The Queen’s University of Belfast Confidence in Concept (CiC) programme 2017

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.

Publications

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Feeney L (2020) Liquid biopsy in ovarian cancer: Catching the silent killer before it strikes. in World journal of clinical oncology

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Momtazi G (2019) Regulators of A20 (TNFAIP3): new drug-able targets in inflammation. in American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology

 
Description A conserved protein O-glycosylation pathway in the Burkholderia genus essential for bacterial fitness and antigenicity in humans
Amount £455,987 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/T005807/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 03/2024
 
Description Burkholderia species in sugarcane: the relationship among antifungal production, intrinsic antimicrobial resistance, and pest biocontrol
Amount £66,928 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/R022607/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2018 
End 04/2019
 
Description Characterising the blood methylome to develop an early detection test for high grade serous carcinomas.
Amount £98,913 (GBP)
Funding ID 28145 
Organisation Cancer Research UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2019 
End 09/2022
 
Description Human blood-derived endothelial colony forming cells as a new cell therapy for chronic non-healing wounds
Amount £207,476 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/S036695/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 04/2023
 
Description ICURe award to Dr Fiona Furlong's group - ECR David Campbell
Amount £35,000 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 06/2019
 
Description ICURe award to Dr Jonathan Coulter 's group - ECR Niall Byrne
Amount £40,000 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 03/2021
 
Description ImageDx CRC & ImageDx Lung: A centralized, AI-based solution for tissue-based delivery of personalized medicine testing for the NHS.
Amount £2,230,645 (GBP)
Funding ID AI_AWARD02222 
Organisation National Institute for Health Research 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 09/2024
 
Description Innovate UK Innovation Scholar Secondment for ECR Peter Stewart - awarded to Manuel Salto-Tellez
Amount £65,666 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2020 
End 12/2021
 
Description Invest Northern Ireland Proof of Concept
Amount £112,467 (GBP)
Funding ID Invest Northern Ireland PoC 905 
Organisation Invest Northern Ireland 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2019 
End 05/2021
 
Description Novel Blood Test for Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
Amount £208,576 (GBP)
Funding ID 51024 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 08/2022
 
Description PROCLAIM (PROstate Cancer goLd nAnoparticle Implants for radiotherapy)
Amount £376,156 (GBP)
Organisation Prostate Cancer UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2020 
End 08/2023
 
Description TRACER - TaRgeted gold (Au) nanoparticles as CancEr Radiosensitisers
Amount £39,545 (GBP)
Funding ID 2111/130235581 
Organisation Invest Northern Ireland 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2021 
End 04/2023
 
Description The ACTIONED Consortium: integrAted moleCular soluTIons fOr diagNostics and Early Detection
Amount £2,989,567 (GBP)
Funding ID 105855 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2020 
End 04/2023
 
Description The development of a commercially scalable extraction process for Aramune™ a novel plant based immunomodulatory polysaccharide with ICURe substantiated commercial application in animal feed, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets
Amount £297,824 (GBP)
Funding ID 10001310 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 09/2022
 
Description Understanding how BMP9 protects from diabetes-induced blood retinal barrier breakdown
Amount £244,977 (GBP)
Funding ID 20/0006162 
Organisation Diabetes UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 03/2024
 
Description Understanding how ageing impacts on vascular regeneration through the endothelial senescence associated secretory phenotype
Amount £428,815 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/T000805/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2023
 
Description Collaboration with Intezyne 
Organisation Intezyne
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution QUB are studying mechanisms and biomarkers for stratification of BRAF mutant CRC patients for specific treatments
Collaborator Contribution Intezyne have provided proprietary therapeutic compounds under MTA which target the pathway of interest, as well as participation of senior staff in project review
Impact In - kind contribution of materials
Start Year 2018
 
Description Partnership with Università di Napoli Federico II 
Organisation Federico II University Hospital
Country Italy 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We are investigating a novel polysaccharide with potential application in a number of therapeutic areas
Collaborator Contribution Universita di Napoli have world-renowned expertise in identification of polysaccharide structures and sequences. They are conducting an analysis on our polysaccharide to enable us to define the exact structure. We have been advised by our patent attorneys that this was a critical step in allowing us to file for patent protection around this material, which would in turn allow for commercialisation. The work is being conducted at a substantially reduced cost compared to full rates, and Universita di Napoli will hopefully become embedded in this project as a valued partner
Impact Work is ongoing at the time of writing
Start Year 2018
 
