Full Steam Ahead - Accelerating Industry Engagement through the Leicester Life Sciences Accelerator Innovation Hub and Life Science Opportunity Zone

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: UNLISTED

Abstract

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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.

Organisations

People

ORCID iD
 
Description Predicting adherence to a diabetes prevention programme
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Targeting NEK kinases for cancer therapy
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Variant validator - improved mutation calling for clincal genetics
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The widespread response to the software has been immensely positive with many echoing Professor Robinson of the Jackson Laboratory, 'We have also used what is probably VariantValidator's main competitor, Mutalyzer, but have chosen to use VariantValidator for our work because of the substantially greater amount of information presented to the user, the ease of use and the flexibility of the API and paramaterized URLs and the much better graphical user interface, all of which improves the efficiency of our work.'. At the Centre for Medical Genetics, Brussels, "VariantValidator has been indispensable" and they "are now validating thousands of variants every week with VariantValidator". Immediate beneficiaries include the GEL 100,000 Genomes Project, COSMIC and a wider set of NHS Genomics Laboratory Hubs who will soon be able to validate and safely share their variant data outputs. Collaboration between the University of Leicester and GEL has also resulted in the development of VariantFormatter software libraries enabling GEL to correctly present data using HGVS nomenclature. Impact case for REF 2021.
URL https://variantvalidator.org/variantvalidator/
 
Description "Deep learning methods for early detection of myocardial ischemia using digital and paper ECGs"
Amount £11,800 (GBP)
Organisation University of Leicester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2020 
End 03/2021
 
Description Developing Phage Therapeutics - Malaysia collaboration
Amount £53,460 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2019 
End 03/2019
 
Description MRC DTP studentship
Amount £85,000 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2021 
End 09/2024
 
Description The Collaborative Computational Project for NMR (CCPN): data analysis, integration and partnerships for NMR in the biosciences
Amount £920,041 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/P00038X/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2016 
End 09/2020
 
Description UK Consortium for MetAbolic Phenotyping (MAP UK)
Amount £154,752 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start  
 
Title Brain TV - LD3 project: exchange with Nihon Kohden (Japan) 
Description The IAX project is supporting a large study involving collection of data, development of data analysis techniques and model/algorith development. 
Type Of Material Physiological assessment or outcome measure 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Too early to collect impact data as the specific study initiated by the IAX project has not yet commenced. 
 
Title Further development of a phage-based qPCR as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease and co-infections at an industrial setting 
Description New way of isolation DNA from blood samples 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact will increase the efficiency in recovering DNA from blood sample for diagnostic purpose 
 
Title IAX people exchange for visiting far east life science companies 
Description infrastructure 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact - 
 
Title Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Description Machine learning method for identifying potential targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact New direction using AI tools in cardiac signal analysis, new grant application 
 
Title Targeting NEK kinases for cancer therapy 
Description Promega's ADP-glo assay 
Type Of Material Biological samples 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact It is very convient to perform the assay. 
 
Title Determinants of glucose control after metformin failure: predicting glycaemic control of second-line diabetes therapy using the DISCOVER real-world database 
Description a prediction model to calculate the probablity of having a sustained glucose level in people with type 2 diabetes after metformin failure 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This will help clinicians to make informed decisions when patients failed Metformin 
 
Title IAX people exchange for visiting far east life science companies 
Description Database 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact - 
 
Title The Collaborative Computational Project for NMR (CCPN) 
Description (CCPN) is an international consortium of 28 partners which is working to provide the tools and knowledge to maximise the impact of the biological NMR studies. CCPN is chaired by Professor Geerten Vuister. The CCPN software facilitates data analysis and software integration, and the project actively promotes the exchange of knowledge, provides training and supports best practices in the NMR community. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The latest release of the CCPN software package, Analysis-V3, presents a complete write of the entire code-base. The programs now provide a fast and smooth interface with drag-and-drop style operations and two-key shortcut interactions and easy data import and export, including .xlsx/.xls spreadsheet files that can contain any meta-data, such as chemical properties, including SMILES (Simplified molecular-input line-entry system). The software natively reads all common NMR data formats, including Bruker, Agilent, NmrPipe and ucsf formats and is fully NEF compatible. The complexities in code and data structure are encapsulated under a layer of wrapper code, which enables users to write extensions to the software very quickly and simply. In addition, there is direct access to extensive scientific libraries, such PySci, Scikit-learn, which greatly facilitate data analysis using modern advanced technologies, such as machine-learning. 
URL https://le.ac.uk/liscb/facilities-and-technologies/nmr-data-analysis
 
