University of Southampton – Confidence in Concept
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
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.
Publications

Bulters D
(2018)
Haemoglobin scavenging in intracranial bleeding: biology and clinical implications.
in Nature reviews. Neurology

Gaastra B
(2019)
Haptoglobin genotype and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Individual patient data analysis.
in Neurology
Description | Optically controlled fluid flow: enabling smart paper-based medical diagnostic devices |
Amount | £438,973 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S003398/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2018 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Royal Blind, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Ophthalmology research grant |
Amount | £59,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2019 |
End | 01/2020 |
Description | Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Ophthalmology Research Grants |
Amount | £11,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | Research collaboration with SME |
Organisation | Renovo PLC |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our research is centred around bone stem cells. We are working with Renovos through a an Innovate UK grant in which we are testing clay gels as a mechanism for supporting bone stem cells to improve bone healing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Renovos have been awarded a collaborative Innovate UK grant "Harnessing clay gels for bone tissue repair" to work with us in model systems to determine the efficacy fo this product. The aim is to improve bone healing int hese models and then move to human studies. |
Impact | none |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Research collaboration with an industrial partner |
Organisation | Bio Products Laboratory Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are using this product to treat mice in a model of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this project is to determine if the haptoglobin can treat SAH, with a view to a subsequent clinical trial in patients with this condition. |
Collaborator Contribution | Bio Products Laboratory Ltd are supplying haptoglobin for use in the study. The estimated value of the product supplied is £60k. |
Impact | No outcomes at present |
Start Year | 2017 |
Title | PEPTIDE-INDUCED NK CELL ACTIVATION |
Description | The invention relates to a method of treatment or prophylaxis of cancer, wherein the cancer overexpresses exportin-1, the method comprising the administration of: a peptide capable of activating NK cell-mediated immunity to cancer cells that overexpress exportin-1, the peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence XnAX2X1, wherein Xn is an amino acid sequence of between 5 and 12 residues, and X1 is any amino acid; or leucine or phenylalanine; and X2 is alanine, threonine or serine; or administration of one or more of a nucleic acid encoding the peptide; an immunogenic composition comprising the peptide; a complex comprising the peptide; a vesicle comprising the peptide or nucleic acid encoding the peptide; a dendritic cell comprising the peptide and/or comprising nucleic acid encoding the peptide; an activated NK cell, that has been activated by the peptide; or a virus or virus like particle comprising the peptide and/or comprising nucleic acid encoding the peptide. |
IP Reference | WO2020188303 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | these will be part of our spin-out company Kargenera LTd |
Title | Haptoglobin for treatment of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage |
Description | We have proven that haptoglobin as a treatment for brain haemorrhage is efficacious in a mouse model. The next stage is scaling up the lab method to pilot plant scale for commercial purification and then apply for funding for a phase I study. |
Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Non-clinical |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Impact | This provides a new method for scaling up production of haptoglobin |
Company Name | Kargenera |
Description | Kargenera develops peptide-based DNA medical therapies for treating cancer. |
Year Established | 2020 |
Impact | None at present. |
Website | https://www.kargenera.com/ |
Description | Attitudes to genetic modification and the use of genetically-modified organisms in medicine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a PPI group to garner opinion on the release of neisseria lactamica into the general population |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Clinicians meet scientists networking events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The first Southampton joint meeting between the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust and The University of Southampton took place as an engagement event for the MRC CiC award. This enabled clinicians to meet with engineers to discuss opportunities for collaboration to address real world health problems. this has led to joint activities with the health technologies centre at University of Southampton. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | GM-Neisseria Lactamica Press Release and FAQ meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a PPI activity to investigate attitudes to release of genetically modified Neisseria lactamica into the community |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Global-NAMRIP Conference in Kampala, Uganda |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a lecture given as part of the global NAMRIP conference. This is a research conference held at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and is part of The University of Southampton's strategic initiative on antimicrobial resistance and was co-funded by GCRF funds. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/namrip/news/2019/02/uganda-conference.page |
