Perectus Biomed have primers that identify biofilm forming genes in Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. scientists will extend this list to additional wound pathogens including E. coli, Klebsiella phneumoni and streptococcus entericus. Following primer design, a clinical study will be established and patients will be chosen according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Swab samples will be taken from chronic wounds and healthy skin on the contralateral (uninjured) limb. Sequencing techniques will be utilised to draw a comparison between the microbiota of intact skin and infected wounds. The biofilm gene status of the organisms will be compared between healthy skin and wounds, and between patients. Output: assess potential of a multiplex QPCR assay to identify markers / genes that are linked to wound chronicity and biofilm formation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Huddersfield: have provided subject expertise to Perfectus in relation to wound management, wound types and how biofilm is assessed and understood in clinical practice. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have submitted the IREAS and HRA applications to allow the sample to be accessed. Perfectus have provided the scientific expertise for development of the model. they have addressed uncertainties surrounding transport mediums which have now been fully explored and we have a safe and effective transport medium for the samples. Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust have provided the sample for biofilm for the study. |
| Impact | Feedback from University of Huddersfield: This study has demonstrated that it was possible to sample from patients with minimal training and basic instructions and transport the samples to a partner laboratory for processing. Kits were prepared to be stored at room temperature prior to use and 4°C after use. This demonstrates that the assay could be introduced to a typical clinic without the need for specialist equipment or staff. Genetic material was harvested from the microorganisms collected and the genomic DNA was of sufficient concentration and quality for use in qPCR for species identification. mRNA was found to be at a low concentration and did not yield consistent results. However, the observation of some positive results suggests that the principle of the assay works, if mRNA is present in high enough concentration. Combining the bacterial detection data with the results of the patient questionnaire has provided information about the presence and absence of correlations for various factors. This will identify red flags, or confirm known red flags, about certain factors increasing risks for wounds and could be used to guide treatment. Further work: A paper based on this study is being prepared for submission to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and abstracts have been submitted for poster presentation at two wound care conferences. This study has shown that this method of sampling could work in principle, however a higher concentration of mRNA would be required to get meaningful qPCR data. This could involve optimising the collection of the samples and the extraction process. Further testing could involve testing for expression of a range of biofilm genes covering different areas of biofilm formation. Further information could also be gained from the species detection data using sequencing to identify the strains isolated from wound and contralateral samples to look for genetic variation. As sequencing technology becomes more affordable and accessible over the coming decade, there may be an option to investigate a sequencing based approach for this assay. We intend to: Publish the results in a peer reviewed journal and develop a model for detection of biofilm pathogens. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-066 Rotating Spiral Biofilm Reactor for Reliable Engineering and Control of Bacterial Communities and Environments for use in industrial biotechnology (Esther Karunakaran and Craig Jones) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to deliver the prototype of a novel, purpose-designed biofilm device for continuous production and extraction of bio-based chemicals. We refer to this novel device as the rotating spiral biofilm reactor-separator, the fundamentals of which have been in development for the last decade in the University of Sheffield. The exemplar bio-based chemical is phenyl ethyl alcohol, responsible for the characteristic rose scent, production of which demonstrates typical challenges encountered during upstream and downstream bioprocessing. Upstream challenges include product toxicity limiting final titres and slow growth rates affecting volumetric productivity. Downstream challenges include low recovery due to highly polar nature of the product and need for resource-intensive cell-liquid separation techniques. We contend that our novel device provides effective solutions to these challenges. The reactor-separator consists of a spiral channel under centrifugal acceleration. This acceleration holds the biofilm securely against the outer wall of the channel and pressure gradient with centrifugal acceleration allows culture media to flow in a thin layer over the biofilm with parallel flow of a second immiscible extractant. The product accumulating in the culture medium is thereby extracted into this second liquid, which flows against the inner wall of the channel due to its low density. Simultaneous extraction of product by liquid-liquid contacting precludes toxicity. Biofilm formation decouples growth from volumetric productivity and together with centrifugal acceleration retains cells within the reactor, avoiding need for downstream cell-liquid separation. Spiral design allows extended contact time, improving product recovery. In this project, deliverables include demonstration of these benefits and construction of the prototype device. Success of the project will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables (annex 1), timely progression according to Gantt chart (annex 1) and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of findings generated. The detailed description of the project activities is provided in Annex 1 along with considerations of potential risk factors and strategies for mitigating them. The project will take place in four work packages (WP). WP1 establishes the relevant physical properties of the target biofilm/media/solvent system that must be known before the design can be finalised. The creation of the new prototype device is the task of WP2, which breaks up into 1) predictive design computations using our existing models 2) detailed design work, including fabrication of parts and component sourcing and 3) assembly, adjustment, protocol development and refining. Data revealing the extent of biofilm reaction and of product extraction, comprising product concentration measurements at the two outlets, are obtained in WP3, where baseline measurements are first obtained for the target biofilm system using the existing research spiral apparatus. Tests of the new device will include both short (hours) and long (days) continuous operation. In WP4 Unilever will be invited to Sheffield to see demonstrations of the prototype. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unilever are in the process of writing patents to control access to rotating spiral reactor use in the area of Home and Personal Care. We applied for funding to enlarge the scope of application, but budget squeeze at Unilever have held this up. Unilever will encourage one of their suppliers of fragrances (Firmenich, Switzerland) to work with us to produce a commercial machine. |
| Impact | Further funding support and patent coverage are pending. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-066 Rotating Spiral Biofilm Reactor for Reliable Engineering and Control of Bacterial Communities and Environments for use in industrial biotechnology (Esther Karunakaran and Craig Jones) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to deliver the prototype of a novel, purpose-designed biofilm device for continuous production and extraction of bio-based chemicals. We refer to this novel device as the rotating spiral biofilm reactor-separator, the fundamentals of which have been in development for the last decade in the University of Sheffield. The exemplar bio-based chemical is phenyl ethyl alcohol, responsible for the characteristic rose scent, production of which demonstrates typical challenges encountered during upstream and downstream bioprocessing. Upstream challenges include product toxicity limiting final titres and slow growth rates affecting volumetric productivity. Downstream challenges include low recovery due to highly polar nature of the product and need for resource-intensive cell-liquid separation techniques. We contend that our novel device provides effective solutions to these challenges. The reactor-separator consists of a spiral channel under centrifugal acceleration. This acceleration holds the biofilm securely against the outer wall of the channel and pressure gradient with centrifugal acceleration allows culture media to flow in a thin layer over the biofilm with parallel flow of a second immiscible extractant. The product accumulating in the culture medium is thereby extracted into this second liquid, which flows against the inner wall of the channel due to its low density. Simultaneous extraction of product by liquid-liquid contacting precludes toxicity. Biofilm formation decouples growth from volumetric productivity and together with centrifugal acceleration retains cells within the reactor, avoiding need for downstream cell-liquid separation. Spiral design allows extended contact time, improving product recovery. In this project, deliverables include demonstration of these benefits and construction of the prototype device. Success of the project will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables (annex 1), timely progression according to Gantt chart (annex 1) and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of findings generated. The detailed description of the project activities is provided in Annex 1 along with considerations of potential risk factors and strategies for mitigating them. The project will take place in four work packages (WP). WP1 establishes the relevant physical properties of the target biofilm/media/solvent system that must be known before the design can be finalised. The creation of the new prototype device is the task of WP2, which breaks up into 1) predictive design computations using our existing models 2) detailed design work, including fabrication of parts and component sourcing and 3) assembly, adjustment, protocol development and refining. Data revealing the extent of biofilm reaction and of product extraction, comprising product concentration measurements at the two outlets, are obtained in WP3, where baseline measurements are first obtained for the target biofilm system using the existing research spiral apparatus. Tests of the new device will include both short (hours) and long (days) continuous operation. In WP4 Unilever will be invited to Sheffield to see demonstrations of the prototype. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unilever are in the process of writing patents to control access to rotating spiral reactor use in the area of Home and Personal Care. We applied for funding to enlarge the scope of application, but budget squeeze at Unilever have held this up. Unilever will encourage one of their suppliers of fragrances (Firmenich, Switzerland) to work with us to produce a commercial machine. |
| Impact | Further funding support and patent coverage are pending. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-066 Rotating Spiral Biofilm Reactor for Reliable Engineering and Control of Bacterial Communities and Environments for use in industrial biotechnology (Esther Karunakaran and Craig Jones) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project is to deliver the prototype of a novel, purpose-designed biofilm device for continuous production and extraction of bio-based chemicals. We refer to this novel device as the rotating spiral biofilm reactor-separator, the fundamentals of which have been in development for the last decade in the University of Sheffield. The exemplar bio-based chemical is phenyl ethyl alcohol, responsible for the characteristic rose scent, production of which demonstrates typical challenges encountered during upstream and downstream bioprocessing. Upstream challenges include product toxicity limiting final titres and slow growth rates affecting volumetric productivity. Downstream challenges include low recovery due to highly polar nature of the product and need for resource-intensive cell-liquid separation techniques. We contend that our novel device provides effective solutions to these challenges. The reactor-separator consists of a spiral channel under centrifugal acceleration. This acceleration holds the biofilm securely against the outer wall of the channel and pressure gradient with centrifugal acceleration allows culture media to flow in a thin layer over the biofilm with parallel flow of a second immiscible extractant. The product accumulating in the culture medium is thereby extracted into this second liquid, which flows against the inner wall of the channel due to its low density. Simultaneous extraction of product by liquid-liquid contacting precludes toxicity. Biofilm formation decouples growth from volumetric productivity and together with centrifugal acceleration retains cells within the reactor, avoiding need for downstream cell-liquid separation. Spiral design allows extended contact time, improving product recovery. In this project, deliverables include demonstration of these benefits and construction of the prototype device. Success of the project will be continuously assessed and measured by achievement of deliverables (annex 1), timely progression according to Gantt chart (annex 1) and establishment of good working relationships between project partners to allow maximum exploitation of findings generated. The detailed description of the project activities is provided in Annex 1 along with considerations of potential risk factors and strategies for mitigating them. The project will take place in four work packages (WP). WP1 establishes the relevant physical properties of the target biofilm/media/solvent system that must be known before the design can be finalised. The creation of the new prototype device is the task of WP2, which breaks up into 1) predictive design computations using our existing models 2) detailed design work, including fabrication of parts and component sourcing and 3) assembly, adjustment, protocol development and refining. Data revealing the extent of biofilm reaction and of product extraction, comprising product concentration measurements at the two outlets, are obtained in WP3, where baseline measurements are first obtained for the target biofilm system using the existing research spiral apparatus. Tests of the new device will include both short (hours) and long (days) continuous operation. In WP4 Unilever will be invited to Sheffield to see demonstrations of the prototype. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unilever are in the process of writing patents to control access to rotating spiral reactor use in the area of Home and Personal Care. We applied for funding to enlarge the scope of application, but budget squeeze at Unilever have held this up. Unilever will encourage one of their suppliers of fragrances (Firmenich, Switzerland) to work with us to produce a commercial machine. |
| Impact | Further funding support and patent coverage are pending. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-091 Dry surface biofilms, understanding their formation and development of a test model for preventative surface cleansers. (Simon Rout) |
| Organisation | Genesis Biosciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | An investigation at three hospitals identified the prevalence of multispecies dry biofilms on surfaces. Dry biofilms provide protection from a number of chemical interventions and are known to harbour pathogenic micro-organisms. A probiotic hard surface cleaner designed by Genesis Biosciences reduced surface associated pathogens across multiple hospital trials, which may correlate to dry biofilm removal. To validate this claim there is a need for a fast, robust, representative, analogue for pathogenic colonization of healthcare surfaces. Current model systems are based upon alternating hydration and desiccation phases of growth of Staphylococcus. aureus. The key project aim is to build upon these existing models with respect to both generation and characterisation of dry biofilms to assist with the evaluation of any surface based cleansers. The indicators for success in this project would be the comparison of a number of dry biofilm preparation techniques, using visual and genetic indicators to identify a robust and reproducible method for their preparation and testing of surface cleanser. Gaining a better understanding of the efficacy of a product will aid its development prior to the initiation of hospital scale trial, which will reduce overall time, increase the chances of success and reduce costs. The visual and genetic techniques developed may also provide a mechanistic understanding of Bacillus based cleaners in terms of surface colonization, biological and competitive exclusion mechanisms. These would also be a crucial step in the validation of these products, underpinning their wider acceptance within a Healthcare sector which is increasingly reliant on aggressive hypochlorite based cleansers. From a business perspective, the success of the project would be measured by further investment, increased sales and an acceptance of these products as viable alternatives through comparison with conventional biocidal products using the test methodologies developed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from the University of Huddersfield: Conclusions: • The prevention of dry biofilms on medically relevant surfaces can be determined using a simple, reproducible testing strategy against Gram positive and negative bacteria, as well as Yeast. • The probiotic cleanser demonstrated efficacy of the prevention of dry biofilm formation on all the tested surface types with initial pathogen loadings of >107CFU (>106 fungi). • CLSM imaging provides a visual demonstration of dry biofilm reduction by the Bacillus blend. • RNA could be extracted from dry biofilms, but the performance of the probiotic cleanser meant that RNA could not be isolated from this testing scheme. • No IP was generated. The development of the method with combined enumeration and visualisation of outcomes represents a technique that can be provided as a consultancy service for the University of Huddersfield Microbial Therapeutics and Infection Control Centre, or which Dr Rout is a member/laboratory manager. Future work: It is expected that the data generated demonstrating the efficacy of the probiotic formula using a simple method to replicate dry biofilm will form part of a publication that will be used for promotional materials for the product. Following the collation and processing of the transcriptional data from the dry biofilms, the genetic mechanisms for dry biofilms formation will form a second publication. The project has allowed for the project team to demonstrate the effectiveness of the probiotic cleanser in its prevention of dry biofilms in addition to having a simple, reproducible method for determining and comparing effectiveness. The outcomes are to be used as justification for a BBSRC responsive mode application to further investigate the potential applications of the probiotic formulation within the healthcare and aligned industries (e.g. dental, veterinary). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-091 Dry surface biofilms, understanding their formation and development of a test model for preventative surface cleansers. (Simon Rout) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | An investigation at three hospitals identified the prevalence of multispecies dry biofilms on surfaces. Dry biofilms provide protection from a number of chemical interventions and are known to harbour pathogenic micro-organisms. A probiotic hard surface cleaner designed by Genesis Biosciences reduced surface associated pathogens across multiple hospital trials, which may correlate to dry biofilm removal. To validate this claim there is a need for a fast, robust, representative, analogue for pathogenic colonization of healthcare surfaces. Current model systems are based upon alternating hydration and desiccation phases of growth of Staphylococcus. aureus. The key project aim is to build upon these existing models with respect to both generation and characterisation of dry biofilms to assist with the evaluation of any surface based cleansers. The indicators for success in this project would be the comparison of a number of dry biofilm preparation techniques, using visual and genetic indicators to identify a robust and reproducible method for their preparation and testing of surface cleanser. Gaining a better understanding of the efficacy of a product will aid its development prior to the initiation of hospital scale trial, which will reduce overall time, increase the chances of success and reduce costs. The visual and genetic techniques developed may also provide a mechanistic understanding of Bacillus based cleaners in terms of surface colonization, biological and competitive exclusion mechanisms. These would also be a crucial step in the validation of these products, underpinning their wider acceptance within a Healthcare sector which is increasingly reliant on aggressive hypochlorite based cleansers. From a business perspective, the success of the project would be measured by further investment, increased sales and an acceptance of these products as viable alternatives through comparison with conventional biocidal products using the test methodologies developed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from the University of Huddersfield: Conclusions: • The prevention of dry biofilms on medically relevant surfaces can be determined using a simple, reproducible testing strategy against Gram positive and negative bacteria, as well as Yeast. • The probiotic cleanser demonstrated efficacy of the prevention of dry biofilm formation on all the tested surface types with initial pathogen loadings of >107CFU (>106 fungi). • CLSM imaging provides a visual demonstration of dry biofilm reduction by the Bacillus blend. • RNA could be extracted from dry biofilms, but the performance of the probiotic cleanser meant that RNA could not be isolated from this testing scheme. • No IP was generated. The development of the method with combined enumeration and visualisation of outcomes represents a technique that can be provided as a consultancy service for the University of Huddersfield Microbial Therapeutics and Infection Control Centre, or which Dr Rout is a member/laboratory manager. Future work: It is expected that the data generated demonstrating the efficacy of the probiotic formula using a simple method to replicate dry biofilm will form part of a publication that will be used for promotional materials for the product. Following the collation and processing of the transcriptional data from the dry biofilms, the genetic mechanisms for dry biofilms formation will form a second publication. The project has allowed for the project team to demonstrate the effectiveness of the probiotic cleanser in its prevention of dry biofilms in addition to having a simple, reproducible method for determining and comparing effectiveness. The outcomes are to be used as justification for a BBSRC responsive mode application to further investigate the potential applications of the probiotic formulation within the healthcare and aligned industries (e.g. dental, veterinary). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-091 Dry surface biofilms, understanding their formation and development of a test model for preventative surface cleansers. (Simon Rout) |
| Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | An investigation at three hospitals identified the prevalence of multispecies dry biofilms on surfaces. Dry biofilms provide protection from a number of chemical interventions and are known to harbour pathogenic micro-organisms. A probiotic hard surface cleaner designed by Genesis Biosciences reduced surface associated pathogens across multiple hospital trials, which may correlate to dry biofilm removal. To validate this claim there is a need for a fast, robust, representative, analogue for pathogenic colonization of healthcare surfaces. Current model systems are based upon alternating hydration and desiccation phases of growth of Staphylococcus. aureus. The key project aim is to build upon these existing models with respect to both generation and characterisation of dry biofilms to assist with the evaluation of any surface based cleansers. The indicators for success in this project would be the comparison of a number of dry biofilm preparation techniques, using visual and genetic indicators to identify a robust and reproducible method for their preparation and testing of surface cleanser. Gaining a better understanding of the efficacy of a product will aid its development prior to the initiation of hospital scale trial, which will reduce overall time, increase the chances of success and reduce costs. The visual and genetic techniques developed may also provide a mechanistic understanding of Bacillus based cleaners in terms of surface colonization, biological and competitive exclusion mechanisms. These would also be a crucial step in the validation of these products, underpinning their wider acceptance within a Healthcare sector which is increasingly reliant on aggressive hypochlorite based cleansers. From a business perspective, the success of the project would be measured by further investment, increased sales and an acceptance of these products as viable alternatives through comparison with conventional biocidal products using the test methodologies developed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from the University of Huddersfield: Conclusions: • The prevention of dry biofilms on medically relevant surfaces can be determined using a simple, reproducible testing strategy against Gram positive and negative bacteria, as well as Yeast. • The probiotic cleanser demonstrated efficacy of the prevention of dry biofilm formation on all the tested surface types with initial pathogen loadings of >107CFU (>106 fungi). • CLSM imaging provides a visual demonstration of dry biofilm reduction by the Bacillus blend. • RNA could be extracted from dry biofilms, but the performance of the probiotic cleanser meant that RNA could not be isolated from this testing scheme. • No IP was generated. The development of the method with combined enumeration and visualisation of outcomes represents a technique that can be provided as a consultancy service for the University of Huddersfield Microbial Therapeutics and Infection Control Centre, or which Dr Rout is a member/laboratory manager. Future work: It is expected that the data generated demonstrating the efficacy of the probiotic formula using a simple method to replicate dry biofilm will form part of a publication that will be used for promotional materials for the product. Following the collation and processing of the transcriptional data from the dry biofilms, the genetic mechanisms for dry biofilms formation will form a second publication. The project has allowed for the project team to demonstrate the effectiveness of the probiotic cleanser in its prevention of dry biofilms in addition to having a simple, reproducible method for determining and comparing effectiveness. The outcomes are to be used as justification for a BBSRC responsive mode application to further investigate the potential applications of the probiotic formulation within the healthcare and aligned industries (e.g. dental, veterinary). |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-097 Manipulation of gut biofilms dynamics for enhanced iodine bioavailability (Emilie Combet) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims at understanding and harnessing the properties of human gut biofilm for utilisation of seaweed products as key novel source of iodine within a complex matrix. Iodine is an essential nutrient, lacking in the British diet. Seaweed is a low-cost, low input sustainable vector, but Iodine bioavailability from seaweed (the fraction the body can extract) is highly variable, person to person. We hypothesise that this variability in bioavailability is a direct consequence of the variability in the host gut biofilm diversity and function (biofilm dynamics). This variability represents a challenge for the industry, in term of accurate labelling for health effects, better understanding of the health potential for the product, a barrier to successful marketing. There is also risk-management strategies required around perception of risk of exposure to excess iodine from seaweed, assuming total 100% bioavailability. In this project we propose: - An IN VITRO PHASE 1 using fermentation models to identify key bacterial (and fungal) species linked to the variability in iodine bioavailability from seaweed. We will also monitor the impact of seaweed iodine on microbial diversity and function under batch culture conditions, in presence and absence of a range of carbon sources (disaccharides, fibres). - An IN VIVO PHASE 2 exploring, in human participants, nutritional strategies to engineer the gut biofilms in vivo, for improved and standardised iodine bioavailability. Specific strategies will involve prebiotic/probiotic exposure to modulate biofilms diversity and functions. The data will directly inform the partner on future product formulation and marketing / labelling strategies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Phase 1 • Inulin and Bimuno (a milk-based oligosaccharide prebiotic mix) display similar fermentation profiles whilst potato starch exhibits a delayed fermentative response (based on gas production). • However, Bimuno introduces exogenous iodine, rendering inulin the most suitable prebiotic fibre to carry through to in vivo trials. • We observed few iodine concentration changes in encapsulated seaweed conditions, indicating that iodine may not be released from this seaweed preparation due to its protective plant-protein coating. • Active bacterial metabolism is likely required for digestion of non-encapsulated seaweed and subsequent iodine release from the seaweed matrix. • Despite anticipating iodine concentration increases during the fermentation, we observed iodine concentration decreases. This may be due to either bacterial uptake of iodine (via mechanisms unknown), or loss of iodine into the vial headspace and subsequent degassing. However, further in vitro work is required to confirm these hypotheses. • Alpha diversity in fermentation samples was not affected by the source of iodine (PureSea Protect, PureSea Natural, Potassium iodide). • Alpha diversity values reduced as the fermentation progressed. This may reflect the proliferation of specific bacterial communities driven by the presence of inulin as a fermentable fibre. • Whilst the starting fermentation samples (0h) were clustered, this clustering was lost as the fermentation progressed, instead splitting into smaller clusters, indicating that there is inter-individual variability in participant responses to inulin. Phase 2 - in a group of euthyroid participants (n=25). • A two-week inulin intervention (12g/day) was well tolerated and had no effect on anthropometric aspects (weight, waist circumference, blood pressure). We observed minor changes in gastrointestinal symptoms, namely decreased post-prandial fullness and increased flatulence. • Iodine bioavailability from powdered Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed is approximately 50%. • Median iodine bioavailability did not change as a result of the inulin intervention. However, when participants were grouped according to whether they increased or decreased iodine bioavailability after the intervention, iodine bioavailability results were mirrored (Increasers: 43% pre, 62% post; Decreasers: 63% pre, 46% post). • We did not observe a relationship between fibre-rich food consumption frequency and iodine bioavailability from seaweed. • The inulin intervention did not induce changes in gut microbiota diversity indices but did have a Bifidogenic effect in the majority of participants. • According to LEfSe analysis, Methanobacteria, Catenibacterium, and Clostridia were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that increased iodine bioavailability, whilst Veillonellaceae and Dialister were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that decreased iodine bioavailability. Know-how: Through the course of the project, we have developed further our protocols for the measurement of iodine in complex liquid matrices containing faecal samples and fibres - this know-how will be described in the publication linked to this project. The project is anticipated to generate important novel insight on the role of prebiotics / fibre on the bioaccessibility / bioavailability of iodine from seaweed - this new knowledge is of commercial importance for the industry partner, since it can be used as evidence for the formulation of an improved seaweed product for the delivery of iodine less subject to interindividual variability. At present, potential lines of interest include supplement formulations including a fibre source as well as a seaweed as iodine source. Next steps Publication (either two separate manuscripts or a single publication grouping the intervention and in vitro work). Development of dissemination material focusing on the study findings, specifically on how bioavailability of iodine varies following seaweed intake. Development of a brief for internal use with the industry collaborator to 1) seek further funding (aim: BBSRC, InnovateUK), 2) develop a PhD proposal. Of particular interest is the potential to combine iodine and fibre source in a supplement and the dual impact on the microbiome. The large inter-individual variability observed also opens up opportunities to explore avenues for personalised nutrition. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-097 Manipulation of gut biofilms dynamics for enhanced iodine bioavailability (Emilie Combet) |
| Organisation | Seaweed and Co |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project aims at understanding and harnessing the properties of human gut biofilm for utilisation of seaweed products as key novel source of iodine within a complex matrix. Iodine is an essential nutrient, lacking in the British diet. Seaweed is a low-cost, low input sustainable vector, but Iodine bioavailability from seaweed (the fraction the body can extract) is highly variable, person to person. We hypothesise that this variability in bioavailability is a direct consequence of the variability in the host gut biofilm diversity and function (biofilm dynamics). This variability represents a challenge for the industry, in term of accurate labelling for health effects, better understanding of the health potential for the product, a barrier to successful marketing. There is also risk-management strategies required around perception of risk of exposure to excess iodine from seaweed, assuming total 100% bioavailability. In this project we propose: - An IN VITRO PHASE 1 using fermentation models to identify key bacterial (and fungal) species linked to the variability in iodine bioavailability from seaweed. We will also monitor the impact of seaweed iodine on microbial diversity and function under batch culture conditions, in presence and absence of a range of carbon sources (disaccharides, fibres). - An IN VIVO PHASE 2 exploring, in human participants, nutritional strategies to engineer the gut biofilms in vivo, for improved and standardised iodine bioavailability. Specific strategies will involve prebiotic/probiotic exposure to modulate biofilms diversity and functions. The data will directly inform the partner on future product formulation and marketing / labelling strategies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Phase 1 • Inulin and Bimuno (a milk-based oligosaccharide prebiotic mix) display similar fermentation profiles whilst potato starch exhibits a delayed fermentative response (based on gas production). • However, Bimuno introduces exogenous iodine, rendering inulin the most suitable prebiotic fibre to carry through to in vivo trials. • We observed few iodine concentration changes in encapsulated seaweed conditions, indicating that iodine may not be released from this seaweed preparation due to its protective plant-protein coating. • Active bacterial metabolism is likely required for digestion of non-encapsulated seaweed and subsequent iodine release from the seaweed matrix. • Despite anticipating iodine concentration increases during the fermentation, we observed iodine concentration decreases. This may be due to either bacterial uptake of iodine (via mechanisms unknown), or loss of iodine into the vial headspace and subsequent degassing. However, further in vitro work is required to confirm these hypotheses. • Alpha diversity in fermentation samples was not affected by the source of iodine (PureSea Protect, PureSea Natural, Potassium iodide). • Alpha diversity values reduced as the fermentation progressed. This may reflect the proliferation of specific bacterial communities driven by the presence of inulin as a fermentable fibre. • Whilst the starting fermentation samples (0h) were clustered, this clustering was lost as the fermentation progressed, instead splitting into smaller clusters, indicating that there is inter-individual variability in participant responses to inulin. Phase 2 - in a group of euthyroid participants (n=25). • A two-week inulin intervention (12g/day) was well tolerated and had no effect on anthropometric aspects (weight, waist circumference, blood pressure). We observed minor changes in gastrointestinal symptoms, namely decreased post-prandial fullness and increased flatulence. • Iodine bioavailability from powdered Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed is approximately 50%. • Median iodine bioavailability did not change as a result of the inulin intervention. However, when participants were grouped according to whether they increased or decreased iodine bioavailability after the intervention, iodine bioavailability results were mirrored (Increasers: 43% pre, 62% post; Decreasers: 63% pre, 46% post). • We did not observe a relationship between fibre-rich food consumption frequency and iodine bioavailability from seaweed. • The inulin intervention did not induce changes in gut microbiota diversity indices but did have a Bifidogenic effect in the majority of participants. • According to LEfSe analysis, Methanobacteria, Catenibacterium, and Clostridia were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that increased iodine bioavailability, whilst Veillonellaceae and Dialister were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that decreased iodine bioavailability. Know-how: Through the course of the project, we have developed further our protocols for the measurement of iodine in complex liquid matrices containing faecal samples and fibres - this know-how will be described in the publication linked to this project. The project is anticipated to generate important novel insight on the role of prebiotics / fibre on the bioaccessibility / bioavailability of iodine from seaweed - this new knowledge is of commercial importance for the industry partner, since it can be used as evidence for the formulation of an improved seaweed product for the delivery of iodine less subject to interindividual variability. At present, potential lines of interest include supplement formulations including a fibre source as well as a seaweed as iodine source. Next steps Publication (either two separate manuscripts or a single publication grouping the intervention and in vitro work). Development of dissemination material focusing on the study findings, specifically on how bioavailability of iodine varies following seaweed intake. Development of a brief for internal use with the industry collaborator to 1) seek further funding (aim: BBSRC, InnovateUK), 2) develop a PhD proposal. Of particular interest is the potential to combine iodine and fibre source in a supplement and the dual impact on the microbiome. The large inter-individual variability observed also opens up opportunities to explore avenues for personalised nutrition. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-097 Manipulation of gut biofilms dynamics for enhanced iodine bioavailability (Emilie Combet) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project aims at understanding and harnessing the properties of human gut biofilm for utilisation of seaweed products as key novel source of iodine within a complex matrix. Iodine is an essential nutrient, lacking in the British diet. Seaweed is a low-cost, low input sustainable vector, but Iodine bioavailability from seaweed (the fraction the body can extract) is highly variable, person to person. We hypothesise that this variability in bioavailability is a direct consequence of the variability in the host gut biofilm diversity and function (biofilm dynamics). This variability represents a challenge for the industry, in term of accurate labelling for health effects, better understanding of the health potential for the product, a barrier to successful marketing. There is also risk-management strategies required around perception of risk of exposure to excess iodine from seaweed, assuming total 100% bioavailability. In this project we propose: - An IN VITRO PHASE 1 using fermentation models to identify key bacterial (and fungal) species linked to the variability in iodine bioavailability from seaweed. We will also monitor the impact of seaweed iodine on microbial diversity and function under batch culture conditions, in presence and absence of a range of carbon sources (disaccharides, fibres). - An IN VIVO PHASE 2 exploring, in human participants, nutritional strategies to engineer the gut biofilms in vivo, for improved and standardised iodine bioavailability. Specific strategies will involve prebiotic/probiotic exposure to modulate biofilms diversity and functions. The data will directly inform the partner on future product formulation and marketing / labelling strategies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Phase 1 • Inulin and Bimuno (a milk-based oligosaccharide prebiotic mix) display similar fermentation profiles whilst potato starch exhibits a delayed fermentative response (based on gas production). • However, Bimuno introduces exogenous iodine, rendering inulin the most suitable prebiotic fibre to carry through to in vivo trials. • We observed few iodine concentration changes in encapsulated seaweed conditions, indicating that iodine may not be released from this seaweed preparation due to its protective plant-protein coating. • Active bacterial metabolism is likely required for digestion of non-encapsulated seaweed and subsequent iodine release from the seaweed matrix. • Despite anticipating iodine concentration increases during the fermentation, we observed iodine concentration decreases. This may be due to either bacterial uptake of iodine (via mechanisms unknown), or loss of iodine into the vial headspace and subsequent degassing. However, further in vitro work is required to confirm these hypotheses. • Alpha diversity in fermentation samples was not affected by the source of iodine (PureSea Protect, PureSea Natural, Potassium iodide). • Alpha diversity values reduced as the fermentation progressed. This may reflect the proliferation of specific bacterial communities driven by the presence of inulin as a fermentable fibre. • Whilst the starting fermentation samples (0h) were clustered, this clustering was lost as the fermentation progressed, instead splitting into smaller clusters, indicating that there is inter-individual variability in participant responses to inulin. Phase 2 - in a group of euthyroid participants (n=25). • A two-week inulin intervention (12g/day) was well tolerated and had no effect on anthropometric aspects (weight, waist circumference, blood pressure). We observed minor changes in gastrointestinal symptoms, namely decreased post-prandial fullness and increased flatulence. • Iodine bioavailability from powdered Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed is approximately 50%. • Median iodine bioavailability did not change as a result of the inulin intervention. However, when participants were grouped according to whether they increased or decreased iodine bioavailability after the intervention, iodine bioavailability results were mirrored (Increasers: 43% pre, 62% post; Decreasers: 63% pre, 46% post). • We did not observe a relationship between fibre-rich food consumption frequency and iodine bioavailability from seaweed. • The inulin intervention did not induce changes in gut microbiota diversity indices but did have a Bifidogenic effect in the majority of participants. • According to LEfSe analysis, Methanobacteria, Catenibacterium, and Clostridia were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that increased iodine bioavailability, whilst Veillonellaceae and Dialister were pre-intervention biomarker taxa of those that decreased iodine bioavailability. Know-how: Through the course of the project, we have developed further our protocols for the measurement of iodine in complex liquid matrices containing faecal samples and fibres - this know-how will be described in the publication linked to this project. The project is anticipated to generate important novel insight on the role of prebiotics / fibre on the bioaccessibility / bioavailability of iodine from seaweed - this new knowledge is of commercial importance for the industry partner, since it can be used as evidence for the formulation of an improved seaweed product for the delivery of iodine less subject to interindividual variability. At present, potential lines of interest include supplement formulations including a fibre source as well as a seaweed as iodine source. Next steps Publication (either two separate manuscripts or a single publication grouping the intervention and in vitro work). Development of dissemination material focusing on the study findings, specifically on how bioavailability of iodine varies following seaweed intake. Development of a brief for internal use with the industry collaborator to 1) seek further funding (aim: BBSRC, InnovateUK), 2) develop a PhD proposal. Of particular interest is the potential to combine iodine and fibre source in a supplement and the dual impact on the microbiome. The large inter-individual variability observed also opens up opportunities to explore avenues for personalised nutrition. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-105 DNA origami nanostructures as a tool in the disruption of P. gingivalis biofilms. (Ioanna Mela) |
| Organisation | Frontier IP Group plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We are aiming to design and produce DNA nanostructures that can penetrate biofilms, specifically bind bacteria and deliver active payloads (such as antimicrobial enzymes or proteins). We will use this delivery vehicle to increase the efficacy of the antibacterial components against their targets, and specifically against the gram-negative bacterium P.gingivalis in biofilms. Our primary measure of success for this aim is by monitoring the growth of biofilm with and without the presence of the functionalised DNA nanostructures using microscopy live/dead assays. We will optimise our DNA structure by building on our prior results of using the antimicrobial enzyme lysozyme to slow the growth of gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (B. subtilis) bacteria. Optimisation will involve designing and testing different 3D geometries of the DNA nanostructure for penetration of the biofilm. We will also optimise the binding mechanism of the DNA origami to the bacteria (short oligonucleotides called aptamers) and identify the highest performing ones for effective attachment to the bacterial targets. We will use light sheet microscopy to achieve 3D visualisation of the biofilms and to quantify the penetration of the DNA nanostructures and structured illumination microscopy to quantify the efficiency of the aptamers binding. Those findings will inform future work. Our secondary measure of success is to identify at least one product profile for which the DNA structure has the potential to be developed, with industrial partners and users, to meet the requirements. By exploring potential product formats for a commercial antibacterial based on DNA nanostructures we will identify target product requirements such as shelf life, required lifetime of structure in human fluids, biocompatibility, compatibility with delivery device, and treatment duration. Potential industry partners, users and their high-level stakeholder needs will be identified, then compared with the potential DNA nanostructure performance to see if there is a good match. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project aimed to design and synthesise DNA nanostructures with the potential to penetrate biofilms and specifically bind to bacterial targets, while carrying active antimicrobials. The bacterial target selected in this project was the gram-negative bacterium P. gingivalis in biofilms, which is an anaerobic oral pathogen. We designed ten different nanostructures of which we synthesised three. The nanostructures were functionalised with aptamers that would act as the "anchoring" mechanism on the bacterial targets and loaded with three different antimicrobials: two proteins and one peptide. The results generated show that the efficacy of the antimicrobials was not increased by targeted delivery through the nanostructures. Troubleshooting experiments revealed that the most likely cause of the lack of potentiation of the antimicrobials is the limited binding of the nanostructures on the P. gingivalis targets. Optimisation of the aptamer sequences is therefore a crucial next step. Following extensive desk research and discussion, seven product formats were generated and then three selected. A product profile based on the original intent of a periodontitis therapeutic was created as were four further profiles for consumer and dental professional products. Following discussions with two potential international industrial partners at senior management level, and five dental/clinical professionals, refined profiles for the periodontitis therapeutic, a consumer product and a dental professional product were evolved. The current plan is to take all three profiles forward. There are two main options being considered for next steps. Frontier IP and Dr Ioanna Mela (University of Cambridge) will investigate the viability of both options in the next two months, with an initial meeting planned for January. In summary, the options are: Option 1 - Frontier IP and Dr Mela to apply for further grant funding, after Dr Mela has gained a permanent post. Option 2 - To create a start-up with Dr Mela as a founder member and ongoing adviser, and Frontier IP as a founder member. Frontier IP to raise funding. Resources permitting, we aim to carry out some further work in Q1 2022 to investigate the hypotheses that DNA nanostructures have a limited lifetime in the biofilm environment and/or the possible limited interaction of the nanostructures with the bacteria due to poor binding of the aptamers. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-105 DNA origami nanostructures as a tool in the disruption of P. gingivalis biofilms. (Ioanna Mela) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are aiming to design and produce DNA nanostructures that can penetrate biofilms, specifically bind bacteria and deliver active payloads (such as antimicrobial enzymes or proteins). We will use this delivery vehicle to increase the efficacy of the antibacterial components against their targets, and specifically against the gram-negative bacterium P.gingivalis in biofilms. Our primary measure of success for this aim is by monitoring the growth of biofilm with and without the presence of the functionalised DNA nanostructures using microscopy live/dead assays. We will optimise our DNA structure by building on our prior results of using the antimicrobial enzyme lysozyme to slow the growth of gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (B. subtilis) bacteria. Optimisation will involve designing and testing different 3D geometries of the DNA nanostructure for penetration of the biofilm. We will also optimise the binding mechanism of the DNA origami to the bacteria (short oligonucleotides called aptamers) and identify the highest performing ones for effective attachment to the bacterial targets. We will use light sheet microscopy to achieve 3D visualisation of the biofilms and to quantify the penetration of the DNA nanostructures and structured illumination microscopy to quantify the efficiency of the aptamers binding. Those findings will inform future work. Our secondary measure of success is to identify at least one product profile for which the DNA structure has the potential to be developed, with industrial partners and users, to meet the requirements. By exploring potential product formats for a commercial antibacterial based on DNA nanostructures we will identify target product requirements such as shelf life, required lifetime of structure in human fluids, biocompatibility, compatibility with delivery device, and treatment duration. Potential industry partners, users and their high-level stakeholder needs will be identified, then compared with the potential DNA nanostructure performance to see if there is a good match. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project aimed to design and synthesise DNA nanostructures with the potential to penetrate biofilms and specifically bind to bacterial targets, while carrying active antimicrobials. The bacterial target selected in this project was the gram-negative bacterium P. gingivalis in biofilms, which is an anaerobic oral pathogen. We designed ten different nanostructures of which we synthesised three. The nanostructures were functionalised with aptamers that would act as the "anchoring" mechanism on the bacterial targets and loaded with three different antimicrobials: two proteins and one peptide. The results generated show that the efficacy of the antimicrobials was not increased by targeted delivery through the nanostructures. Troubleshooting experiments revealed that the most likely cause of the lack of potentiation of the antimicrobials is the limited binding of the nanostructures on the P. gingivalis targets. Optimisation of the aptamer sequences is therefore a crucial next step. Following extensive desk research and discussion, seven product formats were generated and then three selected. A product profile based on the original intent of a periodontitis therapeutic was created as were four further profiles for consumer and dental professional products. Following discussions with two potential international industrial partners at senior management level, and five dental/clinical professionals, refined profiles for the periodontitis therapeutic, a consumer product and a dental professional product were evolved. The current plan is to take all three profiles forward. There are two main options being considered for next steps. Frontier IP and Dr Ioanna Mela (University of Cambridge) will investigate the viability of both options in the next two months, with an initial meeting planned for January. In summary, the options are: Option 1 - Frontier IP and Dr Mela to apply for further grant funding, after Dr Mela has gained a permanent post. Option 2 - To create a start-up with Dr Mela as a founder member and ongoing adviser, and Frontier IP as a founder member. Frontier IP to raise funding. Resources permitting, we aim to carry out some further work in Q1 2022 to investigate the hypotheses that DNA nanostructures have a limited lifetime in the biofilm environment and/or the possible limited interaction of the nanostructures with the bacteria due to poor binding of the aptamers. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-105 DNA origami nanostructures as a tool in the disruption of P. gingivalis biofilms. (Ioanna Mela) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are aiming to design and produce DNA nanostructures that can penetrate biofilms, specifically bind bacteria and deliver active payloads (such as antimicrobial enzymes or proteins). We will use this delivery vehicle to increase the efficacy of the antibacterial components against their targets, and specifically against the gram-negative bacterium P.gingivalis in biofilms. Our primary measure of success for this aim is by monitoring the growth of biofilm with and without the presence of the functionalised DNA nanostructures using microscopy live/dead assays. We will optimise our DNA structure by building on our prior results of using the antimicrobial enzyme lysozyme to slow the growth of gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (B. subtilis) bacteria. Optimisation will involve designing and testing different 3D geometries of the DNA nanostructure for penetration of the biofilm. We will also optimise the binding mechanism of the DNA origami to the bacteria (short oligonucleotides called aptamers) and identify the highest performing ones for effective attachment to the bacterial targets. We will use light sheet microscopy to achieve 3D visualisation of the biofilms and to quantify the penetration of the DNA nanostructures and structured illumination microscopy to quantify the efficiency of the aptamers binding. Those findings will inform future work. Our secondary measure of success is to identify at least one product profile for which the DNA structure has the potential to be developed, with industrial partners and users, to meet the requirements. By exploring potential product formats for a commercial antibacterial based on DNA nanostructures we will identify target product requirements such as shelf life, required lifetime of structure in human fluids, biocompatibility, compatibility with delivery device, and treatment duration. Potential industry partners, users and their high-level stakeholder needs will be identified, then compared with the potential DNA nanostructure performance to see if there is a good match. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The project aimed to design and synthesise DNA nanostructures with the potential to penetrate biofilms and specifically bind to bacterial targets, while carrying active antimicrobials. The bacterial target selected in this project was the gram-negative bacterium P. gingivalis in biofilms, which is an anaerobic oral pathogen. We designed ten different nanostructures of which we synthesised three. The nanostructures were functionalised with aptamers that would act as the "anchoring" mechanism on the bacterial targets and loaded with three different antimicrobials: two proteins and one peptide. The results generated show that the efficacy of the antimicrobials was not increased by targeted delivery through the nanostructures. Troubleshooting experiments revealed that the most likely cause of the lack of potentiation of the antimicrobials is the limited binding of the nanostructures on the P. gingivalis targets. Optimisation of the aptamer sequences is therefore a crucial next step. Following extensive desk research and discussion, seven product formats were generated and then three selected. A product profile based on the original intent of a periodontitis therapeutic was created as were four further profiles for consumer and dental professional products. Following discussions with two potential international industrial partners at senior management level, and five dental/clinical professionals, refined profiles for the periodontitis therapeutic, a consumer product and a dental professional product were evolved. The current plan is to take all three profiles forward. There are two main options being considered for next steps. Frontier IP and Dr Ioanna Mela (University of Cambridge) will investigate the viability of both options in the next two months, with an initial meeting planned for January. In summary, the options are: Option 1 - Frontier IP and Dr Mela to apply for further grant funding, after Dr Mela has gained a permanent post. Option 2 - To create a start-up with Dr Mela as a founder member and ongoing adviser, and Frontier IP as a founder member. Frontier IP to raise funding. Resources permitting, we aim to carry out some further work in Q1 2022 to investigate the hypotheses that DNA nanostructures have a limited lifetime in the biofilm environment and/or the possible limited interaction of the nanostructures with the bacteria due to poor binding of the aptamers. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-140 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into wound dressing platforms to control biofilms (Joanne O'Keeffe/Daimark Bennett) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a wound dressing (hydrogel) prototype combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: 1. Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype wound dressing. 2. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the wound dressing i.e. ensure elution of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. 3. Evaluate the prototype wound dressing (hydrogel) under both ASTM based biofilm models and also in realistic wound care conditions to produce a 'proof of concept' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer a dose of lactams (QS blocker) as and when is required with the aim to potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay wound healing e.g. inflammation. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a QS blocking agent, providing a synergistic effect to manage the microflora within the wound bed, ultimately influencing the microbiome within the wound itself leading to enhanced wound healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Liverpool: We are providing functional characterisation of textile-microbe interactions using optical imaging. Visualisation of microbial communities on wound dressings. |