Title VariantValidator 
Description Novel and accurate base calling tool for the identification of disease causing genetic disease 
Type Of Material Data handling & control 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Better variant calling in the assignment of causal genetic mutations resulting in more accurate diagnosis of inherited diseases. The use of the new software has tested and validated locally (through East Midlands & East of England NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub). Now also with multiple other partners and institutes - see collaborations and partnerships for details Impact case for REF 2021. 
URL https://variantvalidator.org/
 
Description A personalised approach to detect and treat endometrial cancer recurrence 
Organisation Nonacus Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution A placement at Nonacus to learn and develop next-generation sequencing methodologies. The two month placement, in Nonacus's Birmingham lab,has afforded an opportunity to for one of our PhD students to experience an industry environment, as well as learn new techniques and develop future collaborations. UoL/UHL provided tumour and plasma samples from patients with recurrent endometrial cancer (EC).
Collaborator Contribution Shared Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) methodolgies, developed bioinformatic analysis pipelines and a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for analysis of circulating tumour DNA.
Impact A talk or presentation or debate entitled :IAX Celebrating Success - Discuss success stories from IAX funding and disseminating information to show impact of IAX funding for PGRs Data towards PhD thesis and also as a basis for a larger translational study application, in collaboration with Nonacus, to Innovate UK. PhD student is now writing up and funding is being sought to continue the project. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2020
 
