University of Warwick and Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology - WISB Flexible Talent Mobility Account

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: Research Support Services

Abstract

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

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Ten early career Fellows were awarded funding to support independent research projects with industry partners. They developed their individual research profiles, gained valuable experience of working at the academia-industry interface, supported knowledge exchange between the partners and the collaborations have continued beyond the FTMA projects.

The BBSRC FTMA aimed to pump-prime the establishment of new academia-industry interactions and further develop existing ones. The BBSRC FTMA funding has developed new research and further developed new collaborations with biotechnology and drug discovery companies.

Key findings as follows:
- A systems engineering approach was used to optimise approaches to optimise microbial growth and production for a biotech company, discovering a key trade-off between growth and production. A report was prepared and provided to the company with these recommendations
- Proprietary technology from a company was used evaluate efficiency of aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment of bacteria
- Applications of proprietary technology as a device to detect and profile antibiotic resistance in Tuberculosis (TB) was ruled out as an avenue for commercial exploitation
- A method for monitoring phage activity against bacteria was discovered, with both outward (university to industry) and then subsequent inward (industry to university) fellowship projects utilised to explore this lead
- A prototype test for a neglected tropical disease (NTD) was further developed
- Electron microscopy imaging was used to validate existing findings for a company's in vitro diagnostics platform
- Uptake of nanoparticles by cancer cells and their subsequent fate once inside the cell was studied by electron microscopy
- Novel antibacterial activity for members of a group of >600 candidate materials was found, with an FTMA2 project with an industrial partner used to refine leads
Exploitation Route The collaborations established by the FTMA funding have continued with planned research proposals or publications (with one further BBSRC bid in development, as are relevant research manuscripts). Key findings relevant to industry, particularly with respect to their proprietary technology, will be used to inform development of technology and so make the benefits widely accessible to others. Approaches to industrial problems and learning of new technical skills by the past FTMA Fellows supported through this scheme will prepare them to better engage with industry in the future.
Sectors Chemicals

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description The FTMA Innovation Fellowships have enabled two-way transfer of knowledge between the industry and academic partners, including exchange of techniques, development of protocols and improved understanding of commercial processes and commercial potential. New methods have been adopted by companies relating to their proprietary technology. Results from a company's in vitro diagnostic platform were validated by complementary techniques allowing them to invest more into its development . A well devised fast-failure project ruled out a promising avenue of commercial exploitation of existing technology - ensuring that further time and resources weren't committed by the company on this aspect of development.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Societal

Economic

 
Description ECR International Collaboration Grant
Amount £163,676 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/Y00342X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 12/2025
 
Description EPSRC Standard Grant
Amount £898,290 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/X039587/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 02/2027
 
Description Overcoming cellular constraints for real-world engineering of biological systems (Research Fellowship)
Amount £499,998 (GBP)
Funding ID RF\202021\20\270 
Organisation Royal Academy of Engineering 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 09/2026
 
Title Rapid measurement method for phage activity against bacteria 
Description A method was successfully established to measure phage activity against bacteria using the Cytecount proprietary device from Cytecom. The Cytecount was successful in detecting phage induced death of bacteria. This was achieved rapidly (in less than 3 hours) as hypothesized. 
Type Of Material Biological samples 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact It has provided another, new application for existing technology which could factor into marketing strategies for the company. 
URL https://www.cytecom.co.uk/phage-efficacy
 
Description Ten collaborative fellowship projects 
Organisation InBios International
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare.
Collaborator Contribution Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well.
Impact Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Ten collaborative fellowship projects 
Organisation Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare.
Collaborator Contribution Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well.
Impact Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Ten collaborative fellowship projects 
Organisation Ingenza Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare.
Collaborator Contribution Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well.
Impact Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Ten collaborative fellowship projects 
Organisation Linear Diagnostics Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare.
Collaborator Contribution Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well.
Impact Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Ten collaborative fellowship projects 
Organisation Synthomer plc
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution BBSRC FTMA funding supported 7 outward fellowship projects, two outward invited extension applications as outlined in our 'further funding' Case for Support, and one inward secondment from industry (Cytecom) for 10 projects total. BBSRC FTMA funding supported continuing collaboration with one project partner, and one project gathered further internal support from the Warwick-Wellcome Translational Partnership (an institutional Translational Partnership Award - iTPA - with Wellcome Trust). As part of the wider portfolio of research funding, one Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship was awarded resulting from the project with Ingenza Ltd. A further iCASE PhD studentship will commence October 2022 to explore work with Xerion Healthcare.
Collaborator Contribution Partners provided an industry-relevant collaborative project, hosted innovation fellows and advised on projects, and in addition provided access to facilities and consumables as well.
Impact Contributed to further funding to translate research, including a RAEng Research Fellowship and an iCASE PhD studentship (starting October 2022). Projects were multidisciplinary, including applications from our Schools of Life Sciences and Engineering, as well as our Chemistry department.
Start Year 2019
 
Description MK presented research as part of continuing professional development (CPD) to NHS (Microbiology Lab at the Great Ormond Street Hospital) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented to NHS professionals on the potential of new technology to tackle anti-microbial resistance.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022