| Impact | Feedback from industrial partner: The general aim of this proof of concept of study was to develop and evaluate wound dressings utilising a novel quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The novel anti-fouling technologies (lactam) was successfully incorporated into a number of wound platforms, some of which already had compounds present which are claimed to affect biofilms and/ or help in wound healing (reduce inflammation). Proof of principle of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against two key biofilm - forming bacteria present in wounds, which allowed for the selection prototypes we are proposing to develop further. Not only did we demonstrate efficacy from the lactams alone, we also observed boosted effects when in combination with other technologies used to treat wound biofilms. Imaging techniques used to support the in vitro efficacy assessment provided us with mechanistic insights as to the mode of action and clearly supported the positive data obtained. We will be investigating the leaching/ release properties of the lactams to obtain further mechanistic insights and help scope potential in-use applications further. We intend to publish and are currently scoping ways to jointly develop the technology for commercial use. MAIN OUTPUTS: • Ease of lactam incorporation into wound dressings and the generation of prototypes. • Efficacy testing using accepted ASTM methodology with demonstration of significant positive performance of the lactam technology - either alone or in combination, including with those technologies currently and (and are not yet) commercially available. • Less cytotoxic effects than current market lead against L929 cells. • Development of imaging protocols and analysis tools used to support the log count results, allowing greater confidence in the results and a method by which we can begin to strengthen our mechanistic understanding. Future work: We are hopeful we will continue the industrial collaboration to ensure joint development of the technology (where applicable) to optimise the potential product offerings. We will be publishing the work and may continue to generate experimental data to support that activity. We are scoping ways to fund future optimisation work and move the technology readiness level from TRL 6-7 towards 8-9. Key focus will likely be in optimising the formulations(s), understanding the regulatory requirements, and scoping potential routes to market. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-140 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into wound dressing platforms to control biofilms (Joanne O'Keeffe/Daimark Bennett) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a wound dressing (hydrogel) prototype combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: 1. Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype wound dressing. 2. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the wound dressing i.e. ensure elution of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. 3. Evaluate the prototype wound dressing (hydrogel) under both ASTM based biofilm models and also in realistic wound care conditions to produce a 'proof of concept' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer a dose of lactams (QS blocker) as and when is required with the aim to potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay wound healing e.g. inflammation. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a QS blocking agent, providing a synergistic effect to manage the microflora within the wound bed, ultimately influencing the microbiome within the wound itself leading to enhanced wound healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Liverpool: We are providing functional characterisation of textile-microbe interactions using optical imaging. Visualisation of microbial communities on wound dressings. |
| Impact | Feedback from industrial partner: The general aim of this proof of concept of study was to develop and evaluate wound dressings utilising a novel quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The novel anti-fouling technologies (lactam) was successfully incorporated into a number of wound platforms, some of which already had compounds present which are claimed to affect biofilms and/ or help in wound healing (reduce inflammation). Proof of principle of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against two key biofilm - forming bacteria present in wounds, which allowed for the selection prototypes we are proposing to develop further. Not only did we demonstrate efficacy from the lactams alone, we also observed boosted effects when in combination with other technologies used to treat wound biofilms. Imaging techniques used to support the in vitro efficacy assessment provided us with mechanistic insights as to the mode of action and clearly supported the positive data obtained. We will be investigating the leaching/ release properties of the lactams to obtain further mechanistic insights and help scope potential in-use applications further. We intend to publish and are currently scoping ways to jointly develop the technology for commercial use. MAIN OUTPUTS: • Ease of lactam incorporation into wound dressings and the generation of prototypes. • Efficacy testing using accepted ASTM methodology with demonstration of significant positive performance of the lactam technology - either alone or in combination, including with those technologies currently and (and are not yet) commercially available. • Less cytotoxic effects than current market lead against L929 cells. • Development of imaging protocols and analysis tools used to support the log count results, allowing greater confidence in the results and a method by which we can begin to strengthen our mechanistic understanding. Future work: We are hopeful we will continue the industrial collaboration to ensure joint development of the technology (where applicable) to optimise the potential product offerings. We will be publishing the work and may continue to generate experimental data to support that activity. We are scoping ways to fund future optimisation work and move the technology readiness level from TRL 6-7 towards 8-9. Key focus will likely be in optimising the formulations(s), understanding the regulatory requirements, and scoping potential routes to market. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-140 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into wound dressing platforms to control biofilms (Joanne O'Keeffe/Daimark Bennett) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a wound dressing (hydrogel) prototype combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: 1. Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype wound dressing. 2. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the wound dressing i.e. ensure elution of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. 3. Evaluate the prototype wound dressing (hydrogel) under both ASTM based biofilm models and also in realistic wound care conditions to produce a 'proof of concept' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer a dose of lactams (QS blocker) as and when is required with the aim to potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay wound healing e.g. inflammation. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a QS blocking agent, providing a synergistic effect to manage the microflora within the wound bed, ultimately influencing the microbiome within the wound itself leading to enhanced wound healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Liverpool: We are providing functional characterisation of textile-microbe interactions using optical imaging. Visualisation of microbial communities on wound dressings. |
| Impact | Feedback from industrial partner: The general aim of this proof of concept of study was to develop and evaluate wound dressings utilising a novel quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The novel anti-fouling technologies (lactam) was successfully incorporated into a number of wound platforms, some of which already had compounds present which are claimed to affect biofilms and/ or help in wound healing (reduce inflammation). Proof of principle of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against two key biofilm - forming bacteria present in wounds, which allowed for the selection prototypes we are proposing to develop further. Not only did we demonstrate efficacy from the lactams alone, we also observed boosted effects when in combination with other technologies used to treat wound biofilms. Imaging techniques used to support the in vitro efficacy assessment provided us with mechanistic insights as to the mode of action and clearly supported the positive data obtained. We will be investigating the leaching/ release properties of the lactams to obtain further mechanistic insights and help scope potential in-use applications further. We intend to publish and are currently scoping ways to jointly develop the technology for commercial use. MAIN OUTPUTS: • Ease of lactam incorporation into wound dressings and the generation of prototypes. • Efficacy testing using accepted ASTM methodology with demonstration of significant positive performance of the lactam technology - either alone or in combination, including with those technologies currently and (and are not yet) commercially available. • Less cytotoxic effects than current market lead against L929 cells. • Development of imaging protocols and analysis tools used to support the log count results, allowing greater confidence in the results and a method by which we can begin to strengthen our mechanistic understanding. Future work: We are hopeful we will continue the industrial collaboration to ensure joint development of the technology (where applicable) to optimise the potential product offerings. We will be publishing the work and may continue to generate experimental data to support that activity. We are scoping ways to fund future optimisation work and move the technology readiness level from TRL 6-7 towards 8-9. Key focus will likely be in optimising the formulations(s), understanding the regulatory requirements, and scoping potential routes to market. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-140 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into wound dressing platforms to control biofilms (Joanne O'Keeffe/Daimark Bennett) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a wound dressing (hydrogel) prototype combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: 1. Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype wound dressing. 2. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the wound dressing i.e. ensure elution of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. 3. Evaluate the prototype wound dressing (hydrogel) under both ASTM based biofilm models and also in realistic wound care conditions to produce a 'proof of concept' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer a dose of lactams (QS blocker) as and when is required with the aim to potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay wound healing e.g. inflammation. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the combined use of an advanced wound dressing and a QS blocking agent, providing a synergistic effect to manage the microflora within the wound bed, ultimately influencing the microbiome within the wound itself leading to enhanced wound healing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Liverpool: We are providing functional characterisation of textile-microbe interactions using optical imaging. Visualisation of microbial communities on wound dressings. |
| Impact | Feedback from industrial partner: The general aim of this proof of concept of study was to develop and evaluate wound dressings utilising a novel quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The novel anti-fouling technologies (lactam) was successfully incorporated into a number of wound platforms, some of which already had compounds present which are claimed to affect biofilms and/ or help in wound healing (reduce inflammation). Proof of principle of efficacy (in vitro) was demonstrated, against two key biofilm - forming bacteria present in wounds, which allowed for the selection prototypes we are proposing to develop further. Not only did we demonstrate efficacy from the lactams alone, we also observed boosted effects when in combination with other technologies used to treat wound biofilms. Imaging techniques used to support the in vitro efficacy assessment provided us with mechanistic insights as to the mode of action and clearly supported the positive data obtained. We will be investigating the leaching/ release properties of the lactams to obtain further mechanistic insights and help scope potential in-use applications further. We intend to publish and are currently scoping ways to jointly develop the technology for commercial use. MAIN OUTPUTS: • Ease of lactam incorporation into wound dressings and the generation of prototypes. • Efficacy testing using accepted ASTM methodology with demonstration of significant positive performance of the lactam technology - either alone or in combination, including with those technologies currently and (and are not yet) commercially available. • Less cytotoxic effects than current market lead against L929 cells. • Development of imaging protocols and analysis tools used to support the log count results, allowing greater confidence in the results and a method by which we can begin to strengthen our mechanistic understanding. Future work: We are hopeful we will continue the industrial collaboration to ensure joint development of the technology (where applicable) to optimise the potential product offerings. We will be publishing the work and may continue to generate experimental data to support that activity. We are scoping ways to fund future optimisation work and move the technology readiness level from TRL 6-7 towards 8-9. Key focus will likely be in optimising the formulations(s), understanding the regulatory requirements, and scoping potential routes to market. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-150 Biofilm disruption activity of absorbent sustained action alginate and iodine combined wound dressings (Manuel Romero) |
| Organisation | Io-Cyte |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Io-Cyte Ltd (www.io-cyte.co.uk) is an SME (spun out from Xiros Ltd) engaged in the development of a novel alginate and iodine combined absorbent sustained-action wound dressings, which has demonstrated high efficacy against single-species biofilms (CDC Bioreactor model). With this proposal, Io-Cyte wishes to build additional confidence in this new dressing concept using more challenging and clinically relevant biofilm models. These will comprise a complex inter-kingdom polymicrobial biofilm model that has shown high levels of tolerance to commercial wound formulations (including antimicrobials like silver salts) in previous tests carried out at the University of Nottingham, and an ex vivo porcine skin infection model optimised for wound therapeutic testing in the University of Southampton. The overall aim of the project is therefore, to aid in the optimisation of a novel antimicrobial wound dressing and to provide strong supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the dressing against biofilms. The key goals are as follows: Determine whether the Io-Cyte technology is effective against polymicrobial biofilms; Determine if the products work in very different biofilm models (abiotic and biotic surfaces); Collaboratively identify the most effective formulation against biofilms which can be taken forward for further development. Success will be measured based on the outcomes from the different biofilm models and the ability to use the results and knowledge gained to drive product development. A second measure of success will relate to selection of an appropriate loading of the active agent to be effective against biofilms in the models used. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Three povidone-iodine (PVPI)-containing dressings provided by Io-Cyte were tested against polymicrobial biofilms including the wound relevant pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Despite no significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) counts for all microbial species were recorded, confocal microscopy analysis showed that PVPI releasing dressings cause a reduction in biofilm viability in a non-uniform way. The same dressings were tested against single species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in porcine wound models. Significant reductions in CFU counts were shown for some of the dressings, although the log reductions were low. Results suggest that an improved release/ diffusion of dressing treatments could produce a more homogeneous and efficacious killing of wound-relevant single species and polymicrobial communities. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-150 Biofilm disruption activity of absorbent sustained action alginate and iodine combined wound dressings (Manuel Romero) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Io-Cyte Ltd (www.io-cyte.co.uk) is an SME (spun out from Xiros Ltd) engaged in the development of a novel alginate and iodine combined absorbent sustained-action wound dressings, which has demonstrated high efficacy against single-species biofilms (CDC Bioreactor model). With this proposal, Io-Cyte wishes to build additional confidence in this new dressing concept using more challenging and clinically relevant biofilm models. These will comprise a complex inter-kingdom polymicrobial biofilm model that has shown high levels of tolerance to commercial wound formulations (including antimicrobials like silver salts) in previous tests carried out at the University of Nottingham, and an ex vivo porcine skin infection model optimised for wound therapeutic testing in the University of Southampton. The overall aim of the project is therefore, to aid in the optimisation of a novel antimicrobial wound dressing and to provide strong supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the dressing against biofilms. The key goals are as follows: Determine whether the Io-Cyte technology is effective against polymicrobial biofilms; Determine if the products work in very different biofilm models (abiotic and biotic surfaces); Collaboratively identify the most effective formulation against biofilms which can be taken forward for further development. Success will be measured based on the outcomes from the different biofilm models and the ability to use the results and knowledge gained to drive product development. A second measure of success will relate to selection of an appropriate loading of the active agent to be effective against biofilms in the models used. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Three povidone-iodine (PVPI)-containing dressings provided by Io-Cyte were tested against polymicrobial biofilms including the wound relevant pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Despite no significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) counts for all microbial species were recorded, confocal microscopy analysis showed that PVPI releasing dressings cause a reduction in biofilm viability in a non-uniform way. The same dressings were tested against single species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in porcine wound models. Significant reductions in CFU counts were shown for some of the dressings, although the log reductions were low. Results suggest that an improved release/ diffusion of dressing treatments could produce a more homogeneous and efficacious killing of wound-relevant single species and polymicrobial communities. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-150 Biofilm disruption activity of absorbent sustained action alginate and iodine combined wound dressings (Manuel Romero) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Io-Cyte Ltd (www.io-cyte.co.uk) is an SME (spun out from Xiros Ltd) engaged in the development of a novel alginate and iodine combined absorbent sustained-action wound dressings, which has demonstrated high efficacy against single-species biofilms (CDC Bioreactor model). With this proposal, Io-Cyte wishes to build additional confidence in this new dressing concept using more challenging and clinically relevant biofilm models. These will comprise a complex inter-kingdom polymicrobial biofilm model that has shown high levels of tolerance to commercial wound formulations (including antimicrobials like silver salts) in previous tests carried out at the University of Nottingham, and an ex vivo porcine skin infection model optimised for wound therapeutic testing in the University of Southampton. The overall aim of the project is therefore, to aid in the optimisation of a novel antimicrobial wound dressing and to provide strong supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the dressing against biofilms. The key goals are as follows: Determine whether the Io-Cyte technology is effective against polymicrobial biofilms; Determine if the products work in very different biofilm models (abiotic and biotic surfaces); Collaboratively identify the most effective formulation against biofilms which can be taken forward for further development. Success will be measured based on the outcomes from the different biofilm models and the ability to use the results and knowledge gained to drive product development. A second measure of success will relate to selection of an appropriate loading of the active agent to be effective against biofilms in the models used. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Three povidone-iodine (PVPI)-containing dressings provided by Io-Cyte were tested against polymicrobial biofilms including the wound relevant pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Despite no significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) counts for all microbial species were recorded, confocal microscopy analysis showed that PVPI releasing dressings cause a reduction in biofilm viability in a non-uniform way. The same dressings were tested against single species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in porcine wound models. Significant reductions in CFU counts were shown for some of the dressings, although the log reductions were low. Results suggest that an improved release/ diffusion of dressing treatments could produce a more homogeneous and efficacious killing of wound-relevant single species and polymicrobial communities. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-150 Biofilm disruption activity of absorbent sustained action alginate and iodine combined wound dressings (Manuel Romero) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Io-Cyte Ltd (www.io-cyte.co.uk) is an SME (spun out from Xiros Ltd) engaged in the development of a novel alginate and iodine combined absorbent sustained-action wound dressings, which has demonstrated high efficacy against single-species biofilms (CDC Bioreactor model). With this proposal, Io-Cyte wishes to build additional confidence in this new dressing concept using more challenging and clinically relevant biofilm models. These will comprise a complex inter-kingdom polymicrobial biofilm model that has shown high levels of tolerance to commercial wound formulations (including antimicrobials like silver salts) in previous tests carried out at the University of Nottingham, and an ex vivo porcine skin infection model optimised for wound therapeutic testing in the University of Southampton. The overall aim of the project is therefore, to aid in the optimisation of a novel antimicrobial wound dressing and to provide strong supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the dressing against biofilms. The key goals are as follows: Determine whether the Io-Cyte technology is effective against polymicrobial biofilms; Determine if the products work in very different biofilm models (abiotic and biotic surfaces); Collaboratively identify the most effective formulation against biofilms which can be taken forward for further development. Success will be measured based on the outcomes from the different biofilm models and the ability to use the results and knowledge gained to drive product development. A second measure of success will relate to selection of an appropriate loading of the active agent to be effective against biofilms in the models used. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Three povidone-iodine (PVPI)-containing dressings provided by Io-Cyte were tested against polymicrobial biofilms including the wound relevant pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Despite no significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) counts for all microbial species were recorded, confocal microscopy analysis showed that PVPI releasing dressings cause a reduction in biofilm viability in a non-uniform way. The same dressings were tested against single species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in porcine wound models. Significant reductions in CFU counts were shown for some of the dressings, although the log reductions were low. Results suggest that an improved release/ diffusion of dressing treatments could produce a more homogeneous and efficacious killing of wound-relevant single species and polymicrobial communities. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-154 Novel hybrid biofilm technology to remove nutrients from wastewater (Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Eutrophication of water bodies caused by excessive discharge of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater treatment plants is a widely recognised issue. Existing technology for removal of nutrients from wastewater cannot currently achieve very low levels of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. The University of Southampton (UoS) has developed a self-immobilized microbial granular biofilm technology, which is capable of removing carbon, and TN in a single reactor. Plantwork Systems Ltd (PWS) has demonstrated TP removal well below 0.5 mg/L in a prototype technology called NUTREM®, however, TN removal is not demonstrated. Both technologies are based on Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology, therefore, UoS and PWS will collaborate with a view to developing and demonstrating a hybrid flocculent/granular sludge technology which targets both TN and TP in the full-scale operating NUTREM® prototype plant at Petersfield in Hampshire. The specific objectives include: Review TN removal potential in the current prototype NUTREM® plant designed for TP removal. Adjust the process to enable hydraulic selection pressure within the NUTREM® plant to stimulate partial conversion of flocculent sludge to granular biofilm sludge to improve retention of nitrifying bacteria. Use a scale-up and scale-down approach to optimise the hybrid flocculent/granular biofilm process to achieve simultaneous TN and TP removal in both full-scale NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs. Assess the function and contribution of flocculent sludge and granular sludge in both full-scale hybrid NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs for simultaneous TN and TP removal. Success of the project would be measured based on achieving target levels of <5mg/l TN and <0.5mg/l TP simultaneously and consistently, without the requirement for any chemical addition. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The 3 lab-scale reactors easily achieved 15 mg/L phosphate P removal and up to 70 mg/L ammonium-N removal during 5.5-month operation period. Hybrid sludge containing both suspended and granular sludge was successfully developed with the overall sludge index volume (SVI) varying between 37 and 67 ml/g, indicating much better sludge settleability than full-scale reactors 01 and 02. However, with a long settling time of 30 minutes, it took around 3 months to achieve SVI of 37-67 ml/g, which is longer than using shorter settling times for a pure granular sludge system. The low average effluent TN of 3.69 mg/l was achieved in the full-scale reactor 02 by using additional anoxic time, while the average of 5.51mg/l in reactor 01 was achieved by altering conditions for the development of granular sludge. The settleability of the sludge in reactor 01, however, was notably improved with SVI reduced from 233 to 104 ml/g, indicating that sludge characteristics were changed towards granular sludge. Due to the alteration of conditions, the MLSS in reactor 01 were also lowered to <1,500mg/l instead of the targeted 3,000mg/l. Given additional time, the MLSS concentration would be expected to increase. This is still being monitored post project completion. Further collaboration between PWS and UoS has been being carried out by continuing to operate the full-scale SBRs for confirmation of results obtained from this project. In addition, to further the project, a 50% PhD studentship was provided by PWS to match 50% fund from UoS to continue relevant research in both lab-scale and full-scale SBRs in the next 4 years by a PhD student. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-154 Novel hybrid biofilm technology to remove nutrients from wastewater (Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | Plantworks Ltd UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Eutrophication of water bodies caused by excessive discharge of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater treatment plants is a widely recognised issue. Existing technology for removal of nutrients from wastewater cannot currently achieve very low levels of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. The University of Southampton (UoS) has developed a self-immobilized microbial granular biofilm technology, which is capable of removing carbon, and TN in a single reactor. Plantwork Systems Ltd (PWS) has demonstrated TP removal well below 0.5 mg/L in a prototype technology called NUTREM®, however, TN removal is not demonstrated. Both technologies are based on Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology, therefore, UoS and PWS will collaborate with a view to developing and demonstrating a hybrid flocculent/granular sludge technology which targets both TN and TP in the full-scale operating NUTREM® prototype plant at Petersfield in Hampshire. The specific objectives include: Review TN removal potential in the current prototype NUTREM® plant designed for TP removal. Adjust the process to enable hydraulic selection pressure within the NUTREM® plant to stimulate partial conversion of flocculent sludge to granular biofilm sludge to improve retention of nitrifying bacteria. Use a scale-up and scale-down approach to optimise the hybrid flocculent/granular biofilm process to achieve simultaneous TN and TP removal in both full-scale NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs. Assess the function and contribution of flocculent sludge and granular sludge in both full-scale hybrid NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs for simultaneous TN and TP removal. Success of the project would be measured based on achieving target levels of <5mg/l TN and <0.5mg/l TP simultaneously and consistently, without the requirement for any chemical addition. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The 3 lab-scale reactors easily achieved 15 mg/L phosphate P removal and up to 70 mg/L ammonium-N removal during 5.5-month operation period. Hybrid sludge containing both suspended and granular sludge was successfully developed with the overall sludge index volume (SVI) varying between 37 and 67 ml/g, indicating much better sludge settleability than full-scale reactors 01 and 02. However, with a long settling time of 30 minutes, it took around 3 months to achieve SVI of 37-67 ml/g, which is longer than using shorter settling times for a pure granular sludge system. The low average effluent TN of 3.69 mg/l was achieved in the full-scale reactor 02 by using additional anoxic time, while the average of 5.51mg/l in reactor 01 was achieved by altering conditions for the development of granular sludge. The settleability of the sludge in reactor 01, however, was notably improved with SVI reduced from 233 to 104 ml/g, indicating that sludge characteristics were changed towards granular sludge. Due to the alteration of conditions, the MLSS in reactor 01 were also lowered to <1,500mg/l instead of the targeted 3,000mg/l. Given additional time, the MLSS concentration would be expected to increase. This is still being monitored post project completion. Further collaboration between PWS and UoS has been being carried out by continuing to operate the full-scale SBRs for confirmation of results obtained from this project. In addition, to further the project, a 50% PhD studentship was provided by PWS to match 50% fund from UoS to continue relevant research in both lab-scale and full-scale SBRs in the next 4 years by a PhD student. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 03POC20-154 Novel hybrid biofilm technology to remove nutrients from wastewater (Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Eutrophication of water bodies caused by excessive discharge of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater treatment plants is a widely recognised issue. Existing technology for removal of nutrients from wastewater cannot currently achieve very low levels of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. The University of Southampton (UoS) has developed a self-immobilized microbial granular biofilm technology, which is capable of removing carbon, and TN in a single reactor. Plantwork Systems Ltd (PWS) has demonstrated TP removal well below 0.5 mg/L in a prototype technology called NUTREM®, however, TN removal is not demonstrated. Both technologies are based on Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology, therefore, UoS and PWS will collaborate with a view to developing and demonstrating a hybrid flocculent/granular sludge technology which targets both TN and TP in the full-scale operating NUTREM® prototype plant at Petersfield in Hampshire. The specific objectives include: Review TN removal potential in the current prototype NUTREM® plant designed for TP removal. Adjust the process to enable hydraulic selection pressure within the NUTREM® plant to stimulate partial conversion of flocculent sludge to granular biofilm sludge to improve retention of nitrifying bacteria. Use a scale-up and scale-down approach to optimise the hybrid flocculent/granular biofilm process to achieve simultaneous TN and TP removal in both full-scale NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs. Assess the function and contribution of flocculent sludge and granular sludge in both full-scale hybrid NUTREM and bench-scale SBRs for simultaneous TN and TP removal. Success of the project would be measured based on achieving target levels of <5mg/l TN and <0.5mg/l TP simultaneously and consistently, without the requirement for any chemical addition. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | The 3 lab-scale reactors easily achieved 15 mg/L phosphate P removal and up to 70 mg/L ammonium-N removal during 5.5-month operation period. Hybrid sludge containing both suspended and granular sludge was successfully developed with the overall sludge index volume (SVI) varying between 37 and 67 ml/g, indicating much better sludge settleability than full-scale reactors 01 and 02. However, with a long settling time of 30 minutes, it took around 3 months to achieve SVI of 37-67 ml/g, which is longer than using shorter settling times for a pure granular sludge system. The low average effluent TN of 3.69 mg/l was achieved in the full-scale reactor 02 by using additional anoxic time, while the average of 5.51mg/l in reactor 01 was achieved by altering conditions for the development of granular sludge. The settleability of the sludge in reactor 01, however, was notably improved with SVI reduced from 233 to 104 ml/g, indicating that sludge characteristics were changed towards granular sludge. Due to the alteration of conditions, the MLSS in reactor 01 were also lowered to <1,500mg/l instead of the targeted 3,000mg/l. Given additional time, the MLSS concentration would be expected to increase. This is still being monitored post project completion. Further collaboration between PWS and UoS has been being carried out by continuing to operate the full-scale SBRs for confirmation of results obtained from this project. In addition, to further the project, a 50% PhD studentship was provided by PWS to match 50% fund from UoS to continue relevant research in both lab-scale and full-scale SBRs in the next 4 years by a PhD student. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-188 An industrial whole organism assay for biofilms made by pathogenic bacteria without the use of laboratory mammals. (Marina Ezcurra) |
| Organisation | Magnitude Biosciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to provide sufficient proof-of-principle data to support the development of a commercial in vivo assay for biofilm formation using C. elegans by the CROs, Perfectus Biomed and Magnitude Biosciences. A commercialised in vivo biofilm model would be widely available to industry and academic researchers, filling a market gap. Assays not involving rodents will be faster, more cost effective and reduces ethical impact Perfectus Biomed specialises in accredited biofilm assays. Magnitude Biosciences is a C. elegans CRO with customers in the microbiome field. Both have potential markets for an in vivo biofilm assay. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant, opportunistic pathogen that causes chronic infections and threatens the lives of patients that are immunocompromised, have cystic fibrosis or are in critical care. Biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa exhibit decreased susceptibility to antibiotics and host immunity, making infections almost impossible to eradicate. Unlike existing in vitro laboratory models such as microfluidic devices, a C. elegans in vivo model would mimic biofilm characteristics within host tissues and provide a readout of host health. We aim to develop a simple system to monitor and study P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo using the nematode invertebrate C. elegans, a well-established whole-animal model for biological research that offers inexpensive and simple cultivation methods. We will: Generate fluorescent biofilm markers that can be tracked in vivo. Monitor the effects of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and of the addition of existing P. aeruginosa treatments, on host health, as assessed by measuring animal movement. Evaluate assays of live C. elegans using microplate readers. A successful outcome will be measured by: Perfectus investing in generating a ISO/GLP certified assay. Magnitude finding interest from its customer base from exposure of the preliminary data. Dissemination of research by Dr Ezcurra. Moving towards assay customisation through joint grant applications by the partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: In this project, the Ezcurra Lab at University of Kent and SMEs Magnitude Biosciences and Perfectus Biomed collaborated to work towards developing the use of C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. Transgenic P. aeruginosa reporters were sourced from the research community and their potential for detecting P. aeruginosa in vivo in C. elegans was evaluated. In vitro approaches combined with in vivo C. elegans assays identified fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters that can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans. Our work suggests that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans and that biofilm-compromised P. aeruginosa have reduced pathogenicity. Our study demonstrates that C. elegans can be used as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further work is needed to develop appropriate reagents that can be used effectively to monitor biofilm formation in live C. elegans. Throughout the project, the collaborators worked together to drive the project forward. Experimental design, protocol development and results were discussed at monthly meetings. Visits were performed at all three sites, enabling staff training, knowledge exchange and further discussions. Through these mechanisms partnerships have been developed between the collaborators and a strong basis for continued collaboration created. Together our findings show that fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans and suggest that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans. Our project builds a strong case for the use of C. elegans as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further studies are needed to develop improved tools allowing improved visualisation and quantification of biofilms in C. elegans. Next steps: ONGOING RESEARCH: A Masters student in the Ezcurra lab is continuing evaluation of the reagents (measuring fluorescence in C. elegans in microtiter plates and testing biofilm inhibitors). PUBLICATION: The work presented in this report will be developed into a manuscript for publication. Work is ongoing in the Ezcurra lab to perform more trials and additional experiments. The publication will be of value for the scientific community and put the collaborators in a good position for joint grant applications. GRANT APPLICATIONS: The collaborators will seek and apply for grants to fund projects aiming to develop C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-188 An industrial whole organism assay for biofilms made by pathogenic bacteria without the use of laboratory mammals. (Marina Ezcurra) |
| Organisation | Perfectus Biomed Ltd. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to provide sufficient proof-of-principle data to support the development of a commercial in vivo assay for biofilm formation using C. elegans by the CROs, Perfectus Biomed and Magnitude Biosciences. A commercialised in vivo biofilm model would be widely available to industry and academic researchers, filling a market gap. Assays not involving rodents will be faster, more cost effective and reduces ethical impact Perfectus Biomed specialises in accredited biofilm assays. Magnitude Biosciences is a C. elegans CRO with customers in the microbiome field. Both have potential markets for an in vivo biofilm assay. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant, opportunistic pathogen that causes chronic infections and threatens the lives of patients that are immunocompromised, have cystic fibrosis or are in critical care. Biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa exhibit decreased susceptibility to antibiotics and host immunity, making infections almost impossible to eradicate. Unlike existing in vitro laboratory models such as microfluidic devices, a C. elegans in vivo model would mimic biofilm characteristics within host tissues and provide a readout of host health. We aim to develop a simple system to monitor and study P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo using the nematode invertebrate C. elegans, a well-established whole-animal model for biological research that offers inexpensive and simple cultivation methods. We will: Generate fluorescent biofilm markers that can be tracked in vivo. Monitor the effects of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and of the addition of existing P. aeruginosa treatments, on host health, as assessed by measuring animal movement. Evaluate assays of live C. elegans using microplate readers. A successful outcome will be measured by: Perfectus investing in generating a ISO/GLP certified assay. Magnitude finding interest from its customer base from exposure of the preliminary data. Dissemination of research by Dr Ezcurra. Moving towards assay customisation through joint grant applications by the partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: In this project, the Ezcurra Lab at University of Kent and SMEs Magnitude Biosciences and Perfectus Biomed collaborated to work towards developing the use of C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. Transgenic P. aeruginosa reporters were sourced from the research community and their potential for detecting P. aeruginosa in vivo in C. elegans was evaluated. In vitro approaches combined with in vivo C. elegans assays identified fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters that can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans. Our work suggests that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans and that biofilm-compromised P. aeruginosa have reduced pathogenicity. Our study demonstrates that C. elegans can be used as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further work is needed to develop appropriate reagents that can be used effectively to monitor biofilm formation in live C. elegans. Throughout the project, the collaborators worked together to drive the project forward. Experimental design, protocol development and results were discussed at monthly meetings. Visits were performed at all three sites, enabling staff training, knowledge exchange and further discussions. Through these mechanisms partnerships have been developed between the collaborators and a strong basis for continued collaboration created. Together our findings show that fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans and suggest that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans. Our project builds a strong case for the use of C. elegans as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further studies are needed to develop improved tools allowing improved visualisation and quantification of biofilms in C. elegans. Next steps: ONGOING RESEARCH: A Masters student in the Ezcurra lab is continuing evaluation of the reagents (measuring fluorescence in C. elegans in microtiter plates and testing biofilm inhibitors). PUBLICATION: The work presented in this report will be developed into a manuscript for publication. Work is ongoing in the Ezcurra lab to perform more trials and additional experiments. The publication will be of value for the scientific community and put the collaborators in a good position for joint grant applications. GRANT APPLICATIONS: The collaborators will seek and apply for grants to fund projects aiming to develop C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-188 An industrial whole organism assay for biofilms made by pathogenic bacteria without the use of laboratory mammals. (Marina Ezcurra) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to provide sufficient proof-of-principle data to support the development of a commercial in vivo assay for biofilm formation using C. elegans by the CROs, Perfectus Biomed and Magnitude Biosciences. A commercialised in vivo biofilm model would be widely available to industry and academic researchers, filling a market gap. Assays not involving rodents will be faster, more cost effective and reduces ethical impact Perfectus Biomed specialises in accredited biofilm assays. Magnitude Biosciences is a C. elegans CRO with customers in the microbiome field. Both have potential markets for an in vivo biofilm assay. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant, opportunistic pathogen that causes chronic infections and threatens the lives of patients that are immunocompromised, have cystic fibrosis or are in critical care. Biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa exhibit decreased susceptibility to antibiotics and host immunity, making infections almost impossible to eradicate. Unlike existing in vitro laboratory models such as microfluidic devices, a C. elegans in vivo model would mimic biofilm characteristics within host tissues and provide a readout of host health. We aim to develop a simple system to monitor and study P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo using the nematode invertebrate C. elegans, a well-established whole-animal model for biological research that offers inexpensive and simple cultivation methods. We will: Generate fluorescent biofilm markers that can be tracked in vivo. Monitor the effects of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and of the addition of existing P. aeruginosa treatments, on host health, as assessed by measuring animal movement. Evaluate assays of live C. elegans using microplate readers. A successful outcome will be measured by: Perfectus investing in generating a ISO/GLP certified assay. Magnitude finding interest from its customer base from exposure of the preliminary data. Dissemination of research by Dr Ezcurra. Moving towards assay customisation through joint grant applications by the partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: In this project, the Ezcurra Lab at University of Kent and SMEs Magnitude Biosciences and Perfectus Biomed collaborated to work towards developing the use of C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. Transgenic P. aeruginosa reporters were sourced from the research community and their potential for detecting P. aeruginosa in vivo in C. elegans was evaluated. In vitro approaches combined with in vivo C. elegans assays identified fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters that can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans. Our work suggests that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans and that biofilm-compromised P. aeruginosa have reduced pathogenicity. Our study demonstrates that C. elegans can be used as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further work is needed to develop appropriate reagents that can be used effectively to monitor biofilm formation in live C. elegans. Throughout the project, the collaborators worked together to drive the project forward. Experimental design, protocol development and results were discussed at monthly meetings. Visits were performed at all three sites, enabling staff training, knowledge exchange and further discussions. Through these mechanisms partnerships have been developed between the collaborators and a strong basis for continued collaboration created. Together our findings show that fluorescent P. aeruginosa biofilm reporters can be used to detect infection in vivo in C. elegans and suggest that P. aeruginosa biofilms increase pathogenicity in C. elegans. Our project builds a strong case for the use of C. elegans as a tool to study pathogenic biofilms and evaluate anti-biofilm strategies in vivo. Further studies are needed to develop improved tools allowing improved visualisation and quantification of biofilms in C. elegans. Next steps: ONGOING RESEARCH: A Masters student in the Ezcurra lab is continuing evaluation of the reagents (measuring fluorescence in C. elegans in microtiter plates and testing biofilm inhibitors). PUBLICATION: The work presented in this report will be developed into a manuscript for publication. Work is ongoing in the Ezcurra lab to perform more trials and additional experiments. The publication will be of value for the scientific community and put the collaborators in a good position for joint grant applications. GRANT APPLICATIONS: The collaborators will seek and apply for grants to fund projects aiming to develop C. elegans as a tool for industrial research on pathogenic biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-218 Utilising biofilm-driven mineral precipitation for sustainable construction materials and a healthy built environment. (Susanne Gebhard) |
| Organisation | Adaptavate |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to use a biofilm-driven bacterial process to improve the properties and performance of a novel, environment-friendly plasterboard technology to reach competitiveness in the market. Current gypsum-based plasterboard contributes >3% of anthropogenic UK greenhouse gas emissions duringmanufacture, and its later disposal produces toxic waste. The lime-based alternative being developed by Adaptavate ('Breathaboard') has the potential to be carbon positive (i.e. sequester CO2) and is compostable. However, it currently only reaches 80% of the flexural strength stipulated by the industrial standard, preventing marketisation. The project's aim is to improve this strength by application of the bacteria-based construction technology (BBCT) developed by the Bath investigators. Our BBCT hinges on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which we have shown can be driven by biofilm formation. Two key reasons for the currently insufficient strength of Breathaboard are poor bonding between matrix and hygrothermal hemp particles used to improve breathability, and between the composite and external paper layers. Our preliminary work indicates that biofilm-driven MICP will improve the matrix-hemp bonding and is likely to also improve bonding between plaster and paper. We expect resulting strength improvements in biofilm-modified Breathaboard to be sufficient for approaching market readiness. In this proof-of-concept project we will: Establish the feasibility of using biofilm-driven MICP in pre-treatment of hemp shiv particles. Determine improved bonding between plaster and external paper layers from incorporation of BBCT biofilms at the interface. Demonstrate flexural strength improvements of Breathaboard by use of biofilm driven MICP. To achieve this, we will compare the performance of standard Breathaboard to ones enhanced with: (i) biofilm-driven MICP, and (ii) the basic non-biofilm BBCT currently in use at Bath. Success will be measured by biofilm-enhanced Breathaboard conforming to BS EN 520 for flexural strength and in the development of protocols and data to file for IP protection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The outcomes of this work show that application of Bath's BBCT to the organic and paper components of Breathaboard is feasible, with the former showing promising although currently minor effects on material strength. The variable performance of BBCT in this new context appeared to be largely due to limited spatial control over where the BBCT activity can be directed. This offers exciting opportunities for future research into the underpinning mechanisms of the technology to open up wider scopes of its application. The project partners have agreed to continue some of the initiated activities, including investigations of how BBCT impacts on Breathaboard microstructures, to fully understand the interactions between both technologies and identify routes of further improvement. If successful, these efforts could lead to the development of a truly sustainable alternative to current plasterboards to make a real difference to carbon emissions of the construction industry. Overall, the following conclusions can be drawn from this work: • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv results in substantial precipitation of calcium carbonate (calcite) to the shiv fraction, but mineralisation on the shiv surface is minimal. • Bacterial biofilms can be formed on the core-facing side of the outer paper of Breathaboard, but this may have adverse effects on the paper for downstream production. • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv does not impact the material's workability. • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard core material showed some promising results following bacterial pre-treatment, but with batch-to-batch variability • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard using pre-treated paper showed no significant effects of bacterial treatment on paper-core bonding, but overall bonding was already strong in the control samples. Future work: Future work will study electron micrographs of the specimens produced to gain a deeper understanding of any micro-scale changes to allow a more complete interpretation of the obtained results and identify routes forward for further exploration or adaptation of our processes. Two main directions for future work are envisaged: a) The main problem we encountered was that, while the bacteria effectively precipitated calcium carbonate and this mineral was associated with the hemp shiv, the precipitation did not primarily occur on the shiv surface as intended. To address this, we need to get a much better fundamental understanding of biofilm formation specifically on the hemp shiv surface, as the bacteria seemed to not directly attach themselves to this material, and then how this can be exploited for more effective precipitation directly onto the shiv. This will be subject for microbiology-focussed research by the PI's laboratory and may lead to funding applications, depending on outcomes of initial new work. Our industrial partner has agreed to provide the shiv material for this work, to keep the collaboration going beyond the end of the POC funding. b) A new possibility of using the bacteria in our partner's plasterboard product, which emerged during the work on this POC project, was that direct addition of the bacteria to the core material, rather than pre-treating the shiv, might lead to the desired effect but via a different mechanism. This work will now be piloted by a research assistant in the Co-I's team. If promising results are obtained, future funding will be sought. This work may also lead to development of new intellectual property, and as stated in the above section, we have already requested an extension of the Option Period in the collaboration agreement to cover any results that may come out of this work. This work will also be done in a continuation of the partnership of this POC project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-218 Utilising biofilm-driven mineral precipitation for sustainable construction materials and a healthy built environment. (Susanne Gebhard) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to use a biofilm-driven bacterial process to improve the properties and performance of a novel, environment-friendly plasterboard technology to reach competitiveness in the market. Current gypsum-based plasterboard contributes >3% of anthropogenic UK greenhouse gas emissions duringmanufacture, and its later disposal produces toxic waste. The lime-based alternative being developed by Adaptavate ('Breathaboard') has the potential to be carbon positive (i.e. sequester CO2) and is compostable. However, it currently only reaches 80% of the flexural strength stipulated by the industrial standard, preventing marketisation. The project's aim is to improve this strength by application of the bacteria-based construction technology (BBCT) developed by the Bath investigators. Our BBCT hinges on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which we have shown can be driven by biofilm formation. Two key reasons for the currently insufficient strength of Breathaboard are poor bonding between matrix and hygrothermal hemp particles used to improve breathability, and between the composite and external paper layers. Our preliminary work indicates that biofilm-driven MICP will improve the matrix-hemp bonding and is likely to also improve bonding between plaster and paper. We expect resulting strength improvements in biofilm-modified Breathaboard to be sufficient for approaching market readiness. In this proof-of-concept project we will: Establish the feasibility of using biofilm-driven MICP in pre-treatment of hemp shiv particles. Determine improved bonding between plaster and external paper layers from incorporation of BBCT biofilms at the interface. Demonstrate flexural strength improvements of Breathaboard by use of biofilm driven MICP. To achieve this, we will compare the performance of standard Breathaboard to ones enhanced with: (i) biofilm-driven MICP, and (ii) the basic non-biofilm BBCT currently in use at Bath. Success will be measured by biofilm-enhanced Breathaboard conforming to BS EN 520 for flexural strength and in the development of protocols and data to file for IP protection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The outcomes of this work show that application of Bath's BBCT to the organic and paper components of Breathaboard is feasible, with the former showing promising although currently minor effects on material strength. The variable performance of BBCT in this new context appeared to be largely due to limited spatial control over where the BBCT activity can be directed. This offers exciting opportunities for future research into the underpinning mechanisms of the technology to open up wider scopes of its application. The project partners have agreed to continue some of the initiated activities, including investigations of how BBCT impacts on Breathaboard microstructures, to fully understand the interactions between both technologies and identify routes of further improvement. If successful, these efforts could lead to the development of a truly sustainable alternative to current plasterboards to make a real difference to carbon emissions of the construction industry. Overall, the following conclusions can be drawn from this work: • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv results in substantial precipitation of calcium carbonate (calcite) to the shiv fraction, but mineralisation on the shiv surface is minimal. • Bacterial biofilms can be formed on the core-facing side of the outer paper of Breathaboard, but this may have adverse effects on the paper for downstream production. • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv does not impact the material's workability. • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard core material showed some promising results following bacterial pre-treatment, but with batch-to-batch variability • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard using pre-treated paper showed no significant effects of bacterial treatment on paper-core bonding, but overall bonding was already strong in the control samples. Future work: Future work will study electron micrographs of the specimens produced to gain a deeper understanding of any micro-scale changes to allow a more complete interpretation of the obtained results and identify routes forward for further exploration or adaptation of our processes. Two main directions for future work are envisaged: a) The main problem we encountered was that, while the bacteria effectively precipitated calcium carbonate and this mineral was associated with the hemp shiv, the precipitation did not primarily occur on the shiv surface as intended. To address this, we need to get a much better fundamental understanding of biofilm formation specifically on the hemp shiv surface, as the bacteria seemed to not directly attach themselves to this material, and then how this can be exploited for more effective precipitation directly onto the shiv. This will be subject for microbiology-focussed research by the PI's laboratory and may lead to funding applications, depending on outcomes of initial new work. Our industrial partner has agreed to provide the shiv material for this work, to keep the collaboration going beyond the end of the POC funding. b) A new possibility of using the bacteria in our partner's plasterboard product, which emerged during the work on this POC project, was that direct addition of the bacteria to the core material, rather than pre-treating the shiv, might lead to the desired effect but via a different mechanism. This work will now be piloted by a research assistant in the Co-I's team. If promising results are obtained, future funding will be sought. This work may also lead to development of new intellectual property, and as stated in the above section, we have already requested an extension of the Option Period in the collaboration agreement to cover any results that may come out of this work. This work will also be done in a continuation of the partnership of this POC project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-218 Utilising biofilm-driven mineral precipitation for sustainable construction materials and a healthy built environment. (Susanne Gebhard) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our aim is to use a biofilm-driven bacterial process to improve the properties and performance of a novel, environment-friendly plasterboard technology to reach competitiveness in the market. Current gypsum-based plasterboard contributes >3% of anthropogenic UK greenhouse gas emissions duringmanufacture, and its later disposal produces toxic waste. The lime-based alternative being developed by Adaptavate ('Breathaboard') has the potential to be carbon positive (i.e. sequester CO2) and is compostable. However, it currently only reaches 80% of the flexural strength stipulated by the industrial standard, preventing marketisation. The project's aim is to improve this strength by application of the bacteria-based construction technology (BBCT) developed by the Bath investigators. Our BBCT hinges on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which we have shown can be driven by biofilm formation. Two key reasons for the currently insufficient strength of Breathaboard are poor bonding between matrix and hygrothermal hemp particles used to improve breathability, and between the composite and external paper layers. Our preliminary work indicates that biofilm-driven MICP will improve the matrix-hemp bonding and is likely to also improve bonding between plaster and paper. We expect resulting strength improvements in biofilm-modified Breathaboard to be sufficient for approaching market readiness. In this proof-of-concept project we will: Establish the feasibility of using biofilm-driven MICP in pre-treatment of hemp shiv particles. Determine improved bonding between plaster and external paper layers from incorporation of BBCT biofilms at the interface. Demonstrate flexural strength improvements of Breathaboard by use of biofilm driven MICP. To achieve this, we will compare the performance of standard Breathaboard to ones enhanced with: (i) biofilm-driven MICP, and (ii) the basic non-biofilm BBCT currently in use at Bath. Success will be measured by biofilm-enhanced Breathaboard conforming to BS EN 520 for flexural strength and in the development of protocols and data to file for IP protection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The outcomes of this work show that application of Bath's BBCT to the organic and paper components of Breathaboard is feasible, with the former showing promising although currently minor effects on material strength. The variable performance of BBCT in this new context appeared to be largely due to limited spatial control over where the BBCT activity can be directed. This offers exciting opportunities for future research into the underpinning mechanisms of the technology to open up wider scopes of its application. The project partners have agreed to continue some of the initiated activities, including investigations of how BBCT impacts on Breathaboard microstructures, to fully understand the interactions between both technologies and identify routes of further improvement. If successful, these efforts could lead to the development of a truly sustainable alternative to current plasterboards to make a real difference to carbon emissions of the construction industry. Overall, the following conclusions can be drawn from this work: • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv results in substantial precipitation of calcium carbonate (calcite) to the shiv fraction, but mineralisation on the shiv surface is minimal. • Bacterial biofilms can be formed on the core-facing side of the outer paper of Breathaboard, but this may have adverse effects on the paper for downstream production. • Bacterial pre-treatment of hemp shiv does not impact the material's workability. • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard core material showed some promising results following bacterial pre-treatment, but with batch-to-batch variability • Lab-scale specimens of Breathaboard using pre-treated paper showed no significant effects of bacterial treatment on paper-core bonding, but overall bonding was already strong in the control samples. Future work: Future work will study electron micrographs of the specimens produced to gain a deeper understanding of any micro-scale changes to allow a more complete interpretation of the obtained results and identify routes forward for further exploration or adaptation of our processes. Two main directions for future work are envisaged: a) The main problem we encountered was that, while the bacteria effectively precipitated calcium carbonate and this mineral was associated with the hemp shiv, the precipitation did not primarily occur on the shiv surface as intended. To address this, we need to get a much better fundamental understanding of biofilm formation specifically on the hemp shiv surface, as the bacteria seemed to not directly attach themselves to this material, and then how this can be exploited for more effective precipitation directly onto the shiv. This will be subject for microbiology-focussed research by the PI's laboratory and may lead to funding applications, depending on outcomes of initial new work. Our industrial partner has agreed to provide the shiv material for this work, to keep the collaboration going beyond the end of the POC funding. b) A new possibility of using the bacteria in our partner's plasterboard product, which emerged during the work on this POC project, was that direct addition of the bacteria to the core material, rather than pre-treating the shiv, might lead to the desired effect but via a different mechanism. This work will now be piloted by a research assistant in the Co-I's team. If promising results are obtained, future funding will be sought. This work may also lead to development of new intellectual property, and as stated in the above section, we have already requested an extension of the Option Period in the collaboration agreement to cover any results that may come out of this work. This work will also be done in a continuation of the partnership of this POC project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-228 Endolysin technology for selective management of MRSA biofilms on skin and wounds. (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | Cica Biomedical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The objective of this project is to determine the efficacy of a novel endolysin for the selective prevention and management of S. aureus biofilms on skin and in wounds. Current approaches: Despite extensive research and policy implementation, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) continues to prove a major infection control challenge in the clinical setting, with outbreaks common. This is despite routine patient screening, strict infection control procedures and extensive use of systemic antibiotics/topical antimicrobials. Recent evidence reveals the importance of S. aureus biofilms in the pathogenesis of human chronic wounds, an area where treatment is dominated by low cost, largely ineffective wound dressings. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market an effective non-antibiotic strategy for the management of MRSA biofilms on skin and in wounds. Commercial innovation: This proposal offers a disruptive approach to skin and wound biofilm management; repurposing endolysin technology, originally developed for agriculture and food safety, to the infection control and wound care markets. Our highly innovative solution to biofilm management involves a patented endolysin technology that specifically targets S. aureus (including MRSA), thus strengthening a healthy microbiome without inducing antimicrobial resistance. Our study in brief: Our innovative project will test the suitability of endolysin technology for the selective management of S. aureus in skin and wound biofilms. Part 1 will confirm endolysin specificity against S. aureus versus a panel of wound-derived bacteria (membrane biofilms). Part 2 will test endolysin selectivity and efficacy against MRSA in mixed-species biofilms using our state-of-the-art human skin/wound biofilm model. In Part 3 an in vivo pilot study will be performed to support follow-on substantive translational funding applications. Evaluating success: Success will be measured against carefully designed work-package-linked project milestones. Clinical applicability will be maximised through the use of highly validated translational models with robust readout parameters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. Cica Biomedical Ltd: Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. Feedback from academic: In this POC, we investigated the selectivity and efficacy of a novel bacteriophage-derived endolysin targeted against S. aureus. We demonstrated that this endolysin was potently effective against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains in single and mixed species biofilms, both in vitro and in our novel living human skin wound model. To determine the selectivity and efficacy of endolysin in a full microbiome system, we turned to our porcine wound model. Crucially, we found that endolysin was selective against S. aureus without depleting the resident microbiome. The successful completion of this POC has demonstrated the potent and selective efficacy of XZ.700 in preventing MRSA biofilm growth in vitro and in human ex vivo skin wounds. In addition, we provide novel, exciting data to show that XZ.700 can inhibit endogenous S. aureus growth in porcine wounds in vivo with no negative effects on healing. Indeed, these data have provided important preclinical information that will be used to aid the design of follow-on porcine wound studies and a first-in-man clinical study to assess the efficacy of XZ.700 in chronic wounds. Future work: The next steps of this work are to perform follow-on experiments to confirm efficacy and selectivity in our real-world porcine skin microbiome model, testing several treatment regimens that are clinically meaningful. We also plan to perform further experiments using living human skin to assess the effects of endolysin on host-bacterial interactions. Together, these data will provide a preclinical package that will inform follow-on clinical studies. We are currently preparing our first manuscript with Cica Biomedical Ltd and Micreos Pharma, focussing on the porcine skin/wound model. We are also planning to perform follow-on porcine wound experiments to test a number of treatment regimens that will be more relevant to the clinic (e.g. delaying starting treatment, combining with debridement etc), which will be directly funded by Micreos Pharma. As the human skin wound model did not reveal any clear healing effects, we are in discussions with Micreos Pharma about potential follow-on work that will allow us to better determine the efficacy of XZ.700 in this model. However, the focus at this time is the porcine wound experiments. Finally, we have applied for the NBIC CTP funding round (2022) to enable us to continue our industry-academic collaborations with Cica and Micreos. This will allow us to focus more on the mode-of-action of novel endolysins in the context of wound healing, and better understand the role of antimicrobial resistant S. aureus in chronic wound healing. We are also in discussions with Cica Biomedical Ltd. about other funding opportunities (e.g. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) and utilising our porcine microbiome model for other industry partnerships. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-228 Endolysin technology for selective management of MRSA biofilms on skin and wounds. (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | Micreos |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The objective of this project is to determine the efficacy of a novel endolysin for the selective prevention and management of S. aureus biofilms on skin and in wounds. Current approaches: Despite extensive research and policy implementation, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) continues to prove a major infection control challenge in the clinical setting, with outbreaks common. This is despite routine patient screening, strict infection control procedures and extensive use of systemic antibiotics/topical antimicrobials. Recent evidence reveals the importance of S. aureus biofilms in the pathogenesis of human chronic wounds, an area where treatment is dominated by low cost, largely ineffective wound dressings. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market an effective non-antibiotic strategy for the management of MRSA biofilms on skin and in wounds. Commercial innovation: This proposal offers a disruptive approach to skin and wound biofilm management; repurposing endolysin technology, originally developed for agriculture and food safety, to the infection control and wound care markets. Our highly innovative solution to biofilm management involves a patented endolysin technology that specifically targets S. aureus (including MRSA), thus strengthening a healthy microbiome without inducing antimicrobial resistance. Our study in brief: Our innovative project will test the suitability of endolysin technology for the selective management of S. aureus in skin and wound biofilms. Part 1 will confirm endolysin specificity against S. aureus versus a panel of wound-derived bacteria (membrane biofilms). Part 2 will test endolysin selectivity and efficacy against MRSA in mixed-species biofilms using our state-of-the-art human skin/wound biofilm model. In Part 3 an in vivo pilot study will be performed to support follow-on substantive translational funding applications. Evaluating success: Success will be measured against carefully designed work-package-linked project milestones. Clinical applicability will be maximised through the use of highly validated translational models with robust readout parameters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. Cica Biomedical Ltd: Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. Feedback from academic: In this POC, we investigated the selectivity and efficacy of a novel bacteriophage-derived endolysin targeted against S. aureus. We demonstrated that this endolysin was potently effective against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains in single and mixed species biofilms, both in vitro and in our novel living human skin wound model. To determine the selectivity and efficacy of endolysin in a full microbiome system, we turned to our porcine wound model. Crucially, we found that endolysin was selective against S. aureus without depleting the resident microbiome. The successful completion of this POC has demonstrated the potent and selective efficacy of XZ.700 in preventing MRSA biofilm growth in vitro and in human ex vivo skin wounds. In addition, we provide novel, exciting data to show that XZ.700 can inhibit endogenous S. aureus growth in porcine wounds in vivo with no negative effects on healing. Indeed, these data have provided important preclinical information that will be used to aid the design of follow-on porcine wound studies and a first-in-man clinical study to assess the efficacy of XZ.700 in chronic wounds. Future work: The next steps of this work are to perform follow-on experiments to confirm efficacy and selectivity in our real-world porcine skin microbiome model, testing several treatment regimens that are clinically meaningful. We also plan to perform further experiments using living human skin to assess the effects of endolysin on host-bacterial interactions. Together, these data will provide a preclinical package that will inform follow-on clinical studies. We are currently preparing our first manuscript with Cica Biomedical Ltd and Micreos Pharma, focussing on the porcine skin/wound model. We are also planning to perform follow-on porcine wound experiments to test a number of treatment regimens that will be more relevant to the clinic (e.g. delaying starting treatment, combining with debridement etc), which will be directly funded by Micreos Pharma. As the human skin wound model did not reveal any clear healing effects, we are in discussions with Micreos Pharma about potential follow-on work that will allow us to better determine the efficacy of XZ.700 in this model. However, the focus at this time is the porcine wound experiments. Finally, we have applied for the NBIC CTP funding round (2022) to enable us to continue our industry-academic collaborations with Cica and Micreos. This will allow us to focus more on the mode-of-action of novel endolysins in the context of wound healing, and better understand the role of antimicrobial resistant S. aureus in chronic wound healing. We are also in discussions with Cica Biomedical Ltd. about other funding opportunities (e.g. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) and utilising our porcine microbiome model for other industry partnerships. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-228 Endolysin technology for selective management of MRSA biofilms on skin and wounds. (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The objective of this project is to determine the efficacy of a novel endolysin for the selective prevention and management of S. aureus biofilms on skin and in wounds. Current approaches: Despite extensive research and policy implementation, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) continues to prove a major infection control challenge in the clinical setting, with outbreaks common. This is despite routine patient screening, strict infection control procedures and extensive use of systemic antibiotics/topical antimicrobials. Recent evidence reveals the importance of S. aureus biofilms in the pathogenesis of human chronic wounds, an area where treatment is dominated by low cost, largely ineffective wound dressings. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market an effective non-antibiotic strategy for the management of MRSA biofilms on skin and in wounds. Commercial innovation: This proposal offers a disruptive approach to skin and wound biofilm management; repurposing endolysin technology, originally developed for agriculture and food safety, to the infection control and wound care markets. Our highly innovative solution to biofilm management involves a patented endolysin technology that specifically targets S. aureus (including MRSA), thus strengthening a healthy microbiome without inducing antimicrobial resistance. Our study in brief: Our innovative project will test the suitability of endolysin technology for the selective management of S. aureus in skin and wound biofilms. Part 1 will confirm endolysin specificity against S. aureus versus a panel of wound-derived bacteria (membrane biofilms). Part 2 will test endolysin selectivity and efficacy against MRSA in mixed-species biofilms using our state-of-the-art human skin/wound biofilm model. In Part 3 an in vivo pilot study will be performed to support follow-on substantive translational funding applications. Evaluating success: Success will be measured against carefully designed work-package-linked project milestones. Clinical applicability will be maximised through the use of highly validated translational models with robust readout parameters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. Cica Biomedical Ltd: Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. Feedback from academic: In this POC, we investigated the selectivity and efficacy of a novel bacteriophage-derived endolysin targeted against S. aureus. We demonstrated that this endolysin was potently effective against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains in single and mixed species biofilms, both in vitro and in our novel living human skin wound model. To determine the selectivity and efficacy of endolysin in a full microbiome system, we turned to our porcine wound model. Crucially, we found that endolysin was selective against S. aureus without depleting the resident microbiome. The successful completion of this POC has demonstrated the potent and selective efficacy of XZ.700 in preventing MRSA biofilm growth in vitro and in human ex vivo skin wounds. In addition, we provide novel, exciting data to show that XZ.700 can inhibit endogenous S. aureus growth in porcine wounds in vivo with no negative effects on healing. Indeed, these data have provided important preclinical information that will be used to aid the design of follow-on porcine wound studies and a first-in-man clinical study to assess the efficacy of XZ.700 in chronic wounds. Future work: The next steps of this work are to perform follow-on experiments to confirm efficacy and selectivity in our real-world porcine skin microbiome model, testing several treatment regimens that are clinically meaningful. We also plan to perform further experiments using living human skin to assess the effects of endolysin on host-bacterial interactions. Together, these data will provide a preclinical package that will inform follow-on clinical studies. We are currently preparing our first manuscript with Cica Biomedical Ltd and Micreos Pharma, focussing on the porcine skin/wound model. We are also planning to perform follow-on porcine wound experiments to test a number of treatment regimens that will be more relevant to the clinic (e.g. delaying starting treatment, combining with debridement etc), which will be directly funded by Micreos Pharma. As the human skin wound model did not reveal any clear healing effects, we are in discussions with Micreos Pharma about potential follow-on work that will allow us to better determine the efficacy of XZ.700 in this model. However, the focus at this time is the porcine wound experiments. Finally, we have applied for the NBIC CTP funding round (2022) to enable us to continue our industry-academic collaborations with Cica and Micreos. This will allow us to focus more on the mode-of-action of novel endolysins in the context of wound healing, and better understand the role of antimicrobial resistant S. aureus in chronic wound healing. We are also in discussions with Cica Biomedical Ltd. about other funding opportunities (e.g. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) and utilising our porcine microbiome model for other industry partnerships. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-228 Endolysin technology for selective management of MRSA biofilms on skin and wounds. (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The objective of this project is to determine the efficacy of a novel endolysin for the selective prevention and management of S. aureus biofilms on skin and in wounds. Current approaches: Despite extensive research and policy implementation, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) continues to prove a major infection control challenge in the clinical setting, with outbreaks common. This is despite routine patient screening, strict infection control procedures and extensive use of systemic antibiotics/topical antimicrobials. Recent evidence reveals the importance of S. aureus biofilms in the pathogenesis of human chronic wounds, an area where treatment is dominated by low cost, largely ineffective wound dressings. There is a clear healthcare need to develop and bring to market an effective non-antibiotic strategy for the management of MRSA biofilms on skin and in wounds. Commercial innovation: This proposal offers a disruptive approach to skin and wound biofilm management; repurposing endolysin technology, originally developed for agriculture and food safety, to the infection control and wound care markets. Our highly innovative solution to biofilm management involves a patented endolysin technology that specifically targets S. aureus (including MRSA), thus strengthening a healthy microbiome without inducing antimicrobial resistance. Our study in brief: Our innovative project will test the suitability of endolysin technology for the selective management of S. aureus in skin and wound biofilms. Part 1 will confirm endolysin specificity against S. aureus versus a panel of wound-derived bacteria (membrane biofilms). Part 2 will test endolysin selectivity and efficacy against MRSA in mixed-species biofilms using our state-of-the-art human skin/wound biofilm model. In Part 3 an in vivo pilot study will be performed to support follow-on substantive translational funding applications. Evaluating success: Success will be measured against carefully designed work-package-linked project milestones. Clinical applicability will be maximised through the use of highly validated translational models with robust readout parameters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hull: Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. Cica Biomedical Ltd: Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. Feedback from academic: In this POC, we investigated the selectivity and efficacy of a novel bacteriophage-derived endolysin targeted against S. aureus. We demonstrated that this endolysin was potently effective against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains in single and mixed species biofilms, both in vitro and in our novel living human skin wound model. To determine the selectivity and efficacy of endolysin in a full microbiome system, we turned to our porcine wound model. Crucially, we found that endolysin was selective against S. aureus without depleting the resident microbiome. The successful completion of this POC has demonstrated the potent and selective efficacy of XZ.700 in preventing MRSA biofilm growth in vitro and in human ex vivo skin wounds. In addition, we provide novel, exciting data to show that XZ.700 can inhibit endogenous S. aureus growth in porcine wounds in vivo with no negative effects on healing. Indeed, these data have provided important preclinical information that will be used to aid the design of follow-on porcine wound studies and a first-in-man clinical study to assess the efficacy of XZ.700 in chronic wounds. Future work: The next steps of this work are to perform follow-on experiments to confirm efficacy and selectivity in our real-world porcine skin microbiome model, testing several treatment regimens that are clinically meaningful. We also plan to perform further experiments using living human skin to assess the effects of endolysin on host-bacterial interactions. Together, these data will provide a preclinical package that will inform follow-on clinical studies. We are currently preparing our first manuscript with Cica Biomedical Ltd and Micreos Pharma, focussing on the porcine skin/wound model. We are also planning to perform follow-on porcine wound experiments to test a number of treatment regimens that will be more relevant to the clinic (e.g. delaying starting treatment, combining with debridement etc), which will be directly funded by Micreos Pharma. As the human skin wound model did not reveal any clear healing effects, we are in discussions with Micreos Pharma about potential follow-on work that will allow us to better determine the efficacy of XZ.700 in this model. However, the focus at this time is the porcine wound experiments. Finally, we have applied for the NBIC CTP funding round (2022) to enable us to continue our industry-academic collaborations with Cica and Micreos. This will allow us to focus more on the mode-of-action of novel endolysins in the context of wound healing, and better understand the role of antimicrobial resistant S. aureus in chronic wound healing. We are also in discussions with Cica Biomedical Ltd. about other funding opportunities (e.g. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships) and utilising our porcine microbiome model for other industry partnerships. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-235 Targeted Protein Payload Dispersal of Vaginal Biofilms. (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | CC Biotech |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the efficacy of endolysins, a novel and targeted antimicrobial therapy, against a chronic vaginal infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common vaginal infection of women of childbearing age. It occurs through the overgrowth of a number of anaerobic pathogens, which often grow as a recalcitrant biofilm, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Endolysins represent exciting new therapeutics against this condition. Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes featuring highly potent and specific activity profiles, selectively killing bacteria at the species level through the rapid breakdown of bacterial peptidoglycan. These targeted properties render endolysins as ideal candidates for the modulation of the ecology of microbiome environments. In this project, we aim to investigate the capacity of endolysins to selectively alter the composition of a complex vaginal microbiome model. By solely removing pathogens associated with BV, it is hypothesized that this will promote growth of the healthy commensal microbiome. Endolysins will be investigated as clinical therapies for the treatment and management of vaginal dysbiosis, such as BV. To assess the effects of endolysins, we aim to develop both a novel multispecies BV biofilm model and an analytical tool known as quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP), which has application for studying both in vitro and naturally occurring biofilms, well exceeding the scope of clinical research. The USP of our project is that these tools will be developed and optimized, whilst concomitantly assessing the efficacy of a novel and first-in-class therapeutic. Success will be measured through the generation of marketable data for the industrial partner and through the leverage of future funding for both the academic and industrial partner. This project aligns with the overall philosophy of NBIC, where a multidisciplinary team combining expertise of biofilms, synthetic biology and medicinal chemistry form a close collaboration between academia and industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This was a brilliant catalyst to start what we hope to be a promising and fruitful collaboration between both the clinical and academic partners on the project. In this project, we have effectively developed a novel 4-species bacterial-vaginosis (BV) associated biofilm model for high-throughput in vitro testing. The model comprises four commonly isolated BV associated pathobionts, namely Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, Prevotella bivia and Mobiluncus curtisii which provides a more complex system for antimicrobial testing in comparison with commonly used monospecies models. Organisms are cultured together in a 'G. vaginalis primed system', whereby this organism is allowed to colonise for 24 hours, followed by addition of remaining pathogens. This mimics the current understanding of BV-associated biofilms, with G. vaginalis thought to be the initial binding organism which displaces commensal lactobacilli and allows the growth of more fastidious anaerobes. We have adapted existing species-specific qPCR primers for routine in vitro use, allowing us to comprehensively study the composition shifts of polymicrobial biofilms with and without treatment. This protocol was combined with PMAxx treatment to discriminate between total and viable cells within the model. Using this protocol, all species were found to colonise the biofilm to varying degrees, with G. vaginalis being the most abundant, followed by F. vaginae, P. bivia and M. curtisii. Having developed a clinically relevant and reproducible polymicrobial biofilm model, we next investigated the efficacy of current BV therapies. This included conventional antibiotics (clindamycin, metronidazole) and a lactobacilli probiotic cocktail. Using a live/dead PMAxx protocol, we investigated the impact of each therapy on the total and viable levels of each bacterium within the model. We show that antibiotic therapy had limited impact on any species within this model, which included both metronidazole and clindamycin at 1x and 8x planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) based off of G. vaginalis. In contrast, addition of a 4-species lactobacilli cocktail (comprising Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, L. inners, L. gasseri) significantly reduced the viable levels of G. vaginalis, F. vaginae and M. curtisii, and lowered supernatant pH in comparison with media only controls. For lactobacilli treatment, we were unable to discriminate each species using qPCR given the short amplicon sizes required. Therefore, we employed the use of full-length 16S sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Sequencing was combined with PMAxx therapy, which to our knowledge is the first time this platform has been adapted and optimised for live/dead composition of in vitro biofilm models. Finally, we assessed a library of novel engineered phage protein endolysins specific for G. vaginalis, which were uniquely designed from the industrial partner. These proteins were developed by CC Biotech Ltd.'s proprietary discovery platform, Zeus. Five candidates were supplied in-kind by the company. Of these, four were found to be bioactive against the target pathogen G. vaginalis planktonically. After discussions with CC Biotech Ltd., we selected one candidate for continued testing using the aforementioned in vitro model. This candidate was selected based off of producing novel data whilst maximising potential commercial benefit. The selected candidate, CCB7.1, was found to significantly reduce viable levels of G. vaginalis but did not alter the total levels of this organism at 1x, 2x and 4x pMIC. This represented a 1-2 log reduction in viable G. vaginalis at all tested concentrations. Although reduced, G. vaginalis remained viable at Ëœ1x105 - 1x106 CFE/mL suggesting that biofilm penetration remains a potential hurdle for these enzymes. Assessment of other 'non-target' species demonstrated a reduction in viable M. curtisii at the same concentration , suggesting that eliminating G. vaginalis can disrupt the biofilm architecture which may have a tentative effect at reducing other pathobionts. We have developed a reproducible and clinically relevant in vitro BV-associated biofilm model for pre-clinical screening of novel therapies. During this project we have also optimised an in-house pipeline for robust characterisation of complex in vitro biofilms, including a unique live/dead sequencing protocol using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Assessing the efficacy of engineered phage endolysins, we demonstrate that a range of these proteins are bioactive against G. vaginalis planktonically. Against biofilms, we observed a significant reduction in viable levels of G. vaginalis although it should be noted that this organism remained viable at Ëœ1x106 CFE/mL. As such, effective biofilm penetration is one potential hurdle for these enzymes. Further work: The data generated from this project has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. Additionally, some of the preliminary data from this project was used to support an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst grant lead by CC Biotech Ltd. and supported by Glasgow Caledonian and University of Glasgow (£631,531). Overall, the application scored very well with 82.2%, however fell just short of the 84% being required to progress to interview. A further submission for this call has been submitted on 24 May 2022, with additional data generated in this project being used to address some of the concerns/feedback from the initial application. Feedback will be shared by the beginning of September. RK has utilised the preliminary data from the model development aspect of this project as the basis of grant submission to the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard round 8 (£99,997), looking at drug repurposing to combat BV infections. NBIC very kindly supplied a letter of support for this submission. Work from this project has also been submitted for as an abstract at the Eurobiofilms 2022 conference in Mallorca, Spain. This has been accepted as a poster presentation. We aim to compile our findings and submit to an impactful biofilm journal by the end of August 2022. Furthermore, given the versatility of the drug discovery platform from CC Biotech Ltd., discussions are on-going about further collaborative projects between the partners in alternative areas of infectious disease and microbiome augmentation. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-235 Targeted Protein Payload Dispersal of Vaginal Biofilms. (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the efficacy of endolysins, a novel and targeted antimicrobial therapy, against a chronic vaginal infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common vaginal infection of women of childbearing age. It occurs through the overgrowth of a number of anaerobic pathogens, which often grow as a recalcitrant biofilm, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Endolysins represent exciting new therapeutics against this condition. Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes featuring highly potent and specific activity profiles, selectively killing bacteria at the species level through the rapid breakdown of bacterial peptidoglycan. These targeted properties render endolysins as ideal candidates for the modulation of the ecology of microbiome environments. In this project, we aim to investigate the capacity of endolysins to selectively alter the composition of a complex vaginal microbiome model. By solely removing pathogens associated with BV, it is hypothesized that this will promote growth of the healthy commensal microbiome. Endolysins will be investigated as clinical therapies for the treatment and management of vaginal dysbiosis, such as BV. To assess the effects of endolysins, we aim to develop both a novel multispecies BV biofilm model and an analytical tool known as quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP), which has application for studying both in vitro and naturally occurring biofilms, well exceeding the scope of clinical research. The USP of our project is that these tools will be developed and optimized, whilst concomitantly assessing the efficacy of a novel and first-in-class therapeutic. Success will be measured through the generation of marketable data for the industrial partner and through the leverage of future funding for both the academic and industrial partner. This project aligns with the overall philosophy of NBIC, where a multidisciplinary team combining expertise of biofilms, synthetic biology and medicinal chemistry form a close collaboration between academia and industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This was a brilliant catalyst to start what we hope to be a promising and fruitful collaboration between both the clinical and academic partners on the project. In this project, we have effectively developed a novel 4-species bacterial-vaginosis (BV) associated biofilm model for high-throughput in vitro testing. The model comprises four commonly isolated BV associated pathobionts, namely Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, Prevotella bivia and Mobiluncus curtisii which provides a more complex system for antimicrobial testing in comparison with commonly used monospecies models. Organisms are cultured together in a 'G. vaginalis primed system', whereby this organism is allowed to colonise for 24 hours, followed by addition of remaining pathogens. This mimics the current understanding of BV-associated biofilms, with G. vaginalis thought to be the initial binding organism which displaces commensal lactobacilli and allows the growth of more fastidious anaerobes. We have adapted existing species-specific qPCR primers for routine in vitro use, allowing us to comprehensively study the composition shifts of polymicrobial biofilms with and without treatment. This protocol was combined with PMAxx treatment to discriminate between total and viable cells within the model. Using this protocol, all species were found to colonise the biofilm to varying degrees, with G. vaginalis being the most abundant, followed by F. vaginae, P. bivia and M. curtisii. Having developed a clinically relevant and reproducible polymicrobial biofilm model, we next investigated the efficacy of current BV therapies. This included conventional antibiotics (clindamycin, metronidazole) and a lactobacilli probiotic cocktail. Using a live/dead PMAxx protocol, we investigated the impact of each therapy on the total and viable levels of each bacterium within the model. We show that antibiotic therapy had limited impact on any species within this model, which included both metronidazole and clindamycin at 1x and 8x planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) based off of G. vaginalis. In contrast, addition of a 4-species lactobacilli cocktail (comprising Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, L. inners, L. gasseri) significantly reduced the viable levels of G. vaginalis, F. vaginae and M. curtisii, and lowered supernatant pH in comparison with media only controls. For lactobacilli treatment, we were unable to discriminate each species using qPCR given the short amplicon sizes required. Therefore, we employed the use of full-length 16S sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Sequencing was combined with PMAxx therapy, which to our knowledge is the first time this platform has been adapted and optimised for live/dead composition of in vitro biofilm models. Finally, we assessed a library of novel engineered phage protein endolysins specific for G. vaginalis, which were uniquely designed from the industrial partner. These proteins were developed by CC Biotech Ltd.'s proprietary discovery platform, Zeus. Five candidates were supplied in-kind by the company. Of these, four were found to be bioactive against the target pathogen G. vaginalis planktonically. After discussions with CC Biotech Ltd., we selected one candidate for continued testing using the aforementioned in vitro model. This candidate was selected based off of producing novel data whilst maximising potential commercial benefit. The selected candidate, CCB7.1, was found to significantly reduce viable levels of G. vaginalis but did not alter the total levels of this organism at 1x, 2x and 4x pMIC. This represented a 1-2 log reduction in viable G. vaginalis at all tested concentrations. Although reduced, G. vaginalis remained viable at Ëœ1x105 - 1x106 CFE/mL suggesting that biofilm penetration remains a potential hurdle for these enzymes. Assessment of other 'non-target' species demonstrated a reduction in viable M. curtisii at the same concentration , suggesting that eliminating G. vaginalis can disrupt the biofilm architecture which may have a tentative effect at reducing other pathobionts. We have developed a reproducible and clinically relevant in vitro BV-associated biofilm model for pre-clinical screening of novel therapies. During this project we have also optimised an in-house pipeline for robust characterisation of complex in vitro biofilms, including a unique live/dead sequencing protocol using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Assessing the efficacy of engineered phage endolysins, we demonstrate that a range of these proteins are bioactive against G. vaginalis planktonically. Against biofilms, we observed a significant reduction in viable levels of G. vaginalis although it should be noted that this organism remained viable at Ëœ1x106 CFE/mL. As such, effective biofilm penetration is one potential hurdle for these enzymes. Further work: The data generated from this project has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. Additionally, some of the preliminary data from this project was used to support an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst grant lead by CC Biotech Ltd. and supported by Glasgow Caledonian and University of Glasgow (£631,531). Overall, the application scored very well with 82.2%, however fell just short of the 84% being required to progress to interview. A further submission for this call has been submitted on 24 May 2022, with additional data generated in this project being used to address some of the concerns/feedback from the initial application. Feedback will be shared by the beginning of September. RK has utilised the preliminary data from the model development aspect of this project as the basis of grant submission to the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard round 8 (£99,997), looking at drug repurposing to combat BV infections. NBIC very kindly supplied a letter of support for this submission. Work from this project has also been submitted for as an abstract at the Eurobiofilms 2022 conference in Mallorca, Spain. This has been accepted as a poster presentation. We aim to compile our findings and submit to an impactful biofilm journal by the end of August 2022. Furthermore, given the versatility of the drug discovery platform from CC Biotech Ltd., discussions are on-going about further collaborative projects between the partners in alternative areas of infectious disease and microbiome augmentation. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-235 Targeted Protein Payload Dispersal of Vaginal Biofilms. (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the efficacy of endolysins, a novel and targeted antimicrobial therapy, against a chronic vaginal infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common vaginal infection of women of childbearing age. It occurs through the overgrowth of a number of anaerobic pathogens, which often grow as a recalcitrant biofilm, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Endolysins represent exciting new therapeutics against this condition. Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes featuring highly potent and specific activity profiles, selectively killing bacteria at the species level through the rapid breakdown of bacterial peptidoglycan. These targeted properties render endolysins as ideal candidates for the modulation of the ecology of microbiome environments. In this project, we aim to investigate the capacity of endolysins to selectively alter the composition of a complex vaginal microbiome model. By solely removing pathogens associated with BV, it is hypothesized that this will promote growth of the healthy commensal microbiome. Endolysins will be investigated as clinical therapies for the treatment and management of vaginal dysbiosis, such as BV. To assess the effects of endolysins, we aim to develop both a novel multispecies BV biofilm model and an analytical tool known as quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP), which has application for studying both in vitro and naturally occurring biofilms, well exceeding the scope of clinical research. The USP of our project is that these tools will be developed and optimized, whilst concomitantly assessing the efficacy of a novel and first-in-class therapeutic. Success will be measured through the generation of marketable data for the industrial partner and through the leverage of future funding for both the academic and industrial partner. This project aligns with the overall philosophy of NBIC, where a multidisciplinary team combining expertise of biofilms, synthetic biology and medicinal chemistry form a close collaboration between academia and industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This was a brilliant catalyst to start what we hope to be a promising and fruitful collaboration between both the clinical and academic partners on the project. In this project, we have effectively developed a novel 4-species bacterial-vaginosis (BV) associated biofilm model for high-throughput in vitro testing. The model comprises four commonly isolated BV associated pathobionts, namely Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, Prevotella bivia and Mobiluncus curtisii which provides a more complex system for antimicrobial testing in comparison with commonly used monospecies models. Organisms are cultured together in a 'G. vaginalis primed system', whereby this organism is allowed to colonise for 24 hours, followed by addition of remaining pathogens. This mimics the current understanding of BV-associated biofilms, with G. vaginalis thought to be the initial binding organism which displaces commensal lactobacilli and allows the growth of more fastidious anaerobes. We have adapted existing species-specific qPCR primers for routine in vitro use, allowing us to comprehensively study the composition shifts of polymicrobial biofilms with and without treatment. This protocol was combined with PMAxx treatment to discriminate between total and viable cells within the model. Using this protocol, all species were found to colonise the biofilm to varying degrees, with G. vaginalis being the most abundant, followed by F. vaginae, P. bivia and M. curtisii. Having developed a clinically relevant and reproducible polymicrobial biofilm model, we next investigated the efficacy of current BV therapies. This included conventional antibiotics (clindamycin, metronidazole) and a lactobacilli probiotic cocktail. Using a live/dead PMAxx protocol, we investigated the impact of each therapy on the total and viable levels of each bacterium within the model. We show that antibiotic therapy had limited impact on any species within this model, which included both metronidazole and clindamycin at 1x and 8x planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) based off of G. vaginalis. In contrast, addition of a 4-species lactobacilli cocktail (comprising Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, L. inners, L. gasseri) significantly reduced the viable levels of G. vaginalis, F. vaginae and M. curtisii, and lowered supernatant pH in comparison with media only controls. For lactobacilli treatment, we were unable to discriminate each species using qPCR given the short amplicon sizes required. Therefore, we employed the use of full-length 16S sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Sequencing was combined with PMAxx therapy, which to our knowledge is the first time this platform has been adapted and optimised for live/dead composition of in vitro biofilm models. Finally, we assessed a library of novel engineered phage protein endolysins specific for G. vaginalis, which were uniquely designed from the industrial partner. These proteins were developed by CC Biotech Ltd.'s proprietary discovery platform, Zeus. Five candidates were supplied in-kind by the company. Of these, four were found to be bioactive against the target pathogen G. vaginalis planktonically. After discussions with CC Biotech Ltd., we selected one candidate for continued testing using the aforementioned in vitro model. This candidate was selected based off of producing novel data whilst maximising potential commercial benefit. The selected candidate, CCB7.1, was found to significantly reduce viable levels of G. vaginalis but did not alter the total levels of this organism at 1x, 2x and 4x pMIC. This represented a 1-2 log reduction in viable G. vaginalis at all tested concentrations. Although reduced, G. vaginalis remained viable at Ëœ1x105 - 1x106 CFE/mL suggesting that biofilm penetration remains a potential hurdle for these enzymes. Assessment of other 'non-target' species demonstrated a reduction in viable M. curtisii at the same concentration , suggesting that eliminating G. vaginalis can disrupt the biofilm architecture which may have a tentative effect at reducing other pathobionts. We have developed a reproducible and clinically relevant in vitro BV-associated biofilm model for pre-clinical screening of novel therapies. During this project we have also optimised an in-house pipeline for robust characterisation of complex in vitro biofilms, including a unique live/dead sequencing protocol using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Assessing the efficacy of engineered phage endolysins, we demonstrate that a range of these proteins are bioactive against G. vaginalis planktonically. Against biofilms, we observed a significant reduction in viable levels of G. vaginalis although it should be noted that this organism remained viable at Ëœ1x106 CFE/mL. As such, effective biofilm penetration is one potential hurdle for these enzymes. Further work: The data generated from this project has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. Additionally, some of the preliminary data from this project was used to support an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst grant lead by CC Biotech Ltd. and supported by Glasgow Caledonian and University of Glasgow (£631,531). Overall, the application scored very well with 82.2%, however fell just short of the 84% being required to progress to interview. A further submission for this call has been submitted on 24 May 2022, with additional data generated in this project being used to address some of the concerns/feedback from the initial application. Feedback will be shared by the beginning of September. RK has utilised the preliminary data from the model development aspect of this project as the basis of grant submission to the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard round 8 (£99,997), looking at drug repurposing to combat BV infections. NBIC very kindly supplied a letter of support for this submission. Work from this project has also been submitted for as an abstract at the Eurobiofilms 2022 conference in Mallorca, Spain. This has been accepted as a poster presentation. We aim to compile our findings and submit to an impactful biofilm journal by the end of August 2022. Furthermore, given the versatility of the drug discovery platform from CC Biotech Ltd., discussions are on-going about further collaborative projects between the partners in alternative areas of infectious disease and microbiome augmentation. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-235 Targeted Protein Payload Dispersal of Vaginal Biofilms. (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project will evaluate the efficacy of endolysins, a novel and targeted antimicrobial therapy, against a chronic vaginal infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common vaginal infection of women of childbearing age. It occurs through the overgrowth of a number of anaerobic pathogens, which often grow as a recalcitrant biofilm, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Endolysins represent exciting new therapeutics against this condition. Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes featuring highly potent and specific activity profiles, selectively killing bacteria at the species level through the rapid breakdown of bacterial peptidoglycan. These targeted properties render endolysins as ideal candidates for the modulation of the ecology of microbiome environments. In this project, we aim to investigate the capacity of endolysins to selectively alter the composition of a complex vaginal microbiome model. By solely removing pathogens associated with BV, it is hypothesized that this will promote growth of the healthy commensal microbiome. Endolysins will be investigated as clinical therapies for the treatment and management of vaginal dysbiosis, such as BV. To assess the effects of endolysins, we aim to develop both a novel multispecies BV biofilm model and an analytical tool known as quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP), which has application for studying both in vitro and naturally occurring biofilms, well exceeding the scope of clinical research. The USP of our project is that these tools will be developed and optimized, whilst concomitantly assessing the efficacy of a novel and first-in-class therapeutic. Success will be measured through the generation of marketable data for the industrial partner and through the leverage of future funding for both the academic and industrial partner. This project aligns with the overall philosophy of NBIC, where a multidisciplinary team combining expertise of biofilms, synthetic biology and medicinal chemistry form a close collaboration between academia and industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This was a brilliant catalyst to start what we hope to be a promising and fruitful collaboration between both the clinical and academic partners on the project. In this project, we have effectively developed a novel 4-species bacterial-vaginosis (BV) associated biofilm model for high-throughput in vitro testing. The model comprises four commonly isolated BV associated pathobionts, namely Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, Prevotella bivia and Mobiluncus curtisii which provides a more complex system for antimicrobial testing in comparison with commonly used monospecies models. Organisms are cultured together in a 'G. vaginalis primed system', whereby this organism is allowed to colonise for 24 hours, followed by addition of remaining pathogens. This mimics the current understanding of BV-associated biofilms, with G. vaginalis thought to be the initial binding organism which displaces commensal lactobacilli and allows the growth of more fastidious anaerobes. We have adapted existing species-specific qPCR primers for routine in vitro use, allowing us to comprehensively study the composition shifts of polymicrobial biofilms with and without treatment. This protocol was combined with PMAxx treatment to discriminate between total and viable cells within the model. Using this protocol, all species were found to colonise the biofilm to varying degrees, with G. vaginalis being the most abundant, followed by F. vaginae, P. bivia and M. curtisii. Having developed a clinically relevant and reproducible polymicrobial biofilm model, we next investigated the efficacy of current BV therapies. This included conventional antibiotics (clindamycin, metronidazole) and a lactobacilli probiotic cocktail. Using a live/dead PMAxx protocol, we investigated the impact of each therapy on the total and viable levels of each bacterium within the model. We show that antibiotic therapy had limited impact on any species within this model, which included both metronidazole and clindamycin at 1x and 8x planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) based off of G. vaginalis. In contrast, addition of a 4-species lactobacilli cocktail (comprising Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, L. inners, L. gasseri) significantly reduced the viable levels of G. vaginalis, F. vaginae and M. curtisii, and lowered supernatant pH in comparison with media only controls. For lactobacilli treatment, we were unable to discriminate each species using qPCR given the short amplicon sizes required. Therefore, we employed the use of full-length 16S sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Sequencing was combined with PMAxx therapy, which to our knowledge is the first time this platform has been adapted and optimised for live/dead composition of in vitro biofilm models. Finally, we assessed a library of novel engineered phage protein endolysins specific for G. vaginalis, which were uniquely designed from the industrial partner. These proteins were developed by CC Biotech Ltd.'s proprietary discovery platform, Zeus. Five candidates were supplied in-kind by the company. Of these, four were found to be bioactive against the target pathogen G. vaginalis planktonically. After discussions with CC Biotech Ltd., we selected one candidate for continued testing using the aforementioned in vitro model. This candidate was selected based off of producing novel data whilst maximising potential commercial benefit. The selected candidate, CCB7.1, was found to significantly reduce viable levels of G. vaginalis but did not alter the total levels of this organism at 1x, 2x and 4x pMIC. This represented a 1-2 log reduction in viable G. vaginalis at all tested concentrations. Although reduced, G. vaginalis remained viable at Ëœ1x105 - 1x106 CFE/mL suggesting that biofilm penetration remains a potential hurdle for these enzymes. Assessment of other 'non-target' species demonstrated a reduction in viable M. curtisii at the same concentration , suggesting that eliminating G. vaginalis can disrupt the biofilm architecture which may have a tentative effect at reducing other pathobionts. We have developed a reproducible and clinically relevant in vitro BV-associated biofilm model for pre-clinical screening of novel therapies. During this project we have also optimised an in-house pipeline for robust characterisation of complex in vitro biofilms, including a unique live/dead sequencing protocol using the Oxford Nanopore minION device. Assessing the efficacy of engineered phage endolysins, we demonstrate that a range of these proteins are bioactive against G. vaginalis planktonically. Against biofilms, we observed a significant reduction in viable levels of G. vaginalis although it should be noted that this organism remained viable at Ëœ1x106 CFE/mL. As such, effective biofilm penetration is one potential hurdle for these enzymes. Further work: The data generated from this project has been used to secure £51,977 in funding from Ferring Pharmaceuticals to Glasgow Caledonian University, to investigate probiotic therapies against the BV model which was designed in this project. It is anticipated that future work packages will be follow on from this initial 5-month project. Additionally, some of the preliminary data from this project was used to support an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst grant lead by CC Biotech Ltd. and supported by Glasgow Caledonian and University of Glasgow (£631,531). Overall, the application scored very well with 82.2%, however fell just short of the 84% being required to progress to interview. A further submission for this call has been submitted on 24 May 2022, with additional data generated in this project being used to address some of the concerns/feedback from the initial application. Feedback will be shared by the beginning of September. RK has utilised the preliminary data from the model development aspect of this project as the basis of grant submission to the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard round 8 (£99,997), looking at drug repurposing to combat BV infections. NBIC very kindly supplied a letter of support for this submission. Work from this project has also been submitted for as an abstract at the Eurobiofilms 2022 conference in Mallorca, Spain. This has been accepted as a poster presentation. We aim to compile our findings and submit to an impactful biofilm journal by the end of August 2022. Furthermore, given the versatility of the drug discovery platform from CC Biotech Ltd., discussions are on-going about further collaborative projects between the partners in alternative areas of infectious disease and microbiome augmentation. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-240 Assessing the potential of a recombinant anti-biofilm protein as a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly treatment against souring and biocorrosion. (Julia R. de Rezende) |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PROTE-OIL aims to assess the efficacy of lactoferrin (Lf) to control microbial biofilms in industrial settings. Lactoferrin is a natural antimicrobial abundantly present in mammal secretions such as milk, tears and sweat, and is shown to effectively prevent biofilm development in healthcare applications. Given its success, lack of toxicity and accessible large-scale production from cheese whey, skim milk or fermentation by fungi, it is a promising clean technology to substitute harsher products for microbial control in industrial environments, thus minimising the negative environmental impacts of both uncontrolled microbial biofilms and the excessive use and production of biocides. However, the applicability of Lf has not been tested beyond human and veterinarian use. Our objective is to assess the efficacy of Lf to control a complex anaerobic microbial community, in particular one causing biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production, known as souring, and biocorrosion. Souring is a problem in the oil & gas industry, as H2S is toxic, flammable, corrosive and explosive. Although control of similar biofilms is equally important in other industrial processes, wastewater and marine industries, souring and biocorrosion were chosen as target issues for this POC study because of their economic importance in O&G and because success can be measured with various techniques: Planktonic and sessile microbial abundance by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and microscopy; H2S production by spectrometry and sulfate consumption (ion chromatography); Biocorrosion by metal coupon weight loss, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD); Overall microbial activity (including fermentation) by monitoring the concentration of organic carbon amendment (ion chromatography). Lf will be tested for the prevention of biofilm establishment and for the control of established biofilms. The techniques above will be used to compare these two treatment scenarios against each other and against an untreated control. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-240 Assessing the potential of a recombinant anti-biofilm protein as a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly treatment against souring and biocorrosion. (Julia R. de Rezende) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | PROTE-OIL aims to assess the efficacy of lactoferrin (Lf) to control microbial biofilms in industrial settings. Lactoferrin is a natural antimicrobial abundantly present in mammal secretions such as milk, tears and sweat, and is shown to effectively prevent biofilm development in healthcare applications. Given its success, lack of toxicity and accessible large-scale production from cheese whey, skim milk or fermentation by fungi, it is a promising clean technology to substitute harsher products for microbial control in industrial environments, thus minimising the negative environmental impacts of both uncontrolled microbial biofilms and the excessive use and production of biocides. However, the applicability of Lf has not been tested beyond human and veterinarian use. Our objective is to assess the efficacy of Lf to control a complex anaerobic microbial community, in particular one causing biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production, known as souring, and biocorrosion. Souring is a problem in the oil & gas industry, as H2S is toxic, flammable, corrosive and explosive. Although control of similar biofilms is equally important in other industrial processes, wastewater and marine industries, souring and biocorrosion were chosen as target issues for this POC study because of their economic importance in O&G and because success can be measured with various techniques: Planktonic and sessile microbial abundance by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and microscopy; H2S production by spectrometry and sulfate consumption (ion chromatography); Biocorrosion by metal coupon weight loss, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD); Overall microbial activity (including fermentation) by monitoring the concentration of organic carbon amendment (ion chromatography). Lf will be tested for the prevention of biofilm establishment and for the control of established biofilms. The techniques above will be used to compare these two treatment scenarios against each other and against an untreated control. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-240 Assessing the potential of a recombinant anti-biofilm protein as a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly treatment against souring and biocorrosion. (Julia R. de Rezende) |