Description Artificial Intelligence for radiomic prediction of radiotherapy side effects-Axial3D, Aquilab 
Organisation AQUILAB SAS
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution 1) Met with French SME Aquilab and other colleagues in Milan on 29 April 2019. The venue was a meeting room of the Enterprise Hotel, close to the ESTRO conference venue. The first aim of the meeting was to establish a relationship with Aquilab, who make radiotherapy planning software. At the moment we are developing predictive algorithms for radiotherapy side effects, but to implement them we will need to work with a commercial software company. The second aim was to advertise the capability of our team in Leicester to carry out the database activities in the upcoming RAD-PRECISE project. The third aim was to obtain via Aquilab access to funds for following up Leicester radiotherapy patients The meeting was successful in aims 1 and 3, but not 2. 2) At Axial3D we had a productive set of meetings. We explained our radiotherapy toxicity prediction project in detail, particularly on our resources available through the REQUITE project including patient CT and physics planning scans. Axial described their machine learning approaches to structure delineation in CT scans.
Collaborator Contribution 1) Aquilab have provided funding for follow up Leicester radiotherapy patients. Subsequent to the meeting Aquilab supported the database being held by collaborators in Milan. 2) The meeting was with Niall Haslam (Chief Technology Officer) and Lorenzo Trojan (Machine Learning lead). Together we sketched out ideas for a grant application, including the roles of the different parties, resources required, management etc. Follow on funding is being sought to continue the project.
Impact We needed detailed, face-to-face discussions to form a relationship and plan the project. It is unlikely they would have spent the time to come to Leicester, so it was important we obtained the IAX funding to be able to meet with them. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Artificial Intelligence for radiomic prediction of radiotherapy side effects-Axial3D, Aquilab 
Organisation Axial3D
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution 1) Met with French SME Aquilab and other colleagues in Milan on 29 April 2019. The venue was a meeting room of the Enterprise Hotel, close to the ESTRO conference venue. The first aim of the meeting was to establish a relationship with Aquilab, who make radiotherapy planning software. At the moment we are developing predictive algorithms for radiotherapy side effects, but to implement them we will need to work with a commercial software company. The second aim was to advertise the capability of our team in Leicester to carry out the database activities in the upcoming RAD-PRECISE project. The third aim was to obtain via Aquilab access to funds for following up Leicester radiotherapy patients The meeting was successful in aims 1 and 3, but not 2. 2) At Axial3D we had a productive set of meetings. We explained our radiotherapy toxicity prediction project in detail, particularly on our resources available through the REQUITE project including patient CT and physics planning scans. Axial described their machine learning approaches to structure delineation in CT scans.
Collaborator Contribution 1) Aquilab have provided funding for follow up Leicester radiotherapy patients. Subsequent to the meeting Aquilab supported the database being held by collaborators in Milan. 2) The meeting was with Niall Haslam (Chief Technology Officer) and Lorenzo Trojan (Machine Learning lead). Together we sketched out ideas for a grant application, including the roles of the different parties, resources required, management etc. Follow on funding is being sought to continue the project.
Impact We needed detailed, face-to-face discussions to form a relationship and plan the project. It is unlikely they would have spent the time to come to Leicester, so it was important we obtained the IAX funding to be able to meet with them. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description AstraZeneca's Centre for Genomics Research 2019 Annual Genomics Partners event 
Organisation AstraZeneca
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Capacity building as a significant partner in securing multiple grant bids Contributed to strengthening capacity building partnership resulting in £5.15M Wellcome Trust PhD programme funding Digital Innovation Hub Bid £4,670,992 DIH (~£700K to Leicester)
Collaborator Contribution A significant partner in securing multiple grant bids (see above)
Impact Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in Genomic Epidemiology and Public Health Genomics Via four Themes, the programme will train professionals able to address research needs to better understand the health of the population and the role of genetic factors in determining health and disease. Opportunities for skills development will be principally in priority areas of statistics, data science, computer programming, epidemiology, genomics and social science, medical law and ethics, and public health. https://www2.le.ac.uk/staff/working/research-support/issf/wellcome-trust-doctoral-training-programme BREATHE - The Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/infrastructure/the-hubs/breathe/ BREATHE will enable high quality research and cutting-edge innovation to improve the lives of people living with respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the UK. No further updates - programmes ongoing. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Brain TV - LD3 project: exchange with Nihon Kohden (Japan) 
Organisation Nihon Kohden (Japan)
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Software and device development. Documentation for regulatory approvals. Healthy volunteer and clinical data gathering.
Collaborator Contribution Providing dedicated engineering support for device development and commercialisation, equipment and financial support and support for our pathway to impact.
Impact Through IAX industry exchange awards we were able to present plans for a further multicentre proposal to Nihon Kohden in July 2019. As part of our visit, NK agreed to provide a letter of support for external funding applications. The letter of support will include equipment loan of new prototype devices, provision of clinical consumables, as well as a more accurate estimate of their in kind support for the duration of the project, plus a direct financial contribution to cover NHS and regulatory costs associated with multi-centre research. Further funding: linked to MRC CiC MC_PC_17171 Patent number: 20150359448, 1x publication: DOI:1742271X19894601, 1x publication submitted, 2x publications to be completed for submission, 2x publications in preparation. Conference presentations: 1x Oral and three poster presentations at Brain 2019 in Yokohama, Japan (July 4th-7th 2019), 1x Oral presentation at the International Health Technology and Management Congress (Rome, October 21st-22nd, 2019), 1x Poster presentation at the London Trauma Conference, London, UK, 10-13th December 2019. An abstract and accompanying article has been submitted to the 28th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation (MED'2020) to be held in Nice, 16th-19th June 2020. The MRC DTP studentship worth £85,000 and ongoing collaboration. (Reviewed March 2021- Updated march 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description Brain TV confidence in concept: severe brain injury 
Organisation Nihon Kohden (Japan)
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Applying for MRHA approval to test device. Healthy volunteer and clinical data gathering. Database of pathological brain tissue motion recordings.
Collaborator Contribution Providing dedicated engineering support for hardware and device development and commercialisation. Equipment loan and financial support for consumables.
Impact 1/ Study outcome: the study succeeded in testing the Brain TV system clinically by obtaining brain pulsation measurements and clinical outcome data from a total of 44 patients with suspected brain injury recruited from the Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department. The majority of patients had no major brain injury, and were correctly excluded by Brain TV, with the exception of one patient with a 5 mm mid-line shift whose brain tissue pulsations were correctly identified by Brain TV as abnormal. This case was presented as a poster at the London Trauma conference in December 2019. 2/ Further funding: linked to P2D funded exchange programme funded under MRC_PC_17194 which supported a visit for face-to-face meetings with Nihon Kohden. Through this industry exchange award, we were able to present plans for a further multicentre proposal to Nihon Kohden in July 2019. As part of our visit, NK agreed to provide a letter of support for external funding applications. The letter of support included equipment loan of new prototype devices, provision of clinical consumables, as well as a more accurate estimate of their in kind support for the duration of the project, plus a direct financial contribution to cover NHS and regulatory costs associated with multi-centre research. 3/ Multidisciplinary between UHL Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, UoL Cardiovascular Sciences and UoL Engineering. 4/ Patent number: 20150359448, 5/ Publications: 1x publication: DOI:1742271X19894601, 1x publication submitted, 2x publications to be completed for submission, 2x publications in preparation. 6/ Conference presentations: 1x Oral and three poster presentations at Brain 2019 in Yokohama, Japan (July 4th-7th 2019), 1x Oral presentation at the International Health Technology and Management Congress (Rome, October 21st-22nd, 2019), 1x Poster presentation at the London Trauma Conference, London, UK, 10-13th December 2019. An abstract and accompanying article has been submitted to the 28th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation (MED'2020) to be held in Nice, 16th-19th June 2020.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Breath sampler for clinical diagnostics and stratified medicine 
