Queens University Belfast Confidence in Concept 2013
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The Confidence in Concept scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions, to be used flexibly to support the earliest stages of multiple translational research projects. The award can be used by the institution to support a number of preliminary-stage translational projects. The projects supported should aim to provide sufficient preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach –– before seeking more substantive funding. It is intended to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
James McElnay (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
McKelvey MC
(2022)
Cathepsin S Contributes to Lung Inflammation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
in American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Brown R
(2021)
Therapeutic Inhibition of Cathepsin S Reduces Inflammation and Mucus Plugging in Adult ßENaC-Tg Mice.
in Mediators of inflammation
McDowell SH
(2020)
Leading the invasion: The role of Cathepsin S in the tumour microenvironment.
in Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research
Brown R
(2020)
Cathepsin S: investigating an old player in lung disease pathogenesis, comorbidities, and potential therapeutics
in Respiratory Research
Yang C
(2020)
Targeting QKI-7 in vivo restores endothelial cell function in diabetes.
in Nature communications
Courtenay AJ
(2019)
Novel Hydrogel-Forming Microneedle Array for Intradermal Vaccination in Mice Using Ovalbumin as a Model Protein Antigen.
in Molecular pharmaceutics
Mc Crudden MTC
(2019)
Design, Formulation, and Evaluation of Novel Dissolving Microarray Patches Containing Rilpivirine for Intravaginal Delivery.
in Advanced healthcare materials
Wilkinson RDA
(2019)
A Novel Role for Cathepsin S as a Potential Biomarker in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
in Journal of oncology
Khan S
(2019)
Evaluation of microneedles-assisted in situ depot forming poloxamer gels for sustained transdermal drug delivery
in Drug Delivery and Translational Research
Description | Defining the potential of cathepsin S inhibition in the treatment of COPD lung disease |
Amount | £28,440 (GBP) |
Funding ID | M843 |
Organisation | Rosetrees Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2019 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Defining the therapeutic potential of cathepsin S in CF lung disease |
Amount | £143,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start |
Description | Development of EGFR-targeted camptothecin-loaded nanoparticles for targeting Kras wild-type colorectal cancer |
Amount | £110,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Development of a novel tumour immunotherapy neoantigen vaccine |
Amount | £148,684 (GBP) |
Funding ID | INI PoC 703 |
Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2017 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | Elucidate the mechanisms underpinning direct reprogramming of endothelial cells for use in regenerative medicine |
Amount | £383,387 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/M003221/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2014 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | Hyaluronic acid microneedles: In-skin swelling behaviour |
Amount | £14,300 (GBP) |
Organisation | L'Oreal (Paris) |
Sector | Private |
Country | France |
Start | 06/2015 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell technology for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine |
Amount | £206,360 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 45418 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 11/2022 |
Description | Microneedle-mediated Intraocular Delivery of Bevacizumab using Semifluorinated Alkanes |
Amount | £55,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Novaliq GmbH |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | Nano-formulations for Sustained Intraocular Drug Delivery |
Amount | £105,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | Nanoengineered microneedle arrays for enhanced delivery of long-acting HIV medicines |
Amount | £1,095,411 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S028919/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Optimisation of microneedle insertion and understanding the implications of repeat application as tools to support translation |
Amount | £1,240,247 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V047221/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | The role of Cathepsin S in PAR-1 mediated lung inflammation - a new paradigm for neutrophilic inflammation |
Amount | £480,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/P022847/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | The utility of MN as a dosage form capable of reducing methotrexate side effects in children |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Versus Arthritis |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Transdermal delivery of fixed-dose drug combinations enabled by novel second generation microneedle arrays |
Amount | £104,760 (GBP) |
Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 02/2018 |
Title | A METHOD FOR THE SURFACE-MODIFICATION OF METAL NANOPARTICLES AND USES THEREOF |