| Organisation | Virustatic Shield Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | PROTE-OIL aims to assess the efficacy of lactoferrin (Lf) to control microbial biofilms in industrial settings. Lactoferrin is a natural antimicrobial abundantly present in mammal secretions such as milk, tears and sweat, and is shown to effectively prevent biofilm development in healthcare applications. Given its success, lack of toxicity and accessible large-scale production from cheese whey, skim milk or fermentation by fungi, it is a promising clean technology to substitute harsher products for microbial control in industrial environments, thus minimising the negative environmental impacts of both uncontrolled microbial biofilms and the excessive use and production of biocides. However, the applicability of Lf has not been tested beyond human and veterinarian use. Our objective is to assess the efficacy of Lf to control a complex anaerobic microbial community, in particular one causing biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production, known as souring, and biocorrosion. Souring is a problem in the oil & gas industry, as H2S is toxic, flammable, corrosive and explosive. Although control of similar biofilms is equally important in other industrial processes, wastewater and marine industries, souring and biocorrosion were chosen as target issues for this POC study because of their economic importance in O&G and because success can be measured with various techniques: Planktonic and sessile microbial abundance by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and microscopy; H2S production by spectrometry and sulfate consumption (ion chromatography); Biocorrosion by metal coupon weight loss, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD); Overall microbial activity (including fermentation) by monitoring the concentration of organic carbon amendment (ion chromatography). Lf will be tested for the prevention of biofilm establishment and for the control of established biofilms. The techniques above will be used to compare these two treatment scenarios against each other and against an untreated control. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-243 Developing Novel Antimicrobial Surfaces Preventing Biofilms in the Rail and Transport Industry (Felicity de Cogan) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This 12-month collaborative project will develop a novel and disruptive antimicrobial process, for use on frequently touched rail carriage components. This will enable train franchises to reduce their maintenance costs, increase passenger confidence while also championing public health. Pre-pandemic, studies have shown public transport customers and employees were both significantly more susceptible to infections. Whilst limited management or recognition of this problem existed within rail companies, COVID-19 has highlighted the enormous risk of infection in crowded places and the need for novel technologies to address the problem. Working in collaboration, UoB and NitroPep have developed a technology which removes the pain for rail franchises, all whilst also giving the train companies a reputational advantage through reduced bacterial load, improved hygiene and cleanliness for users. We will develop a fully commercialised product that, when deployed in settings such as transport hubs/vehicles, reduces the numbers of bacteria. Fundamental experimental trials in response to several customer requests have enabled development of a novel antimicrobial product which can be used in trains. In further developing robust commercial offers, we have formed a consortium to bring specific expertise and skills together to generate customer focused product development processes to drive adoption and maximise rapid market traction. The technology is easily adopted by end users and can be retrofitted to all existing rail carriage systems. Completion of this project will demonstrate a surface which has developed to TRL level 6 and is ready for scale up and roll out across the industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-243 Developing Novel Antimicrobial Surfaces Preventing Biofilms in the Rail and Transport Industry (Felicity de Cogan) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This 12-month collaborative project will develop a novel and disruptive antimicrobial process, for use on frequently touched rail carriage components. This will enable train franchises to reduce their maintenance costs, increase passenger confidence while also championing public health. Pre-pandemic, studies have shown public transport customers and employees were both significantly more susceptible to infections. Whilst limited management or recognition of this problem existed within rail companies, COVID-19 has highlighted the enormous risk of infection in crowded places and the need for novel technologies to address the problem. Working in collaboration, UoB and NitroPep have developed a technology which removes the pain for rail franchises, all whilst also giving the train companies a reputational advantage through reduced bacterial load, improved hygiene and cleanliness for users. We will develop a fully commercialised product that, when deployed in settings such as transport hubs/vehicles, reduces the numbers of bacteria. Fundamental experimental trials in response to several customer requests have enabled development of a novel antimicrobial product which can be used in trains. In further developing robust commercial offers, we have formed a consortium to bring specific expertise and skills together to generate customer focused product development processes to drive adoption and maximise rapid market traction. The technology is easily adopted by end users and can be retrofitted to all existing rail carriage systems. Completion of this project will demonstrate a surface which has developed to TRL level 6 and is ready for scale up and roll out across the industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-243 Developing Novel Antimicrobial Surfaces Preventing Biofilms in the Rail and Transport Industry (Felicity de Cogan) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This 12-month collaborative project will develop a novel and disruptive antimicrobial process, for use on frequently touched rail carriage components. This will enable train franchises to reduce their maintenance costs, increase passenger confidence while also championing public health. Pre-pandemic, studies have shown public transport customers and employees were both significantly more susceptible to infections. Whilst limited management or recognition of this problem existed within rail companies, COVID-19 has highlighted the enormous risk of infection in crowded places and the need for novel technologies to address the problem. Working in collaboration, UoB and NitroPep have developed a technology which removes the pain for rail franchises, all whilst also giving the train companies a reputational advantage through reduced bacterial load, improved hygiene and cleanliness for users. We will develop a fully commercialised product that, when deployed in settings such as transport hubs/vehicles, reduces the numbers of bacteria. Fundamental experimental trials in response to several customer requests have enabled development of a novel antimicrobial product which can be used in trains. In further developing robust commercial offers, we have formed a consortium to bring specific expertise and skills together to generate customer focused product development processes to drive adoption and maximise rapid market traction. The technology is easily adopted by end users and can be retrofitted to all existing rail carriage systems. Completion of this project will demonstrate a surface which has developed to TRL level 6 and is ready for scale up and roll out across the industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-248 Organo-metallic HIPIMS-coated antibiofilm advanced wound dressings (Arutiun Ehiasarian) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop the HIPIMS process to deposit nanoscale silver, copper and zinc metals, along with 5D's patented antibiofilm material T-EDTA onto typical advanced woundcare substrates such as fibrous carboxymethylcellulose and sodium/calcium alginate. Explore the deposition of a range of these organo-metallic antibiofilm materials onto aforementioned woundcare substrates. Evaluate the prototype coated wound dressing materials for physical properties such as absorbency, ASTM based biofilm models, and in realistic wound care conditions to arrive at a 'proof of feasibility' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the coating of difficult to apply mixed metals, using an environmentally friendly 'dry' process. Success will be measured by the development of a prototype wound dressing fabric that satisfies key commercial physical property demands such as mechanical strength and absorbency, and microbiological properties such as AM and AB efficacy (log reduction of 5-7). The developed prototype will enable either further development funding, or commercial co-development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Sheffield Hallum: The project has demonstrated an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the HIPIMS coating of difficult to apply mixed metals. The HIPIMS process for deposition was successfully trialled on advanced CMC and alginate wound dressing materials in combination of T-EDTA and DTPA treatments. The prototype coated wound dressing materials demonstrated significant antibiofilm efficacy against single-specie cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, achieving total kill in both cases. A lower rate of hydration was observed following the relatively thick HIPIMS coating deposits. Successful completion of the primary objectives would result in an initial prototype device that showcased the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. Next steps: We will publish the results in peer-reviewed journals. We will seek follow on funding for the technology to be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. Further industry collaboration and grant submissions nationally and internationally are anticipated. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-248 Organo-metallic HIPIMS-coated antibiofilm advanced wound dressings (Arutiun Ehiasarian) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop the HIPIMS process to deposit nanoscale silver, copper and zinc metals, along with 5D's patented antibiofilm material T-EDTA onto typical advanced woundcare substrates such as fibrous carboxymethylcellulose and sodium/calcium alginate. Explore the deposition of a range of these organo-metallic antibiofilm materials onto aforementioned woundcare substrates. Evaluate the prototype coated wound dressing materials for physical properties such as absorbency, ASTM based biofilm models, and in realistic wound care conditions to arrive at a 'proof of feasibility' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the coating of difficult to apply mixed metals, using an environmentally friendly 'dry' process. Success will be measured by the development of a prototype wound dressing fabric that satisfies key commercial physical property demands such as mechanical strength and absorbency, and microbiological properties such as AM and AB efficacy (log reduction of 5-7). The developed prototype will enable either further development funding, or commercial co-development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Sheffield Hallum: The project has demonstrated an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the HIPIMS coating of difficult to apply mixed metals. The HIPIMS process for deposition was successfully trialled on advanced CMC and alginate wound dressing materials in combination of T-EDTA and DTPA treatments. The prototype coated wound dressing materials demonstrated significant antibiofilm efficacy against single-specie cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, achieving total kill in both cases. A lower rate of hydration was observed following the relatively thick HIPIMS coating deposits. Successful completion of the primary objectives would result in an initial prototype device that showcased the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. Next steps: We will publish the results in peer-reviewed journals. We will seek follow on funding for the technology to be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. Further industry collaboration and grant submissions nationally and internationally are anticipated. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-248 Organo-metallic HIPIMS-coated antibiofilm advanced wound dressings (Arutiun Ehiasarian) |
| Organisation | Sheffield Hallam University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop the HIPIMS process to deposit nanoscale silver, copper and zinc metals, along with 5D's patented antibiofilm material T-EDTA onto typical advanced woundcare substrates such as fibrous carboxymethylcellulose and sodium/calcium alginate. Explore the deposition of a range of these organo-metallic antibiofilm materials onto aforementioned woundcare substrates. Evaluate the prototype coated wound dressing materials for physical properties such as absorbency, ASTM based biofilm models, and in realistic wound care conditions to arrive at a 'proof of feasibility' medical device. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype device that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the coating of difficult to apply mixed metals, using an environmentally friendly 'dry' process. Success will be measured by the development of a prototype wound dressing fabric that satisfies key commercial physical property demands such as mechanical strength and absorbency, and microbiological properties such as AM and AB efficacy (log reduction of 5-7). The developed prototype will enable either further development funding, or commercial co-development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from Sheffield Hallum: The project has demonstrated an advanced antibiofilm wound dressing prototype using a low environmental impact High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) process. A key feature of this novel antibiofilm system is the HIPIMS coating of difficult to apply mixed metals. The HIPIMS process for deposition was successfully trialled on advanced CMC and alginate wound dressing materials in combination of T-EDTA and DTPA treatments. The prototype coated wound dressing materials demonstrated significant antibiofilm efficacy against single-specie cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, achieving total kill in both cases. A lower rate of hydration was observed following the relatively thick HIPIMS coating deposits. Successful completion of the primary objectives would result in an initial prototype device that showcased the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential further development funding. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. The dressing will aim to administer low doses of potent antimicrobial metal ions from robust, nanoscale coatings, some of which are difficult to deploy by other application processes, plus 5D's antibiofilm adjunct based on advanced chelation technology. It is anticipated that such a wound dressing would greatly enhance wound healing and consequently provide a significant benefit to patients. Next steps: We will publish the results in peer-reviewed journals. We will seek follow on funding for the technology to be commercialised as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, regulatory-ready, 'game changing' antibiofilm wound dressing. Further industry collaboration and grant submissions nationally and internationally are anticipated. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-252 The standard biofilm: A reference measurement system to support routine manipulation, innovation and application. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | LGC Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A critical unmet need for innovation across all industry sectors in which biofilms are relevant is the infrastructure and support needed to demonstrate alignment to relevant standards and the associated technical competencies. This would be, at its simplest, the development of reliable and robust standards and infrastructure to characterise them, to which biofilm technologies and interventions could be benchmarked against one another. Academic-industry discussion both nationally and internationally has consistently identified that a lack of standardisation across biofilm methods which leads to a major block to innovation. While models for culturing biofilms exist (such as the CDC reactor and drip flow models), these models typically evaluate basic conventional techniques such as biomass and CFU counts. However, a major limitation is that they have not been validated for molecular analytics that reflect modern microbiology and the metagenomic methodology often used for biofilm analysis. This project aims to develop the first biofilm reference material which will be metrologically characterised at the molecular level using tools that are not available to in the standard industry laboratories. Academic and industrial communities will be able to use this resource as a tool to evaluate the accuracy of their molecular biofilm measurements. Using expertise from UoS and the NML/LGC we propose to examine whether it is possible to generate reference biofilm material that is reproducibility validated at an interlaboratory/ multi-site (collaborators have agreed to test if required) and can be used by the community at large. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-252 The standard biofilm: A reference measurement system to support routine manipulation, innovation and application. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A critical unmet need for innovation across all industry sectors in which biofilms are relevant is the infrastructure and support needed to demonstrate alignment to relevant standards and the associated technical competencies. This would be, at its simplest, the development of reliable and robust standards and infrastructure to characterise them, to which biofilm technologies and interventions could be benchmarked against one another. Academic-industry discussion both nationally and internationally has consistently identified that a lack of standardisation across biofilm methods which leads to a major block to innovation. While models for culturing biofilms exist (such as the CDC reactor and drip flow models), these models typically evaluate basic conventional techniques such as biomass and CFU counts. However, a major limitation is that they have not been validated for molecular analytics that reflect modern microbiology and the metagenomic methodology often used for biofilm analysis. This project aims to develop the first biofilm reference material which will be metrologically characterised at the molecular level using tools that are not available to in the standard industry laboratories. Academic and industrial communities will be able to use this resource as a tool to evaluate the accuracy of their molecular biofilm measurements. Using expertise from UoS and the NML/LGC we propose to examine whether it is possible to generate reference biofilm material that is reproducibility validated at an interlaboratory/ multi-site (collaborators have agreed to test if required) and can be used by the community at large. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-252 The standard biofilm: A reference measurement system to support routine manipulation, innovation and application. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A critical unmet need for innovation across all industry sectors in which biofilms are relevant is the infrastructure and support needed to demonstrate alignment to relevant standards and the associated technical competencies. This would be, at its simplest, the development of reliable and robust standards and infrastructure to characterise them, to which biofilm technologies and interventions could be benchmarked against one another. Academic-industry discussion both nationally and internationally has consistently identified that a lack of standardisation across biofilm methods which leads to a major block to innovation. While models for culturing biofilms exist (such as the CDC reactor and drip flow models), these models typically evaluate basic conventional techniques such as biomass and CFU counts. However, a major limitation is that they have not been validated for molecular analytics that reflect modern microbiology and the metagenomic methodology often used for biofilm analysis. This project aims to develop the first biofilm reference material which will be metrologically characterised at the molecular level using tools that are not available to in the standard industry laboratories. Academic and industrial communities will be able to use this resource as a tool to evaluate the accuracy of their molecular biofilm measurements. Using expertise from UoS and the NML/LGC we propose to examine whether it is possible to generate reference biofilm material that is reproducibility validated at an interlaboratory/ multi-site (collaborators have agreed to test if required) and can be used by the community at large. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-255 Novel approach to treat osteomyelitis biofilms combining innovative dual therapy and slow drug release. (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Ceramisys |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Osteomyelitis caused by microbial biofilm infections of bone injury or surgery sites affects up to 100 per 100,000 people in the UK, resulting in increased health and social care costs and reduced patient quality of-life. Infections are mainly caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa both WHO priority pathogens. Treatments include high doses of antibiotics but it is difficult to cure; up to 30% of patients have recurrent or persistent infections. The main aim of this study is to demonstrate proof-of-concept to treat/prevent osteomyelitis using novel bone grafts containing a combination of antibiotics and quorum sensing inhibitors combined with biodegradable polymer coatings. (Fig1). Ceramysis has developed a tissue-compatible ceramic bone graft composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) to enhance bone regeneration, currently used clinically for bone regeneration in osteomyelitis. Antibiotics mixed with the graft are released too quickly, preventing effective infection control. The University of Nottingham (UoN) has developed P. aeruginosa biofilm models and Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (QSI) that sensitize biofilms to antibiotic killing hence reducing infection. Upperton Pharma Solutions will apply slow-release polymer coatings, containing antibiotics and QSI, to the ceramic bone grafts, enabling optimization of the dose and bioavailability of these compounds in bone wounds to promote bacterial killing and bone healing. Successful delivery will provide proof-of-concept to kill P. aeruginosa biofilms using coated bone grafts, demonstrating slow QSI and antibiotic release with increased biofilm killing through polymer coatings, bringing together novel technologies for the first time, moving the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 3. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-255 Novel approach to treat osteomyelitis biofilms combining innovative dual therapy and slow drug release. (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Osteomyelitis caused by microbial biofilm infections of bone injury or surgery sites affects up to 100 per 100,000 people in the UK, resulting in increased health and social care costs and reduced patient quality of-life. Infections are mainly caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa both WHO priority pathogens. Treatments include high doses of antibiotics but it is difficult to cure; up to 30% of patients have recurrent or persistent infections. The main aim of this study is to demonstrate proof-of-concept to treat/prevent osteomyelitis using novel bone grafts containing a combination of antibiotics and quorum sensing inhibitors combined with biodegradable polymer coatings. (Fig1). Ceramysis has developed a tissue-compatible ceramic bone graft composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) to enhance bone regeneration, currently used clinically for bone regeneration in osteomyelitis. Antibiotics mixed with the graft are released too quickly, preventing effective infection control. The University of Nottingham (UoN) has developed P. aeruginosa biofilm models and Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (QSI) that sensitize biofilms to antibiotic killing hence reducing infection. Upperton Pharma Solutions will apply slow-release polymer coatings, containing antibiotics and QSI, to the ceramic bone grafts, enabling optimization of the dose and bioavailability of these compounds in bone wounds to promote bacterial killing and bone healing. Successful delivery will provide proof-of-concept to kill P. aeruginosa biofilms using coated bone grafts, demonstrating slow QSI and antibiotic release with increased biofilm killing through polymer coatings, bringing together novel technologies for the first time, moving the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 3. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-255 Novel approach to treat osteomyelitis biofilms combining innovative dual therapy and slow drug release. (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Osteomyelitis caused by microbial biofilm infections of bone injury or surgery sites affects up to 100 per 100,000 people in the UK, resulting in increased health and social care costs and reduced patient quality of-life. Infections are mainly caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa both WHO priority pathogens. Treatments include high doses of antibiotics but it is difficult to cure; up to 30% of patients have recurrent or persistent infections. The main aim of this study is to demonstrate proof-of-concept to treat/prevent osteomyelitis using novel bone grafts containing a combination of antibiotics and quorum sensing inhibitors combined with biodegradable polymer coatings. (Fig1). Ceramysis has developed a tissue-compatible ceramic bone graft composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) to enhance bone regeneration, currently used clinically for bone regeneration in osteomyelitis. Antibiotics mixed with the graft are released too quickly, preventing effective infection control. The University of Nottingham (UoN) has developed P. aeruginosa biofilm models and Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (QSI) that sensitize biofilms to antibiotic killing hence reducing infection. Upperton Pharma Solutions will apply slow-release polymer coatings, containing antibiotics and QSI, to the ceramic bone grafts, enabling optimization of the dose and bioavailability of these compounds in bone wounds to promote bacterial killing and bone healing. Successful delivery will provide proof-of-concept to kill P. aeruginosa biofilms using coated bone grafts, demonstrating slow QSI and antibiotic release with increased biofilm killing through polymer coatings, bringing together novel technologies for the first time, moving the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 3. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-255 Novel approach to treat osteomyelitis biofilms combining innovative dual therapy and slow drug release. (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Upperton Pharma Solutions |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Osteomyelitis caused by microbial biofilm infections of bone injury or surgery sites affects up to 100 per 100,000 people in the UK, resulting in increased health and social care costs and reduced patient quality of-life. Infections are mainly caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa both WHO priority pathogens. Treatments include high doses of antibiotics but it is difficult to cure; up to 30% of patients have recurrent or persistent infections. The main aim of this study is to demonstrate proof-of-concept to treat/prevent osteomyelitis using novel bone grafts containing a combination of antibiotics and quorum sensing inhibitors combined with biodegradable polymer coatings. (Fig1). Ceramysis has developed a tissue-compatible ceramic bone graft composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) to enhance bone regeneration, currently used clinically for bone regeneration in osteomyelitis. Antibiotics mixed with the graft are released too quickly, preventing effective infection control. The University of Nottingham (UoN) has developed P. aeruginosa biofilm models and Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (QSI) that sensitize biofilms to antibiotic killing hence reducing infection. Upperton Pharma Solutions will apply slow-release polymer coatings, containing antibiotics and QSI, to the ceramic bone grafts, enabling optimization of the dose and bioavailability of these compounds in bone wounds to promote bacterial killing and bone healing. Successful delivery will provide proof-of-concept to kill P. aeruginosa biofilms using coated bone grafts, demonstrating slow QSI and antibiotic release with increased biofilm killing through polymer coatings, bringing together novel technologies for the first time, moving the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 3. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-257 Optimizing a pilot-scale Bioelectrochemical System for wastewater treatment using Hartree (optimising bioelectrochemical systems). (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Existing wastewater treatment systems are outdated and energy intensive. Bioelectrochemical systems could revolutionise wastewater treatment by harvesting energy directly from its pollutants. However this experimental technology is expensive and high risk. We will use rigorous modelling and in silico design to optimise a pilot-scale system and prepare for commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project was focused on determining how the use of high performance computing could be applied to the field of microbial electrochemical technologies. With current estimates the time to full-scale deployment of microbial electrochemical technologies to the wastewater treatment industry being 25+ years. Unfortunately due to high input costs, creating multiple identical large-scale bioreactors is out of the question. Therefore running multiple parallel experimental setups to determine optimal layouts and operational parameters becomes unfeasible. This is where we aim to make use of high performance computing to perform multiple parallel simulations in an attempt to determine optimal operational conditions, alongside minor adjustments to reactor layout. Using a developed model for simulation of microbial electrochemical technologies [1], alongside use of the Hartree high performance computing centre, we were able to rapidly simulate designs and operational conditions leading to the equivalent of 5.5 years of experimental data being generated in 26 hours. This data enabled conclusions to be drawn regarding potential operational conditions and setups for large scale operations of microbial electrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment. Although modelling can replace some of the ground work needed for developing these systems, this cannot completely replace experimental work. Further work is needed to be conducted on the experimental setup to fully verify model results. • In an attempt to maximise treatment rates anodes should be extended as far as possible across the domain, doing so will reduced the likelihood of vortices forming in corner regions which should increase overall MEC performance. • Decreasing anode width across the domain does seem to increase vortex formation in the very edge regions of the domain, however due to the rotational speed of these vortices flow becomes stagnant. This leads to a reduced current production and treatment rate, decreasing overall system efficiency. • We have estimated that, although turbulent mixing is critical to increasing reactor performance, when flow speeds are fast we tend to operate at almost peak levels of current production. Due to this increased flow speeds, removal rates are low as caused by the amount of substrate flowing into the domain each second. • Improvements of design can be achieved by including additional "dummy cartridges" made entirely of plastic, these act to reduce the channel width electrochemical cartridges and lead to higher substrate removal rates and current production throughout the domain. These improvements were found to increase system efficiency regardless of hydraulic retention time or influent substrate concentration and can be implemented with very minimal additional costs compared to the cost of an electrochemical cartridge. • This idea of implementing dummy cartridge was first considered when we included additional pairs of electrochemical cartridge. Here we noted a superlinear improvement in both removal and treatment rates for all HRTs and concentrations (Fig 2.) • To test the effect of channel width we considered a design containing 18 total cartridges, here we were able to switch any number of the cartridges off. We expected a linear improvement in terms of removal rates, but in cases with substrate abundance, current density should remain the same, this was determined to be the case, with the exception of the final cartridge caused by the proximity to the effluent region (Fig 3.) • This work has allowed theoretical designs and operational conditions for the preconstructed BEWISe reactors to be tested in a fraction of experimental time. When further funding is obtained to operate these reactors, the optimal setups highlighted within this work will be implemented, further reducing the experimental timeframes. Future work: Further development of the mathematical model will be done to closer replicate the findings within the reactor, including introducing additional substrates and bacterial populations into the model. We have applied for a small internal grant supported by Veolia and NWL to run a limited amount of testing on the physical reactors this modelling was based on. The model results will enable us to set up the reactors and operate them in their optimal conditions, rather than conduct long term tests to find these. Once these initial results are verified, Veolia may invest in this technology at one of its sites where COD load is an issue. Furthermore EH and TW are applying for a much larger EPSRC grant, the work carried out in this grant will help form a basis for that, and we will seek to collaborate with Hartree again. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-257 Optimizing a pilot-scale Bioelectrochemical System for wastewater treatment using Hartree (optimising bioelectrochemical systems). (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Existing wastewater treatment systems are outdated and energy intensive. Bioelectrochemical systems could revolutionise wastewater treatment by harvesting energy directly from its pollutants. However this experimental technology is expensive and high risk. We will use rigorous modelling and in silico design to optimise a pilot-scale system and prepare for commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project was focused on determining how the use of high performance computing could be applied to the field of microbial electrochemical technologies. With current estimates the time to full-scale deployment of microbial electrochemical technologies to the wastewater treatment industry being 25+ years. Unfortunately due to high input costs, creating multiple identical large-scale bioreactors is out of the question. Therefore running multiple parallel experimental setups to determine optimal layouts and operational parameters becomes unfeasible. This is where we aim to make use of high performance computing to perform multiple parallel simulations in an attempt to determine optimal operational conditions, alongside minor adjustments to reactor layout. Using a developed model for simulation of microbial electrochemical technologies [1], alongside use of the Hartree high performance computing centre, we were able to rapidly simulate designs and operational conditions leading to the equivalent of 5.5 years of experimental data being generated in 26 hours. This data enabled conclusions to be drawn regarding potential operational conditions and setups for large scale operations of microbial electrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment. Although modelling can replace some of the ground work needed for developing these systems, this cannot completely replace experimental work. Further work is needed to be conducted on the experimental setup to fully verify model results. • In an attempt to maximise treatment rates anodes should be extended as far as possible across the domain, doing so will reduced the likelihood of vortices forming in corner regions which should increase overall MEC performance. • Decreasing anode width across the domain does seem to increase vortex formation in the very edge regions of the domain, however due to the rotational speed of these vortices flow becomes stagnant. This leads to a reduced current production and treatment rate, decreasing overall system efficiency. • We have estimated that, although turbulent mixing is critical to increasing reactor performance, when flow speeds are fast we tend to operate at almost peak levels of current production. Due to this increased flow speeds, removal rates are low as caused by the amount of substrate flowing into the domain each second. • Improvements of design can be achieved by including additional "dummy cartridges" made entirely of plastic, these act to reduce the channel width electrochemical cartridges and lead to higher substrate removal rates and current production throughout the domain. These improvements were found to increase system efficiency regardless of hydraulic retention time or influent substrate concentration and can be implemented with very minimal additional costs compared to the cost of an electrochemical cartridge. • This idea of implementing dummy cartridge was first considered when we included additional pairs of electrochemical cartridge. Here we noted a superlinear improvement in both removal and treatment rates for all HRTs and concentrations (Fig 2.) • To test the effect of channel width we considered a design containing 18 total cartridges, here we were able to switch any number of the cartridges off. We expected a linear improvement in terms of removal rates, but in cases with substrate abundance, current density should remain the same, this was determined to be the case, with the exception of the final cartridge caused by the proximity to the effluent region (Fig 3.) • This work has allowed theoretical designs and operational conditions for the preconstructed BEWISe reactors to be tested in a fraction of experimental time. When further funding is obtained to operate these reactors, the optimal setups highlighted within this work will be implemented, further reducing the experimental timeframes. Future work: Further development of the mathematical model will be done to closer replicate the findings within the reactor, including introducing additional substrates and bacterial populations into the model. We have applied for a small internal grant supported by Veolia and NWL to run a limited amount of testing on the physical reactors this modelling was based on. The model results will enable us to set up the reactors and operate them in their optimal conditions, rather than conduct long term tests to find these. Once these initial results are verified, Veolia may invest in this technology at one of its sites where COD load is an issue. Furthermore EH and TW are applying for a much larger EPSRC grant, the work carried out in this grant will help form a basis for that, and we will seek to collaborate with Hartree again. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-257 Optimizing a pilot-scale Bioelectrochemical System for wastewater treatment using Hartree (optimising bioelectrochemical systems). (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Organisation | Northumbrian Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Existing wastewater treatment systems are outdated and energy intensive. Bioelectrochemical systems could revolutionise wastewater treatment by harvesting energy directly from its pollutants. However this experimental technology is expensive and high risk. We will use rigorous modelling and in silico design to optimise a pilot-scale system and prepare for commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project was focused on determining how the use of high performance computing could be applied to the field of microbial electrochemical technologies. With current estimates the time to full-scale deployment of microbial electrochemical technologies to the wastewater treatment industry being 25+ years. Unfortunately due to high input costs, creating multiple identical large-scale bioreactors is out of the question. Therefore running multiple parallel experimental setups to determine optimal layouts and operational parameters becomes unfeasible. This is where we aim to make use of high performance computing to perform multiple parallel simulations in an attempt to determine optimal operational conditions, alongside minor adjustments to reactor layout. Using a developed model for simulation of microbial electrochemical technologies [1], alongside use of the Hartree high performance computing centre, we were able to rapidly simulate designs and operational conditions leading to the equivalent of 5.5 years of experimental data being generated in 26 hours. This data enabled conclusions to be drawn regarding potential operational conditions and setups for large scale operations of microbial electrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment. Although modelling can replace some of the ground work needed for developing these systems, this cannot completely replace experimental work. Further work is needed to be conducted on the experimental setup to fully verify model results. • In an attempt to maximise treatment rates anodes should be extended as far as possible across the domain, doing so will reduced the likelihood of vortices forming in corner regions which should increase overall MEC performance. • Decreasing anode width across the domain does seem to increase vortex formation in the very edge regions of the domain, however due to the rotational speed of these vortices flow becomes stagnant. This leads to a reduced current production and treatment rate, decreasing overall system efficiency. • We have estimated that, although turbulent mixing is critical to increasing reactor performance, when flow speeds are fast we tend to operate at almost peak levels of current production. Due to this increased flow speeds, removal rates are low as caused by the amount of substrate flowing into the domain each second. • Improvements of design can be achieved by including additional "dummy cartridges" made entirely of plastic, these act to reduce the channel width electrochemical cartridges and lead to higher substrate removal rates and current production throughout the domain. These improvements were found to increase system efficiency regardless of hydraulic retention time or influent substrate concentration and can be implemented with very minimal additional costs compared to the cost of an electrochemical cartridge. • This idea of implementing dummy cartridge was first considered when we included additional pairs of electrochemical cartridge. Here we noted a superlinear improvement in both removal and treatment rates for all HRTs and concentrations (Fig 2.) • To test the effect of channel width we considered a design containing 18 total cartridges, here we were able to switch any number of the cartridges off. We expected a linear improvement in terms of removal rates, but in cases with substrate abundance, current density should remain the same, this was determined to be the case, with the exception of the final cartridge caused by the proximity to the effluent region (Fig 3.) • This work has allowed theoretical designs and operational conditions for the preconstructed BEWISe reactors to be tested in a fraction of experimental time. When further funding is obtained to operate these reactors, the optimal setups highlighted within this work will be implemented, further reducing the experimental timeframes. Future work: Further development of the mathematical model will be done to closer replicate the findings within the reactor, including introducing additional substrates and bacterial populations into the model. We have applied for a small internal grant supported by Veolia and NWL to run a limited amount of testing on the physical reactors this modelling was based on. The model results will enable us to set up the reactors and operate them in their optimal conditions, rather than conduct long term tests to find these. Once these initial results are verified, Veolia may invest in this technology at one of its sites where COD load is an issue. Furthermore EH and TW are applying for a much larger EPSRC grant, the work carried out in this grant will help form a basis for that, and we will seek to collaborate with Hartree again. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-257 Optimizing a pilot-scale Bioelectrochemical System for wastewater treatment using Hartree (optimising bioelectrochemical systems). (Elizabeth Heidrich) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | Hartree Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Existing wastewater treatment systems are outdated and energy intensive. Bioelectrochemical systems could revolutionise wastewater treatment by harvesting energy directly from its pollutants. However this experimental technology is expensive and high risk. We will use rigorous modelling and in silico design to optimise a pilot-scale system and prepare for commercialisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This project was focused on determining how the use of high performance computing could be applied to the field of microbial electrochemical technologies. With current estimates the time to full-scale deployment of microbial electrochemical technologies to the wastewater treatment industry being 25+ years. Unfortunately due to high input costs, creating multiple identical large-scale bioreactors is out of the question. Therefore running multiple parallel experimental setups to determine optimal layouts and operational parameters becomes unfeasible. This is where we aim to make use of high performance computing to perform multiple parallel simulations in an attempt to determine optimal operational conditions, alongside minor adjustments to reactor layout. Using a developed model for simulation of microbial electrochemical technologies [1], alongside use of the Hartree high performance computing centre, we were able to rapidly simulate designs and operational conditions leading to the equivalent of 5.5 years of experimental data being generated in 26 hours. This data enabled conclusions to be drawn regarding potential operational conditions and setups for large scale operations of microbial electrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment. Although modelling can replace some of the ground work needed for developing these systems, this cannot completely replace experimental work. Further work is needed to be conducted on the experimental setup to fully verify model results. • In an attempt to maximise treatment rates anodes should be extended as far as possible across the domain, doing so will reduced the likelihood of vortices forming in corner regions which should increase overall MEC performance. • Decreasing anode width across the domain does seem to increase vortex formation in the very edge regions of the domain, however due to the rotational speed of these vortices flow becomes stagnant. This leads to a reduced current production and treatment rate, decreasing overall system efficiency. • We have estimated that, although turbulent mixing is critical to increasing reactor performance, when flow speeds are fast we tend to operate at almost peak levels of current production. Due to this increased flow speeds, removal rates are low as caused by the amount of substrate flowing into the domain each second. • Improvements of design can be achieved by including additional "dummy cartridges" made entirely of plastic, these act to reduce the channel width electrochemical cartridges and lead to higher substrate removal rates and current production throughout the domain. These improvements were found to increase system efficiency regardless of hydraulic retention time or influent substrate concentration and can be implemented with very minimal additional costs compared to the cost of an electrochemical cartridge. • This idea of implementing dummy cartridge was first considered when we included additional pairs of electrochemical cartridge. Here we noted a superlinear improvement in both removal and treatment rates for all HRTs and concentrations (Fig 2.) • To test the effect of channel width we considered a design containing 18 total cartridges, here we were able to switch any number of the cartridges off. We expected a linear improvement in terms of removal rates, but in cases with substrate abundance, current density should remain the same, this was determined to be the case, with the exception of the final cartridge caused by the proximity to the effluent region (Fig 3.) • This work has allowed theoretical designs and operational conditions for the preconstructed BEWISe reactors to be tested in a fraction of experimental time. When further funding is obtained to operate these reactors, the optimal setups highlighted within this work will be implemented, further reducing the experimental timeframes. Future work: Further development of the mathematical model will be done to closer replicate the findings within the reactor, including introducing additional substrates and bacterial populations into the model. We have applied for a small internal grant supported by Veolia and NWL to run a limited amount of testing on the physical reactors this modelling was based on. The model results will enable us to set up the reactors and operate them in their optimal conditions, rather than conduct long term tests to find these. Once these initial results are verified, Veolia may invest in this technology at one of its sites where COD load is an issue. Furthermore EH and TW are applying for a much larger EPSRC grant, the work carried out in this grant will help form a basis for that, and we will seek to collaborate with Hartree again. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-273 Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of herbal infusions: implications for consumer healthcare and well-being. (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Herbs, teas and other natural products have long been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines and are becoming increasingly popular for selfcare, and for use in modern clinical practice. The 2018 NICE and PHE guidelines for coughs states that antibiotics should not be a first line treatment, and that honey and several herbs (such as Pelargonium) were recommended. While there has been growing interest in the use of natural products, there is a need to consider efficacy on biofilms, which are known to be responsible for the majority of chronic infections. Pilot data has already shown that a green tea based infusion (Camellia sinsensis) and a turmeric infusion (Curcuma longa) demonstrated anti-viral activity when tested against coronavirus. Many other herbs and natural products have antimicrobial activity that has been well documented. This project builds upon pilot-data obtained through Pukka and Southampton's collaboration, to explore further the role of herbal teas (hot water infusions) in modifying throat and nasal biofilms, and to understand interplay between key bacterial and viral species involved in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Using this existing knowledge, is it possible to find the optimal mix of plant and natural compounds to give maximal antimicrobial activity, which could be used to produce an infusion with preventative and immune-boosting effects? This 7 month project proposes to look at herbal synergistic action based upon the green tea and turmeric data, to increase potency and biological efficacy. A successful project will identify 2 or 3 different combinations, which can then be utilized in the development of a new product at Pukka Herbs Ltd. This data will be useful for obtaining further funding for PhD studentship, large scale patient testing through NIHR or UKRI Innovate product development awards. The long term aim is the development of a 'respiratory ease' infusion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-273 Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of herbal infusions: implications for consumer healthcare and well-being. (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | Pukka Herbs Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Herbs, teas and other natural products have long been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines and are becoming increasingly popular for selfcare, and for use in modern clinical practice. The 2018 NICE and PHE guidelines for coughs states that antibiotics should not be a first line treatment, and that honey and several herbs (such as Pelargonium) were recommended. While there has been growing interest in the use of natural products, there is a need to consider efficacy on biofilms, which are known to be responsible for the majority of chronic infections. Pilot data has already shown that a green tea based infusion (Camellia sinsensis) and a turmeric infusion (Curcuma longa) demonstrated anti-viral activity when tested against coronavirus. Many other herbs and natural products have antimicrobial activity that has been well documented. This project builds upon pilot-data obtained through Pukka and Southampton's collaboration, to explore further the role of herbal teas (hot water infusions) in modifying throat and nasal biofilms, and to understand interplay between key bacterial and viral species involved in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Using this existing knowledge, is it possible to find the optimal mix of plant and natural compounds to give maximal antimicrobial activity, which could be used to produce an infusion with preventative and immune-boosting effects? This 7 month project proposes to look at herbal synergistic action based upon the green tea and turmeric data, to increase potency and biological efficacy. A successful project will identify 2 or 3 different combinations, which can then be utilized in the development of a new product at Pukka Herbs Ltd. This data will be useful for obtaining further funding for PhD studentship, large scale patient testing through NIHR or UKRI Innovate product development awards. The long term aim is the development of a 'respiratory ease' infusion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-273 Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of herbal infusions: implications for consumer healthcare and well-being. (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Herbs, teas and other natural products have long been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines and are becoming increasingly popular for selfcare, and for use in modern clinical practice. The 2018 NICE and PHE guidelines for coughs states that antibiotics should not be a first line treatment, and that honey and several herbs (such as Pelargonium) were recommended. While there has been growing interest in the use of natural products, there is a need to consider efficacy on biofilms, which are known to be responsible for the majority of chronic infections. Pilot data has already shown that a green tea based infusion (Camellia sinsensis) and a turmeric infusion (Curcuma longa) demonstrated anti-viral activity when tested against coronavirus. Many other herbs and natural products have antimicrobial activity that has been well documented. This project builds upon pilot-data obtained through Pukka and Southampton's collaboration, to explore further the role of herbal teas (hot water infusions) in modifying throat and nasal biofilms, and to understand interplay between key bacterial and viral species involved in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Using this existing knowledge, is it possible to find the optimal mix of plant and natural compounds to give maximal antimicrobial activity, which could be used to produce an infusion with preventative and immune-boosting effects? This 7 month project proposes to look at herbal synergistic action based upon the green tea and turmeric data, to increase potency and biological efficacy. A successful project will identify 2 or 3 different combinations, which can then be utilized in the development of a new product at Pukka Herbs Ltd. This data will be useful for obtaining further funding for PhD studentship, large scale patient testing through NIHR or UKRI Innovate product development awards. The long term aim is the development of a 'respiratory ease' infusion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-276 Antibiofilm Touch Point Plastics. (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm rigid environmentally friendly plastic technology incorporating 5D's patented organo-metallic mixed metal complex (MMC). The project will consist of four main objectives: Develop the means to distribute the micro-powdered MMC into typical thermoplastic polymers (starting with polypropylene). The aim is to investigate and identify the optimum mixing methods for polymer/additive. Produce test plaques generated by typical mass production techniques (i.e. injection moulding, compression moulding). The aim is to generate test samples that are representative of the manufacturing processes of commercial mass production techniques. Characterise the dispersion and disposition of the antibiofilm additive in the polymer. The aim is to understand the stability, distribution and polymer/ additive interfaces and any links back to processing routes. Characterise the antimicrobial and antibiofilm, particularly dry biofilm efficacy of the test parts against a number of commercially available antimicrobial additives. The aim is to benchmark effectiveness against commercial products and modify process/processing accordingly. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in initial prototype antibiofilm plastics that exhibit at least a 4log reduction in planktonic and biofilm bacterial counts in hydrated models. Reductions in a dry biofilm model would further cement the success. This will showcase the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, 'game changing' antibiofilm environmentally friendly plastic technology. The filled plastics would be processable by typical mass production techniques enabling a huge range of end products to be produced. A potential plastic distributor Resinex, has been identified with interest in commercial applications of the technology. Success will be measured by both technology achievements, and with NBIC support, accelerated commercialisation towards our end user vision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Warwick: Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive. Potential application areas (non-medical). 5D Health Protection Group Ltd: Biological testing and guidance. Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This proposal explored the development of plastics on which microorganisms will not grow, either in planktonic or biofilm state. These antimicrobial plastics were fabricated by mixing a known antimicrobial additive into a commercial plastic material (polypropylene). The resultant plastics, processable by typical mass production techniques, would enable a huge range of end products across plastics surfaces and touch points in a variety of applications. By utilising a range of pre-mixing, compounding and manufacturing techniques a variety of material formulations were generated and characterised by the team at WMG, University of Warwick. These materials were then tested for antibacterial activity. The biological testing and assessments were undertaken by our collaborators 5D Health Protection Ltd (5D). This produced some interesting results, as we were able to separate a range of processing effects such as mixing types, heat, and shear as well as produce samples by common techniques used commercially. It was also noted that there was a lack of comparable background data widely available linking to plastic formulation due to limited data on testing materials and methods that have been reported in open literature. A wide range of efficacy was found dependant on the material formulation. It was also found that some additional additives impacted negatively on the performance of the antimicrobial additive, reducing its efficacy, while other formulations achieved total kill of the bacteria tested. There were therefore complex material interactions of the material mixtures taking place. Pre-mixing of the additive in certain conditions enabled very fine dispersion to be achieved throughput the sample, while other mixing techniques produced localised or a stratified graduation of dispersion. Once formulated all samples could be easily manufactured by common methods such as extrusion, compression moulding and injection moulding. Total kill of bacteria was achieved at levels of 1% additive or above in polypropylene formulations, indicating that it is not worthwhile to increase the additive content above this level. Further academic questions were also uncovered about the mechanisms of material interactions, and there needs to be more consistent benchmarking across the field for this to take place. Dissemination activity is underway, and a journal paper is being prepared to support further exploitation opportunity in funding application sectors such as electrification as well as healthcare. 1% and 1.5% additive-containing samples gave a greater than 5.6 log reduction in the bacterial count. Exceeding the project targets. Further funding is being sought to extend and exploit both commercial and fundamental questions resulting from the NBIC support. The partnership of academic and industrial interdisciplinary skills worked well to achieve our project aims. Samples were formulated using standard commercially available techniques and then characterised to understand properties such as surface finish and dispersion distribution. These samples were passed to 5D Health Protection Limited for biological assessment. A 1% addition of antimicrobial additive produced total kill in a commercial polypropylene material. A reduction of 5.6 log was achieved which was in excessive of the original 4 log target reduction. Systematic material characterisation of surface microscopy, additive dispersion, and surface roughness was carried out and will be available for other researchers in the field. Negative polypropylene additive interactions were found during the course of this work, suggesting further study of the effect of individual additives in commercial formulations should be further investigated. Future work: There needs to be a range of activity to develop the multiple questions that have developed as a result of this work. First there needs to be PhD level work to further uncover the material interactions that hinder or help the resultant antimicrobial effects in commercial plastic materials. Studentship applications have been submitted. Secondly there needs to be commercially focused development on the formulations that work and achieve a range of kills. Specifically, longer-term efficiency is not known at this point and would need to be part of a larger study looking at service lifetimes and cleaning. Further funding is being sought to increase the industrial impact of this work. A paper and associated data and supplementary data is in preparation to aid further workers in the academic and commercial field. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-276 Antibiofilm Touch Point Plastics. (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm rigid environmentally friendly plastic technology incorporating 5D's patented organo-metallic mixed metal complex (MMC). The project will consist of four main objectives: Develop the means to distribute the micro-powdered MMC into typical thermoplastic polymers (starting with polypropylene). The aim is to investigate and identify the optimum mixing methods for polymer/additive. Produce test plaques generated by typical mass production techniques (i.e. injection moulding, compression moulding). The aim is to generate test samples that are representative of the manufacturing processes of commercial mass production techniques. Characterise the dispersion and disposition of the antibiofilm additive in the polymer. The aim is to understand the stability, distribution and polymer/ additive interfaces and any links back to processing routes. Characterise the antimicrobial and antibiofilm, particularly dry biofilm efficacy of the test parts against a number of commercially available antimicrobial additives. The aim is to benchmark effectiveness against commercial products and modify process/processing accordingly. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in initial prototype antibiofilm plastics that exhibit at least a 4log reduction in planktonic and biofilm bacterial counts in hydrated models. Reductions in a dry biofilm model would further cement the success. This will showcase the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, 'game changing' antibiofilm environmentally friendly plastic technology. The filled plastics would be processable by typical mass production techniques enabling a huge range of end products to be produced. A potential plastic distributor Resinex, has been identified with interest in commercial applications of the technology. Success will be measured by both technology achievements, and with NBIC support, accelerated commercialisation towards our end user vision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Warwick: Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive. Potential application areas (non-medical). 5D Health Protection Group Ltd: Biological testing and guidance. Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This proposal explored the development of plastics on which microorganisms will not grow, either in planktonic or biofilm state. These antimicrobial plastics were fabricated by mixing a known antimicrobial additive into a commercial plastic material (polypropylene). The resultant plastics, processable by typical mass production techniques, would enable a huge range of end products across plastics surfaces and touch points in a variety of applications. By utilising a range of pre-mixing, compounding and manufacturing techniques a variety of material formulations were generated and characterised by the team at WMG, University of Warwick. These materials were then tested for antibacterial activity. The biological testing and assessments were undertaken by our collaborators 5D Health Protection Ltd (5D). This produced some interesting results, as we were able to separate a range of processing effects such as mixing types, heat, and shear as well as produce samples by common techniques used commercially. It was also noted that there was a lack of comparable background data widely available linking to plastic formulation due to limited data on testing materials and methods that have been reported in open literature. A wide range of efficacy was found dependant on the material formulation. It was also found that some additional additives impacted negatively on the performance of the antimicrobial additive, reducing its efficacy, while other formulations achieved total kill of the bacteria tested. There were therefore complex material interactions of the material mixtures taking place. Pre-mixing of the additive in certain conditions enabled very fine dispersion to be achieved throughput the sample, while other mixing techniques produced localised or a stratified graduation of dispersion. Once formulated all samples could be easily manufactured by common methods such as extrusion, compression moulding and injection moulding. Total kill of bacteria was achieved at levels of 1% additive or above in polypropylene formulations, indicating that it is not worthwhile to increase the additive content above this level. Further academic questions were also uncovered about the mechanisms of material interactions, and there needs to be more consistent benchmarking across the field for this to take place. Dissemination activity is underway, and a journal paper is being prepared to support further exploitation opportunity in funding application sectors such as electrification as well as healthcare. 1% and 1.5% additive-containing samples gave a greater than 5.6 log reduction in the bacterial count. Exceeding the project targets. Further funding is being sought to extend and exploit both commercial and fundamental questions resulting from the NBIC support. The partnership of academic and industrial interdisciplinary skills worked well to achieve our project aims. Samples were formulated using standard commercially available techniques and then characterised to understand properties such as surface finish and dispersion distribution. These samples were passed to 5D Health Protection Limited for biological assessment. A 1% addition of antimicrobial additive produced total kill in a commercial polypropylene material. A reduction of 5.6 log was achieved which was in excessive of the original 4 log target reduction. Systematic material characterisation of surface microscopy, additive dispersion, and surface roughness was carried out and will be available for other researchers in the field. Negative polypropylene additive interactions were found during the course of this work, suggesting further study of the effect of individual additives in commercial formulations should be further investigated. Future work: There needs to be a range of activity to develop the multiple questions that have developed as a result of this work. First there needs to be PhD level work to further uncover the material interactions that hinder or help the resultant antimicrobial effects in commercial plastic materials. Studentship applications have been submitted. Secondly there needs to be commercially focused development on the formulations that work and achieve a range of kills. Specifically, longer-term efficiency is not known at this point and would need to be part of a larger study looking at service lifetimes and cleaning. Further funding is being sought to increase the industrial impact of this work. A paper and associated data and supplementary data is in preparation to aid further workers in the academic and commercial field. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-276 Antibiofilm Touch Point Plastics. (Vannessa Goodship) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop an advanced antibiofilm rigid environmentally friendly plastic technology incorporating 5D's patented organo-metallic mixed metal complex (MMC). The project will consist of four main objectives: Develop the means to distribute the micro-powdered MMC into typical thermoplastic polymers (starting with polypropylene). The aim is to investigate and identify the optimum mixing methods for polymer/additive. Produce test plaques generated by typical mass production techniques (i.e. injection moulding, compression moulding). The aim is to generate test samples that are representative of the manufacturing processes of commercial mass production techniques. Characterise the dispersion and disposition of the antibiofilm additive in the polymer. The aim is to understand the stability, distribution and polymer/ additive interfaces and any links back to processing routes. Characterise the antimicrobial and antibiofilm, particularly dry biofilm efficacy of the test parts against a number of commercially available antimicrobial additives. The aim is to benchmark effectiveness against commercial products and modify process/processing accordingly. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in initial prototype antibiofilm plastics that exhibit at least a 4log reduction in planktonic and biofilm bacterial counts in hydrated models. Reductions in a dry biofilm model would further cement the success. This will showcase the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, 'game changing' antibiofilm environmentally friendly plastic technology. The filled plastics would be processable by typical mass production techniques enabling a huge range of end products to be produced. A potential plastic distributor Resinex, has been identified with interest in commercial applications of the technology. Success will be measured by both technology achievements, and with NBIC support, accelerated commercialisation towards our end user vision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Warwick: Investigations of material science and scale up processing of anti biofilm and additive. Potential application areas (non-medical). 5D Health Protection Group Ltd: Biological testing and guidance. Potential application areas (medical). |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: This proposal explored the development of plastics on which microorganisms will not grow, either in planktonic or biofilm state. These antimicrobial plastics were fabricated by mixing a known antimicrobial additive into a commercial plastic material (polypropylene). The resultant plastics, processable by typical mass production techniques, would enable a huge range of end products across plastics surfaces and touch points in a variety of applications. By utilising a range of pre-mixing, compounding and manufacturing techniques a variety of material formulations were generated and characterised by the team at WMG, University of Warwick. These materials were then tested for antibacterial activity. The biological testing and assessments were undertaken by our collaborators 5D Health Protection Ltd (5D). This produced some interesting results, as we were able to separate a range of processing effects such as mixing types, heat, and shear as well as produce samples by common techniques used commercially. It was also noted that there was a lack of comparable background data widely available linking to plastic formulation due to limited data on testing materials and methods that have been reported in open literature. A wide range of efficacy was found dependant on the material formulation. It was also found that some additional additives impacted negatively on the performance of the antimicrobial additive, reducing its efficacy, while other formulations achieved total kill of the bacteria tested. There were therefore complex material interactions of the material mixtures taking place. Pre-mixing of the additive in certain conditions enabled very fine dispersion to be achieved throughput the sample, while other mixing techniques produced localised or a stratified graduation of dispersion. Once formulated all samples could be easily manufactured by common methods such as extrusion, compression moulding and injection moulding. Total kill of bacteria was achieved at levels of 1% additive or above in polypropylene formulations, indicating that it is not worthwhile to increase the additive content above this level. Further academic questions were also uncovered about the mechanisms of material interactions, and there needs to be more consistent benchmarking across the field for this to take place. Dissemination activity is underway, and a journal paper is being prepared to support further exploitation opportunity in funding application sectors such as electrification as well as healthcare. 1% and 1.5% additive-containing samples gave a greater than 5.6 log reduction in the bacterial count. Exceeding the project targets. Further funding is being sought to extend and exploit both commercial and fundamental questions resulting from the NBIC support. The partnership of academic and industrial interdisciplinary skills worked well to achieve our project aims. Samples were formulated using standard commercially available techniques and then characterised to understand properties such as surface finish and dispersion distribution. These samples were passed to 5D Health Protection Limited for biological assessment. A 1% addition of antimicrobial additive produced total kill in a commercial polypropylene material. A reduction of 5.6 log was achieved which was in excessive of the original 4 log target reduction. Systematic material characterisation of surface microscopy, additive dispersion, and surface roughness was carried out and will be available for other researchers in the field. Negative polypropylene additive interactions were found during the course of this work, suggesting further study of the effect of individual additives in commercial formulations should be further investigated. Future work: There needs to be a range of activity to develop the multiple questions that have developed as a result of this work. First there needs to be PhD level work to further uncover the material interactions that hinder or help the resultant antimicrobial effects in commercial plastic materials. Studentship applications have been submitted. Secondly there needs to be commercially focused development on the formulations that work and achieve a range of kills. Specifically, longer-term efficiency is not known at this point and would need to be part of a larger study looking at service lifetimes and cleaning. Further funding is being sought to increase the industrial impact of this work. A paper and associated data and supplementary data is in preparation to aid further workers in the academic and commercial field. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-290 Development of an in vitro human skin biofilm model for testing active ingredients for hand hygiene. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | Aqualution Systems Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is a current need for realistic, simple, affordable and high-throughput efficacy assays for hand disinfectant products. Existing standard assays do not provide a good model for real-world applications since they are based on suspension tests. On the other hand, in vivo clinical tests, while realistic, are prohibitively expensive. We propose to solve this problem by developing a human skin biofilm model that can be used for high-throughput testing of skin disinfection formulations. Our model will bridge the gap between existing suspension and in vivo clinical tests. Our industrial partner, Aqualution, is the global leader in the production and application of the biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Among other product areas, Aqualution are interested in skin disinfection, and seek a high-throughput method for testing formulation efficacy. Our other industrial partner, Bear Valley Ventures, seeks to develop hand-disinfection alternatives for use in third world countries, where diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world, which could be ameliorated by hand disinfection after defecation. The CEO, Walter Gibson, has proposed (https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.279) the concept of a disinfectant product that can be added to water that is used for post-defecation rinsing. Aqualution's HOCl could be highly suitable for use in Gibson's proposed product. Working in partnership with Aqualution and Bear Valley Ventures, we will develop an affordable, simple and high-throughput human skin biofilm model that can be used to test skin disinfection formulations. We will measure biofilm growth on human stratum corneum, and we will assay disinfection efficacy, testing Aqualution's product, HOCl, against commonly used disinfectants. This will provide a pathway to future skin product applications. Success will be defined by: Development of the biofilm skin model. Validation of the model with HOCl comparing it with soap and alcohol-based products. Applications for larger grants with our partners based on our results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is £13000 cash contribution from Aqualution, £46447 funding provided from NBIC award, £11612 from University of Edinburgh, plus £18866 of in-kind contribution from industry partners (£10566 from Aqualution and £8300 from Bear Valley Ventures). |
| Impact | In this proof of concept project we partnered with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution to develop a human skin-biofilm model that can be used for high throughput testing of different hand sanitising agents (biocides). This project required the use of human skin stratum corneum (SC) cell samples collected by a tape stripping method (D-squame) from 10 volunteers at the University of Edinburgh. We were successful in comparing skin cell samples from different volunteers and from different harvesting sites on the body. We showed that there is no difference in cell diameter (measuring approximately 30 µm) between volunteers when harvesting from the hand or the wrist, however to maximise coverage of the adhesive patch one should apply the patch twice to the same area. This increased the average coverage by skin cells from 47% to 72% for samples harvested from the volunteer's hands. We have been successful in developing two models during this project: a human skin model to test the efficacy of biocides removing transient bacteria and a human skin biofilm-based model to test the biocidal efficacy on biofilms. The first model includes inoculation of the SC cells with E. coli bacteria, a washing step of the inoculated sample in a biocide, and plate counts (CFUs) before and after this washing step, allowing the calculation of the log reduction factor of the biocide. This model is an alternative to the current EN1500, the European Standard test method that evaluates the efficacy of a hand disinfectant in removing transient bacteria, and shows promise in producing results that are comparable to that of EN1500. We assayed the disinfection efficacy of Aqualution's hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product samples (four samples, which were blinded, and of varying concentrations labelled A-D), against commonly used products, such as soap and isopropanol. This assay showed that soap has the lowest average reduction factor (0.86±0.18) whilst sample A of HOCl has the highest (2.61±0.33). The second model we developed is a biofilm growth model. This involves directly growing biofilm of Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP)-labelled E. coli for 72 hours on SC skin samples in a 6 well-plate, exposing half of the biofilms to a biocide and leaving the other half unexposed. The YFP fluorescence signal from each biofilm as a function of time was measured using a plate reader. We were able to show that the biocide exposed biofilms show a decrease in fluorescence signal concomitant with bacterial cell death. This second model could lead to a standardised protocol that is high throughput and can be scaled to produce a large volume of data from a single experimental run. This project achieved all the goals which were set out in the proof of concept research proposal. We have begun discussions with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution about possible follow-up collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-290 Development of an in vitro human skin biofilm model for testing active ingredients for hand hygiene. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | Bear Valley Ventures Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is a current need for realistic, simple, affordable and high-throughput efficacy assays for hand disinfectant products. Existing standard assays do not provide a good model for real-world applications since they are based on suspension tests. On the other hand, in vivo clinical tests, while realistic, are prohibitively expensive. We propose to solve this problem by developing a human skin biofilm model that can be used for high-throughput testing of skin disinfection formulations. Our model will bridge the gap between existing suspension and in vivo clinical tests. Our industrial partner, Aqualution, is the global leader in the production and application of the biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Among other product areas, Aqualution are interested in skin disinfection, and seek a high-throughput method for testing formulation efficacy. Our other industrial partner, Bear Valley Ventures, seeks to develop hand-disinfection alternatives for use in third world countries, where diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world, which could be ameliorated by hand disinfection after defecation. The CEO, Walter Gibson, has proposed (https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.279) the concept of a disinfectant product that can be added to water that is used for post-defecation rinsing. Aqualution's HOCl could be highly suitable for use in Gibson's proposed product. Working in partnership with Aqualution and Bear Valley Ventures, we will develop an affordable, simple and high-throughput human skin biofilm model that can be used to test skin disinfection formulations. We will measure biofilm growth on human stratum corneum, and we will assay disinfection efficacy, testing Aqualution's product, HOCl, against commonly used disinfectants. This will provide a pathway to future skin product applications. Success will be defined by: Development of the biofilm skin model. Validation of the model with HOCl comparing it with soap and alcohol-based products. Applications for larger grants with our partners based on our results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is £13000 cash contribution from Aqualution, £46447 funding provided from NBIC award, £11612 from University of Edinburgh, plus £18866 of in-kind contribution from industry partners (£10566 from Aqualution and £8300 from Bear Valley Ventures). |
| Impact | In this proof of concept project we partnered with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution to develop a human skin-biofilm model that can be used for high throughput testing of different hand sanitising agents (biocides). This project required the use of human skin stratum corneum (SC) cell samples collected by a tape stripping method (D-squame) from 10 volunteers at the University of Edinburgh. We were successful in comparing skin cell samples from different volunteers and from different harvesting sites on the body. We showed that there is no difference in cell diameter (measuring approximately 30 µm) between volunteers when harvesting from the hand or the wrist, however to maximise coverage of the adhesive patch one should apply the patch twice to the same area. This increased the average coverage by skin cells from 47% to 72% for samples harvested from the volunteer's hands. We have been successful in developing two models during this project: a human skin model to test the efficacy of biocides removing transient bacteria and a human skin biofilm-based model to test the biocidal efficacy on biofilms. The first model includes inoculation of the SC cells with E. coli bacteria, a washing step of the inoculated sample in a biocide, and plate counts (CFUs) before and after this washing step, allowing the calculation of the log reduction factor of the biocide. This model is an alternative to the current EN1500, the European Standard test method that evaluates the efficacy of a hand disinfectant in removing transient bacteria, and shows promise in producing results that are comparable to that of EN1500. We assayed the disinfection efficacy of Aqualution's hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product samples (four samples, which were blinded, and of varying concentrations labelled A-D), against commonly used products, such as soap and isopropanol. This assay showed that soap has the lowest average reduction factor (0.86±0.18) whilst sample A of HOCl has the highest (2.61±0.33). The second model we developed is a biofilm growth model. This involves directly growing biofilm of Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP)-labelled E. coli for 72 hours on SC skin samples in a 6 well-plate, exposing half of the biofilms to a biocide and leaving the other half unexposed. The YFP fluorescence signal from each biofilm as a function of time was measured using a plate reader. We were able to show that the biocide exposed biofilms show a decrease in fluorescence signal concomitant with bacterial cell death. This second model could lead to a standardised protocol that is high throughput and can be scaled to produce a large volume of data from a single experimental run. This project achieved all the goals which were set out in the proof of concept research proposal. We have begun discussions with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution about possible follow-up collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-290 Development of an in vitro human skin biofilm model for testing active ingredients for hand hygiene. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is a current need for realistic, simple, affordable and high-throughput efficacy assays for hand disinfectant products. Existing standard assays do not provide a good model for real-world applications since they are based on suspension tests. On the other hand, in vivo clinical tests, while realistic, are prohibitively expensive. We propose to solve this problem by developing a human skin biofilm model that can be used for high-throughput testing of skin disinfection formulations. Our model will bridge the gap between existing suspension and in vivo clinical tests. Our industrial partner, Aqualution, is the global leader in the production and application of the biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Among other product areas, Aqualution are interested in skin disinfection, and seek a high-throughput method for testing formulation efficacy. Our other industrial partner, Bear Valley Ventures, seeks to develop hand-disinfection alternatives for use in third world countries, where diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world, which could be ameliorated by hand disinfection after defecation. The CEO, Walter Gibson, has proposed (https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.279) the concept of a disinfectant product that can be added to water that is used for post-defecation rinsing. Aqualution's HOCl could be highly suitable for use in Gibson's proposed product. Working in partnership with Aqualution and Bear Valley Ventures, we will develop an affordable, simple and high-throughput human skin biofilm model that can be used to test skin disinfection formulations. We will measure biofilm growth on human stratum corneum, and we will assay disinfection efficacy, testing Aqualution's product, HOCl, against commonly used disinfectants. This will provide a pathway to future skin product applications. Success will be defined by: Development of the biofilm skin model. Validation of the model with HOCl comparing it with soap and alcohol-based products. Applications for larger grants with our partners based on our results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is £13000 cash contribution from Aqualution, £46447 funding provided from NBIC award, £11612 from University of Edinburgh, plus £18866 of in-kind contribution from industry partners (£10566 from Aqualution and £8300 from Bear Valley Ventures). |
| Impact | In this proof of concept project we partnered with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution to develop a human skin-biofilm model that can be used for high throughput testing of different hand sanitising agents (biocides). This project required the use of human skin stratum corneum (SC) cell samples collected by a tape stripping method (D-squame) from 10 volunteers at the University of Edinburgh. We were successful in comparing skin cell samples from different volunteers and from different harvesting sites on the body. We showed that there is no difference in cell diameter (measuring approximately 30 µm) between volunteers when harvesting from the hand or the wrist, however to maximise coverage of the adhesive patch one should apply the patch twice to the same area. This increased the average coverage by skin cells from 47% to 72% for samples harvested from the volunteer's hands. We have been successful in developing two models during this project: a human skin model to test the efficacy of biocides removing transient bacteria and a human skin biofilm-based model to test the biocidal efficacy on biofilms. The first model includes inoculation of the SC cells with E. coli bacteria, a washing step of the inoculated sample in a biocide, and plate counts (CFUs) before and after this washing step, allowing the calculation of the log reduction factor of the biocide. This model is an alternative to the current EN1500, the European Standard test method that evaluates the efficacy of a hand disinfectant in removing transient bacteria, and shows promise in producing results that are comparable to that of EN1500. We assayed the disinfection efficacy of Aqualution's hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product samples (four samples, which were blinded, and of varying concentrations labelled A-D), against commonly used products, such as soap and isopropanol. This assay showed that soap has the lowest average reduction factor (0.86±0.18) whilst sample A of HOCl has the highest (2.61±0.33). The second model we developed is a biofilm growth model. This involves directly growing biofilm of Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP)-labelled E. coli for 72 hours on SC skin samples in a 6 well-plate, exposing half of the biofilms to a biocide and leaving the other half unexposed. The YFP fluorescence signal from each biofilm as a function of time was measured using a plate reader. We were able to show that the biocide exposed biofilms show a decrease in fluorescence signal concomitant with bacterial cell death. This second model could lead to a standardised protocol that is high throughput and can be scaled to produce a large volume of data from a single experimental run. This project achieved all the goals which were set out in the proof of concept research proposal. We have begun discussions with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution about possible follow-up collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-290 Development of an in vitro human skin biofilm model for testing active ingredients for hand hygiene. (Susana Direito) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | There is a current need for realistic, simple, affordable and high-throughput efficacy assays for hand disinfectant products. Existing standard assays do not provide a good model for real-world applications since they are based on suspension tests. On the other hand, in vivo clinical tests, while realistic, are prohibitively expensive. We propose to solve this problem by developing a human skin biofilm model that can be used for high-throughput testing of skin disinfection formulations. Our model will bridge the gap between existing suspension and in vivo clinical tests. Our industrial partner, Aqualution, is the global leader in the production and application of the biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Among other product areas, Aqualution are interested in skin disinfection, and seek a high-throughput method for testing formulation efficacy. Our other industrial partner, Bear Valley Ventures, seeks to develop hand-disinfection alternatives for use in third world countries, where diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world, which could be ameliorated by hand disinfection after defecation. The CEO, Walter Gibson, has proposed (https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2020.279) the concept of a disinfectant product that can be added to water that is used for post-defecation rinsing. Aqualution's HOCl could be highly suitable for use in Gibson's proposed product. Working in partnership with Aqualution and Bear Valley Ventures, we will develop an affordable, simple and high-throughput human skin biofilm model that can be used to test skin disinfection formulations. We will measure biofilm growth on human stratum corneum, and we will assay disinfection efficacy, testing Aqualution's product, HOCl, against commonly used disinfectants. This will provide a pathway to future skin product applications. Success will be defined by: Development of the biofilm skin model. Validation of the model with HOCl comparing it with soap and alcohol-based products. Applications for larger grants with our partners based on our results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is £13000 cash contribution from Aqualution, £46447 funding provided from NBIC award, £11612 from University of Edinburgh, plus £18866 of in-kind contribution from industry partners (£10566 from Aqualution and £8300 from Bear Valley Ventures). |
| Impact | In this proof of concept project we partnered with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution to develop a human skin-biofilm model that can be used for high throughput testing of different hand sanitising agents (biocides). This project required the use of human skin stratum corneum (SC) cell samples collected by a tape stripping method (D-squame) from 10 volunteers at the University of Edinburgh. We were successful in comparing skin cell samples from different volunteers and from different harvesting sites on the body. We showed that there is no difference in cell diameter (measuring approximately 30 µm) between volunteers when harvesting from the hand or the wrist, however to maximise coverage of the adhesive patch one should apply the patch twice to the same area. This increased the average coverage by skin cells from 47% to 72% for samples harvested from the volunteer's hands. We have been successful in developing two models during this project: a human skin model to test the efficacy of biocides removing transient bacteria and a human skin biofilm-based model to test the biocidal efficacy on biofilms. The first model includes inoculation of the SC cells with E. coli bacteria, a washing step of the inoculated sample in a biocide, and plate counts (CFUs) before and after this washing step, allowing the calculation of the log reduction factor of the biocide. This model is an alternative to the current EN1500, the European Standard test method that evaluates the efficacy of a hand disinfectant in removing transient bacteria, and shows promise in producing results that are comparable to that of EN1500. We assayed the disinfection efficacy of Aqualution's hypochlorous acid (HOCl) product samples (four samples, which were blinded, and of varying concentrations labelled A-D), against commonly used products, such as soap and isopropanol. This assay showed that soap has the lowest average reduction factor (0.86±0.18) whilst sample A of HOCl has the highest (2.61±0.33). The second model we developed is a biofilm growth model. This involves directly growing biofilm of Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP)-labelled E. coli for 72 hours on SC skin samples in a 6 well-plate, exposing half of the biofilms to a biocide and leaving the other half unexposed. The YFP fluorescence signal from each biofilm as a function of time was measured using a plate reader. We were able to show that the biocide exposed biofilms show a decrease in fluorescence signal concomitant with bacterial cell death. This second model could lead to a standardised protocol that is high throughput and can be scaled to produce a large volume of data from a single experimental run. This project achieved all the goals which were set out in the proof of concept research proposal. We have begun discussions with Bear Valley Ventures and Aqualution about possible follow-up collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-293 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into topical treatments to control mixed biofilms on keratinaceous infections. (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a topical skin application prototype (ointment / liquid / cream) combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype for topical skin, nail and wound application. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the prototype i.e. ensure bioavailability of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. Evaluate the prototype under both ASTM based biofilm models and in vitro keratin-based hydrogel models to produce a 'proof of concept' formulation. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype formulation that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking topical skin treatment that can be purchased "over the counter" (OTC). The prototype will aim to administer a sufficient level of lactam (QS blocker) over the period required to control keratin associated infections, with a primary focus on mixed fungal communities) and potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay infection-site healing e.g. inflammation. A key feature of this novel anti-biofilm system is the effectiveness against fungi and bacteria, providing a synergistic effect to manage the complex microflora within an infected site. The application of the technology could also extend to the treatment of animals (veterinary; animal husbandry; household pets). The key aim of the project is to develop and test a topical skin/nail treatment that incorporates this novel and unique QS blocking agent. Success will be measured by the ability of these formulated lactams to successfully manage mixed fungal biofilms in a keratin-based models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: We have effectively demonstrated the antifungal activity of both lactams 488 and 491 against a wide range of C. albicans, C. auris, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and filamentous fungi with pMIC ranging from 3.75 µg/mL to 15 µg/mL. It was evident from the MIC values that lactam 488 was more effective than 491 where the latter required double the concentration of the lactam 488 to inhibit the visual growth of fungi. We have also developed a keratin incorporated hydrogel substrate to simulate the skin and used it effectively to test the effectiveness of lactam 488 against mono- and multispecies biofilms. We also demonstrated that 488 is equally effective on keratin hydrogel as on plastic substrates and its antimicrobial action was not impacted by substrate change. Both lactams showed fungicidal effect on planktonic and biofilm forms. However, as anticipated, biofilms were more resistance to treatment compared with its planktonic counterpart and a concentration of 240 µg/mL of the lactam 488 was required to induce >95% inhibition of viability. Lactams also demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in both mono- and multispecies biofilms but not against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a potential replacement or additive active compound to the current available skin antifungals, lactam 488 showed synergy with Itraconazole. It also showed a comparable antifungal activity to that of the "Lamisil", over the counter antifungal spray for the management of tinea pedis and tinea cruris. Lactams have a fungicidal effect against a wide range of fungi and shown to be effective on skin simulated substrate. Lactams treated C. albicans biofilms showed no regrowth potential after treatment and lactam 488 were as effective as the commercial antifungal "Lamisil" against early and mature C. albicans biofilms. With further assessment of their effectiveness against multispecies biofilm models, lactams can be potentially used as a new or as adjunctive active agent for the management of skin and nail infections. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Unilever aiming to file IP in the use of lactams for keratin infections and for the potentiation of commonly used anti-fungal actives. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? The results of the current study will be compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal by the end of this year. Continued discussion between both teams to define potential further collaboration is the assessment of lactams for healthcare application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-293 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into topical treatments to control mixed biofilms on keratinaceous infections. (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a topical skin application prototype (ointment / liquid / cream) combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype for topical skin, nail and wound application. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the prototype i.e. ensure bioavailability of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. Evaluate the prototype under both ASTM based biofilm models and in vitro keratin-based hydrogel models to produce a 'proof of concept' formulation. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype formulation that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking topical skin treatment that can be purchased "over the counter" (OTC). The prototype will aim to administer a sufficient level of lactam (QS blocker) over the period required to control keratin associated infections, with a primary focus on mixed fungal communities) and potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay infection-site healing e.g. inflammation. A key feature of this novel anti-biofilm system is the effectiveness against fungi and bacteria, providing a synergistic effect to manage the complex microflora within an infected site. The application of the technology could also extend to the treatment of animals (veterinary; animal husbandry; household pets). The key aim of the project is to develop and test a topical skin/nail treatment that incorporates this novel and unique QS blocking agent. Success will be measured by the ability of these formulated lactams to successfully manage mixed fungal biofilms in a keratin-based models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: We have effectively demonstrated the antifungal activity of both lactams 488 and 491 against a wide range of C. albicans, C. auris, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and filamentous fungi with pMIC ranging from 3.75 µg/mL to 15 µg/mL. It was evident from the MIC values that lactam 488 was more effective than 491 where the latter required double the concentration of the lactam 488 to inhibit the visual growth of fungi. We have also developed a keratin incorporated hydrogel substrate to simulate the skin and used it effectively to test the effectiveness of lactam 488 against mono- and multispecies biofilms. We also demonstrated that 488 is equally effective on keratin hydrogel as on plastic substrates and its antimicrobial action was not impacted by substrate change. Both lactams showed fungicidal effect on planktonic and biofilm forms. However, as anticipated, biofilms were more resistance to treatment compared with its planktonic counterpart and a concentration of 240 µg/mL of the lactam 488 was required to induce >95% inhibition of viability. Lactams also demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in both mono- and multispecies biofilms but not against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a potential replacement or additive active compound to the current available skin antifungals, lactam 488 showed synergy with Itraconazole. It also showed a comparable antifungal activity to that of the "Lamisil", over the counter antifungal spray for the management of tinea pedis and tinea cruris. Lactams have a fungicidal effect against a wide range of fungi and shown to be effective on skin simulated substrate. Lactams treated C. albicans biofilms showed no regrowth potential after treatment and lactam 488 were as effective as the commercial antifungal "Lamisil" against early and mature C. albicans biofilms. With further assessment of their effectiveness against multispecies biofilm models, lactams can be potentially used as a new or as adjunctive active agent for the management of skin and nail infections. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Unilever aiming to file IP in the use of lactams for keratin infections and for the potentiation of commonly used anti-fungal actives. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? The results of the current study will be compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal by the end of this year. Continued discussion between both teams to define potential further collaboration is the assessment of lactams for healthcare application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-293 To incorporate a quorum sensing blocker (lactams) into topical treatments to control mixed biofilms on keratinaceous infections. (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall concept of this project is to develop a topical skin application prototype (ointment / liquid / cream) combined with a 'game changing' quorum sensing (QS) blocking agent. The project will have three interlinked objectives: Develop a low-cost and safe antibiofilm/QS blocking 'proof of concept' prototype for topical skin, nail and wound application. To optimise the performance of the antibiofilm technology based on lactam chemistry of the prototype i.e. ensure bioavailability of the active agent is both sustained and maintained. Evaluate the prototype under both ASTM based biofilm models and in vitro keratin-based hydrogel models to produce a 'proof of concept' formulation. Successful completion of the primary objectives will result in an initial prototype formulation that showcases the readiness and suitability of the technology for potential future commercial development. It is envisaged that with follow on funding the technology will be commercialised, as a low-cost 'game changing' antibiofilm and QS blocking topical skin treatment that can be purchased "over the counter" (OTC). The prototype will aim to administer a sufficient level of lactam (QS blocker) over the period required to control keratin associated infections, with a primary focus on mixed fungal communities) and potentially also down-regulate other variables known to delay infection-site healing e.g. inflammation. A key feature of this novel anti-biofilm system is the effectiveness against fungi and bacteria, providing a synergistic effect to manage the complex microflora within an infected site. The application of the technology could also extend to the treatment of animals (veterinary; animal husbandry; household pets). The key aim of the project is to develop and test a topical skin/nail treatment that incorporates this novel and unique QS blocking agent. Success will be measured by the ability of these formulated lactams to successfully manage mixed fungal biofilms in a keratin-based models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: We have effectively demonstrated the antifungal activity of both lactams 488 and 491 against a wide range of C. albicans, C. auris, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and filamentous fungi with pMIC ranging from 3.75 µg/mL to 15 µg/mL. It was evident from the MIC values that lactam 488 was more effective than 491 where the latter required double the concentration of the lactam 488 to inhibit the visual growth of fungi. We have also developed a keratin incorporated hydrogel substrate to simulate the skin and used it effectively to test the effectiveness of lactam 488 against mono- and multispecies biofilms. We also demonstrated that 488 is equally effective on keratin hydrogel as on plastic substrates and its antimicrobial action was not impacted by substrate change. Both lactams showed fungicidal effect on planktonic and biofilm forms. However, as anticipated, biofilms were more resistance to treatment compared with its planktonic counterpart and a concentration of 240 µg/mL of the lactam 488 was required to induce >95% inhibition of viability. Lactams also demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in both mono- and multispecies biofilms but not against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a potential replacement or additive active compound to the current available skin antifungals, lactam 488 showed synergy with Itraconazole. It also showed a comparable antifungal activity to that of the "Lamisil", over the counter antifungal spray for the management of tinea pedis and tinea cruris. Lactams have a fungicidal effect against a wide range of fungi and shown to be effective on skin simulated substrate. Lactams treated C. albicans biofilms showed no regrowth potential after treatment and lactam 488 were as effective as the commercial antifungal "Lamisil" against early and mature C. albicans biofilms. With further assessment of their effectiveness against multispecies biofilm models, lactams can be potentially used as a new or as adjunctive active agent for the management of skin and nail infections. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Unilever aiming to file IP in the use of lactams for keratin infections and for the potentiation of commonly used anti-fungal actives. WHAT DID HAPPEN NEXT? OR IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? The results of the current study will be compiled into a manuscript for publication. We hope to submit the paper to a high impact biofilm-related journal by the end of this year. Continued discussion between both teams to define potential further collaboration is the assessment of lactams for healthcare application. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-297 Bioinspired protein technology for biofilm prevention on indwelling medical devices. (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to adapt a breakthrough, next generation antimicrobial protein technology, for use on indwelling medical devices (tubing), to prevent microbial contamination and biofilm formation. Virustatic has been working with this protein for over a decade and has developed and commercialised an antiviral face covering, using the trademarked compound 'Viruferrin'. This project will translate this successful technology to the medical devices sector via close collaboration between Virustatic entrepreneurs and the University of Liverpool's (UoL) world-leading expertise in surface functionalisation and innovative antimicrobial solutions. There is a strong need for effective, alternative approaches to prevent pathogenic biofilm formation on surfaces. Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring protein, shown to exert anti-biofilm effects [Curvelo et al. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2019; Fais et al. Front Microbiol. 2017], through a range of unique properties, such as high cationic charge, sequestration of free iron ions, affecting microbial adhesion, disrupting membranes and interference with biofilm signalling. This multiplicity of actions means that its tendency to create antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is low, but its effectiveness against chronic and complex biofilms is high. The innovation challenge is fabricating innovative materials that can incorporate and deploy this multifunctional entity. This project will have three specific, interlinked objectives: Design of strategies for lactoferrin-functionalised surfaces and materials; Evaluation of the functionalisation strategies by surface analysis, bioassays and stability studies; Demonstration of the technology effectiveness on, mimicking real-life scenarios, model systems. The third objective will provide a clear demonstration of the successful POC delivery. This project will concentrate on endotracheal tubes (ETT) and urinary catheters. Successful delivery will create a platform for applications across wider medical devices market, including prosthesis and implants. Our proposed technology has low regulatory hurdles as lactoferrin is classified safe for human interaction and is part of innate immune system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, such as ventilators or catheters, contributes significantly to the chronicity of infections, posing a substantial healthcare and economic burden. This project investigated novel antimicrobial materials created via the incorporation of natural protein-based technology into polymer systems that could be used for indwelling medical devices. The project successfully demonstrated that the protein-functionalised materials demonstrated antimicrobial activity, providing potential effectiveness against biofilm formation. Further work: IP status is currently being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. The technology, future R&D work and timelines for technology development are being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. On the basis of this, the consortium will evaluate best sources for future funding to progress this technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-297 Bioinspired protein technology for biofilm prevention on indwelling medical devices. (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to adapt a breakthrough, next generation antimicrobial protein technology, for use on indwelling medical devices (tubing), to prevent microbial contamination and biofilm formation. Virustatic has been working with this protein for over a decade and has developed and commercialised an antiviral face covering, using the trademarked compound 'Viruferrin'. This project will translate this successful technology to the medical devices sector via close collaboration between Virustatic entrepreneurs and the University of Liverpool's (UoL) world-leading expertise in surface functionalisation and innovative antimicrobial solutions. There is a strong need for effective, alternative approaches to prevent pathogenic biofilm formation on surfaces. Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring protein, shown to exert anti-biofilm effects [Curvelo et al. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2019; Fais et al. Front Microbiol. 2017], through a range of unique properties, such as high cationic charge, sequestration of free iron ions, affecting microbial adhesion, disrupting membranes and interference with biofilm signalling. This multiplicity of actions means that its tendency to create antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is low, but its effectiveness against chronic and complex biofilms is high. The innovation challenge is fabricating innovative materials that can incorporate and deploy this multifunctional entity. This project will have three specific, interlinked objectives: Design of strategies for lactoferrin-functionalised surfaces and materials; Evaluation of the functionalisation strategies by surface analysis, bioassays and stability studies; Demonstration of the technology effectiveness on, mimicking real-life scenarios, model systems. The third objective will provide a clear demonstration of the successful POC delivery. This project will concentrate on endotracheal tubes (ETT) and urinary catheters. Successful delivery will create a platform for applications across wider medical devices market, including prosthesis and implants. Our proposed technology has low regulatory hurdles as lactoferrin is classified safe for human interaction and is part of innate immune system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, such as ventilators or catheters, contributes significantly to the chronicity of infections, posing a substantial healthcare and economic burden. This project investigated novel antimicrobial materials created via the incorporation of natural protein-based technology into polymer systems that could be used for indwelling medical devices. The project successfully demonstrated that the protein-functionalised materials demonstrated antimicrobial activity, providing potential effectiveness against biofilm formation. Further work: IP status is currently being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. The technology, future R&D work and timelines for technology development are being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. On the basis of this, the consortium will evaluate best sources for future funding to progress this technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-297 Bioinspired protein technology for biofilm prevention on indwelling medical devices. (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Virustatic Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The overall aim of this project is to adapt a breakthrough, next generation antimicrobial protein technology, for use on indwelling medical devices (tubing), to prevent microbial contamination and biofilm formation. Virustatic has been working with this protein for over a decade and has developed and commercialised an antiviral face covering, using the trademarked compound 'Viruferrin'. This project will translate this successful technology to the medical devices sector via close collaboration between Virustatic entrepreneurs and the University of Liverpool's (UoL) world-leading expertise in surface functionalisation and innovative antimicrobial solutions. There is a strong need for effective, alternative approaches to prevent pathogenic biofilm formation on surfaces. Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring protein, shown to exert anti-biofilm effects [Curvelo et al. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2019; Fais et al. Front Microbiol. 2017], through a range of unique properties, such as high cationic charge, sequestration of free iron ions, affecting microbial adhesion, disrupting membranes and interference with biofilm signalling. This multiplicity of actions means that its tendency to create antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is low, but its effectiveness against chronic and complex biofilms is high. The innovation challenge is fabricating innovative materials that can incorporate and deploy this multifunctional entity. This project will have three specific, interlinked objectives: Design of strategies for lactoferrin-functionalised surfaces and materials; Evaluation of the functionalisation strategies by surface analysis, bioassays and stability studies; Demonstration of the technology effectiveness on, mimicking real-life scenarios, model systems. The third objective will provide a clear demonstration of the successful POC delivery. This project will concentrate on endotracheal tubes (ETT) and urinary catheters. Successful delivery will create a platform for applications across wider medical devices market, including prosthesis and implants. Our proposed technology has low regulatory hurdles as lactoferrin is classified safe for human interaction and is part of innate immune system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: Biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, such as ventilators or catheters, contributes significantly to the chronicity of infections, posing a substantial healthcare and economic burden. This project investigated novel antimicrobial materials created via the incorporation of natural protein-based technology into polymer systems that could be used for indwelling medical devices. The project successfully demonstrated that the protein-functionalised materials demonstrated antimicrobial activity, providing potential effectiveness against biofilm formation. Further work: IP status is currently being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. The technology, future R&D work and timelines for technology development are being evaluated by Virustatic and Radical Fibres. On the basis of this, the consortium will evaluate best sources for future funding to progress this technology. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-304 Accelerating Innovation By Designing Water Treatment Biofilm Media in silico. (Thomas Curtis) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our immediate objective is to design and optimise an annamox biofilm for a moving bed bio-reactor (MBBR) using computer models. The model will extend our existing framework to include annamox bacteria and pH dependent solute (for example calcium) precipitation. And, in so doing demonstrate: 1) the validity of simulation as biofilm design tool for water treatment, and 2) our ability to determine and predict emergent properties of engineering importance such as biofilm density. Density is a key parameter in an MBBR. Such reactors comprise an aeration tank with mobile media (to provide a surface where biofilms can grow). Obviously, the media should have neutral buoyancy. Scaling in the biofilm is problematic as the media becomes heavier and carriers in MBBR reactor may sink deteriorating the performance of the process. Scaling is difficult to predict and measures to control scaling must be reconciled with other treatment objectives. We will validate our model using data provided by our collaborators. They will make their extensive and expensive library of data available to us for validation. The data includes the effect of media design (thicknesses ranging between 200 µm and 1000µm) on biofilm characteristics (including 16S RNA, pH, solids, biomass, calcium concentrations) and bulk parameters (such as COD, BOD, nutrients, and alkalinity). Our longer-term objective is to show that multiscale simulations can be used to develop biofilm systems to clean water in a variety of settings. And in so doing accelerate the rate of innovation in the field and bring robust and sustainable biofilm-based technologies to application, and to market, more quickly. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-304 Accelerating Innovation By Designing Water Treatment Biofilm Media in silico. (Thomas Curtis) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Our immediate objective is to design and optimise an annamox biofilm for a moving bed bio-reactor (MBBR) using computer models. The model will extend our existing framework to include annamox bacteria and pH dependent solute (for example calcium) precipitation. And, in so doing demonstrate: 1) the validity of simulation as biofilm design tool for water treatment, and 2) our ability to determine and predict emergent properties of engineering importance such as biofilm density. Density is a key parameter in an MBBR. Such reactors comprise an aeration tank with mobile media (to provide a surface where biofilms can grow). Obviously, the media should have neutral buoyancy. Scaling in the biofilm is problematic as the media becomes heavier and carriers in MBBR reactor may sink deteriorating the performance of the process. Scaling is difficult to predict and measures to control scaling must be reconciled with other treatment objectives. We will validate our model using data provided by our collaborators. They will make their extensive and expensive library of data available to us for validation. The data includes the effect of media design (thicknesses ranging between 200 µm and 1000µm) on biofilm characteristics (including 16S RNA, pH, solids, biomass, calcium concentrations) and bulk parameters (such as COD, BOD, nutrients, and alkalinity). Our longer-term objective is to show that multiscale simulations can be used to develop biofilm systems to clean water in a variety of settings. And in so doing accelerate the rate of innovation in the field and bring robust and sustainable biofilm-based technologies to application, and to market, more quickly. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-304 Accelerating Innovation By Designing Water Treatment Biofilm Media in silico. (Thomas Curtis) |
| Organisation | Northumbrian Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our immediate objective is to design and optimise an annamox biofilm for a moving bed bio-reactor (MBBR) using computer models. The model will extend our existing framework to include annamox bacteria and pH dependent solute (for example calcium) precipitation. And, in so doing demonstrate: 1) the validity of simulation as biofilm design tool for water treatment, and 2) our ability to determine and predict emergent properties of engineering importance such as biofilm density. Density is a key parameter in an MBBR. Such reactors comprise an aeration tank with mobile media (to provide a surface where biofilms can grow). Obviously, the media should have neutral buoyancy. Scaling in the biofilm is problematic as the media becomes heavier and carriers in MBBR reactor may sink deteriorating the performance of the process. Scaling is difficult to predict and measures to control scaling must be reconciled with other treatment objectives. We will validate our model using data provided by our collaborators. They will make their extensive and expensive library of data available to us for validation. The data includes the effect of media design (thicknesses ranging between 200 µm and 1000µm) on biofilm characteristics (including 16S RNA, pH, solids, biomass, calcium concentrations) and bulk parameters (such as COD, BOD, nutrients, and alkalinity). Our longer-term objective is to show that multiscale simulations can be used to develop biofilm systems to clean water in a variety of settings. And in so doing accelerate the rate of innovation in the field and bring robust and sustainable biofilm-based technologies to application, and to market, more quickly. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-304 Accelerating Innovation By Designing Water Treatment Biofilm Media in silico. (Thomas Curtis) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | Hartree Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our immediate objective is to design and optimise an annamox biofilm for a moving bed bio-reactor (MBBR) using computer models. The model will extend our existing framework to include annamox bacteria and pH dependent solute (for example calcium) precipitation. And, in so doing demonstrate: 1) the validity of simulation as biofilm design tool for water treatment, and 2) our ability to determine and predict emergent properties of engineering importance such as biofilm density. Density is a key parameter in an MBBR. Such reactors comprise an aeration tank with mobile media (to provide a surface where biofilms can grow). Obviously, the media should have neutral buoyancy. Scaling in the biofilm is problematic as the media becomes heavier and carriers in MBBR reactor may sink deteriorating the performance of the process. Scaling is difficult to predict and measures to control scaling must be reconciled with other treatment objectives. We will validate our model using data provided by our collaborators. They will make their extensive and expensive library of data available to us for validation. The data includes the effect of media design (thicknesses ranging between 200 µm and 1000µm) on biofilm characteristics (including 16S RNA, pH, solids, biomass, calcium concentrations) and bulk parameters (such as COD, BOD, nutrients, and alkalinity). Our longer-term objective is to show that multiscale simulations can be used to develop biofilm systems to clean water in a variety of settings. And in so doing accelerate the rate of innovation in the field and bring robust and sustainable biofilm-based technologies to application, and to market, more quickly. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-304 Accelerating Innovation By Designing Water Treatment Biofilm Media in silico. (Thomas Curtis) |
| Organisation | Veolia Environmental Services |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our immediate objective is to design and optimise an annamox biofilm for a moving bed bio-reactor (MBBR) using computer models. The model will extend our existing framework to include annamox bacteria and pH dependent solute (for example calcium) precipitation. And, in so doing demonstrate: 1) the validity of simulation as biofilm design tool for water treatment, and 2) our ability to determine and predict emergent properties of engineering importance such as biofilm density. Density is a key parameter in an MBBR. Such reactors comprise an aeration tank with mobile media (to provide a surface where biofilms can grow). Obviously, the media should have neutral buoyancy. Scaling in the biofilm is problematic as the media becomes heavier and carriers in MBBR reactor may sink deteriorating the performance of the process. Scaling is difficult to predict and measures to control scaling must be reconciled with other treatment objectives. We will validate our model using data provided by our collaborators. They will make their extensive and expensive library of data available to us for validation. The data includes the effect of media design (thicknesses ranging between 200 µm and 1000µm) on biofilm characteristics (including 16S RNA, pH, solids, biomass, calcium concentrations) and bulk parameters (such as COD, BOD, nutrients, and alkalinity). Our longer-term objective is to show that multiscale simulations can be used to develop biofilm systems to clean water in a variety of settings. And in so doing accelerate the rate of innovation in the field and bring robust and sustainable biofilm-based technologies to application, and to market, more quickly. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-309 Development of novel biomimetic surfaces to prevent biofilm formation on catheters. (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | One of the major issues for biomedical devices is bacteria-induced infections arising from bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on their surfaces. Currently, antimicrobial strategies for medical devices are dominated by coatings that release chemical agents such as antibiotics and silver ions to kill the bacteria. However, these chemical bactericidal strategies can contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thus, there is a pressing need to develop antibiofilm surfaces without using antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. At present, the physics of bacteria-materials surface interactions remains poorly understood, which significantly hinders the innovative design for the next generation of anti-biofilm surfaces in biomedical devices. Therefore, in this project, we shall develop biomimetic surfaces to prevent long-term biofilm formation while retaining biocompatibility. The physical properties of many surfaces in nature (e.g. surface wettability, topography, friction and elasticity) conveys inherent antifouling qualities. We have an established track record in the design of biomimetic antifouling surfaces and biofilm characterisation (funded by EPSRC and The Royal Society). We shall also apply the knowledge obtained to relevant industrial settings. Our specific objectives are: Design and characterize surface properties of slippery surfaces for silicone catheter materials. Determine the effect of slippery surfaces under flow conditions on bacterial attachment and colonisation. Optimise antibiofilm performance and sustainability under catheter-like flow. The key outcome is to provide pilot data and collaborative outputs that will underpin a large EPSRC bid to develop antibiofilm surfaces for medical implants. We also anticipate a high-impact journal paper resulted from this new collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-309 Development of novel biomimetic surfaces to prevent biofilm formation on catheters. (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | One of the major issues for biomedical devices is bacteria-induced infections arising from bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on their surfaces. Currently, antimicrobial strategies for medical devices are dominated by coatings that release chemical agents such as antibiotics and silver ions to kill the bacteria. However, these chemical bactericidal strategies can contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thus, there is a pressing need to develop antibiofilm surfaces without using antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. At present, the physics of bacteria-materials surface interactions remains poorly understood, which significantly hinders the innovative design for the next generation of anti-biofilm surfaces in biomedical devices. Therefore, in this project, we shall develop biomimetic surfaces to prevent long-term biofilm formation while retaining biocompatibility. The physical properties of many surfaces in nature (e.g. surface wettability, topography, friction and elasticity) conveys inherent antifouling qualities. We have an established track record in the design of biomimetic antifouling surfaces and biofilm characterisation (funded by EPSRC and The Royal Society). We shall also apply the knowledge obtained to relevant industrial settings. Our specific objectives are: Design and characterize surface properties of slippery surfaces for silicone catheter materials. Determine the effect of slippery surfaces under flow conditions on bacterial attachment and colonisation. Optimise antibiofilm performance and sustainability under catheter-like flow. The key outcome is to provide pilot data and collaborative outputs that will underpin a large EPSRC bid to develop antibiofilm surfaces for medical implants. We also anticipate a high-impact journal paper resulted from this new collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-309 Development of novel biomimetic surfaces to prevent biofilm formation on catheters. (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | Teleflex Medical |
| Department | Teleflex Medical Europe Ltd |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | One of the major issues for biomedical devices is bacteria-induced infections arising from bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on their surfaces. Currently, antimicrobial strategies for medical devices are dominated by coatings that release chemical agents such as antibiotics and silver ions to kill the bacteria. However, these chemical bactericidal strategies can contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thus, there is a pressing need to develop antibiofilm surfaces without using antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. At present, the physics of bacteria-materials surface interactions remains poorly understood, which significantly hinders the innovative design for the next generation of anti-biofilm surfaces in biomedical devices. Therefore, in this project, we shall develop biomimetic surfaces to prevent long-term biofilm formation while retaining biocompatibility. The physical properties of many surfaces in nature (e.g. surface wettability, topography, friction and elasticity) conveys inherent antifouling qualities. We have an established track record in the design of biomimetic antifouling surfaces and biofilm characterisation (funded by EPSRC and The Royal Society). We shall also apply the knowledge obtained to relevant industrial settings. Our specific objectives are: Design and characterize surface properties of slippery surfaces for silicone catheter materials. Determine the effect of slippery surfaces under flow conditions on bacterial attachment and colonisation. Optimise antibiofilm performance and sustainability under catheter-like flow. The key outcome is to provide pilot data and collaborative outputs that will underpin a large EPSRC bid to develop antibiofilm surfaces for medical implants. We also anticipate a high-impact journal paper resulted from this new collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-309 Development of novel biomimetic surfaces to prevent biofilm formation on catheters. (Jinju Chen) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | One of the major issues for biomedical devices is bacteria-induced infections arising from bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on their surfaces. Currently, antimicrobial strategies for medical devices are dominated by coatings that release chemical agents such as antibiotics and silver ions to kill the bacteria. However, these chemical bactericidal strategies can contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Thus, there is a pressing need to develop antibiofilm surfaces without using antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. At present, the physics of bacteria-materials surface interactions remains poorly understood, which significantly hinders the innovative design for the next generation of anti-biofilm surfaces in biomedical devices. Therefore, in this project, we shall develop biomimetic surfaces to prevent long-term biofilm formation while retaining biocompatibility. The physical properties of many surfaces in nature (e.g. surface wettability, topography, friction and elasticity) conveys inherent antifouling qualities. We have an established track record in the design of biomimetic antifouling surfaces and biofilm characterisation (funded by EPSRC and The Royal Society). We shall also apply the knowledge obtained to relevant industrial settings. Our specific objectives are: Design and characterize surface properties of slippery surfaces for silicone catheter materials. Determine the effect of slippery surfaces under flow conditions on bacterial attachment and colonisation. Optimise antibiofilm performance and sustainability under catheter-like flow. The key outcome is to provide pilot data and collaborative outputs that will underpin a large EPSRC bid to develop antibiofilm surfaces for medical implants. We also anticipate a high-impact journal paper resulted from this new collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-312 Development of an electrospun antimicrobial coated tampon for management of bacterial vaginosis. (Farshid Sefat) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The female vaginal tract has its own innate defence system that involves the natural microbiota, the vaginal epithelium and proteins including lactoferrin that help manage a healthy microbiome. In this project we are concerned with what happens when things go wrong with this balance. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection with 1 in 3 pre-menopausal women in the UK suffering from BV at some point in their life. Intravaginal treatment can be impeded during menstruation and BV can often recur within a few weeks if not treated effectively. The need we have identified is to offer women a tampon to use during menstruation into which we have engineered the natural biofilm defense protein, lactoferrin. BV is characterized by a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm (Gardnerella Vaginalis (GV)), which is strongly adhered to the vaginal epithelium, therefore, assessment of biofilm management is a key element of this research work. Virustatic, already has expertise of effective delivery of lactoferrin (ViruferrinTM) to fabrics and wish to move into women's health. Aim: To fabricate an electrospun tampon coating encapsulated with Viruferrin that can manage the biofilm on the epithelial layer of vagina. Project objectives: 1) Determine the concentration of polymer/solvent for production of polymer solution for electrospinning. 2) Evaluate the concentration of Viruferrin to be added to polymer solution. 3) Fabricate a bi-layered electrospun tampon coating with various concentrations of polymer and Viruferrin. 4) Assess Viruferrin release over a time course. 5) Assess the impact of the new material on a biofilm model epithelium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr F Sefat and biomedical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise polymer concentration, fabrication and characterisation of electrospun bi-layer tampon. Prof A Paradkar and pharmaceutical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise Viruferrin concentration/release to assess release profiles over time. Prof J Thornton and Dr S Sikkink are contributing their time and expertise Viruferrin cytotoxicity and biofilm testing. Virustatic have committed £14,900 (in kind) to cover Virustatic staff time working on this project, specifically project management and coordination (Suzanna), technical input (Paul and Anna) and the commercialisation and business planning. Virustatic will also supply the Viruferrin to Bradford (£1,600 - in kind). |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-312 Development of an electrospun antimicrobial coated tampon for management of bacterial vaginosis. (Farshid Sefat) |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The female vaginal tract has its own innate defence system that involves the natural microbiota, the vaginal epithelium and proteins including lactoferrin that help manage a healthy microbiome. In this project we are concerned with what happens when things go wrong with this balance. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection with 1 in 3 pre-menopausal women in the UK suffering from BV at some point in their life. Intravaginal treatment can be impeded during menstruation and BV can often recur within a few weeks if not treated effectively. The need we have identified is to offer women a tampon to use during menstruation into which we have engineered the natural biofilm defense protein, lactoferrin. BV is characterized by a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm (Gardnerella Vaginalis (GV)), which is strongly adhered to the vaginal epithelium, therefore, assessment of biofilm management is a key element of this research work. Virustatic, already has expertise of effective delivery of lactoferrin (ViruferrinTM) to fabrics and wish to move into women's health. Aim: To fabricate an electrospun tampon coating encapsulated with Viruferrin that can manage the biofilm on the epithelial layer of vagina. Project objectives: 1) Determine the concentration of polymer/solvent for production of polymer solution for electrospinning. 2) Evaluate the concentration of Viruferrin to be added to polymer solution. 3) Fabricate a bi-layered electrospun tampon coating with various concentrations of polymer and Viruferrin. 4) Assess Viruferrin release over a time course. 5) Assess the impact of the new material on a biofilm model epithelium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr F Sefat and biomedical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise polymer concentration, fabrication and characterisation of electrospun bi-layer tampon. Prof A Paradkar and pharmaceutical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise Viruferrin concentration/release to assess release profiles over time. Prof J Thornton and Dr S Sikkink are contributing their time and expertise Viruferrin cytotoxicity and biofilm testing. Virustatic have committed £14,900 (in kind) to cover Virustatic staff time working on this project, specifically project management and coordination (Suzanna), technical input (Paul and Anna) and the commercialisation and business planning. Virustatic will also supply the Viruferrin to Bradford (£1,600 - in kind). |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-312 Development of an electrospun antimicrobial coated tampon for management of bacterial vaginosis. (Farshid Sefat) |
| Organisation | Virustatic Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The female vaginal tract has its own innate defence system that involves the natural microbiota, the vaginal epithelium and proteins including lactoferrin that help manage a healthy microbiome. In this project we are concerned with what happens when things go wrong with this balance. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection with 1 in 3 pre-menopausal women in the UK suffering from BV at some point in their life. Intravaginal treatment can be impeded during menstruation and BV can often recur within a few weeks if not treated effectively. The need we have identified is to offer women a tampon to use during menstruation into which we have engineered the natural biofilm defense protein, lactoferrin. BV is characterized by a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm (Gardnerella Vaginalis (GV)), which is strongly adhered to the vaginal epithelium, therefore, assessment of biofilm management is a key element of this research work. Virustatic, already has expertise of effective delivery of lactoferrin (ViruferrinTM) to fabrics and wish to move into women's health. Aim: To fabricate an electrospun tampon coating encapsulated with Viruferrin that can manage the biofilm on the epithelial layer of vagina. Project objectives: 1) Determine the concentration of polymer/solvent for production of polymer solution for electrospinning. 2) Evaluate the concentration of Viruferrin to be added to polymer solution. 3) Fabricate a bi-layered electrospun tampon coating with various concentrations of polymer and Viruferrin. 4) Assess Viruferrin release over a time course. 5) Assess the impact of the new material on a biofilm model epithelium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr F Sefat and biomedical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise polymer concentration, fabrication and characterisation of electrospun bi-layer tampon. Prof A Paradkar and pharmaceutical engineering team are contributing their time and expertise to optimise Viruferrin concentration/release to assess release profiles over time. Prof J Thornton and Dr S Sikkink are contributing their time and expertise Viruferrin cytotoxicity and biofilm testing. Virustatic have committed £14,900 (in kind) to cover Virustatic staff time working on this project, specifically project management and coordination (Suzanna), technical input (Paul and Anna) and the commercialisation and business planning. Virustatic will also supply the Viruferrin to Bradford (£1,600 - in kind). |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Birmingham City University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Cromerix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC POC 04POC21-324 Rapid Easy-to-use and Affordable Diagnostics for Wound - 2. (Sourav Ghosh) |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The larger goal: To develop an affordable point-of-care wound diagnostic test that can help in early and holistic assessment of wound infection and its prognosis, i.e., whether the wound is on a healing trajectory, by providing quantitative information on bacterial load and protease activity. Previous Proof of Concept: NBIC POC2 READ-Wound (9 months, Sep 19 - Feb 20 & Dec 20 - Feb 21): An aptamer beacon (APCON) based method, which targets a specific bacterial surface epitope and transduces the binding in a single step through 'switching on' fluorescence, was successfully validated for rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a key wound-relevant gram-negative bacterial strain, in both planktonic and biofilm states, and determination of its sensitivity to commercial antimicrobials (refer Supplementary Information). Overall Aim of POC4 READ-Wound-2 (6 months, Aug 21 - Jan 22): To significantly advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the "READ-Wound" test by extending its ability for determination of bacterial load and antimicrobial sensitivity to a wide range of gram-negative wound-relevant strains. This will include the validation of "broad-spectrum" aptamer beacons and biofilm disruptor enzyme panel designed in a parallel PhD research project under the supervision of the PI. The validations will be done using clinical isolates of key gram-negative wound-relevant strains in planktonic and biofilm states (Phase1: Month1-Month4) and clinical wound samples (Phase2: Month5-Month6). The project will be delivered in collaboration with industrial (Smith+Nephew), clinical (Birmingham City University) and academic (Lancaster) partners, who will provide samples and consultation on the functional requirements and performance of the test. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this POC project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-03 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | To cystic fibrosis patients, respiratory infections can be life threatening but are still poorly understood. Here we will develop a model that can explore the interactions between different bacteria that cause these infections and will use novel technology to investigate how these bacteria interact, change, and evolve. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-03 |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To cystic fibrosis patients, respiratory infections can be life threatening but are still poorly understood. Here we will develop a model that can explore the interactions between different bacteria that cause these infections and will use novel technology to investigate how these bacteria interact, change, and evolve. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-03 |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To cystic fibrosis patients, respiratory infections can be life threatening but are still poorly understood. Here we will develop a model that can explore the interactions between different bacteria that cause these infections and will use novel technology to investigate how these bacteria interact, change, and evolve. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-05 |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Most bacteria live in protected colonies of cells called ("biofilms"). Scientists think biofilms partly offer protection through a network of DNA strands present outside the bacterial cells which form a net or matrix, but where/how this DNA comes from is a mystery. We're investigating this with atomic microscopes and genome-readers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-05 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Most bacteria live in protected colonies of cells called ("biofilms"). Scientists think biofilms partly offer protection through a network of DNA strands present outside the bacterial cells which form a net or matrix, but where/how this DNA comes from is a mystery. We're investigating this with atomic microscopes and genome-readers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-05 |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Most bacteria live in protected colonies of cells called ("biofilms"). Scientists think biofilms partly offer protection through a network of DNA strands present outside the bacterial cells which form a net or matrix, but where/how this DNA comes from is a mystery. We're investigating this with atomic microscopes and genome-readers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-05 |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Most bacteria live in protected colonies of cells called ("biofilms"). Scientists think biofilms partly offer protection through a network of DNA strands present outside the bacterial cells which form a net or matrix, but where/how this DNA comes from is a mystery. We're investigating this with atomic microscopes and genome-readers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-08 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | With the conception of molecular rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli, new prospects for therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. One such prospect is the use of ultrafast molecular nanomachines as nanodrills to specifically disrupt microbial biofilms and create surfaces with antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | With the conception of molecular switches and rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli such as light, new prospects for remote-activated in vitro assays for molecular and cell biology and ultimately for in vivo therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. This project aimed to synthesise and test an ultrafast chemical nano motor ("Nanodrill"), previously shown to dismantle bacterial membranes, against microbial biofilms by direct application and light activation. The synthesis of the nanodrill was completed successfully despite several challenges encountered in the literature proposed synthetic route. Consequently, this led to delays in the molecular rotor production and the synthetic methodology was optimised to a new synthesis procedure. Once successful synthesis and production scale-up was achieved, the nanodrill was tested for its membrane disruption effect using biophysical methods as well as in vivo bacterial cultures. Our initial results indicated the ability of the nanodrill to interfere with synthetic lipid bilayers however, no significant effect on cell viability was recorded in vivo against planktonic cultures of different bacterial pathogens. In parallel, a but-3-yn-1-ol handle was synthetically combined with the nanodrill to produce a new version that could be attached to surfaces with the aim to disrupt biofilm formation under light activation demand. The nanodrill synthesised in this project will be subject to further testing in vitro and in vivo to continue evaluating its potential use as a biofilm preventing agent on surfaces. In addition, further optimisation of the rotation characteristics of the nanodrill could also be explored to improve its efficacy in vivo and potentially be used as a disrupting agent against already established biofilms. Another important aspect that we plan to pursue further is the use of nanodrill to enhance the permeability of both bacterial cell membranes and biofilms to antimicrobials and DNA uptake and therefore increase their susceptibility to treatments and allow potential genetic engineering of these microbial communities. If preliminary results support these goals, it will undoubtedly pave the way to apply for other grants to develop the technology further. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-08 |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | With the conception of molecular rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli, new prospects for therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. One such prospect is the use of ultrafast molecular nanomachines as nanodrills to specifically disrupt microbial biofilms and create surfaces with antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | With the conception of molecular switches and rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli such as light, new prospects for remote-activated in vitro assays for molecular and cell biology and ultimately for in vivo therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. This project aimed to synthesise and test an ultrafast chemical nano motor ("Nanodrill"), previously shown to dismantle bacterial membranes, against microbial biofilms by direct application and light activation. The synthesis of the nanodrill was completed successfully despite several challenges encountered in the literature proposed synthetic route. Consequently, this led to delays in the molecular rotor production and the synthetic methodology was optimised to a new synthesis procedure. Once successful synthesis and production scale-up was achieved, the nanodrill was tested for its membrane disruption effect using biophysical methods as well as in vivo bacterial cultures. Our initial results indicated the ability of the nanodrill to interfere with synthetic lipid bilayers however, no significant effect on cell viability was recorded in vivo against planktonic cultures of different bacterial pathogens. In parallel, a but-3-yn-1-ol handle was synthetically combined with the nanodrill to produce a new version that could be attached to surfaces with the aim to disrupt biofilm formation under light activation demand. The nanodrill synthesised in this project will be subject to further testing in vitro and in vivo to continue evaluating its potential use as a biofilm preventing agent on surfaces. In addition, further optimisation of the rotation characteristics of the nanodrill could also be explored to improve its efficacy in vivo and potentially be used as a disrupting agent against already established biofilms. Another important aspect that we plan to pursue further is the use of nanodrill to enhance the permeability of both bacterial cell membranes and biofilms to antimicrobials and DNA uptake and therefore increase their susceptibility to treatments and allow potential genetic engineering of these microbial communities. If preliminary results support these goals, it will undoubtedly pave the way to apply for other grants to develop the technology further. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-08 |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | With the conception of molecular rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli, new prospects for therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. One such prospect is the use of ultrafast molecular nanomachines as nanodrills to specifically disrupt microbial biofilms and create surfaces with antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full collaborative partners in this seed funding project. |
| Impact | With the conception of molecular switches and rotors that can produce mechanical work in response to controlled external stimuli such as light, new prospects for remote-activated in vitro assays for molecular and cell biology and ultimately for in vivo therapeutics and diagnostics can emerge. This project aimed to synthesise and test an ultrafast chemical nano motor ("Nanodrill"), previously shown to dismantle bacterial membranes, against microbial biofilms by direct application and light activation. The synthesis of the nanodrill was completed successfully despite several challenges encountered in the literature proposed synthetic route. Consequently, this led to delays in the molecular rotor production and the synthetic methodology was optimised to a new synthesis procedure. Once successful synthesis and production scale-up was achieved, the nanodrill was tested for its membrane disruption effect using biophysical methods as well as in vivo bacterial cultures. Our initial results indicated the ability of the nanodrill to interfere with synthetic lipid bilayers however, no significant effect on cell viability was recorded in vivo against planktonic cultures of different bacterial pathogens. In parallel, a but-3-yn-1-ol handle was synthetically combined with the nanodrill to produce a new version that could be attached to surfaces with the aim to disrupt biofilm formation under light activation demand. The nanodrill synthesised in this project will be subject to further testing in vitro and in vivo to continue evaluating its potential use as a biofilm preventing agent on surfaces. In addition, further optimisation of the rotation characteristics of the nanodrill could also be explored to improve its efficacy in vivo and potentially be used as a disrupting agent against already established biofilms. Another important aspect that we plan to pursue further is the use of nanodrill to enhance the permeability of both bacterial cell membranes and biofilms to antimicrobials and DNA uptake and therefore increase their susceptibility to treatments and allow potential genetic engineering of these microbial communities. If preliminary results support these goals, it will undoubtedly pave the way to apply for other grants to develop the technology further. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-10 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project aims at tackling antibiotics shortage crisis by finding a new way to prevent a major bug inhuman infections (P. aeruginosa) from producing its protective slime layer. This slime is so important for bacteria survival from antibiotic and disabling it leaves microbe vulnerable for treatments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Fadi Soukarieh and Dr Manuel Romero at the university of Nottingham proposed the grant. They are responsible for the chemical synthesis of the nanomachines as well as the testing in biofilm setting University of Liverpool are responsible for the modification and attachment of these nanomachines to glass surfaces in the aim of inhibiting biofilm growth. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-10 |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project aims at tackling antibiotics shortage crisis by finding a new way to prevent a major bug inhuman infections (P. aeruginosa) from producing its protective slime layer. This slime is so important for bacteria survival from antibiotic and disabling it leaves microbe vulnerable for treatments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Fadi Soukarieh and Dr Manuel Romero at the university of Nottingham proposed the grant. They are responsible for the chemical synthesis of the nanomachines as well as the testing in biofilm setting University of Liverpool are responsible for the modification and attachment of these nanomachines to glass surfaces in the aim of inhibiting biofilm growth. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-10 |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project aims at tackling antibiotics shortage crisis by finding a new way to prevent a major bug inhuman infections (P. aeruginosa) from producing its protective slime layer. This slime is so important for bacteria survival from antibiotic and disabling it leaves microbe vulnerable for treatments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Fadi Soukarieh and Dr Manuel Romero at the university of Nottingham proposed the grant. They are responsible for the chemical synthesis of the nanomachines as well as the testing in biofilm setting University of Liverpool are responsible for the modification and attachment of these nanomachines to glass surfaces in the aim of inhibiting biofilm growth. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NBIC Seed Funding project: 01Seed20-10 |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project aims at tackling antibiotics shortage crisis by finding a new way to prevent a major bug inhuman infections (P. aeruginosa) from producing its protective slime layer. This slime is so important for bacteria survival from antibiotic and disabling it leaves microbe vulnerable for treatments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Fadi Soukarieh and Dr Manuel Romero at the university of Nottingham proposed the grant. They are responsible for the chemical synthesis of the nanomachines as well as the testing in biofilm setting University of Liverpool are responsible for the modification and attachment of these nanomachines to glass surfaces in the aim of inhibiting biofilm growth. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | NERC Large Grants Outline Proposal - Anticipating and mitigating the impacts of microbially influenced corrosion in a NetZero world (NetZero-MIC) (Paulina Rakowska) |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Developed and submitted collaborative proposal to the NERC Large Grants Scheme. Collaboration between NBIC 4-core universities (Southampton, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Liverpool) and the University of Newcastle. Funding sought: over £2,800,000. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Newcastle - co-developed the proposal, PI in this potential project, with 20% grant share. |
| Impact | Submitted outline proposal - awaiting competition results. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Barts Health NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Earlham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | James Hutton Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Sheffield Hallam University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Swansea University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | Teesside University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Bradford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Lincoln |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Strathclyde |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of York |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Biofilm Innovation Centre |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) Sectorial workshops with NBIC Company / Academic Community. This gives the opportunity to form links and possible POC projects to be identified. 2) Holding Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. This gives the opportunity to influence NBIC strategy and funding calls. 3) Identifying NBIC fully or part funded Strategic Research (Defined by Sectorial Workshops and approved by Boards). 4) Providing access to POC calls aligned with NBIC Strategy along with Industrial Partner via Sector or Theme. Competitive transparent Open Process Univ signed up to NBIC with companies willing to sign Project Agreement. Selected using range of criteria within a template case. Support in POC submissions and advice from NBIC engagement officers 5) Facilitating collaborative Access to facilities (eg Diamond / Hartree) (Note Science and Industrial Advisory Boards will have regular review and input into these processes and content of themes etc) |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Participation in Scientific NBIC Forum around key themes to establish consensus areas and key unanswered questions. 2) Application to the NBIC Proof of Concept funding for translational research projects 3) Application to studentships and placements with industrial partners |
| Impact | NBIC has awarded 65 Proof of Concept projects, these projects are with the academic partners lists and industry collaborators. We have held three workshop (Biofilm detection, engineering and management), also see publications. The National Biofilms innovation centre is working across disciplines, including: engineering, chemistry, surface and interface science, functional materials, soft matter and non-equilibrium physics, environmental sciences, microbiology, 'omics, bioinformatics, computation and advanced techniques. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Ongoing collaboration with Veolia UK Ltd (Gavin Melaugh) |
| Organisation | Veolia Environmental Services |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I have engaged with Veolia UK Ltd (Edinburgh) on several occasions throughout the the last year. We currently have a senior honours student analysing 1000s of microscopic images of bacteria samples from 3 wastewater treatment sites in Scotland to develop machine learning algorithms for wastewater treatment. We also hosted Veolia employees for a day of knowledge exchange that included a a tour of our labs and facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Veolia have provided us with 1000s of images of microscopic images of bacteria samples from 3 wastewater treatment sites in Scotland to develop machine learning algorithms for wastewater treatment. Veolia also gave us a tour of their site in Edinburgh as part of a knowledge exchange day. |
| Impact | BBSRC - Impact acceleration award. NBIC POC project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PBO Net Field Stability Study |
| Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Using surface analytical techniques to investigate vector control products created by international companies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner LSTM is conducting field trails on the products. |
| Impact | Research papers being written, input into product design for companies, policy guidance being prepared fro WHO. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Participation in SOFI2 CDT programme |
| Organisation | Kimal |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have embarked on co-supervision of a PhD student as part of the SOFI2 CDT programme |
| Collaborator Contribution | In-kind contributions through regular meetings and supply of products. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Addressing the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance via Advanced Coatings and Monitoring Techniques (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Croda International |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Addressing the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance via Advanced Coatings and Monitoring Techniques (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Analysis of Immune responses to P. aeruginosa biofilms in the context of wounds (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Analysis of Immune responses to P. aeruginosa biofilms in the context of wounds (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Analysis of immune responses to P. aeruginosa biofilms (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Government of Bangladesh |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Analysis of immune responses to P. aeruginosa biofilms (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Assessing impact of ozone on viability of foodborne and food spoilage pathogens on fresh produce (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | Anacail Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. The funding is from the BBSRC via the University of Oxford DTP |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Assessing impact of ozone on viability of foodborne and food spoilage pathogens on fresh produce (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. The funding is from the BBSRC via the University of Oxford DTP |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Assessing impact of ozone on viability of foodborne and food spoilage pathogens on fresh produce (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | Scotland's Rural College |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. The funding is from the BBSRC via the University of Oxford DTP |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Assessing impact of ozone on viability of foodborne and food spoilage pathogens on fresh produce (Nicola Holden) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD project. The funding is from the BBSRC via the University of Oxford DTP |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/ |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/ |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/ |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Biofilm matrix assembly by Bacillus subtilis (Nicola Stanley-Wall) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Biomaterial modulation for diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in catheter-associated urinary tract infection (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Biomaterial modulation for diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in catheter-associated urinary tract infection (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Biomaterial modulation for diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in catheter-associated urinary tract infection (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Technovent Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Bubble Management in an Ultrasonic System to Clean using a Water Stream |
| Organisation | Ultrawave Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Bubble Management in an Ultrasonic System to Clean using a Water Stream |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Cell-cell signalling and the regulation of virulence and biofilm formation in the respiratory pathogen (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Chinese Scholarship Council |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Cell-cell signalling and the regulation of virulence and biofilm formation in the respiratory pathogen (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Charactisation and Evaluation of Anti-Biofilms Complexes on biofilms interference on wound and medical devices related infections (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | 5D Health Protection Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Finance and supervision of PhD student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Finance and supervision of PhD student. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Charactisation and Evaluation of Anti-Biofilms Complexes on biofilms interference on wound and medical devices related infections (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Finance and supervision of PhD student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Finance and supervision of PhD student. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Combating Antibiotic Tolerance In Bacterial Biofilms - the BdlA/DipA Dispersal Pathway (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Combating Antibiotic Tolerance In Bacterial Biofilms - the BdlA/DipA Dispersal Pathway (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Contribution of carbohydrates to immune responses to P. aeruginosa biofilms (Luisa Martinez Pomares) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Creating Advanced Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Viral Surfaces and Materials (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Creating Precision-Engineered Functionalised Surfaces (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Current and emerging therapies for corneal infection: a clinical and laboratory study (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | PhD successfully completed. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Current and emerging therapies for corneal infection: a clinical and laboratory study (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | PhD successfully completed. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Degradation of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene by a novel plastic degrading bacteria. (Sam Bryan) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The summary is the same as the one originally submitted for the project. A third of all plastics end up in the environment with 165 million tons ending up in the oceans creating vast accumulations of life choking rubbish, which has devastating consequences for marine life, recently highlighted in Blue Planet (BBC). Only 9% of plastic gets recycled and even then, only a limited number of times due to thermal degradation. The remaining plastic pollutes the environment or sits in landfill sites, where it can take up to 500 years to decompose, leaching toxic chemicals into the ground. Traditional plastics such as the polyester poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are made from oil based raw materials. PET makes up almost one sixth of the world's annual plastic production of 311m tons. Around 41m tons of PET was produced in 2013 and this is projected to increase to 73m tons by 2020. Despite being one of the more commonly recycled plastics, only half is ever collected and recycled, considerably less actually ends up being reused. Bioplastic polyesters (bio-based and/or biodegradable) offer a sustainable alternative given their lower carbon footprint and often faster decomposition. Unfortunately, at present, a significant proportion of next generation biodegradable polyesters end up in landfill, where anoxic degradation results in significant atmospheric release of methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Aims The overall project aims to implement the degradation of PET and several bioplastic polyesters in Cupriavidus metallidurans; a robust metabolically diverse microorganism cell factory, capable of utilising CO2 as a carbon source. Objectives The primary objective being to express non-native Petase and Lipase proteins in C. metallidurans and couple this to biomass. Engineered strains will be subject to metabolomic characterisation (metabolic phenotyping) to estimate intra and extracellular metabolic fluxes. Conventional liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics and stable isotope-assisted metabolic pathway analysis methods, coupled with 13C flux will be utilised to predict in vivo enzyme reaction rates, unravelling metabolism and providing exemplar kinetic data, allowing for the development of designer strain with improved plastic degradation. Directed evolution will be utilised to engineer enzymes with improved degradation properties. Designer strains will then be characterised in continuous fermentation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Degradation of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene by a novel plastic degrading bacteria. (Sam Bryan) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The summary is the same as the one originally submitted for the project. A third of all plastics end up in the environment with 165 million tons ending up in the oceans creating vast accumulations of life choking rubbish, which has devastating consequences for marine life, recently highlighted in Blue Planet (BBC). Only 9% of plastic gets recycled and even then, only a limited number of times due to thermal degradation. The remaining plastic pollutes the environment or sits in landfill sites, where it can take up to 500 years to decompose, leaching toxic chemicals into the ground. Traditional plastics such as the polyester poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are made from oil based raw materials. PET makes up almost one sixth of the world's annual plastic production of 311m tons. Around 41m tons of PET was produced in 2013 and this is projected to increase to 73m tons by 2020. Despite being one of the more commonly recycled plastics, only half is ever collected and recycled, considerably less actually ends up being reused. Bioplastic polyesters (bio-based and/or biodegradable) offer a sustainable alternative given their lower carbon footprint and often faster decomposition. Unfortunately, at present, a significant proportion of next generation biodegradable polyesters end up in landfill, where anoxic degradation results in significant atmospheric release of methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Aims The overall project aims to implement the degradation of PET and several bioplastic polyesters in Cupriavidus metallidurans; a robust metabolically diverse microorganism cell factory, capable of utilising CO2 as a carbon source. Objectives The primary objective being to express non-native Petase and Lipase proteins in C. metallidurans and couple this to biomass. Engineered strains will be subject to metabolomic characterisation (metabolic phenotyping) to estimate intra and extracellular metabolic fluxes. Conventional liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics and stable isotope-assisted metabolic pathway analysis methods, coupled with 13C flux will be utilised to predict in vivo enzyme reaction rates, unravelling metabolism and providing exemplar kinetic data, allowing for the development of designer strain with improved plastic degradation. Directed evolution will be utilised to engineer enzymes with improved degradation properties. Designer strains will then be characterised in continuous fermentation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Developing novel antibiotics from natural products against resistant bacteria (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Developing novel antibiotics from natural products against resistant bacteria (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Developing novel antibiotics from natural products against resistant bacteria (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Development of New Antimicrobial Therapeutics and Targeted Delivery Techniques for Antibiofilm Therapy (working title) (Eleanor Stride, Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Development of New Antimicrobial Therapeutics and Targeted Delivery Techniques for Antibiofilm Therapy (working title) (Eleanor Stride, Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Development of New Antimicrobial Therapeutics and Targeted Delivery Techniques for Antibiofilm Therapy (working title) (Eleanor Stride, Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Development of polymicrobial biofilms for P. aeruginosa therapeutic interventions (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation |
| Department | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Development of polymicrobial biofilms for P. aeruginosa therapeutic interventions (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Development of polymicrobial biofilms for P. aeruginosa therapeutic interventions (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Drug delivery systems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa for combination therapy (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Drug delivery systems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa for combination therapy (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Effect of surface conditioning and microbial interactions on denture biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Effect of surface conditioning and microbial interactions on denture biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Effect of surface conditioning and microbial interactions on denture biofilms (David Williams) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Exploiting 'big data' OMICs to model biofilm actives (BB/V509541/1) (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Exploiting 'big data' OMICs to model biofilm actives (BB/V509541/1) (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Exploiting 'big data' OMICs to model biofilm actives (BB/V509541/1) (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Exploring innovative regenerative scaffolds for simultaneous bacteria/host monitoring and healing promotion (Mat Hardman) |
| Organisation | Neotherix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Exploring innovative regenerative scaffolds for simultaneous bacteria/host monitoring and healing promotion (Mat Hardman) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Formulation of PHMB-based nanoparticles for targeted killing of zoonotic fungi (Peter Monk [Winnie Ntow-Boahenne]) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Formulation of PHMB-based nanoparticles for targeted killing of zoonotic fungi (Peter Monk [Winnie Ntow-Boahenne]) |
| Organisation | Blueberry Therapeutics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Formulation of PHMB-based nanoparticles for targeted killing of zoonotic fungi (Peter Monk [Winnie Ntow-Boahenne]) |
| Organisation | Tecrea Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Formulation of PHMB-based nanoparticles for targeted killing of zoonotic fungi (Peter Monk [Winnie Ntow-Boahenne]) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision for this PhD project. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Holding the front line -maintaining barrier integrity in the mouth (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. BBSRC funding reference: BB/W510099/1 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Holding the front line -maintaining barrier integrity in the mouth (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. BBSRC funding reference: BB/W510099/1 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Holding the front line -maintaining barrier integrity in the mouth (Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. BBSRC funding reference: BB/W510099/1 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Industrial studentship. 'Commercialising biofilm assays'.(Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | BluTest Laboratories Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Industrial studentship. 'Commercialising biofilm assays'.(Gordon Ramage) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Interaction of polymicrobial biofilms with human immune cells (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Interaction of polymicrobial biofilms with human immune cells (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Invention to improve food safety: Ultrasonic Salad Cleaning (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Invention to improve food safety: Ultrasonic Salad Cleaning (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | Vitacress Salads ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Investigating the immune-modulatory and wound healing effects of Reactive Oxygen® (RO-101®) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Matoke Holdings |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Investigating the immune-modulatory and wound healing effects of Reactive Oxygen® (RO-101®) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Managing biofilms and disinfection residuals to protecting drinking water safety (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Managing biofilms and disinfection residuals to protecting drinking water safety (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Scottish Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Managing biofilms and disinfection residuals to protecting drinking water safety (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Microbial biotechnology approaches to optimize chemical oxygen demand and enhance nitrogen and phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment (Jeremy Webb, Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Microbial biotechnology approaches to optimize chemical oxygen demand and enhance nitrogen and phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment (Jeremy Webb, Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | Plantwork Systems (PWS) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Microbial biotechnology approaches to optimize chemical oxygen demand and enhance nitrogen and phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment (Jeremy Webb, Yongqiang Liu) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Microbiologically-influenced corrosion (MIC): Development of a model system to investigate the role of biofilm communities within MIC and their control using industrial biocides. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | DNV GL |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Microbiologically-influenced corrosion (MIC): Development of a model system to investigate the role of biofilm communities within MIC and their control using industrial biocides. (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Modelling bacterial biofilms in spatially heterogeneous environments (Rosalind Allen) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Modelling bacterial biofilms in spatially heterogeneous environments (Rosalind Allen) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Modelling bacterial biofilms in spatially heterogeneous environments (Rosalind Allen) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions (reference 100317) (Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions (reference 100317) (Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions in oral health (Morgan Alexander) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions in oral health (Morgan Alexander) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions in oral health (Morgan Alexander) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Multi-mode microscopy to probe bacteria-surface interactions in oral health (Morgan Alexander) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Nanoclay gels for sustained localised antimicrobial delivery to aid bone repair (Jonathan Ian Dawson) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD New Testing methods for Oral care (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD New Testing methods for Oral care (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD New Testing methods for Oral care (Yuri Diaz Fernandez) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Novel 3D Printing approaches to induce intestinal epithelium development from adult (Felicity Rose) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Novel 3D Printing approaches to induce intestinal epithelium development from adult (Felicity Rose) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Novel 3D Printing approaches to induce intestinal epithelium development from adult (Felicity Rose) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Novel approaches to detect and treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotic-resistant biofilms in cystic fibrosis (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision of PhD student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training and supervision of PhD student. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Novel approaches to detect and treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotic-resistant biofilms in cystic fibrosis (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision of PhD student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training and supervision of PhD student. |
| Impact | PhD. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Oral biofilms: A fundamental understanding to target improved oral health and breath freshness (Mondelez CTP Studentship) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. BBSRC grant reference BB/S506862/1. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Oral biofilms: A fundamental understanding to target improved oral health and breath freshness (Mondelez CTP Studentship) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Mondelez International |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. BBSRC grant reference BB/S506862/1. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Oral biofilms: A fundamental understanding to target improved oral health and breath freshness (Mondelez CTP Studentship) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. BBSRC grant reference BB/S506862/1. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Personalised Approach to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAPA) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Personalised Approach to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAPA) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Personalised Approach to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAPA) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Personalised Approach to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAPA) (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Profiling the mycobacteria biofilm: a multidisciplinary mix of mutants and mass spectrometry (Suzanne Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Profiling the mycobacteria biofilm: a multidisciplinary mix of mutants and mass spectrometry (Suzanne Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Profiling the mycobacteria biofilm: a multidisciplinary mix of mutants and mass spectrometry (Suzanne Hingley-Wilson) |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Rapid detection of pathogens within cooling towers (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Rapid detection of pathogens within cooling towers (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | Sellafield Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Rapid detection of pathogens within cooling towers (Katherine Fish) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Role of inflammatory monocytes during C. albicans infection (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Role of inflammatory monocytes during C. albicans infection (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Role of the stringent response to promote biocide induced antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms (Kim Hardie) |
| Organisation | Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Role of the stringent response to promote biocide induced antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms (Kim Hardie) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Silencing virulence signalling through the optimisation of novel pqsR antagonists (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD |
| Impact | PhD successfully completed. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Silencing virulence signalling through the optimisation of novel pqsR antagonists (Miguel Camara) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD |
| Impact | PhD successfully completed. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Structure antimicrobial mechanisms with zinc oxide |
| Organisation | Accelerated Materials |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | There is an urgent global need to develop advanced antimicrobial coatings to combat bacterial and viral impact on the human population and the world's economy. This PhD project, in collaboration with Accelerated Materials, aims to understand how nanoscale properties of Zinc Oxide can deliver an advanced antimicrobial coating. Zinc oxide can create nanostructures with a wide range of shapes, sizes and surface features. However, little is understood about how and why ZnO size and shape influence their antimicrobial activity. This PhD programme will synthesise ZnO nanoparticles with defined nanoscale shape and size and evaluate their antimicrobial functions. A combination of Physical Sciences and Life Sciences imaging techniques and analytical probes will be used to develop a fundamental correlation between nanoscale ZnO properties and their antibacterial and antiviral effects. The PhD student will be based at the Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, within the Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces and the Surface Science Research Centre. The PhD combines interdisciplinary science and global innovation. Accelerated Materials Ltd (AM) is an innovation-driven spinout, focused on bringing novel nanomaterials to commercial realities. The Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces is at the forefront of translating scientific advances into innovation and is one of the four core partners of the £23M National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) (www.biofilms.ac.uk). The student will enrol in NBIC's BITE Doctoral Training Programme which trains interdisciplinary PhD researchers at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences to understand the behaviour of microbes at surfaces central to the global challenges of AMR, Health, Food Security, Clean Water and Energy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Industry Collaborator has decided to support the PhD studentship, to be awarded to the University and such support shall include a compulsory placement at the Industry Collaborator in support of the Project |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary with the Institute of Infection and veterinary and ecological sciences and Surface Science Research Centre. Outputs are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Structure-Activity Mechanistic Study of Novel Antimicrobial Coatings on Glass (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Pilkington Glass |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Structure-Activity Mechanistic Study of Novel Antimicrobial Coatings on Glass (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Targeting cyclic di-GMP signalling as a route towards controlling bacterial biofilm formation during infection (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Chinese Scholarship Council |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Targeting cyclic di-GMP signalling as a route towards controlling bacterial biofilm formation during infection (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supervision and training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD The development of novel nanomaterial based, low carbon structures for improved infection control in water systems |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD The physics of biofilms on venous catheters (Susana Direito, Rosalind Allen) |
| Organisation | Kimal |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD The physics of biofilms on venous catheters (Susana Direito, Rosalind Allen) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Tuneable Size and Shape Selected Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Coatings (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Accelerated Materials |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Tuneable Size and Shape Selected Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Coatings (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PhD Ultrasonic Intervention to Effectively Control Dental Plaque Biofilms (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Ultrasonic Intervention to Effectively Control Dental Plaque Biofilms (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | PhD Ultrasound-activated Agents for the Treatment of Chronic Wound Biofilms and Wound Tissue (working title) (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Ultrasound-activated Agents for the Treatment of Chronic Wound Biofilms and Wound Tissue (working title) (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Ultrasound-activated Agents for the Treatment of Chronic Wound Biofilms and Wound Tissue (working title) (Dario Carugo) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | PhD Understanding Synergistic Antimicrobial Technologies using Advanced Physical and Biological Sciences Techniques (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Understanding Synergistic Antimicrobial Technologies using Advanced Physical and Biological Sciences Techniques (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Understanding Synergistic Antimicrobial Technologies using Advanced Physical and Biological Sciences Techniques (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and supervision. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Understanding and modulating mechanisms of biocide resistance in clinically important bacteria (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Department | NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Understanding and modulating mechanisms of biocide resistance in clinically important bacteria (Bill Keevil) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding, supervision and training for this PhD. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | PhD Understanding plastic pollution to mitigate impact to freshwaters and services (Rachel Gomes, Steve Howdle, Matthew Johnson) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Macro and micro plastic are unregulated water pollutants with significant implications to service provision (e.g. water treatment), as well as generating considerable public and political concern. To deliver solutions to the plastic pollution pandemic, we need first to understand the extent of plastic pollution and how environmental conditions influence plastic fate and impact on water quality. Environmental conditions are complex and variable that lead to fragmentation and a changing condition of the plastic due to abiotic and biotic degradation. The condition of waste plastic (versus as manufactured) will influence the pollution severity and impact to freshwater function and services. Characterising plastic under dynamic conditions require analytics able to elucidate the plastic presence and fate processes involved. This project will aim to understand the extent and impact of plastic pollution on water quality and services through the use of established (e.g. SEM FTIR) and emerging (e.g. 3D ToF-SIMS) analytics. Outcomes will serve to understand how plastic interacts with its surrounding complex environment and implications to water quality and use by society |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Understanding plastic pollution to mitigate impact to freshwaters and services (Rachel Gomes, Steve Howdle, Matthew Johnson) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Macro and micro plastic are unregulated water pollutants with significant implications to service provision (e.g. water treatment), as well as generating considerable public and political concern. To deliver solutions to the plastic pollution pandemic, we need first to understand the extent of plastic pollution and how environmental conditions influence plastic fate and impact on water quality. Environmental conditions are complex and variable that lead to fragmentation and a changing condition of the plastic due to abiotic and biotic degradation. The condition of waste plastic (versus as manufactured) will influence the pollution severity and impact to freshwater function and services. Characterising plastic under dynamic conditions require analytics able to elucidate the plastic presence and fate processes involved. This project will aim to understand the extent and impact of plastic pollution on water quality and services through the use of established (e.g. SEM FTIR) and emerging (e.g. 3D ToF-SIMS) analytics. Outcomes will serve to understand how plastic interacts with its surrounding complex environment and implications to water quality and use by society |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, supervision and funding. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | PhD Viscoelasticity and Associated-drag of Artificial and Natural Marine Fouling Biofilm (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | AkzoNobel |
| Department | AkzoNobel UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Viscoelasticity and Associated-drag of Artificial and Natural Marine Fouling Biofilm (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Wellcome Trust, DTP in Antimicrobials & Antimicrobial Resistance: Novel biomaterials to stop biofilm formation on blood contacting catheters (108876/Z/15/Z) (Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | PhD Wellcome Trust, DTP in Antimicrobials & Antimicrobial Resistance: Novel biomaterials to stop biofilm formation on blood contacting catheters (108876/Z/15/Z) (Paul Williams) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | PhD |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Polident: Tablet Kinetics and Stability Studies (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Alongside this project, GSK also sponsored another project through Science Exchange, Inc. With the aim to further understand the chemistry of one of their products and compare it novel formulations. This was not directly related to this award but came as a result of the quality of previous and current work (this award) conducted at UCL. This secondary project brought another players from GSK-CH and consolidated the partnership between UCL and GSK. My role was as researcher and conducted all the necessary experiments and prepared presentations throughout the project to update GSK on the developments and findings of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | GSK as main partner funded this project and closely monitored the development of the project. We had periodical meetings (online) with the key stakeholders from GSK and UCL to receive their inputs and direct the research towards their objectives and present the data accordingly. |
| Impact | A comprehensive report (50 pages) was elaborated comprising all the relevant findings, discussion and conclusions and guidelines for future work. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Polident: Tablet Kinetics and Stability Studies (Claudio Lourenco) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Alongside this project, GSK also sponsored another project through Science Exchange, Inc. With the aim to further understand the chemistry of one of their products and compare it novel formulations. This was not directly related to this award but came as a result of the quality of previous and current work (this award) conducted at UCL. This secondary project brought another players from GSK-CH and consolidated the partnership between UCL and GSK. My role was as researcher and conducted all the necessary experiments and prepared presentations throughout the project to update GSK on the developments and findings of the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | GSK as main partner funded this project and closely monitored the development of the project. We had periodical meetings (online) with the key stakeholders from GSK and UCL to receive their inputs and direct the research towards their objectives and present the data accordingly. |
| Impact | A comprehensive report (50 pages) was elaborated comprising all the relevant findings, discussion and conclusions and guidelines for future work. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Proposal to COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) for COST action - REPRODUCIBLE |
| Organisation | University of Porto |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborating on a proposal for an European Network (COST action) cantered around the reproducibility of biofilm research. Provided significant contribution to the proposal content. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Porto was the main proposer for this network. There were multiple co-proposers from the academic and industry and 3rd party organisations from the EU and also from the USA and Singapore |
| Impact | Proposal was unsuccesful, was resubmitted the following year, and was unsuccessful again. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Proposal to the European Partnership on Metrology - Green Call |
| Organisation | National metrology and testing laboratory |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Partner in an European consortium of 14 partners. Proposal title: Metrology supported solutions to understand and control antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Project value € 2264810 with NBIC share of € 200000 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Jointly developed and submitted the proposal. |
| Impact | Submitted proposal - awaiting results. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Proposal to the UK-Singapore Universities Kickstarter Fund (UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS) |
| Organisation | Nanyang Technological University |
| Country | Singapore |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed application for the UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS in collaboration with the Singapore SNBC and the UK's National Physical Laboratory to kick start research and evaluate previous project results in biofilm standardisation. Grant value: £50000 |
| Collaborator Contribution | SCELSE committed to in-kind contributions to the salary of PI who will supervise the technical delivery of the work, and by the access costs to their state-of the-art facilities including microbiology laboratories and advanced biofilm imaging facilities and analytics. This in-kind contribution was estimated at SGD 22,000, equivalent to ~ £12,000. NPL was acting as unfunded partner, committed to participating in meetings and providing advisory role in terms of reproducibility as well as contributing to the dissemination of project results (contribution estimated at £2000). |
| Impact | Application of UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS was unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Proposal to the UK-Singapore Universities Kickstarter Fund (UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developed application for the UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS in collaboration with the Singapore SNBC and the UK's National Physical Laboratory to kick start research and evaluate previous project results in biofilm standardisation. Grant value: £50000 |
| Collaborator Contribution | SCELSE committed to in-kind contributions to the salary of PI who will supervise the technical delivery of the work, and by the access costs to their state-of the-art facilities including microbiology laboratories and advanced biofilm imaging facilities and analytics. This in-kind contribution was estimated at SGD 22,000, equivalent to ~ £12,000. NPL was acting as unfunded partner, committed to participating in meetings and providing advisory role in terms of reproducibility as well as contributing to the dissemination of project results (contribution estimated at £2000). |
| Impact | Application of UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS was unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Proposal to the UK-Singapore Universities Kickstarter Fund (UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS) |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Developed application for the UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS in collaboration with the Singapore SNBC and the UK's National Physical Laboratory to kick start research and evaluate previous project results in biofilm standardisation. Grant value: £50000 |
| Collaborator Contribution | SCELSE committed to in-kind contributions to the salary of PI who will supervise the technical delivery of the work, and by the access costs to their state-of the-art facilities including microbiology laboratories and advanced biofilm imaging facilities and analytics. This in-kind contribution was estimated at SGD 22,000, equivalent to ~ £12,000. NPL was acting as unfunded partner, committed to participating in meetings and providing advisory role in terms of reproducibility as well as contributing to the dissemination of project results (contribution estimated at £2000). |
| Impact | Application of UUKi/UK SIN-SG bid to BEIS was unsuccessful. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 01 Targeted drug delivery for clearance of TB (Nick Evans) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The application brings together a team at the University of Southampton (Nick Evans and Tracey Newman) and Dstl (Adam Taylor and Kim Wright) who already work together, with Joanna Bacon, Mark Sutton and Charlotte Hind (HSA) at HSA and Miraz Rahman KCL. In past research the current team (UoS and Dstl) have developed a technology to enable the high concentration, stable encapsulation of antibiotics in polymeric nanoparticles. This enables specific intracellular delivery of antibiotics and has been shown to be effective in clearing Burkholderia. (See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c05309). This raised the possibility that this method may be an effective method for delivery of antibiotics in other infectious diseases, particularly where antibiotic stability and delivery is challenging (for example, poorly soluble or toxic antibiotics). After discussions at the NBIC Microbial Impacts meeting, the applicants discussed the possibility of better targeting novel classes of antimicrobial molecules in tuberculosis. These molecules are under development by Dr Bacon's collaborator Miraz Rahman at KCL but their pharmokinetics, toxicity profile or granuloma penetrance may be improved by encapsulation. The applications wish to explore the possibility of better methods of delivery in TB using the applicants' knowledge and expertise by arranging a collaborative meeting to discuss over lapping interests and possible pilot experiments. This will involve a meeting including the main applicants and other parties with interest in drug delivery and TB between the four institutions involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Since the meeting, one student has been recruited (dstl/UoS funding) to work at UoS (Rebecca Cheetham). We are using preliminary data to develop funding proposal to BBSRC and/or MRC. We have been successful in attracting a student to a Dstl/SoCoBio in 2022 cohort. We are exploring with KCL attendee Miraz Rahman encapsulation of poorly soluble antibiotics in polymersomes - this work yet to commence but prelim data will inform funding proposals. Attendee Liku Tezera, ECR has put in an anniversary fellowship and will interview w/c 4th July. This is based on conversations at the meeting. Attendee Kim Wright has had abstract accepted for 2022 https://www.escmid.org/ conference. Collaboration is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 01 Targeted drug delivery for clearance of TB (Nick Evans) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The application brings together a team at the University of Southampton (Nick Evans and Tracey Newman) and Dstl (Adam Taylor and Kim Wright) who already work together, with Joanna Bacon, Mark Sutton and Charlotte Hind (HSA) at HSA and Miraz Rahman KCL. In past research the current team (UoS and Dstl) have developed a technology to enable the high concentration, stable encapsulation of antibiotics in polymeric nanoparticles. This enables specific intracellular delivery of antibiotics and has been shown to be effective in clearing Burkholderia. (See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c05309). This raised the possibility that this method may be an effective method for delivery of antibiotics in other infectious diseases, particularly where antibiotic stability and delivery is challenging (for example, poorly soluble or toxic antibiotics). After discussions at the NBIC Microbial Impacts meeting, the applicants discussed the possibility of better targeting novel classes of antimicrobial molecules in tuberculosis. These molecules are under development by Dr Bacon's collaborator Miraz Rahman at KCL but their pharmokinetics, toxicity profile or granuloma penetrance may be improved by encapsulation. The applications wish to explore the possibility of better methods of delivery in TB using the applicants' knowledge and expertise by arranging a collaborative meeting to discuss over lapping interests and possible pilot experiments. This will involve a meeting including the main applicants and other parties with interest in drug delivery and TB between the four institutions involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Since the meeting, one student has been recruited (dstl/UoS funding) to work at UoS (Rebecca Cheetham). We are using preliminary data to develop funding proposal to BBSRC and/or MRC. We have been successful in attracting a student to a Dstl/SoCoBio in 2022 cohort. We are exploring with KCL attendee Miraz Rahman encapsulation of poorly soluble antibiotics in polymersomes - this work yet to commence but prelim data will inform funding proposals. Attendee Liku Tezera, ECR has put in an anniversary fellowship and will interview w/c 4th July. This is based on conversations at the meeting. Attendee Kim Wright has had abstract accepted for 2022 https://www.escmid.org/ conference. Collaboration is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 01 Targeted drug delivery for clearance of TB (Nick Evans) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The application brings together a team at the University of Southampton (Nick Evans and Tracey Newman) and Dstl (Adam Taylor and Kim Wright) who already work together, with Joanna Bacon, Mark Sutton and Charlotte Hind (HSA) at HSA and Miraz Rahman KCL. In past research the current team (UoS and Dstl) have developed a technology to enable the high concentration, stable encapsulation of antibiotics in polymeric nanoparticles. This enables specific intracellular delivery of antibiotics and has been shown to be effective in clearing Burkholderia. (See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c05309). This raised the possibility that this method may be an effective method for delivery of antibiotics in other infectious diseases, particularly where antibiotic stability and delivery is challenging (for example, poorly soluble or toxic antibiotics). After discussions at the NBIC Microbial Impacts meeting, the applicants discussed the possibility of better targeting novel classes of antimicrobial molecules in tuberculosis. These molecules are under development by Dr Bacon's collaborator Miraz Rahman at KCL but their pharmokinetics, toxicity profile or granuloma penetrance may be improved by encapsulation. The applications wish to explore the possibility of better methods of delivery in TB using the applicants' knowledge and expertise by arranging a collaborative meeting to discuss over lapping interests and possible pilot experiments. This will involve a meeting including the main applicants and other parties with interest in drug delivery and TB between the four institutions involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Since the meeting, one student has been recruited (dstl/UoS funding) to work at UoS (Rebecca Cheetham). We are using preliminary data to develop funding proposal to BBSRC and/or MRC. We have been successful in attracting a student to a Dstl/SoCoBio in 2022 cohort. We are exploring with KCL attendee Miraz Rahman encapsulation of poorly soluble antibiotics in polymersomes - this work yet to commence but prelim data will inform funding proposals. Attendee Liku Tezera, ECR has put in an anniversary fellowship and will interview w/c 4th July. This is based on conversations at the meeting. Attendee Kim Wright has had abstract accepted for 2022 https://www.escmid.org/ conference. Collaboration is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 01 Targeted drug delivery for clearance of TB (Nick Evans) |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The application brings together a team at the University of Southampton (Nick Evans and Tracey Newman) and Dstl (Adam Taylor and Kim Wright) who already work together, with Joanna Bacon, Mark Sutton and Charlotte Hind (HSA) at HSA and Miraz Rahman KCL. In past research the current team (UoS and Dstl) have developed a technology to enable the high concentration, stable encapsulation of antibiotics in polymeric nanoparticles. This enables specific intracellular delivery of antibiotics and has been shown to be effective in clearing Burkholderia. (See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c05309). This raised the possibility that this method may be an effective method for delivery of antibiotics in other infectious diseases, particularly where antibiotic stability and delivery is challenging (for example, poorly soluble or toxic antibiotics). After discussions at the NBIC Microbial Impacts meeting, the applicants discussed the possibility of better targeting novel classes of antimicrobial molecules in tuberculosis. These molecules are under development by Dr Bacon's collaborator Miraz Rahman at KCL but their pharmokinetics, toxicity profile or granuloma penetrance may be improved by encapsulation. The applications wish to explore the possibility of better methods of delivery in TB using the applicants' knowledge and expertise by arranging a collaborative meeting to discuss over lapping interests and possible pilot experiments. This will involve a meeting including the main applicants and other parties with interest in drug delivery and TB between the four institutions involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Since the meeting, one student has been recruited (dstl/UoS funding) to work at UoS (Rebecca Cheetham). We are using preliminary data to develop funding proposal to BBSRC and/or MRC. We have been successful in attracting a student to a Dstl/SoCoBio in 2022 cohort. We are exploring with KCL attendee Miraz Rahman encapsulation of poorly soluble antibiotics in polymersomes - this work yet to commence but prelim data will inform funding proposals. Attendee Liku Tezera, ECR has put in an anniversary fellowship and will interview w/c 4th July. This is based on conversations at the meeting. Attendee Kim Wright has had abstract accepted for 2022 https://www.escmid.org/ conference. Collaboration is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 01 Targeted drug delivery for clearance of TB (Nick Evans) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The application brings together a team at the University of Southampton (Nick Evans and Tracey Newman) and Dstl (Adam Taylor and Kim Wright) who already work together, with Joanna Bacon, Mark Sutton and Charlotte Hind (HSA) at HSA and Miraz Rahman KCL. In past research the current team (UoS and Dstl) have developed a technology to enable the high concentration, stable encapsulation of antibiotics in polymeric nanoparticles. This enables specific intracellular delivery of antibiotics and has been shown to be effective in clearing Burkholderia. (See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.1c05309). This raised the possibility that this method may be an effective method for delivery of antibiotics in other infectious diseases, particularly where antibiotic stability and delivery is challenging (for example, poorly soluble or toxic antibiotics). After discussions at the NBIC Microbial Impacts meeting, the applicants discussed the possibility of better targeting novel classes of antimicrobial molecules in tuberculosis. These molecules are under development by Dr Bacon's collaborator Miraz Rahman at KCL but their pharmokinetics, toxicity profile or granuloma penetrance may be improved by encapsulation. The applications wish to explore the possibility of better methods of delivery in TB using the applicants' knowledge and expertise by arranging a collaborative meeting to discuss over lapping interests and possible pilot experiments. This will involve a meeting including the main applicants and other parties with interest in drug delivery and TB between the four institutions involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Since the meeting, one student has been recruited (dstl/UoS funding) to work at UoS (Rebecca Cheetham). We are using preliminary data to develop funding proposal to BBSRC and/or MRC. We have been successful in attracting a student to a Dstl/SoCoBio in 2022 cohort. We are exploring with KCL attendee Miraz Rahman encapsulation of poorly soluble antibiotics in polymersomes - this work yet to commence but prelim data will inform funding proposals. Attendee Liku Tezera, ECR has put in an anniversary fellowship and will interview w/c 4th July. This is based on conversations at the meeting. Attendee Kim Wright has had abstract accepted for 2022 https://www.escmid.org/ conference. Collaboration is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 03 TB Workshop: New Tools and Innovation; A reunion of UK Colleagues from the Newton Bhabha Researcher Links TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune 2019 (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in infectious diseases and within the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2019, Dr Bacon won British Council funds, conceptualised, and organised, a highly successful Newton Bhabha Researcher Links India-UK TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune, with delegates from UK and Indian Scientific communities. Prof Mahajan attended and made a substantial contribution to the workshop. The three themes of the workshop were Theme 1 "TB control and complicating factors", Theme 2 "Fundamental biology", and Theme 3 "New tools and innovation" There was great synergy, enthusiasm, and opportunities for collaborative projects. A follow-up workshop had been planned by Dr Bacon, and on several occasions, members of the UK delegation attempted to get together. These attempts were unsuccessful due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic and the commitments of many partners to the COVID response. We propose to hold a workshop to continue to build on the foundations of Theme 3 "new tools and innovation to tackle TB, whilst considering the knowledge gained around the TB challenges that need to be addressed, in India. Interdisciplinary scientists including engineers, chemists, biologists, and clinicians from Universities across the UK (Surrey, Southampton, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Kings College, and UCL) will meet again, and renew conversations for collaborative interdisciplinary TB projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 03 TB Workshop: New Tools and Innovation; A reunion of UK Colleagues from the Newton Bhabha Researcher Links TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune 2019 (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in infectious diseases and within the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2019, Dr Bacon won British Council funds, conceptualised, and organised, a highly successful Newton Bhabha Researcher Links India-UK TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune, with delegates from UK and Indian Scientific communities. Prof Mahajan attended and made a substantial contribution to the workshop. The three themes of the workshop were Theme 1 "TB control and complicating factors", Theme 2 "Fundamental biology", and Theme 3 "New tools and innovation" There was great synergy, enthusiasm, and opportunities for collaborative projects. A follow-up workshop had been planned by Dr Bacon, and on several occasions, members of the UK delegation attempted to get together. These attempts were unsuccessful due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic and the commitments of many partners to the COVID response. We propose to hold a workshop to continue to build on the foundations of Theme 3 "new tools and innovation to tackle TB, whilst considering the knowledge gained around the TB challenges that need to be addressed, in India. Interdisciplinary scientists including engineers, chemists, biologists, and clinicians from Universities across the UK (Surrey, Southampton, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Kings College, and UCL) will meet again, and renew conversations for collaborative interdisciplinary TB projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 03 TB Workshop: New Tools and Innovation; A reunion of UK Colleagues from the Newton Bhabha Researcher Links TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune 2019 (Sumeet Mahajan) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in infectious diseases and within the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2019, Dr Bacon won British Council funds, conceptualised, and organised, a highly successful Newton Bhabha Researcher Links India-UK TB Challenges workshop in IISER Pune, with delegates from UK and Indian Scientific communities. Prof Mahajan attended and made a substantial contribution to the workshop. The three themes of the workshop were Theme 1 "TB control and complicating factors", Theme 2 "Fundamental biology", and Theme 3 "New tools and innovation" There was great synergy, enthusiasm, and opportunities for collaborative projects. A follow-up workshop had been planned by Dr Bacon, and on several occasions, members of the UK delegation attempted to get together. These attempts were unsuccessful due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic and the commitments of many partners to the COVID response. We propose to hold a workshop to continue to build on the foundations of Theme 3 "new tools and innovation to tackle TB, whilst considering the knowledge gained around the TB challenges that need to be addressed, in India. Interdisciplinary scientists including engineers, chemists, biologists, and clinicians from Universities across the UK (Surrey, Southampton, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Kings College, and UCL) will meet again, and renew conversations for collaborative interdisciplinary TB projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 04 Quantifying microbiome degradation in rivers and surface runoff using infrared silicon photonics (James Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Current monitoring of water pollution is expensive, time-consuming and can provide limited spatial information on pollution levels. Infrared silicon photonics sensors could provide in situ measurements of the microbiome and pollutants in real time with high time resolution. Silicon photonics devices can be made at large volumes with low cost so devices could be placed cheaply at different locations along a body of water, providing the spatial resolution for pollution levels. The UoS researchers specialise in integrated photonic devices for infrared spectroscopy. UoP has modelling facilities for surface runoff into drainage ditches/rivers and expertise on the microbiome, pollutants and their role in different environments. Collaboration would progress the demonstration of an inexpensive and widely accessible pollution monitoring device. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | 2 ECRs (Dr Callum J Stirling and Dr David J Rowe) travelled to University of Portsmouth's Environmental Technology Field Station, to tour the facility and for discussions with Prof John Williams. The purpose of this meeting was to better understand the respective capabilities of each group and determine technological requirements of the sensors. Additionally, we identified a group of pollutants as sensing targets relevant for the water industry and are greatly toxic to the aquatic microbiome: PCB 77, fluoranthene and bis(tributyltin). The initial experiments have been designed and are planned to take place soon for proof-of-concept demonstrations and to determine the limit of detection. Next steps: Perform initial characterisation measurements of prospective analyte pollutants as a proof-of-concept demonstration and to determine limit of detection. From the results, design target spectral range for on-chip spectrometers. Test the fabricated devices in UoS and in situ at the UoP Environmental Technology Field Station. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 04 Quantifying microbiome degradation in rivers and surface runoff using infrared silicon photonics (James Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Current monitoring of water pollution is expensive, time-consuming and can provide limited spatial information on pollution levels. Infrared silicon photonics sensors could provide in situ measurements of the microbiome and pollutants in real time with high time resolution. Silicon photonics devices can be made at large volumes with low cost so devices could be placed cheaply at different locations along a body of water, providing the spatial resolution for pollution levels. The UoS researchers specialise in integrated photonic devices for infrared spectroscopy. UoP has modelling facilities for surface runoff into drainage ditches/rivers and expertise on the microbiome, pollutants and their role in different environments. Collaboration would progress the demonstration of an inexpensive and widely accessible pollution monitoring device. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | 2 ECRs (Dr Callum J Stirling and Dr David J Rowe) travelled to University of Portsmouth's Environmental Technology Field Station, to tour the facility and for discussions with Prof John Williams. The purpose of this meeting was to better understand the respective capabilities of each group and determine technological requirements of the sensors. Additionally, we identified a group of pollutants as sensing targets relevant for the water industry and are greatly toxic to the aquatic microbiome: PCB 77, fluoranthene and bis(tributyltin). The initial experiments have been designed and are planned to take place soon for proof-of-concept demonstrations and to determine the limit of detection. Next steps: Perform initial characterisation measurements of prospective analyte pollutants as a proof-of-concept demonstration and to determine limit of detection. From the results, design target spectral range for on-chip spectrometers. Test the fabricated devices in UoS and in situ at the UoP Environmental Technology Field Station. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 04 Quantifying microbiome degradation in rivers and surface runoff using infrared silicon photonics (James Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Current monitoring of water pollution is expensive, time-consuming and can provide limited spatial information on pollution levels. Infrared silicon photonics sensors could provide in situ measurements of the microbiome and pollutants in real time with high time resolution. Silicon photonics devices can be made at large volumes with low cost so devices could be placed cheaply at different locations along a body of water, providing the spatial resolution for pollution levels. The UoS researchers specialise in integrated photonic devices for infrared spectroscopy. UoP has modelling facilities for surface runoff into drainage ditches/rivers and expertise on the microbiome, pollutants and their role in different environments. Collaboration would progress the demonstration of an inexpensive and widely accessible pollution monitoring device. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | 2 ECRs (Dr Callum J Stirling and Dr David J Rowe) travelled to University of Portsmouth's Environmental Technology Field Station, to tour the facility and for discussions with Prof John Williams. The purpose of this meeting was to better understand the respective capabilities of each group and determine technological requirements of the sensors. Additionally, we identified a group of pollutants as sensing targets relevant for the water industry and are greatly toxic to the aquatic microbiome: PCB 77, fluoranthene and bis(tributyltin). The initial experiments have been designed and are planned to take place soon for proof-of-concept demonstrations and to determine the limit of detection. Next steps: Perform initial characterisation measurements of prospective analyte pollutants as a proof-of-concept demonstration and to determine limit of detection. From the results, design target spectral range for on-chip spectrometers. Test the fabricated devices in UoS and in situ at the UoP Environmental Technology Field Station. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 05 Developing Mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy as a method for identifying phages for research and diagnostic purposes. (Saul Faust) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our collaboration aims to characterise phages using Mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy (MAS). We will measure the spectroscopic fingerprint of a variety of phages to determine whether MAS can be used to differentiate DNA and RNA phages and to identify absorption peaks that relate to different phages. We envisage that the data generated will help inform further investigation of the following: 1. MAS as a label-free method for characterising the microbiome for research purposes. 2. The use of MAS as a diagnostic tool for identifying viral infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Traditional phage characterisation methods are time-consuming and laborious; here we used mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to test 56 newly isolated, and previously uncharacterised Klebsiella pneumoniae phages, as well as 12 characterised and known phages. Measurements were performed on the individual phages suspended in media and classified using Principle Component Analysis. We were able to identify the distinct types of phages with no additional sample preparation using MIR spectroscopy. Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the five most critical antimicrobial resistant species - the "ESKAPE" pathogens - with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) being on the priority list for the development of new antimicrobials (PMID 23458769, PMID 29276051). Previous work by our collaborators identified 56 new K. pneumoniae phages and characterised them using traditional methods to assess the potential of these phages in phage therapy, which has the potential to aid antibiotics in clearing bacterial infections (PMID 34512166). We have previously shown that MIR spectroscopy can identify antibiotics and quantify their concentrations directly in whole blood. Therefore, classifying both at once would enable antimicrobial performance to be assessed in real time: ideally this would show a drop in antibiotic levels followed by a drop in phage levels. This is impossible with other techniques, making MIR technology an ideal tool for research (by comparing efficacy of potential treatments) and therapeutic medicine (for assessing patient response). Next steps: - Pending the outcomes of our planned next experiments, decide between the following sources for a grant application: EPSRC IAA; MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme; NIHR Invention for Innovation. - One ECR (Dr David J Rowe) applied for a three year UoS Anniversary Fellowship, which included developing this research as one of three work packages. - Discuss study design with statistician in UoS Maths (Antony Overstall). - Obtain a greater variety of phages and characterise with MIR spectroscopy to build model for machine learning classification. - Involvement of laboratory technicians at NIHR CRF so that more phages can be analysed over the coming year. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 05 Developing Mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy as a method for identifying phages for research and diagnostic purposes. (Saul Faust) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our collaboration aims to characterise phages using Mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy (MAS). We will measure the spectroscopic fingerprint of a variety of phages to determine whether MAS can be used to differentiate DNA and RNA phages and to identify absorption peaks that relate to different phages. We envisage that the data generated will help inform further investigation of the following: 1. MAS as a label-free method for characterising the microbiome for research purposes. 2. The use of MAS as a diagnostic tool for identifying viral infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | Traditional phage characterisation methods are time-consuming and laborious; here we used mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to test 56 newly isolated, and previously uncharacterised Klebsiella pneumoniae phages, as well as 12 characterised and known phages. Measurements were performed on the individual phages suspended in media and classified using Principle Component Analysis. We were able to identify the distinct types of phages with no additional sample preparation using MIR spectroscopy. Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the five most critical antimicrobial resistant species - the "ESKAPE" pathogens - with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) being on the priority list for the development of new antimicrobials (PMID 23458769, PMID 29276051). Previous work by our collaborators identified 56 new K. pneumoniae phages and characterised them using traditional methods to assess the potential of these phages in phage therapy, which has the potential to aid antibiotics in clearing bacterial infections (PMID 34512166). We have previously shown that MIR spectroscopy can identify antibiotics and quantify their concentrations directly in whole blood. Therefore, classifying both at once would enable antimicrobial performance to be assessed in real time: ideally this would show a drop in antibiotic levels followed by a drop in phage levels. This is impossible with other techniques, making MIR technology an ideal tool for research (by comparing efficacy of potential treatments) and therapeutic medicine (for assessing patient response). Next steps: - Pending the outcomes of our planned next experiments, decide between the following sources for a grant application: EPSRC IAA; MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme; NIHR Invention for Innovation. - One ECR (Dr David J Rowe) applied for a three year UoS Anniversary Fellowship, which included developing this research as one of three work packages. - Discuss study design with statistician in UoS Maths (Antony Overstall). - Obtain a greater variety of phages and characterise with MIR spectroscopy to build model for machine learning classification. - Involvement of laboratory technicians at NIHR CRF so that more phages can be analysed over the coming year. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 06 Developing a fluorescence biosensor based on a curcumin binding protein (Ivo Tews) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The two applicants met for the first time at the Biofilms Impact meeting 2021 at Southampton. We propose to explore the binding of curcumin to the Escherichia coli curcumin reductase, CurA. While the natural fluorescence is to be harvested for biosensor development, a structural biology aspect is required for understanding the mechanism of fluorescence. This then leads into targeted design of an optimal fluorescent binder and represents a novel opportunity in bio-engineering. Moore regularly obtains high yields of curcumin reductase from E. coli (>20 mg/L) and has recently demonstrated that the weak quantum yield of curcumin in aqueous solvents (? = 0.01) is 20-fold enhanced when bound to the enzyme (doi: 10.1101/2021.09.22.461347). Tews has over 25 years experience in protein crystallography and will contribute access to the protein-to-structure capability at the Institute for Life Sciences. Curcumin reductase structures are known (Fig 1), however not in curcumin bound state. We are able to generate stable curcumin complexes of the NADP deplete E. coli enzyme, suited for structure determination. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have met in Kent 24.2.2022; present were Simon Moore, Anastasios Tsaousis, both Kent, and Chris Holes, Ivo Tews, both Southampton. We discussed the potential collaboration and availability of instrumentation and both laboratories, and how work would be split between the two sites. We decided that cloning and biological assays were to be carried out in Kent, Protein purification can be carried out in both places, crystallisation and structural biology would be carried out in Southampton, and anaerobic work would be set up in Kent, with Southampton advising. We inspected initial protein crystallisation trials done at Kent and took samples back to Southampton for further analysis. At Southampton, we used the UV microscope to demonstrate the crystals were protein (not salt), froze crystals, and analysed them at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility 3+4.3.2022. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The funds were spent on travel (£140) and for crystallisation consumables. The experiments created preliminary data that were included in a grant application to the BBSRC (deadline 27.4.2022). Next steps: Further grant proposal in preparation for autumn, however this requires further pump prime funding and hands-on experiments to generate the required preliminary data. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 06 Developing a fluorescence biosensor based on a curcumin binding protein (Ivo Tews) |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | The two applicants met for the first time at the Biofilms Impact meeting 2021 at Southampton. We propose to explore the binding of curcumin to the Escherichia coli curcumin reductase, CurA. While the natural fluorescence is to be harvested for biosensor development, a structural biology aspect is required for understanding the mechanism of fluorescence. This then leads into targeted design of an optimal fluorescent binder and represents a novel opportunity in bio-engineering. Moore regularly obtains high yields of curcumin reductase from E. coli (>20 mg/L) and has recently demonstrated that the weak quantum yield of curcumin in aqueous solvents (? = 0.01) is 20-fold enhanced when bound to the enzyme (doi: 10.1101/2021.09.22.461347). Tews has over 25 years experience in protein crystallography and will contribute access to the protein-to-structure capability at the Institute for Life Sciences. Curcumin reductase structures are known (Fig 1), however not in curcumin bound state. We are able to generate stable curcumin complexes of the NADP deplete E. coli enzyme, suited for structure determination. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have met in Kent 24.2.2022; present were Simon Moore, Anastasios Tsaousis, both Kent, and Chris Holes, Ivo Tews, both Southampton. We discussed the potential collaboration and availability of instrumentation and both laboratories, and how work would be split between the two sites. We decided that cloning and biological assays were to be carried out in Kent, Protein purification can be carried out in both places, crystallisation and structural biology would be carried out in Southampton, and anaerobic work would be set up in Kent, with Southampton advising. We inspected initial protein crystallisation trials done at Kent and took samples back to Southampton for further analysis. At Southampton, we used the UV microscope to demonstrate the crystals were protein (not salt), froze crystals, and analysed them at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility 3+4.3.2022. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The funds were spent on travel (£140) and for crystallisation consumables. The experiments created preliminary data that were included in a grant application to the BBSRC (deadline 27.4.2022). Next steps: Further grant proposal in preparation for autumn, however this requires further pump prime funding and hands-on experiments to generate the required preliminary data. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 06 Developing a fluorescence biosensor based on a curcumin binding protein (Ivo Tews) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The two applicants met for the first time at the Biofilms Impact meeting 2021 at Southampton. We propose to explore the binding of curcumin to the Escherichia coli curcumin reductase, CurA. While the natural fluorescence is to be harvested for biosensor development, a structural biology aspect is required for understanding the mechanism of fluorescence. This then leads into targeted design of an optimal fluorescent binder and represents a novel opportunity in bio-engineering. Moore regularly obtains high yields of curcumin reductase from E. coli (>20 mg/L) and has recently demonstrated that the weak quantum yield of curcumin in aqueous solvents (? = 0.01) is 20-fold enhanced when bound to the enzyme (doi: 10.1101/2021.09.22.461347). Tews has over 25 years experience in protein crystallography and will contribute access to the protein-to-structure capability at the Institute for Life Sciences. Curcumin reductase structures are known (Fig 1), however not in curcumin bound state. We are able to generate stable curcumin complexes of the NADP deplete E. coli enzyme, suited for structure determination. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have met in Kent 24.2.2022; present were Simon Moore, Anastasios Tsaousis, both Kent, and Chris Holes, Ivo Tews, both Southampton. We discussed the potential collaboration and availability of instrumentation and both laboratories, and how work would be split between the two sites. We decided that cloning and biological assays were to be carried out in Kent, Protein purification can be carried out in both places, crystallisation and structural biology would be carried out in Southampton, and anaerobic work would be set up in Kent, with Southampton advising. We inspected initial protein crystallisation trials done at Kent and took samples back to Southampton for further analysis. At Southampton, we used the UV microscope to demonstrate the crystals were protein (not salt), froze crystals, and analysed them at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility 3+4.3.2022. |