Organisation Loughborough University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The research team are able to utilise the knowledge and expertise of clinicians and academics within the EMBER consortium - focused on Mass Spectrometer analysis of volatile compounds found in breath. The research team also provide access to patients and patient samples with a broad range of respiratory conditions.
Collaborator Contribution Renfrew Group International (RGi) are an award winning design consultancy company, who provide specific know-how and expertise for innovative product design. RGi have provided design services, electronics manufacturing and rapid prototyping facilities to enable the production of a novel breath collection system. Loughborough University provide access to Mass Spectrometer expertise and equipment complimentary to the expertise in breath analysis at Leicester.
Impact University of Leicester and Renfrew Group engaged in a series of meetings and staff placements (supported by P2D) to establish the feasibility and potential scope of use for a robust novel breath collection system that would provide the ability to offer disposable (sterile) patient contact surfaces, multi channel collection and applicability to normal clinical practice. University of Loughborough, University of Loughborough and Renfrew Group have now produced 3 prototype devices ready to test in a clinical setting. In the process of the project University of Loughborough have contributed £70,000 in funding to the prototype development The project has also benefited from the placement of one of the academic leads into the iCURE commercialisation training programme (estimated £50,000 in-kind contribution) to promote commercial development of the new collection system. The project is in the process of being 'pitched' to a panel of investors through Innovate UK (March 2021) and Mercia Venture Fund (April 2021). (reviewed March 2021 - updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description Breath sampler for clinical diagnostics and stratified medicine 
Organisation Renfrew Group International
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research team are able to utilise the knowledge and expertise of clinicians and academics within the EMBER consortium - focused on Mass Spectrometer analysis of volatile compounds found in breath. The research team also provide access to patients and patient samples with a broad range of respiratory conditions.
Collaborator Contribution Renfrew Group International (RGi) are an award winning design consultancy company, who provide specific know-how and expertise for innovative product design. RGi have provided design services, electronics manufacturing and rapid prototyping facilities to enable the production of a novel breath collection system. Loughborough University provide access to Mass Spectrometer expertise and equipment complimentary to the expertise in breath analysis at Leicester.
Impact University of Leicester and Renfrew Group engaged in a series of meetings and staff placements (supported by P2D) to establish the feasibility and potential scope of use for a robust novel breath collection system that would provide the ability to offer disposable (sterile) patient contact surfaces, multi channel collection and applicability to normal clinical practice. University of Loughborough, University of Loughborough and Renfrew Group have now produced 3 prototype devices ready to test in a clinical setting. In the process of the project University of Loughborough have contributed £70,000 in funding to the prototype development The project has also benefited from the placement of one of the academic leads into the iCURE commercialisation training programme (estimated £50,000 in-kind contribution) to promote commercial development of the new collection system. The project is in the process of being 'pitched' to a panel of investors through Innovate UK (March 2021) and Mercia Venture Fund (April 2021). (reviewed March 2021 - updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description Determinants of glucose control after metformin failure: predicting glycaemic control of second-line diabetes therapy using the DISCOVER real-world database. 
Organisation AstraZeneca
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This collaboration provides the possibility to understand the culture of a pharmaceutical company and gives me a good opportunity to transfer key skills or knowledge from academia to industry and viceversa.
Collaborator Contribution Data preparation, data analysis and academic report written-ups. I will be discussing with PIs from Leicester Real World Evidence Unit and AstraZeneca about available data, extract relevant data and develop analysis plan. Conduct statistical analysis and prepare results. AstraZeneca team will provide free database access, statistical support and supervision. Draft an academic report based on results, and it is agreed that the results will be disseminated by publication in peer-review journal.
Impact We completed the proposed collaborating research project, and we are going to submit the abstract to a scientific conference (International Diabetes Epidemiology Group) and the manuscript to a journal (still in discussion). Now I have completed the first draft, and we are aiming to submit by September. Collaborations between University of Leicester and AstraZeneca continues, further research projects are in discussion. No further updates - reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Developing a research relationship with Nonacus 
Organisation Nonacus Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Significant experience of detecting cancer causing mutations in lung and breast cancers using non invasive methodologies (ctDNA) Experience of monitoring for disease relapse using ctDNA assays Access to patient samples, clinical and follow up data Experience of beta testing kits for clinical/diagnostic validation
Collaborator Contribution Nonacus, a local SME, specialises in cancer genome analysis and developing customised targeted NGS panels for sequencing of ctDNA Experience of working with UoL as a service supplier
Impact Potentail outcomes: * develop new collaborative research projects in CTC mutation/CN profiling and cfDNA methylation profiling. * discuss potential external funding opportunities (e.g. Innovate UK) No further updates March 2021.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Developing a translatable assay for determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid body content in sputum - a biomarker of TB treatment response 
Organisation QuantuMDx Group Ltd.
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We instigated the analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) Lipid Bodies (LBs) frequencies in sputum more than 20 years ago. A member of the research team has more than 5 years' practical experience of this technique. We have current MRC funding to validate LBs as a biomarker of treatment response and will analyse ~300 patient sputum samples from the RIFASHORT TB clinical trial through this. We have extensive experience examining different lipid fluorophores by microscopy, utilising the characteristic wavelength emission shift of Nile Red in LBs to improve determination of LB content in pure culture and to demonstrate the potential of plate-based fluorometric analysis of lipid content.
Collaborator Contribution QuantuMDx have developed proprietary sputum lytic protocols and Capture-XT to selectively capture, clean and concentrate Mtb. QuantuMDx research staff will provide expertise for any project-specific optimisation of Capture-XT parameters if required for optimal performance for the needs of this project. We are confident that by combining the expertise and technology of both teams we will be able to deliver an assay with greater potential for translation.
Impact This project links P2D and CiC funding - CiC funding as a follow on from the discussions and person exchange initiated by P2D award. This project has been affected by COVID as lead scientist (Jonathan Decker) has been seconded to another project supporting COVID diagnostic research. Work is expected to re-commence on this project mid 2021. The relationship wit QuantuMDx is ongoing. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Developing expertise in single cell genomic technologies in collaboration with Menarini Silicon Biosystems. 
Organisation Menarini Silicon Biosystems
Country Italy 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Gave me the opportunity as well to establish contact with some key individuals inside the company, whom could be very helpful in my near future. Problem-solving skills gained through the use of very different types of samples (in terms of quality) during the process. I also gained insight in the understanding of the single cell technologies, wich allows me to start new projects and writing new projects grants.
Collaborator Contribution Two full days of mentoring in the use of the DEPArray techonology, using different types of samples and fully access to reagents and consumables. In the following weeks, the Menarini Silicon Biosystems'expert will visit us in the UK as a part of the exchange. In this new visit, the expert will guide us in the improvement of our expertise in the use of the DEPArray, supporting us in the use of the technology.
Impact As future activities, Menarini Silicon Biosystems, will invite us as speakers in the next conference about single cell technologies, as soon as we have significant results. Currently developing new techniques in our lab, designing new experiments and writing new project grants based on the experience acquired during the exchange. Activities paused as lead post-doc on the project has left UoL- project PI may follow this up later in 2021. Reviewed March 2021
Start Year 2018
 