Description | A method for the surface-modification of metal nanoparticles, which functionalised metal nanoparticles can be encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer, and to which a binding agent can be conjugated is disclosed. The disclosure further relates to metal nanoparticles produced by said methods and uses thereof. Thus, the present disclosure provides a method for modifying the surface of metal nanoparticles, said method comprising: contacting the surface of the metal nanoparticles with a linking agent to produce functionalised metal nanoparticles, wherein the linking agent is X-Y-Z, in which X is a sulphur containing group, Y is a bond or a linking group, and Z is a carboxy or amino group, and wherein the surface of the metal nanoparticles is contacted with = 8.197 x 10-21 moles, or = 1000-fold excess, of linking agent per square nanometer (nm2) of the metal nanoparticle surface; and contacting the functionalised metal nanoparticles with a hydrophobic group to produce surface-modified metal nanoparticles. |
IP Reference | WO2018178213 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | N/A |
Title | AN AMPHIPATHIC PEPTIDE |
Description | The present invention is directed to an amphipathic peptide and methods of using the amphipathic peptide for delivering small molecule agents to a cell. Ideally, the amphipathic cell penetrating peptide comprises less than approximately 50 amino acid residues with at least 6 arginine residues, at least 12 Alanine Residues, at least 6 leucine resiues, optionally at least one cysteine residue, and at least two but no greater than three glutamic acids wherein the arginine residues are evenly distributed along the length of the peptide; and the peptide has a defined ratio of arginine to negatively charged amino acid residues and a defined ratio of hydrophilic amino acid residues to hydrophobic amino acid residues. The present invention is also directed to a nanoparticle and cell del ivery system comprising the amph ipathic cell penetrating peptide of the invention. The peptide, nanoparticle or cell delivery system of the invention may be used in therapy. For example, the peptide may be used as a therapeutic agent delivery system, in which the therapeutic agent may include nucleic acids or other small molecules. |
IP Reference | WO2014087023 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | The patent progressed to PCT and was published under WO2014087023, the patent was nationalised and is pending in the US and Europe. The technology has also been combined with WO2009040548 to achieve even greater effectiveness of delivery for vaccines. We have recently licensed the manufacture of our MN to the world's largest transdermal patch manufacturer Lohmann Therapie-System AG securing a royalty on net receipts to third party market authorisation holders. This would not have been possibl |
Title | ASSAY METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF FKBPL EXPRESSION LEVEL IN THE CONTEXT OF BREAST CANCER |
Description | Disclosed are methods that employ FKBPL as a marker for a subject's sensitivity to endocrine therapies in the treatment of cancers, and as a predictive marker of cancer progression and disease free survival in relation to hormone responsive cancers. |
IP Reference | WO2010133880 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | The patent is now granted in the US, published under US9110163 B2 on 18 August 2015, and China, published under CN102428370B on 25/04/2012 and is pending in Europe. This project has informed the development of the FKBPL biomarker as a companion diagnostic for ALM201 and directly contributed to the filing of a US patent continuation on 16 July 2015 which includes methods to stratify patients response to ALM201 using the biomarker. |
Title | Development and Preclinical Evaluation of Novel Long-acting Injectable Ocular Implants |
Description | A priority patent application has being filed entitled 'ocular compositions' relating to the formulation and use of ocular compositions that can be administered to the eye in various forms to achieve controlled release of a therapeutic agent (or drug). We are in the process of drafting a PCT application. The technology including the patent is exclusively licensed to Revana Ocular Ltd, a QUB spin out company. |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | The technology including the patent is exclusively licensed to Revana Ocular Ltd, a QUB spin out company. |
Title | INTRAVAGINALLY APPLICABLE DEVICES COMPRISING ANTIVIRAL COMPOUNDS |
Description | The present invention relates to field of intravaginally applicable devices that release antiviral compounds. In particular, the present invention relates to vaginal rings comprising a matrix releasing at least one antivirally active compound, in particular anti-herpetic compound N-[5- (aminosulfonyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]N-methyl-2-[4-(2-pyridinyl)-phenyl]-acetamide (in the following also referred to as "Pritelivir") or salts thereof. The present invention therefore relates to the treatment and prevention of herpes infections. |
IP Reference | PH12019502878 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | N/A |
Title | POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES FOR ENHANCED CANCER TREATMENT |
Description | There is provided polymeric nanoparticles with non-tumour antigen payloads for use in tagging cells for destruction by a subject's immune system and the use thereof for the treatment of cancer. Suitably there is provided a method of treatment comprising administration of nanoparticle comprising a non-tumour protein payload to a subject with cancer, in particular to a cancer cell. |
IP Reference | WO2021130377 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | N/A |