Description Use of human ocular specimens 
Organisation University of Florida
Department College of Medicine
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Prof Mike Boulton provided expertise and access to clinical samples
Impact Glenn JV, Mahaffy H, Wu K, Smith G, Nagai R, Simpson DA, Boulton ME, Stitt AW. Advanced glycation end product (AGE) accumulation on Bruch's membrane: links to age-related RPE dysfunction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Jan;50(1):441-51. Beattie JR, Pawlak AM, Boulton ME, Zhang J, Monnier VM, McGarvey JJ, Stitt AW. Multiplex analysis of age-related protein and lipid modifications in human Bruch's membrane. FASEB J. 2010 Dec;24(12):4816-24. Glenn JV, Mahaffy H, Dasari S, Oliver M, Chen M, Boulton ME, Xu H, Curry WJ, Stitt AW. Proteomic profiling of human retinal pigment epithelium exposed to an advanced glycation-modified substrate. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Start Year 2008
 
Title A NEW BIOMARKER FOR PREECLAMPSIA 
Description This invention relates to the use of biomarker LRG1 as a biomarker for preeclampsia for use from the first trimester. Elevated levels of leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) can predict risk for the future development of preeclampsia or other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The predictive test will comprise the measurement of LRG1 protein, peptide fragment, DNA or RNA, from either blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva or amniotic fluid. The invention provides a method and a test kit to assess the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant woman. The method or test can utilise antibodies to measure levels of LGR1 in a sample. 
IP Reference WO2018153879 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed No
Impact Applicant: The Queen's University of Belfast. Inventors Alice Cheung, Clare Kelly, Timothy Lyons, Chris Watson Validation study in progress
 
Title A method of diagnosing, prognosing and/or monitoring ovarian cancer 
Description Patent going through examination 
IP Reference GB2008113.9 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2020
Licensed Yes
Impact Licensed to Queen's University Belfast spinout
 
Title Diagnosis and treatment of burkholderia infections 
Description Patent pending in relation to diagnostic application of an antibody / antigen recognising burkholderia bacterium for human and veterinary purposes 
IP Reference GB2013389.8 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2020
Licensed No
Impact Patent application pending and technology still in development
 
Title IMMUNOMODULATORY AGENT 
Description This invention relates to a polysaccharide that can be used to modulate immune responses. 
IP Reference WO2022090735 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed Yes
Impact Licensed to Queen's University Belfast spinout
 
Title NEURODEGENERATIVE TREATMENT 
Description The invention relates to an isolated polysaccharide and a composition comprising the polysaccharide for use in treating a neurodegenerative disease. 
IP Reference WO2022090734 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed No
Impact Discussions in progress around licensing
 
Company Name Aramune Technologies 
Description Aramune Technologies develops aramune, a immune-boosting compound, for farm animal feed. 
Year Established 2021 
Impact The company has built new partnerships with local companies in Northern Ireland, including Devenish. Together they are investing further funds in validating a product for the veterinary supplements market. The company also successfully completed the Innovate UK ICURe programme, and subsequently applied for aid for start-ups funding support from Innovate UK.
Website http://www.qubis.co.uk
 
Company Name GenoME Diagnostics 
Description GenoME Diagnostics develops blood tests to detect signs of ovarian cancer earlier than conventional methods. 
Year Established 2020 
Impact The company founders won £50K of funding from Innovate UK's ICURe programme for customer discovery and team formation, and then successfully applied for £300K of support from the Innovate UK aid for start-ups scheme. GenoMe Diagnostics were awarded the "best new start on the island of Ireland" prize at the Intertrade Ireland seedcorn competition in 2020, winning an additional 20K Euro
Website http://www.qubis.co.uk
 
Company Name Sonrai Analytics 
Description Sonrai Analytics develops software specialising in data analytics and management. 
Year Established 2018 
Impact Sonrai Analytics have secured VC investment of £700,000, as well as an Innovate UK award for the ACTIONED (integrAted moleCular soluTIons fOr diagNostics and Early Detection) Consortium, facilitating collaboration between Sonrai, QUB's PMC and Roche in a partnership valued at over £7M. With a focus on colorectal cancer, this award is enabling Sonrai to establish technology and software relating to genomics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics in PMC's state-of-the-art accredited laboratory, while capitalising on Roche's position as the leading global provider of diagnostic solutions in cancer genomics and tissue diagnostics. More recently, Sonrai Analytics have secured an Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award (£2.2M) to deliver novel AI cancer screenings across the NHS in partnership with the PMC. Their AI screening method is potentially a transformational diagnostic tool, delivering more accurate testing and faster results for patients who have had lung and colorectal biopsies, potentially saving the NHS millions each year.
Website http://sonraianalytics.com
 
Company Name VascVersa 
Description VascVersa develops a stem cell retrieval method, allowing high potency cells to be obtained from small samples of umbilical cord blood, for use in regenerative medical research. 
Year Established 2018 
Impact The company is in early stages but we have managed to secure Innovate UK funding and private investment. The company has spun-out from QUB as a direct result of success in iCURE allowing a motivated post-doc to drive the company forward from the foundation of a successful academic research programme.
Website https://www.vascversa.com/