Description Development of a multi-marker assay of gut microbiome metabolites using targeted metabolomics as an outcome marker of cardio-metabolic disease 
Organisation Shimadzu Corporation
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Development of a multi-marker assay of gut microbiome metabolites using targeted metabolomics as an outcome marker of cardio-metabolic disease
Collaborator Contribution 1) £250K value to source an LC-8050 TQ-LC-MS in 2018; 2) £350K value to source an LC-8060 TQ-LC-MS for MS-omics facility (order placed). 3) £5K to support an iCASE PhD studentship (MRC-DTP)
Impact Received MRC CiC award (MC_PC_17171). The collaboration with Shimadzu Biotech, a world leading Japanese instrument company for mass spectrometry, has been key in the development of the method. Combined funding from the CiC and P2D funding streams have supported the growth of this relationship and enabled project staff to benefit from technical training and guidance at Shimadzu UK and follow on on-site (at UoL) from the company to successfully transfer the biomarker detection methodology across different LC-MS platforms. Work ongoing and seeking additional funding. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Discussion of Industry needs for CCPN with UCB and Novartis 
Organisation Novartis
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Prof Vuister and Dr Higman visited Novartis in Switzerland to introduce AnalysisScreen and discuss Novartis's needs from a screening programme.
Collaborator Contribution Access to difficult data sets to test and develop the CCPN screening program Novartis and Vernalis have bought commercial licences at £2000 each - Novartis have purchased second licence (in 2020).
Impact Novartis is an industrial partners on the Successful MRC Partnership grants (£1.6M, 5 years) - awarded 2020 Publication in preparation March 2021 project reviewed March 2021
Start Year 2019
 