Description | Included in a keynote presentation by TG Leighton at 2nd Global-NAMRIP conference (Kampala, Uganda, 3-7 March 2019) : https://www.southampton.ac.uk/namrip/news/2019/02/uganda-conference.page? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A presentation to an international conference on anti-micronbial resistance |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Included in a presentation by TG Leighton at "Clinicians meet Engineers event" (9 November 2018) MRC Confidence in Concept |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A talk at an internal meeting of clinicians and engineers that untied all faculties at the insitution |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Included in an outreach presentation (open to members of the public) on 18 Sept 2018 that Professor Leighton gave to the local branch of the the Institute of Physics South West Branch and held at Sarum College, 19 The Close, Salisbury. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The talk, entitled 'Climate Change, Dolphins and Antimicrobial Resistance - The Impact of Bubble Acoustics' was hosted by the Institute of Physics South West Branch. The talk was well received by the audience, who afterwards probed extensively on the issues around multidisciplinary teams that Prof Leighton had touched on, and which are so key to NAMRIP. They were particularly interested in how these teams address problems, the challenges associated with hiring across disciplines, and the personal qualities looked for when recruiting into a multidisciplinary team. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/namrip/news/2018/09/leighton-inst-physics.page? |
Description | Included in the Royal Society Clifford Paterson Award Lecture (open to members of the public) given by Professor Leighton on receipt of the Royal Society Clifford Paterson Medal on 5 September 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Professor Tim Leighton was awarded the Clifford Paterson Medal of the Royal Society, giving on the occasion a lecture entitled 'The acoustic bubble: climate change, spaceships, dolphins, and the antibiotic apocalypse'. The medal and lecture, given every 2 years to an outstanding researcher in the field of engineering, was presented by Vice-President Ulrike Tillmann. Professor Leighton's lecture covered the full range of his work suggested by the title, including fundamental research sponsored by NAMRIP, which was subsequently picked up for translation by the MRC Confidence in Concept award. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/namrip/news/2018/09/leighton-paterson-medal.page |
Description | Investigation of the efficacy of a novel ultrasonically activated stream for removal of antimicrobial resistant biofilms Poster EP134 at 28TH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN WOUND MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (KRAKOW, POLAND 9 - 11 MAY 2018)http://ewma.org/fileadmin/user_upload/web_376227_EWMA2018_Programme_.pdf |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Conference talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation at New Forest show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A presentation on bone stem cells was given to the New forest Show in the Wessex Medical Research Tent. this invited questions and discussions from the audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.newforestshow.co.uk/ |
Description | Presentation at Southampton mela festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | presentation on bone stem cells at the festival. An interview was given to Unity FM |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.southamptonmela.com/ |
Description | Presentation at the Boone Research Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Application of 3D-printed patient-speci?c skeletal implants augmented with autologous skeletal stem cells given at the meeting of the Bone Reserach Society 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://boneresearchsociety.org/meeting/winchester2018/ |
Description | Presentation at the European Wound management Association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This will be a research presentation at The European Wound Management Association in Krakow in May 2018. the paper will be entitiled "Investigation of a novel ultrasonically activated stream for removal of antimicrobial resistant biofilms. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://ewma.org/ewma-conference/2018/ |
Description | Professor Leighton was speaking to the 2018 Summer Conference of EPSRC's Special Interest Group on Fluid Mechanics of Cleaning and Decontamination. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Included in an multidisciplinary engagement presentation on Wednesday 29th August 2018, in a Plenary Lecture by Professor Leighton at Cambridge University's Isaac Newton Institute to a professional audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Stem cell mountain |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Stem cell mountain is now a permanent exhibit at The Winchester Science Centre. the centre is visited by members of the public and school children |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | https://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/ |
Description | lecture on clay nanogels at Termis world congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Jon Dawson gave a keynote lecture on clay nanongels at the Termis World congress. This is the biggest conference on tissue engineering worldwide. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.termis.org/wc2018/ |
Description | poster at international conference on sub-arachnoid haemorrhage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A poster was presented at the international conference on sub-arachnoid haemorrhage: in Amsterdam to a scientific audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.isah-conference.org/ |
Description | poster presentation at the Bone Research Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation: Bone induction in a murine subcutaneous model using nanoclay gel and bone morphogenic protein: an optimization study |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://boneresearchsociety.org/meeting/winchester2018/ |