Transforming Translational Research at the University of Bristol
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
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
Greenhalgh SN
(2019)
Loss of Integrin avß8 in Murine Hepatocytes Accelerates Liver Regeneration.
in The American journal of pathology
Ramachandran P
(2019)
Resolving the fibrotic niche of human liver cirrhosis at single-cell level.
in Nature
| Description | Innovate UK Investment Accelerator (Julian Paton) |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | Innovate UK Investment Accelerator (Massimo Antognozzi) |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | MRC Proximity to Discovery Market Assessment Award (Cathy Williams) |
| Amount | £7,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2017 |
| End | 08/2017 |
| Description | NIHR RFPB A new urinary catheter to improve bladder drainage: first-in-human testing of the Flume catheter (Marcus Drake) |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PB-PG-0317-20026 |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship in Soft Robotics (Jonathan Rossiter) |
| Amount | £1,300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 01/2028 |
| Description | SETsquared regional angel investment accelerator pilot: round 2 |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Co-development deal with Meira GTX |
| Organisation | Meira GTx |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Viral Gene Therapy for Glaucoma using CRISPR-Cas9 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Pre-clinical co-development |
| Impact | Commercially confidential |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Semefab (Jaap Velthuis) |
| Organisation | Semefab (Scotland) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The academics involved have more than a decade experience in testing sensors, designing readout PCBs and writing firmware, DAQ and analysis software |
| Collaborator Contribution | Semefab will then manufacture several devices for testing. Semefab has 15 years experience of producing sensors for the MEMS market based on thin membranes. These devices are used in very high volumes in industrial, medical and automotive applications. The basis of the technology is the production of membranes of thicknesses down to <5 micron on both silicon and stress compensated dielectrics. |
| Impact | Project not yet complete |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | MRC Confidence in Concept Collaboration with UCB (Matt Crump) |
| Organisation | UCB Pharma |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Leading MRC Confidence in Concept project, "IGF2-TRAP development; preparation for funding applications for a first in man trial" |
| Collaborator Contribution | IGF2-TRAP bulk production |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | MRC Confidence in Concept collaboration with Flume Catheter Company (Marcus Drake) |
| Organisation | Flume Catheter Company Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Leading MRC Confidence in Concept project in partnership with the Company |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Flume Catheter Company would in parallel fund the work and filings necessary to secure worldwide IP protection |
| Impact | UK patent application submitted no. 1701027.3; Applied for an NIHR RFPB grant of £1.2M - accepted through to stage 2 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Partnership in MRC Confidence in Concept project (Julian Paton) |
| Organisation | Ceryx Medical Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This proposal will have three major objectives: (i) Tuning of the CPG for biofeedback, (ii) Adapting the silicon-graphite pressure device for connection to the blood vessel with output to the CPG and (iii) Testing the CPG to demonstrate feasibility and efficacy of biofeedback. The current CPG needs to be modified to incorporate biofeedback and integrate this signal to allow activation of one of two outputs. We need to show that activation of the outputs is proportional to the incoming signal in order that set point/homeostasis can be achieved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development, optimisation and maintenance of biofeedback CPG and BP monitor. |
| Impact | • Awarded £150,000 from Innovate UK's Investment Accelerator scheme (with £45,000 from IP Group) specifically to undertake development of the Blood Pressure management device that CiC funded • Project partner Ceryx have raised £150K from IP Group via convertible loan (although this is primarily for pacemaking technology) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Partnership with LifeArc |
| Organisation | LifeArc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The in vitro PoC studies will be conducted at the University of Bristol where the applicant, RL, has a strong track record of translation for patient benefit (100% research impact score in their UoB Unit of Assessment for the 2014 REF). This environment is where the in vitro platform development for antibody-drug conjugate evaluation was untaken, and the proposed functional T cell experiments will be performed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LifeArc will supply the resources, expertise and material to generate the CCR6 antibodies and provide access to their laboratories and generally to assist in the generation of the monoclonal antibody. LifeArc have 17 years' experience in therapeutic antibody development and dedicated laboratories for the generation of monoclonal therapeutic antibodies. They have a variety of robotic systems and assay systems to aid the development and engineering of antibodies and substantial protein chemistry and protein production facilities. LifeArc also have a dedicated antibody-drug conjugate team and X-ray crystallography in place plus a broad spectrum of assays and capabilities to assist in the project if necessary. |
| Impact | Project selected as Bristol's application to Jules Thorne Biomedical Award 2018 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Title | Method and Apparatus for Bacterial Analysis (Massimo Antognozzi) |
| Description | A first aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising: a light source arranged to cast light toward a substrate defining a bacteria binding volume to create an evanescent field and the bacteria binding volume is within the evanescent field; a detector arranged to receive light from the bacteria binding volume and output data; and a processor arranged to determine a level of vibration of bacteria within the bacteria binding volume in three-dimensions from the data. |
| IP Reference | P123064GB |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | • Awarded £13,000 Longitude Discovery Prize • £25,000 applied for through clinical partner for more data • Awarded £150,000 Innovate UK Investment Accelerator |
| Title | Urinary catheter redesign to reduce complications and improve tolerability |
| Description | Urinary catheter redesign to reduce complications and improve tolerability |
| IP Reference | GB1701027.3 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | • Successful application for an NIHR RFPB grant of £300k • Project conducted in partnership with SME, Flume Catheter Company |