Description Discussion/consultation on a clinical trial of aortic dissection using anti-GM-CSF antibody 
Organisation Roivant Sciences Ltd
Country Switzerland 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester applied for a patent using anti-GM-CSF antibody for prevention/treatment of aortic dissection (AD) in 2015 following a publication from my team in Nature Communications. Pre-clinical mouse model of AD Novel imaging biomarker of high risk AD patients/vessel location Access to patients through local (UoL/UHL), national and international clinical trails network Patents held for the use of Anti-GM-CSF antibodies in the treatment of AD
Collaborator Contribution Roivant Sciences is a pharmaceutical company that in-licenses late-stage drug candidates and develops them. With a focus on disease neglected diseases with high societal medical needs. Licensing access to pre-clinical validated anti-GM-CSF antibody for clinical use
Impact Project in start up phase - initial discussions not under confidentiality agreements (patents protection in place). Contracts will be put in place following the confirmation of licencing deal for anti-GM-CSF antibody. Outputs to date - Consultancy agreement in place - directly funded by Roivant Potential future outcomes: * Clinical trial - Roivant will need access to patent and patients * royalty opportunity on development of commercial marketed product Output and follow on funding opportunity from the MRC CiC funding provided for the pre-clincal (mouse model) funding though MC-PC_16051.
Start Year 2018
 
