The Queen’s University of Belfast Confidence in Concept programme 2016

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.

People

ORCID iD

Publications

10 25 50

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Eltayib E (2016) Hydrogel-forming microneedle arrays: Potential for use in minimally-invasive lithium monitoring. in European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V

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Johnston MC (2020) DR5-targeted, chemotherapeutic drug-loaded nanoparticles induce apoptosis and tumor regression in pancreatic cancer in vivo models. in Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society

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Kearney MC (2016) Microneedle-mediated delivery of donepezil: Potential for improved treatment options in Alzheimer's disease. in European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V

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Larrañeta E (2016) Microneedles: A New Frontier in Nanomedicine Delivery. in Pharmaceutical research

 
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 08/2017 
End 10/2019
 
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 Nanoformulations for Sustained Intraocular Drug Delivery
Amount £109,000 (GBP)
Organisation Invest Northern Ireland 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Description SEUPB INTERREG BREATH project
Amount € 7,700,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Union 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 11/2018 
End 11/2023
 
Description Venture Capital Funding to Spin-out company Re-Vana Ltd
Amount £1,243,229 (GBP)
Organisation Syndicate Room Ltd 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Title OCULAR COMPOSITIONS 
Description The invention provides methods of making microparticle and nanoparticle ocular implants from a composition comprising: 99 to 60 % (w/w) of a photopolymerizable composition selected from the group of fragments or monomers consisting of polyalkylene glycol diacrylate and polyalkylene glycol dimethacrylate, wherein the photopolymerizable composition has a molecular weight in the range of 100 to 20,000 Dalton; a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyester-based polyurethanes, polylactides, polycaprolactones, polyorthoesters and mixtures, copolymers, and block copolymers thereof; a photoinitiator; and a therapeutic agent. 
IP Reference WO2018206749 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact This IP portfolio has supported development of University's spin-out company - ReVana Therapeutics
 
Company Name RE-VANA 
Description RE-VANA is a drug delivery company focused on the development and commercialisation of revolutionary long-acting biodegradable drug delivery platforms to treat chronic eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis & glaucoma. 
Year Established 2016 
Impact Impact development still in progress
Website http://www.re-vana.com/
 
Company Name REPROGO LIMITED 
Description The company is a start-up focusing on developing and marketing of inducible pluripotent stem cells. In the first instance these will be for sale to R&D clients, e.g. in drug screening assays. In the future there is the potential to develop for therapeutic use 
Year Established 2020 
Impact The company attracted a total of £50K of support for customer discovery ant team formation from Innovate UK through ICURe, and was invited to apply for the aid for start-ups programme for ICURe companies. This was successfully awarded and company incorporated in 2020, although commencement of the award was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic
 
Company Name VASCVERSA LTD 
Description The company is currently an embryonic spin-out arising from the research of Dr Reinhold Medina. The initial customer discovery was funded through the Innovate UK ICURe programme and carried out by ECR Dr Christina O'Neill. As of March 19 the company is in a fund-raising and planning phase. 
Year Established 2018 
Impact £42,500 was raised for the customer discovery and company set-up process from Innovate UK -ICURe programme. The company was invited to apply for £210K of non-dilutive Innovate UK funding (decision pending March 19)