| Impact | Feedback from academic: The funds were spent on travel (£140) and for crystallisation consumables. The experiments created preliminary data that were included in a grant application to the BBSRC (deadline 27.4.2022). Next steps: Further grant proposal in preparation for autumn, however this requires further pump prime funding and hands-on experiments to generate the required preliminary data. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 07 Microbial, metabolomic and metagenomic factors implicated in diseases of the female reproductive tract (Ying Cheong) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | [1] Research meeting(s) to finalise planned collaborative research projects: - Develop and optimise a pipeline for clinical sample collection across the patient journey to characterise the microbiomic and metabolomic signatures of the reproductive tract - Investigate the relationship between the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome in tubal ectopic pregnancy - Determine the influence of the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome on gynaecological pathologies [2] Time spent on writing research grant proposals together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | The NBIC funds were spent on a research dinner where the background of the study was presented and potential routes of research/ analysis and funding were discussed. This gathering allowed the potential collaborators for the project to meet each other in the same room at the same time in a pleasant environment which facilitated open and creative discussions and strengthened relationships. Next steps: - Consolidating of analysis plans - Writing of SOPs for sample collection and analysis - Applying together for funding grants - including Wellbeing of Women and NIHR grants. These may be preceded by smaller seed grants. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 07 Microbial, metabolomic and metagenomic factors implicated in diseases of the female reproductive tract (Ying Cheong) |
| Organisation | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | [1] Research meeting(s) to finalise planned collaborative research projects: - Develop and optimise a pipeline for clinical sample collection across the patient journey to characterise the microbiomic and metabolomic signatures of the reproductive tract - Investigate the relationship between the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome in tubal ectopic pregnancy - Determine the influence of the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome on gynaecological pathologies [2] Time spent on writing research grant proposals together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | The NBIC funds were spent on a research dinner where the background of the study was presented and potential routes of research/ analysis and funding were discussed. This gathering allowed the potential collaborators for the project to meet each other in the same room at the same time in a pleasant environment which facilitated open and creative discussions and strengthened relationships. Next steps: - Consolidating of analysis plans - Writing of SOPs for sample collection and analysis - Applying together for funding grants - including Wellbeing of Women and NIHR grants. These may be preceded by smaller seed grants. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 07 Microbial, metabolomic and metagenomic factors implicated in diseases of the female reproductive tract (Ying Cheong) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | [1] Research meeting(s) to finalise planned collaborative research projects: - Develop and optimise a pipeline for clinical sample collection across the patient journey to characterise the microbiomic and metabolomic signatures of the reproductive tract - Investigate the relationship between the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome in tubal ectopic pregnancy - Determine the influence of the reproductive tract metagenome and metabolome on gynaecological pathologies [2] Time spent on writing research grant proposals together. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | The NBIC funds were spent on a research dinner where the background of the study was presented and potential routes of research/ analysis and funding were discussed. This gathering allowed the potential collaborators for the project to meet each other in the same room at the same time in a pleasant environment which facilitated open and creative discussions and strengthened relationships. Next steps: - Consolidating of analysis plans - Writing of SOPs for sample collection and analysis - Applying together for funding grants - including Wellbeing of Women and NIHR grants. These may be preceded by smaller seed grants. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 08 Non-invasive tools for monitoring microbiome dynamics and diagnosing skin conditions (Michael Ardern-Jones) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Skin microbiome and its effect on various skin conditions and diseases is now well established. However, increased understanding of the dynamics in response to environmental exposure, use of personal healthcare products as well as treatments is still required. Moreover, tools which can be deployed in clinical settings for non-invasive interrogation of the skin and associated microbiome both for research as well as diagnoses are lacking. There is immense appetite for putting together a consortium of interested colleagues with diverse expertise and to collate our collective skills towards solving unmet needs related to skin through new technological tools. Katerina Steventon at NBIC has been particularly been instrumental in helping with these activities and an initial meeting was organised earlier this year. Through this funding request we want bring together a focussed group of clinicians, experimentalists and technology developers and potentially some identified industrial partners to brainstorm and discuss ways to take things forward and where possible, acquire pilot data. We will work with Katerina as well as reach out to colleagues within Southampton. We would like to organise a half-day workshop at a suitable venue (such as the Axis Centre or Avenue Campus) to brainstorm, discuss and develop ideas into project outlines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Pump-prime 08 Non-invasive tools for monitoring microbiome dynamics and diagnosing skin conditions (Michael Ardern-Jones) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Skin microbiome and its effect on various skin conditions and diseases is now well established. However, increased understanding of the dynamics in response to environmental exposure, use of personal healthcare products as well as treatments is still required. Moreover, tools which can be deployed in clinical settings for non-invasive interrogation of the skin and associated microbiome both for research as well as diagnoses are lacking. There is immense appetite for putting together a consortium of interested colleagues with diverse expertise and to collate our collective skills towards solving unmet needs related to skin through new technological tools. Katerina Steventon at NBIC has been particularly been instrumental in helping with these activities and an initial meeting was organised earlier this year. Through this funding request we want bring together a focussed group of clinicians, experimentalists and technology developers and potentially some identified industrial partners to brainstorm and discuss ways to take things forward and where possible, acquire pilot data. We will work with Katerina as well as reach out to colleagues within Southampton. We would like to organise a half-day workshop at a suitable venue (such as the Axis Centre or Avenue Campus) to brainstorm, discuss and develop ideas into project outlines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As outlined above. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Research Collaboration with Cica Biomedical: Follow on funding (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | Cica Biomedical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Research Collaboration with Cica Biomedical: Follow on funding (Holly Wilkinson) |
| Organisation | University of Hull |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Ongoing development and application of biofilm-relevant wound models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of industry insight into biofilm wound models and identification of additional partner opportunities. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biofilm wound models. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Research collaboration with Micreos Pharma |
| Organisation | Micreos |
| Department | Micreos Human Health BV |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Performing pre-clinical efficacy testing to inform future clinical trials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Study support and oversight, provision of test agents and collaboration has also led to follow-on funding from the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. |
| Impact | Publications currently in preparation but no direct outputs yet. The collaboration is multidisciplinary and brings together wound healing expertise, biological models, microbiology, genomics and formulation expertise. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Research on biofilms outreach practices (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Framing the research, helping with collecting and analysing results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Framing the research, helping with collecting and analysing results, writing the research. |
| Impact | Publication in process. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Research on biofilms outreach practices (JC Denis) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Framing the research, helping with collecting and analysing results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Framing the research, helping with collecting and analysing results, writing the research. |
| Impact | Publication in process. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | Go South Coast Ltd |
| Department | Bluestar Buses |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | University of Newcastle |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Routes of infection, routes to safety: creative mapping of human-viral behaviours on the bus to understand infection prevention practices. (Emma Roe) |
| Organisation | YouSeq Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | UKRI grant AH/V014986/1 http://www.biicl.org > documents > 10673_full_response_open |
| Collaborator Contribution | There is an absence of qualitative, interdisciplinary research on the personal application of infection prevention (IP) measures, like hand-washing and mask-wearing, and its effectiveness beyond the healthcare setting. In this crisis, IP measures are critical to building confidence to resume leisure and economic activity out of the home. The project advances previous work by this team that identified a need for novel IP research which integrates behavioural, microbiological and aesthetic approaches to creatively demonstrate the interactions of human movement with microbial/viral transmission. The case study is the public transport bus and its diverse community of users, including BAME and other higher-risk groups. The research will: i) investigate the structural challenges in consistent application of IP in public (and private) spaces; ii) provide microbiological and sociological evidence to inform and improve effective cleaning practices for bus operators and safe travel practices for bus users; iii) generate wider public knowledge and understanding of infection risk/prevention and their geographies in shared indoor spaces. This project will build confidence by addressing unknowns about the potential viral threat of boarding the bus. The team will work quickly to undertake and integrate findings from an ethnographic research and a microbiome study to assess the effectiveness of bus cleaning routines and passenger PPE. A fluorescents mapping simulation using ultraviolet powders and sprays will mimic and demonstrate visually the mobility of 'mock' SARS-CoV-2 through contact and aerosols if IP measures are not implemented. Outputs include the creation of novel viral aesthetic materials to communicate the effectiveness of IP. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Singapore: Building a globally leading partnership between the National Biofilms Innovation Centre and SCELSE (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This proposal will advance development of the major strategic collaborative funding initiatives between the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), and the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), aresearch Centre of Excellence based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The shared vision of NBIC and SCELSE is to build a globally leading UK-Singapore partnership in biofilm research.Specifically, this Global Partnering Award will facilitate:- Placements and Internships (~five); to build collaborative and supervisory relationships in advance of the commencement of our joint PhD program.- Targeted visits to develop major strategic collaborative funding initiatives; we anticipate five early career researcher exchanges between NBIC and SCELSE. These exchanges will also provide shared, collaborative access to facilities established at SCELSE, NTU and NUS and across the UK NBIC consortium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BBSRC funding reference BB/T020121/1. NBIC is included in the BBSRC's delivery plan as a key component of their Research and Innovation priorities, in order to 'connect researchers across the UK and catalyse collaboration with industry in the study of biofilms to achieve breakthrough innovations'2. This award will be essential to drive and maximise a global partnership between SCELSE and NBIC. Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors. By bringing together the complementary strengths and expertise of NBIC and SCELSE we will amplify efforts across both centres to address core scientific global biofilm challenges to the mutual benefit of both nations and globally. The NBIC-SCELSE partnership will further foster synergistic interactions between the SNBC and NBIC's wider UK industry partnership and government agencies. SCELSE will support these endeavours through salary and stipends to early career research staff and students respectively. SCELSE will also host students and researchers from the UK universities covering their accommodation and providing supervision by SCELSE faculty in addition to the access to high-end facilities. Taken together, we anticipate that this cash and in-kind contribution of our faculty, staff and students for interaction with NBIC can be valued at approximately SG$ ~500K over 3 years. NBIC is unable to fund this activity from current funding because its investment and remit is focused on promoting academic-industry partnerships, innovation and translational activity within the UK. In contrast, the proposed partnership will require the international exchange of leading academic expertise and early career researchers to establish a joint research program and strategies for fundamental research in pursuit of our goals. The funding will allow us to generate evidence of the research synergies identified above, exchange knowledge and capabilities between Singapore and the UK and lead to us making applications for further collaborative funding through our respective funding bodies and other routes. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Singapore: Building a globally leading partnership between the National Biofilms Innovation Centre and SCELSE (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proposal will advance development of the major strategic collaborative funding initiatives between the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), and the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), aresearch Centre of Excellence based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The shared vision of NBIC and SCELSE is to build a globally leading UK-Singapore partnership in biofilm research.Specifically, this Global Partnering Award will facilitate:- Placements and Internships (~five); to build collaborative and supervisory relationships in advance of the commencement of our joint PhD program.- Targeted visits to develop major strategic collaborative funding initiatives; we anticipate five early career researcher exchanges between NBIC and SCELSE. These exchanges will also provide shared, collaborative access to facilities established at SCELSE, NTU and NUS and across the UK NBIC consortium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BBSRC funding reference BB/T020121/1. NBIC is included in the BBSRC's delivery plan as a key component of their Research and Innovation priorities, in order to 'connect researchers across the UK and catalyse collaboration with industry in the study of biofilms to achieve breakthrough innovations'2. This award will be essential to drive and maximise a global partnership between SCELSE and NBIC. Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors. By bringing together the complementary strengths and expertise of NBIC and SCELSE we will amplify efforts across both centres to address core scientific global biofilm challenges to the mutual benefit of both nations and globally. The NBIC-SCELSE partnership will further foster synergistic interactions between the SNBC and NBIC's wider UK industry partnership and government agencies. SCELSE will support these endeavours through salary and stipends to early career research staff and students respectively. SCELSE will also host students and researchers from the UK universities covering their accommodation and providing supervision by SCELSE faculty in addition to the access to high-end facilities. Taken together, we anticipate that this cash and in-kind contribution of our faculty, staff and students for interaction with NBIC can be valued at approximately SG$ ~500K over 3 years. NBIC is unable to fund this activity from current funding because its investment and remit is focused on promoting academic-industry partnerships, innovation and translational activity within the UK. In contrast, the proposed partnership will require the international exchange of leading academic expertise and early career researchers to establish a joint research program and strategies for fundamental research in pursuit of our goals. The funding will allow us to generate evidence of the research synergies identified above, exchange knowledge and capabilities between Singapore and the UK and lead to us making applications for further collaborative funding through our respective funding bodies and other routes. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Singapore: Building a globally leading partnership between the National Biofilms Innovation Centre and SCELSE (Jeremy Webb) |
| Organisation | Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering |
| Country | Singapore |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This proposal will advance development of the major strategic collaborative funding initiatives between the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), and the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), aresearch Centre of Excellence based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The shared vision of NBIC and SCELSE is to build a globally leading UK-Singapore partnership in biofilm research.Specifically, this Global Partnering Award will facilitate:- Placements and Internships (~five); to build collaborative and supervisory relationships in advance of the commencement of our joint PhD program.- Targeted visits to develop major strategic collaborative funding initiatives; we anticipate five early career researcher exchanges between NBIC and SCELSE. These exchanges will also provide shared, collaborative access to facilities established at SCELSE, NTU and NUS and across the UK NBIC consortium. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BBSRC funding reference BB/T020121/1. NBIC is included in the BBSRC's delivery plan as a key component of their Research and Innovation priorities, in order to 'connect researchers across the UK and catalyse collaboration with industry in the study of biofilms to achieve breakthrough innovations'2. This award will be essential to drive and maximise a global partnership between SCELSE and NBIC. Biofilms are central to some of the most urgent global challenges and exert considerable economic impact across industry sectors. By bringing together the complementary strengths and expertise of NBIC and SCELSE we will amplify efforts across both centres to address core scientific global biofilm challenges to the mutual benefit of both nations and globally. The NBIC-SCELSE partnership will further foster synergistic interactions between the SNBC and NBIC's wider UK industry partnership and government agencies. SCELSE will support these endeavours through salary and stipends to early career research staff and students respectively. SCELSE will also host students and researchers from the UK universities covering their accommodation and providing supervision by SCELSE faculty in addition to the access to high-end facilities. Taken together, we anticipate that this cash and in-kind contribution of our faculty, staff and students for interaction with NBIC can be valued at approximately SG$ ~500K over 3 years. NBIC is unable to fund this activity from current funding because its investment and remit is focused on promoting academic-industry partnerships, innovation and translational activity within the UK. In contrast, the proposed partnership will require the international exchange of leading academic expertise and early career researchers to establish a joint research program and strategies for fundamental research in pursuit of our goals. The funding will allow us to generate evidence of the research synergies identified above, exchange knowledge and capabilities between Singapore and the UK and lead to us making applications for further collaborative funding through our respective funding bodies and other routes. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Smith and Nephew Consultancy |
| Organisation | Smith and Nephew |
| Department | Smith and Nephew Wound Management |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Confidential |
| Collaborator Contribution | Confidential |
| Impact | This collaboration is multi-disciplinary: Microbiology Clinical research |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Strength in Places Fund: Delivering Integrated Solutions for Human Infections (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Developing anti-microbial technologies via knowledge-based design. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Part of the £18M Strength in Places award to Liverpool City Region in 2020. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: Surface science, Chemistry, Imaging science, Microbiology, Clinical sciences. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Student placement from JianXi Normal University in China (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Jiangxi Normal University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PhD student from JianXi Normal University in China joining Loughborough University for a 6 month visit. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint supervision. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Student placement from JianXi Normal University in China (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PhD student from JianXi Normal University in China joining Loughborough University for a 6 month visit. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint supervision. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Studies in Solid Formulation Stability |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Due to the work conducted during my EngD studies in combination with the success of this project (NBIC_FTMA_P_19_2_38), GSK and UCL signed an Exchange Knowledge Agreement and funded a 6 month study on the stability of solid formulations. The study was conducted by me under supervision of Ivan Parkin and employed a spectroscopic techniques (H- NMR, IR, UV/Vis) and scanning electron microscopy. This study can help the development of stronger formulations by giving insights on the increase of its reactive oxygen species output. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding of study. |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Studying microbiological activity on foulant as a function of time and storage conditions (Maria Masoura) |
| Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to facilities, training and funding. |
| Impact | Confidential. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Studying microbiological activity on foulant as a function of time and storage conditions (Maria Masoura) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training and supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to facilities, training and funding. |
| Impact | Confidential. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Targeted Proteins as a Novel Therapeutics against Multispecies Vaginal Biofilms (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | CC Biotech |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Targeted Proteins as a Novel Therapeutics against Multispecies Vaginal Biofilms (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Targeted Proteins as a Novel Therapeutics against Multispecies Vaginal Biofilms (Ryan Kean) |
| Organisation | Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Targeting pneumococcal carbohydrate metabolism to treat childhood infections (Raymond Allan) |
| Organisation | De Montfort University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of chemically-modified galactose analogues as novel treatments for Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm-associated infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Targeting pneumococcal carbohydrate metabolism to treat childhood infections (Raymond Allan) |
| Organisation | Rosetrees Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of chemically-modified galactose analogues as novel treatments for Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm-associated infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Targeting pneumococcal carbohydrate metabolism to treat childhood infections (Raymond Allan) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of chemically-modified galactose analogues as novel treatments for Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm-associated infections. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research grant. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Tecrea/University College London, Nanocin/UTI collaboration (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | Tecrea Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Tecrea - Provided expertise and intellectual input regarding the Nanocin technology. Provided Nanocin for use in experiments. Provided staff member time for completion of grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University College London - Provided expertise and intellectual input regarding current urinary tract research and study design. Provided access to laboratories and equipment (such as laser scanning confocal microscope) at University college London. Trained the Tecrea lab staff in laser scanning confocal microscopy and data analysis. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding: accepted for new NBIC grant (currently underway) for continuing the research assessing Nanocin against UTI co-biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Tecrea/University College London, Nanocin/UTI collaboration (Isabelle Papandronicou) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tecrea - Provided expertise and intellectual input regarding the Nanocin technology. Provided Nanocin for use in experiments. Provided staff member time for completion of grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University College London - Provided expertise and intellectual input regarding current urinary tract research and study design. Provided access to laboratories and equipment (such as laser scanning confocal microscope) at University college London. Trained the Tecrea lab staff in laser scanning confocal microscopy and data analysis. |
| Impact | Follow-on funding: accepted for new NBIC grant (currently underway) for continuing the research assessing Nanocin against UTI co-biofilms. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Testing new antimicrobials in skin and corneal infections (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | JNCASR Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of 3D human skin and porcine cornea explant infection models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of new compounds. |
| Impact | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00334 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Testing new antimicrobials in skin and corneal infections (Peter Monk) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of 3D human skin and porcine cornea explant infection models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of new compounds. |
| Impact | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00334 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Testing the antibiotic sensitivities of Pseudomonas clinical isolates with Raman spectroscopy (Callum Highmore) |
| Organisation | NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Optically enhanced antiviral transparent screen protection (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Diamond Coatings Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Further collaboration on other projects with Gencoa Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Optically enhanced antiviral transparent screen protection (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Gencoa |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Further collaboration on other projects with Gencoa Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Optically enhanced antiviral transparent screen protection (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Further collaboration on other projects with Gencoa Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Optically enhanced antiviral transparent screen protection (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Academic research and labs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and subcontracting. |
| Impact | Further collaboration on other projects with Gencoa Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The University of Sheffield - Kraton Collaboration (Andrew Parnell) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have used the existing commercially available block copolymers to show how important stiffness is on producing materials that have surface antibacterial properties. These are stiff but also have rubbery behaviour making them suitable for a whole host of technological applications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Kraton have and will continue to provide an assortment of cutting edge block copolymers. These are bcp's with varying chain architecture. These are currently being synthesised in their pilot plant in Houston. In principle they have the capability to made at scale and are low cost due to the feedstock material. They also have been used previously in some medical implants, as such the routes to gaining clearance will be easier. |
| Impact | A draft of a patent is currently being processed by my technology transfer office. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | The effect of low frequency ultrasound on urinary catheter biofilms: a crossover study (Follow on funding) (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | NanoVibronix Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Follow on qualitative study on acceptability of low frequency acoustic device for catheter users. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Additional funding of £42000 allowing a qualitative, semi-structured interview study on additional participants testing the low frequency acoustic device for management of indwelling urinary catheters. Providing information and data for NICE guidance and product development. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | The effect of low frequency ultrasound on urinary catheter biofilms: a crossover study (Follow on funding) (Sandra Wilks) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Follow on qualitative study on acceptability of low frequency acoustic device for catheter users. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Additional funding of £42000 allowing a qualitative, semi-structured interview study on additional participants testing the low frequency acoustic device for management of indwelling urinary catheters. Providing information and data for NICE guidance and product development. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership (Sumeet Mahajan, Peter Smith, David Richardson) |
| Organisation | AstraZeneca |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC research grant EP/V038036/1 The Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) partnership aims to develop disruptive technology for the benefit of UK Plc and for solving problems in industry and academia. The mainstay of current imaging methods to look at pre-clinical biological samples is fluorescence microscopy. This technique relies on the use of tags, which emit light when illuminated by the microscope, allowing the location of the structures or molecules to which they are attached to be determined. Insertion or attachment of a tag is an invasive process for any living system and can alter its behaviour and the way it functions. Furthermore, all living systems, tissue and cells are inherently 3-dimensional. Therefore to image in 3D one has to point-by-point collect fluorescence signal and reconstruct an image. This is a very slow and damaging process especially for 3-D live samples that represent real-life conditions. For discovering new drugs or for studying mechanisms in diseases or healing it is obvious that one should use conditions that are as near to real life as possible, before human testing. This is why most biomedical researchers and industrial sectors that operate in the area of diseases, drugs or therapeutics want to use life-like samples. At the moment however, the tools to image them in 3D and in an unperturbed, non-damaging manner simply do not exist. Furthermore, it is desirable to work at the highest resolution so we can see the smallest things that exist at the nanoscale in such biological systems and obtain holistic information about the chemical composition and structural order. This information will reveal unprecedented insight and hence help understand diseases or why a particular drug candidate does or does not work allowing better ones to be made. TIQBio will address these challenges so that unperturbed, live imaging can be carried out at an unprecedented resolution level in full 3D, with holistic information from multiple readouts carried out rapidly on 100s of test biological models. These innovative tools and technologies will allow the discovery of drugs to be improved, reduce costs for bringing a drug to market benefiting the pharma industry and patients alike. Patients with rare diseases or in lower income countries may gain access to new drugs because of the proposed disruptive technology. Biomedical researchers will benefit as they will be able to understand phenomena without misleading results due to tags; the use of real life-like models will better inform or protect the public through the development of therapies or defence countermeasures. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership (Sumeet Mahajan, Peter Smith, David Richardson) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC research grant EP/V038036/1 The Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) partnership aims to develop disruptive technology for the benefit of UK Plc and for solving problems in industry and academia. The mainstay of current imaging methods to look at pre-clinical biological samples is fluorescence microscopy. This technique relies on the use of tags, which emit light when illuminated by the microscope, allowing the location of the structures or molecules to which they are attached to be determined. Insertion or attachment of a tag is an invasive process for any living system and can alter its behaviour and the way it functions. Furthermore, all living systems, tissue and cells are inherently 3-dimensional. Therefore to image in 3D one has to point-by-point collect fluorescence signal and reconstruct an image. This is a very slow and damaging process especially for 3-D live samples that represent real-life conditions. For discovering new drugs or for studying mechanisms in diseases or healing it is obvious that one should use conditions that are as near to real life as possible, before human testing. This is why most biomedical researchers and industrial sectors that operate in the area of diseases, drugs or therapeutics want to use life-like samples. At the moment however, the tools to image them in 3D and in an unperturbed, non-damaging manner simply do not exist. Furthermore, it is desirable to work at the highest resolution so we can see the smallest things that exist at the nanoscale in such biological systems and obtain holistic information about the chemical composition and structural order. This information will reveal unprecedented insight and hence help understand diseases or why a particular drug candidate does or does not work allowing better ones to be made. TIQBio will address these challenges so that unperturbed, live imaging can be carried out at an unprecedented resolution level in full 3D, with holistic information from multiple readouts carried out rapidly on 100s of test biological models. These innovative tools and technologies will allow the discovery of drugs to be improved, reduce costs for bringing a drug to market benefiting the pharma industry and patients alike. Patients with rare diseases or in lower income countries may gain access to new drugs because of the proposed disruptive technology. Biomedical researchers will benefit as they will be able to understand phenomena without misleading results due to tags; the use of real life-like models will better inform or protect the public through the development of therapies or defence countermeasures. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership (Sumeet Mahajan, Peter Smith, David Richardson) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC research grant EP/V038036/1 The Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) partnership aims to develop disruptive technology for the benefit of UK Plc and for solving problems in industry and academia. The mainstay of current imaging methods to look at pre-clinical biological samples is fluorescence microscopy. This technique relies on the use of tags, which emit light when illuminated by the microscope, allowing the location of the structures or molecules to which they are attached to be determined. Insertion or attachment of a tag is an invasive process for any living system and can alter its behaviour and the way it functions. Furthermore, all living systems, tissue and cells are inherently 3-dimensional. Therefore to image in 3D one has to point-by-point collect fluorescence signal and reconstruct an image. This is a very slow and damaging process especially for 3-D live samples that represent real-life conditions. For discovering new drugs or for studying mechanisms in diseases or healing it is obvious that one should use conditions that are as near to real life as possible, before human testing. This is why most biomedical researchers and industrial sectors that operate in the area of diseases, drugs or therapeutics want to use life-like samples. At the moment however, the tools to image them in 3D and in an unperturbed, non-damaging manner simply do not exist. Furthermore, it is desirable to work at the highest resolution so we can see the smallest things that exist at the nanoscale in such biological systems and obtain holistic information about the chemical composition and structural order. This information will reveal unprecedented insight and hence help understand diseases or why a particular drug candidate does or does not work allowing better ones to be made. TIQBio will address these challenges so that unperturbed, live imaging can be carried out at an unprecedented resolution level in full 3D, with holistic information from multiple readouts carried out rapidly on 100s of test biological models. These innovative tools and technologies will allow the discovery of drugs to be improved, reduce costs for bringing a drug to market benefiting the pharma industry and patients alike. Patients with rare diseases or in lower income countries may gain access to new drugs because of the proposed disruptive technology. Biomedical researchers will benefit as they will be able to understand phenomena without misleading results due to tags; the use of real life-like models will better inform or protect the public through the development of therapies or defence countermeasures. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership (Sumeet Mahajan, Peter Smith, David Richardson) |
| Organisation | M Squared Lasers Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC research grant EP/V038036/1 The Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) partnership aims to develop disruptive technology for the benefit of UK Plc and for solving problems in industry and academia. The mainstay of current imaging methods to look at pre-clinical biological samples is fluorescence microscopy. This technique relies on the use of tags, which emit light when illuminated by the microscope, allowing the location of the structures or molecules to which they are attached to be determined. Insertion or attachment of a tag is an invasive process for any living system and can alter its behaviour and the way it functions. Furthermore, all living systems, tissue and cells are inherently 3-dimensional. Therefore to image in 3D one has to point-by-point collect fluorescence signal and reconstruct an image. This is a very slow and damaging process especially for 3-D live samples that represent real-life conditions. For discovering new drugs or for studying mechanisms in diseases or healing it is obvious that one should use conditions that are as near to real life as possible, before human testing. This is why most biomedical researchers and industrial sectors that operate in the area of diseases, drugs or therapeutics want to use life-like samples. At the moment however, the tools to image them in 3D and in an unperturbed, non-damaging manner simply do not exist. Furthermore, it is desirable to work at the highest resolution so we can see the smallest things that exist at the nanoscale in such biological systems and obtain holistic information about the chemical composition and structural order. This information will reveal unprecedented insight and hence help understand diseases or why a particular drug candidate does or does not work allowing better ones to be made. TIQBio will address these challenges so that unperturbed, live imaging can be carried out at an unprecedented resolution level in full 3D, with holistic information from multiple readouts carried out rapidly on 100s of test biological models. These innovative tools and technologies will allow the discovery of drugs to be improved, reduce costs for bringing a drug to market benefiting the pharma industry and patients alike. Patients with rare diseases or in lower income countries may gain access to new drugs because of the proposed disruptive technology. Biomedical researchers will benefit as they will be able to understand phenomena without misleading results due to tags; the use of real life-like models will better inform or protect the public through the development of therapies or defence countermeasures. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) Partnership (Sumeet Mahajan, Peter Smith, David Richardson) |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EPSRC research grant EP/V038036/1 The Transformative Imaging for Quantitative Biology (TIQBio) partnership aims to develop disruptive technology for the benefit of UK Plc and for solving problems in industry and academia. The mainstay of current imaging methods to look at pre-clinical biological samples is fluorescence microscopy. This technique relies on the use of tags, which emit light when illuminated by the microscope, allowing the location of the structures or molecules to which they are attached to be determined. Insertion or attachment of a tag is an invasive process for any living system and can alter its behaviour and the way it functions. Furthermore, all living systems, tissue and cells are inherently 3-dimensional. Therefore to image in 3D one has to point-by-point collect fluorescence signal and reconstruct an image. This is a very slow and damaging process especially for 3-D live samples that represent real-life conditions. For discovering new drugs or for studying mechanisms in diseases or healing it is obvious that one should use conditions that are as near to real life as possible, before human testing. This is why most biomedical researchers and industrial sectors that operate in the area of diseases, drugs or therapeutics want to use life-like samples. At the moment however, the tools to image them in 3D and in an unperturbed, non-damaging manner simply do not exist. Furthermore, it is desirable to work at the highest resolution so we can see the smallest things that exist at the nanoscale in such biological systems and obtain holistic information about the chemical composition and structural order. This information will reveal unprecedented insight and hence help understand diseases or why a particular drug candidate does or does not work allowing better ones to be made. TIQBio will address these challenges so that unperturbed, live imaging can be carried out at an unprecedented resolution level in full 3D, with holistic information from multiple readouts carried out rapidly on 100s of test biological models. These innovative tools and technologies will allow the discovery of drugs to be improved, reduce costs for bringing a drug to market benefiting the pharma industry and patients alike. Patients with rare diseases or in lower income countries may gain access to new drugs because of the proposed disruptive technology. Biomedical researchers will benefit as they will be able to understand phenomena without misleading results due to tags; the use of real life-like models will better inform or protect the public through the development of therapies or defence countermeasures. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Full partners in this research project. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall programme is the development of a sector-wide solution with deep circularity interventions, by creating a circular resources flow of olefin-the raw material for 70% of all organic chemical production. Our whole system approach will include key sectors of production, transportation/distribution, refinery/downstream, use and waste recycling, to reduce fossil reliance and improve productivity and sustainability of the whole process industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners will generate a cross-disciplinary platform combining synergistic innovations in science/engineering with social scientists to comprehend the whole system industrial symbiosis and market/policy/incentive design. The Core Research Programme is organised around three interconnected themes: (1) Key technologies to enable olefin production from alternative/recycling wastes streams and design more reusable chemicals via advanced catalytic processes; (2) Process integration, whole system analysis and value chain evaluation, and (3) Policy, society and finance. Through detailed process modelling, economic analysis and environmental assessment of technology solutions along the supply chain, accelerated understanding, opportunities and optimum solutions to achieve circularity of olefin-derived resources flow will be attained. |
| Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration involving with chemistry, biology and processing engineering. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall programme is the development of a sector-wide solution with deep circularity interventions, by creating a circular resources flow of olefin-the raw material for 70% of all organic chemical production. Our whole system approach will include key sectors of production, transportation/distribution, refinery/downstream, use and waste recycling, to reduce fossil reliance and improve productivity and sustainability of the whole process industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners will generate a cross-disciplinary platform combining synergistic innovations in science/engineering with social scientists to comprehend the whole system industrial symbiosis and market/policy/incentive design. The Core Research Programme is organised around three interconnected themes: (1) Key technologies to enable olefin production from alternative/recycling wastes streams and design more reusable chemicals via advanced catalytic processes; (2) Process integration, whole system analysis and value chain evaluation, and (3) Policy, society and finance. Through detailed process modelling, economic analysis and environmental assessment of technology solutions along the supply chain, accelerated understanding, opportunities and optimum solutions to achieve circularity of olefin-derived resources flow will be attained. |
| Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration involving with chemistry, biology and processing engineering. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | Princeton University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The overall programme is the development of a sector-wide solution with deep circularity interventions, by creating a circular resources flow of olefin-the raw material for 70% of all organic chemical production. Our whole system approach will include key sectors of production, transportation/distribution, refinery/downstream, use and waste recycling, to reduce fossil reliance and improve productivity and sustainability of the whole process industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners will generate a cross-disciplinary platform combining synergistic innovations in science/engineering with social scientists to comprehend the whole system industrial symbiosis and market/policy/incentive design. The Core Research Programme is organised around three interconnected themes: (1) Key technologies to enable olefin production from alternative/recycling wastes streams and design more reusable chemicals via advanced catalytic processes; (2) Process integration, whole system analysis and value chain evaluation, and (3) Policy, society and finance. Through detailed process modelling, economic analysis and environmental assessment of technology solutions along the supply chain, accelerated understanding, opportunities and optimum solutions to achieve circularity of olefin-derived resources flow will be attained. |
| Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration involving with chemistry, biology and processing engineering. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (Eileen Yu) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The overall programme is the development of a sector-wide solution with deep circularity interventions, by creating a circular resources flow of olefin-the raw material for 70% of all organic chemical production. Our whole system approach will include key sectors of production, transportation/distribution, refinery/downstream, use and waste recycling, to reduce fossil reliance and improve productivity and sustainability of the whole process industry. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners will generate a cross-disciplinary platform combining synergistic innovations in science/engineering with social scientists to comprehend the whole system industrial symbiosis and market/policy/incentive design. The Core Research Programme is organised around three interconnected themes: (1) Key technologies to enable olefin production from alternative/recycling wastes streams and design more reusable chemicals via advanced catalytic processes; (2) Process integration, whole system analysis and value chain evaluation, and (3) Policy, society and finance. Through detailed process modelling, economic analysis and environmental assessment of technology solutions along the supply chain, accelerated understanding, opportunities and optimum solutions to achieve circularity of olefin-derived resources flow will be attained. |
| Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration involving with chemistry, biology and processing engineering. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI ideas to address COVID-19 - Innovate UK: Safepay - Point of Sale Cleansing System (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Biaccon |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise & lab use. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and labour sub-contracting. |
| Impact | Project ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI ideas to address COVID-19 - Innovate UK: Safepay - Point of Sale Cleansing System (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | European Circuits Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise & lab use. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and labour sub-contracting. |
| Impact | Project ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | UKRI ideas to address COVID-19 - Innovate UK: Safepay - Point of Sale Cleansing System (Rasmita Raval) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise & lab use. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Materials and labour sub-contracting. |
| Impact | |