Description EMBER industry day 
Organisation AstraZeneca
Department MedImmune
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution UoL world leading experts in breathomics in partnership with University Hospitals Trust and Loughborough University as part of the East Midlands Breathomics Pathology Node (EMBER)
Collaborator Contribution Major Pharma companies interested in using breathomics approaches to stratify patients by: disease status or therapy response in real world clinical trials.
Impact Clinical trails are being established and follow up information will be availble late in 2020.
Start Year 2018
 
Description EMBER industry day 
Organisation AstraZeneca
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution UoL world leading experts in breathomics in partnership with University Hospitals Trust and Loughborough University as part of the East Midlands Breathomics Pathology Node (EMBER)
Collaborator Contribution Major Pharma companies interested in using breathomics approaches to stratify patients by: disease status or therapy response in real world clinical trials.
Impact Clinical trails are being established and follow up information will be availble late in 2020.
Start Year 2018
 
Description EMBER industry day 
Organisation GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution UoL world leading experts in breathomics in partnership with University Hospitals Trust and Loughborough University as part of the East Midlands Breathomics Pathology Node (EMBER)
Collaborator Contribution Major Pharma companies interested in using breathomics approaches to stratify patients by: disease status or therapy response in real world clinical trials.
Impact Clinical trails are being established and follow up information will be availble late in 2020.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Exploring the collaborative landscape between Johnson Matthey and UoL 
Organisation Johnson Matthey
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution PIs with significant transnational research experience in: early cancer detection - Circulating free DNA and next gen sequencing, breathomics (East Midlands Breathomics Pathology Node - EMBER) - measuring volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath for the development of novel biomarkers of disease and disease progression and treatment efficacy and metabolic biomarker identification for multimorbity (cardiometabolic disorders), AI and big data (access to clinical samples and data)
Collaborator Contribution Significant experience and knowledge of chemistry and its applications, we research, develop and innovate solutions to make the world cleaner and healthier. Delivery of short, medium and long-term research projects, giving us a sustained pipeline of new and enhanced products for patient benefit
Impact Visit to JM Head Offices on 21st Novemeber 2018 to: * discuss linkage of JM and UoL expertise to develop diagnostic products for use in NHS or for consumer health applications * scope of research ideas/projects * Identify potential funding sources (internal JM fund) and external (Innovate) Project in follow up phase and outputs will be formalised, contacts put in place and funding applied for over the next 2-3 months multidisciplinary collaboration - multi-morbidity, multiple disease areas, chemistry, proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, big data and AI Discussion paused to establish new RED Team. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Further development of a phage-based qPCR as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease and co-infections at an industrial setting 
Organisation R.E.D Laboratories
Country Belgium 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Working in R.E.D enabled me to develop future collaboration with commercial companies to tackle Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, and also to establish myself as a Principal Investigator. The exchange also enabled skills to be developed in academia and industry to tackle future technical hurdles.
Collaborator Contribution R.E.D further optimised the DNA extraction method that greatly increased the productivity Licening to use the metholodology towards the development of Lyme diagnostic platform at R.E.D Labs
Impact from the visit to R.E.D Laboratories the University team gained valuable expertise in the development of molecular diagnostic tests. The visit marked also the start of a long-term collaboration and Licensing agreement between R.E.D and Leicester. Linked to CiC awards MC_PC_150445 and MC_PC_17171. Data and methodologies influenced by this visit and collaboration has just been published https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.651217/abstract Reviewed March 2021
Start Year 2019
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation Center for Genomic Interpretation (CGI)
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL - EBI)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation Genomics England
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation Johns Hopkins University
Department School of Medicine Johns Hopkins
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation Leiden University Medical Center
Department Centre for Human and Clinical Genetics
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation The Jackson Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Department Human Genetics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Genomics England uptake of VariantValidator 
Organisation University Hospital Brussels
Department Centre for Medical Genetics (CMG)
Country Belgium 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of novel variant identification tool for predicting the causal mutations in genetic disease. Adaption of VV software for bespoke alignment with Genomics England Ltd (GEL) pipelines. Also working with COSMIC (Sanger Institute), Jackson Labs, EMBL-EBI and other genomics centre worldwide (see above) to harmonise the calling and reporting of genomic variants.
Collaborator Contribution Incorporation of VV into GEL and other pipelines Validation and testing of VV
Impact exchange of ideas and collaborative improvements to clinically focused software grant application to Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Call) - preliminary application approved and full application in progress UoL REF2021 impact case (UoA 5) Multidisciplinary approach- clinical genomics, IT, software development Additional significant relationship established following on from previous P2D funding from MC-PC_15056.
Start Year 2018
 
