Increasing the Translational Impact of Drug Discovery

Lead Research Organisation: University of Dundee
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 MRC Proximity to Discovery scheme awards universities funds to help develop new collaborations, and ways of exchanging knowledge and skills.  The awards can be used to support activities that promote the value of academic-industry partnership, and enhance academic and industry researchers’ understanding of each other’s needs and capabilities.  This may be through people exchanges, creation of technology demonstrators, showcase events, commercialisation workshops and ‘entrepreneurs in residence’ schemes.  Such exchanges of knowledge and skills will boost the most fruitful collaborations between UK universities and life science companies.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description High Growth Spinout Programme
Amount £164,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Enterprise 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2018 
End 12/2018
 
Description Research collaboration with Corbin Therapeutics 
Organisation McGill University
Department Department of Biochemistry
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution A screen was run using MALDI-TOF mass spec against 16,000 compounds followed by a number of rounds of hot expansion
Collaborator Contribution McGill University supplied the protein and confirmed hits in in vitro assays
Impact The collaboration is ongoing and has is currently subject to license negotiation that will deliver a financial return to the University.
Start Year 2017
 
Title IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SKIN SAMPLE VIABILITY 
Description A method for improving the ex vivo viability of a skin tissue type by mounting samples (27) of the skin tissue type in a skin sample holder (23), applying separate tensions to at least some of the samples and measuring the ability of at least some of the skin tissue samples to maintain live skin characteristics, such as to determine one or more value of skin tension which improve the ex vivo viability of the skin sample type. Tension may be measured using a force meter. The viability may be determined by wounding the skin, e.g. using a laser source, and measuring keratin 17 expression. Cellular viability and/or metabolic activity may also be determined. 
IP Reference WO2017198989 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed No
Impact We are in licensing discussions with Genoskin, the current market leader in the supply of human skin samples for research
 
Title Licence to Platinum Informatics 
Description Platinum Informatics is a spinout company from the University of Dundee led by Professor Angus Lamond. 
IP Reference  
Protection Protection not required
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed Yes
Impact The University of Dundee has licensed software developed at the University of Dundee to Platinum Informatics. There is no patent protection required.
 
Title New Licence Agreement with Ubiquigent 
Description Dundee has granted Ubiquigent a licence to use background IP to develop new DUB inhibitor libraries following on from a collaboration with the DDU from 2014 - 2017. 
IP Reference  
Protection Protection not required
Year Protection Granted
Licensed Yes
Impact The licence will give a royalty return to the University of Dundee and has allowed Ubiquigent to secure 2 grant awards for Innovate UK
 
Title Platinum Informatics 
Description Trademark granted for Platinum Informatics Ltd. 
IP Reference  
Protection Trade Mark
Year Protection Granted 2017
Licensed Yes
Impact Platinum Informatics is a spinout company from the University of Dundee.
 
Company Name Amphista Therapeutics 
Description Amphista Therapeutics develops pharmaceuticals that are designed to use targeted protein degradation to hijack and suppress cell's responsible for disease progression. 
Year Established 2017 
Impact The company was incorporated in December 2017 with investment from Advent Life Sciences
Website http://www.amphista.com
 
Description Attendance at BIO2018 in Boston 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Attendace at BIO2018 in Boston included seminars and workshops as well as one-to-one partnering meetings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Attended BioEurope Autumn Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We attended BioEurope Partnering meeting and held more than 35 one to one partnering meetings as well as making a number of informal contacts through the networking events. We have since had a number of follow up calls and meetings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Attended Takeda Innovation Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Attendance at the invitation only Takeda Innovation Event in London and made contact with representatives from Takeda and other funding organisations such as SV Life Sciences Dementia Discovery Fund. A number of follow up meetings stemmed from this as well as a funding application to Takeda.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description BioEurope Autumn 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Attendance at BioEurope Autumn in Copenhagen for partnering and in particular collaboration building meetings with Bukwang Pharma and SYNthesis Research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Biotech & Money Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Attended Biotech& Money event in London in Feb 2018. This included workshops and seminars as well as one-to-one partnering meetings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Due diligence visit from Roche 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A team of 5 from Roche in Basel visit to complete diligence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Exhibited the DDU at UK BioScience Forum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We exhibited the DDU at UK BioScience Forum in London in October 2017 and had meetings with SV Life Sciences and Alzheimers Research UK. Follow up discussion is ongoing with both and a funding proposal submitted to ARUK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosted a visit from Alzheimers Research UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Following the introduction at UK Bioscience Forum on October we hosted a visit from ARUK to the DDU. ARUK is looking for a new drug discovery partners for their next consortium. Dundee has submitted a proposal.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosted a visit from LifeArc 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Mike Dalrymple from LifeArc visited to talk about their new Seed Fund and to view some potential spinout opportunities from Dundee. The DDU pitched a number of projects as well as 3 spin out opportunities from the School more widely.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosted a visit from Parr Equity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A partner from Parr Equity visited the School of Life Sciences and met with 3 possible new spinout companies. Discussions are ongoing with one new spinout.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosted a visit from Takeda CNS Team 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Following an introduction at the Takeda Innovation Event in London on October 2017 we hosted a visit to the DDU in January 2018. Takeda has interest in our tau project and we have submitted a funding proposal
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Hosted visit from DebioPharm 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Hosted a small team from DebioPharm at the DDU for discussion around potential collaboration on antibacterial programmes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosting Epidarex Ventures at the DDU 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The DDU hosted a senior team from Epidarex in November 2017 to review the DDU portfolio of projects and a number of other spinout opportunities. Epidarex is expected to close its latest funding round in Q2 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hosting a visit from SYNthesis Research 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As a follow up from discussion at BIoEurope we hosted a visit from the President of SYNtheisResearch to continue collaboration discussions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Meeting with Asceneuron 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A call was set up with Asceneuron following a connection with Merck Ventures Group at BioEurope. Asceneuron is interested in our CNS programmes if we can reach in vivo PoC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Schrodinger workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Schrödinger hosted an all-day workshop on Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 at the University of Dundee Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) in Scotland. Schrödinger scientists Jas Bhachoo and Katalin Phimister presented an overview and applications of the Small-Molecule Drug Discovery Suite. The event provided training and networking for more than 50 scientists from Dundee and other research institutes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.schrodinger.com/events/workshop-university-dundee-drug-discovery-unit-scotland-uk
 
Description Visited Eli Lilly facility in Erls Wood 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Following dialogue with Lilly at BioEurope and at visits to Dundee we were invited to the Lilly facility in Erls Wood to discuss further a research collaboration. We expect to initiate a collaboration in Q2.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description World Insight article at BIO Internationals 
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 Industry/Business
Results and Impact The DDU was featured in a British Biotech article on British Biotech published for BioInternationals Conference in Boston in June 2018
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://worldinsight.co.uk/2018/05/31/positive-results-for-british-biotech/