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RFI Phase 2

Lead Research Organisation: Rosalind Franklin Institute
Department Name: Research

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.
 
Description The Rosalind Franklin Institute phase 2 award covers the full scientific and research remit of this national institute. The award has taken the Institure through it's set up phase and into full operation, and has leveraged significant further funding for research, created new industry collaborations, and has seen the beginnings of an innovation and translation programme from our work.

Our role is to create new techologies for life science. Within this phase 2 grant, we have pioneered the technique of cryo-epectron tomography, enabling the structures of biology to be seen within their biological context inside the cell, advanced physical sciences techniques into biology for the first time, and developed a world class laboratory for engineering biology which will bring precise control capabilities to the molecules of biology.

The Institute has also been able to develop a sttdentship scheme, and now houses a cohort of ten stdents per year, in collabroation with Universities across the UK.
Exploitation Route Our work can be translated into commercial products for imaging, or as theraputics. Our technolgies can be applied by academics or by industry to understand more about biological problems, and by working with instrument developers, new instruments are now on the market.
Sectors Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
URL https://www.rfi.ac.uk/about/annual-reports/
 
Description The Franklin has a significant community and public engagement programme, linked both to the work of the institute broadly, and to specific research areas. Our work in public engagement includes a training programme availabe to all staff, created in collaboration with Science Made Simple, opportunities throughout the year to engage local schools, in partnership with the Education Business Partnership, and Citzen science programmes intrinsic to our research activity created with Zooniverse. Working closely woth industry has realised significant non academic impact, including in the bring to market of new instrumentation, leverage by the phase 2 and Wellcome funded Electirfying Life Sciences Grant (e.g. the commercial FIB SEM 'Arctis'), through core activity with Bruker, and with JEOL. Full details on our engagement and non academic impact is available in our annual reports from www.rfi.ac.uk.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Societal

Economic
 
Description Challenge reviewer and contributor to Nurse RDI
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The RDI review will shape government policy.
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1140...
 
Description Structural Biology: From Molecules to Cells.
Amount £159,340 (GBP)
Funding ID 099683 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2012 
End 09/2016
 
Title SINGLE DOMAIN ANTIBODIES THAT TARGET SARS-COV-2 
Description The present invention relates to improved single domain antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2, multivalent polypeptides and fusion proteins comprising the single domain antibodies. The present invention also provides coronavirus binding molecules that bind two different epitopes on the receptor binding domain of a spike protein of a coronavirus. The coronavirus binding molecules are based on joining two antigen binding molecules together via a linker. The present invention provides the use of said single domain antibodies, multivalent polypeptides, fusion proteins and coronavirus binding molecules in treating and/or preventing coronavirus, as well as the use of said single domain antibodies, multivalent polypeptides, fusion proteins and coronavirus binding molecules in the detection and diagnosis of coronavirus using various methods, assays and kits. 
IP Reference WO2022053839 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact The patent estate is in the final stages of agreement to licence.
 
Title rosalindfranklininstitute/guanaco: 
Description No description provided. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2021 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact Shaping tomography practice 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5185365
 
Title rosalindfranklininstitute/parakeet: 
Description Phantom generator 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2022 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact Imported into major software packages 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6493567
 
Description Media work for science media centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I have supplied expert commentary on the pandemic and on science policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021,2022,2023
URL https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/?s=naismith&cat=