Description IAX - Making age-adjusted normative data of the eye (paediatric eye disease) -LumoRes, Leica.Optopol,IIBI,TII, 
Organisation Leica Microsystems GmbH
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The purposes of exchange visits is to explore commercial collaboration in the incorporation of a paediatric reference dataset into commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Data has been previously collected through two MRC grants (MR/J004189/1; MR/N004566/1). The work is also complementary to an LD3 funded project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Paediatric Ophthalmology - a pilot study". .
Collaborator Contribution 1) Visit to LumoRes LLC, Seattle, USA LumoRes are developing the next generation of paediatric OCT device with improved acquisition speeds (swept-source OCT). This visit was to establish the best pathway to bring the paediatric normative data into next generation paediatric OCT equipment. Dr Zhanhan will collect pilot data from LumoRes and Leica devices as proof of concept that our age-adjusted data can be used across platforms into next generation FDA / CE approved machines. 2) Visit to Leica Microsystems, Switzerland Leica are not planning to develop segmentation software for their current machine tht would be suitable for collecting/collating pediatric data. The meeting focused on discussions around the integration of an independently developed software program (devleopend by UoL/UHL) that can be used with the Leica machine in the Leicester clinic 3) Visit to the Iowa Institute of Biomedical Imaging (IIBI), USA Discussion about the release of IIBI as an open access version of segmentation software for use by UoL/UHL for non-commercial purposes. Preliminary analysis, using this software, indicates that the programme will be useful to segment our paediatric data of the retina well and that we will be able to scale up to run batch routines. Collaborative discussions are ongoing around the optimisation of software (e.g. for the optic nerve head) and developing a strategy to make a cross-platform version of the software available. 4) Visit to OPTOPOL Technology, Poland Optopol have developed a paediatric OCT imaging device that does not contain age-adjusted normative data (currently the values are estimated using biometry). Discussions with Optopol were based on how their OCT system can be improved using our normative dataset as reference values. We will also discussed the use of Optopol software designed for adults to segment paediatric data. Discussions are ongoing 5) Visit to the Translational Imaging Innovations, Inc. (TII), USA. Discussions with TII were around the format of paediatric normative data for the research community and how integrated segmentation algorithms can be applied. Discussion resulted in us pursuing with TII (who will pay for the regulatory activity) the development of an FDA approved normative pediatric OCT database, which will be used to develop and test new hard and software with TII (and potentially other providers, using a fee for access model). This collaboration is the most likely to produce a meaningful long term collaboration and we are writing for follow on NIHR funding (see elsewhere in the form for details).
Impact A key goal of this is to develop a competitive application for the Invention for Innovation route of the NIHR funding stream. The provisional plan is to submit an i4i Connect application (Deadline for the i4i Connect application is September) which will be followed by a full application (Deadline for Stage 1 i4i full application is December 2019 and stage 2 in April 2020). linked to award MRC CiC MC_PC_17171. This led to MTAs being signed with Leica and TII. TII also signed a collaborative research agreement to enable support for the analysis of the MRC datasets. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX - Making age-adjusted normative data of the eye (paediatric eye disease) -LumoRes, Leica.Optopol,IIBI,TII, 
Organisation LumoRes
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The purposes of exchange visits is to explore commercial collaboration in the incorporation of a paediatric reference dataset into commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Data has been previously collected through two MRC grants (MR/J004189/1; MR/N004566/1). The work is also complementary to an LD3 funded project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Paediatric Ophthalmology - a pilot study". .
Collaborator Contribution 1) Visit to LumoRes LLC, Seattle, USA LumoRes are developing the next generation of paediatric OCT device with improved acquisition speeds (swept-source OCT). This visit was to establish the best pathway to bring the paediatric normative data into next generation paediatric OCT equipment. Dr Zhanhan will collect pilot data from LumoRes and Leica devices as proof of concept that our age-adjusted data can be used across platforms into next generation FDA / CE approved machines. 2) Visit to Leica Microsystems, Switzerland Leica are not planning to develop segmentation software for their current machine tht would be suitable for collecting/collating pediatric data. The meeting focused on discussions around the integration of an independently developed software program (devleopend by UoL/UHL) that can be used with the Leica machine in the Leicester clinic 3) Visit to the Iowa Institute of Biomedical Imaging (IIBI), USA Discussion about the release of IIBI as an open access version of segmentation software for use by UoL/UHL for non-commercial purposes. Preliminary analysis, using this software, indicates that the programme will be useful to segment our paediatric data of the retina well and that we will be able to scale up to run batch routines. Collaborative discussions are ongoing around the optimisation of software (e.g. for the optic nerve head) and developing a strategy to make a cross-platform version of the software available. 4) Visit to OPTOPOL Technology, Poland Optopol have developed a paediatric OCT imaging device that does not contain age-adjusted normative data (currently the values are estimated using biometry). Discussions with Optopol were based on how their OCT system can be improved using our normative dataset as reference values. We will also discussed the use of Optopol software designed for adults to segment paediatric data. Discussions are ongoing 5) Visit to the Translational Imaging Innovations, Inc. (TII), USA. Discussions with TII were around the format of paediatric normative data for the research community and how integrated segmentation algorithms can be applied. Discussion resulted in us pursuing with TII (who will pay for the regulatory activity) the development of an FDA approved normative pediatric OCT database, which will be used to develop and test new hard and software with TII (and potentially other providers, using a fee for access model). This collaboration is the most likely to produce a meaningful long term collaboration and we are writing for follow on NIHR funding (see elsewhere in the form for details).
Impact A key goal of this is to develop a competitive application for the Invention for Innovation route of the NIHR funding stream. The provisional plan is to submit an i4i Connect application (Deadline for the i4i Connect application is September) which will be followed by a full application (Deadline for Stage 1 i4i full application is December 2019 and stage 2 in April 2020). linked to award MRC CiC MC_PC_17171. This led to MTAs being signed with Leica and TII. TII also signed a collaborative research agreement to enable support for the analysis of the MRC datasets. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX - Making age-adjusted normative data of the eye (paediatric eye disease) -LumoRes, Leica.Optopol,IIBI,TII, 
Organisation OPTOPOL Technology Sp. z o.o.
Country Poland 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The purposes of exchange visits is to explore commercial collaboration in the incorporation of a paediatric reference dataset into commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Data has been previously collected through two MRC grants (MR/J004189/1; MR/N004566/1). The work is also complementary to an LD3 funded project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Paediatric Ophthalmology - a pilot study". .
Collaborator Contribution 1) Visit to LumoRes LLC, Seattle, USA LumoRes are developing the next generation of paediatric OCT device with improved acquisition speeds (swept-source OCT). This visit was to establish the best pathway to bring the paediatric normative data into next generation paediatric OCT equipment. Dr Zhanhan will collect pilot data from LumoRes and Leica devices as proof of concept that our age-adjusted data can be used across platforms into next generation FDA / CE approved machines. 2) Visit to Leica Microsystems, Switzerland Leica are not planning to develop segmentation software for their current machine tht would be suitable for collecting/collating pediatric data. The meeting focused on discussions around the integration of an independently developed software program (devleopend by UoL/UHL) that can be used with the Leica machine in the Leicester clinic 3) Visit to the Iowa Institute of Biomedical Imaging (IIBI), USA Discussion about the release of IIBI as an open access version of segmentation software for use by UoL/UHL for non-commercial purposes. Preliminary analysis, using this software, indicates that the programme will be useful to segment our paediatric data of the retina well and that we will be able to scale up to run batch routines. Collaborative discussions are ongoing around the optimisation of software (e.g. for the optic nerve head) and developing a strategy to make a cross-platform version of the software available. 4) Visit to OPTOPOL Technology, Poland Optopol have developed a paediatric OCT imaging device that does not contain age-adjusted normative data (currently the values are estimated using biometry). Discussions with Optopol were based on how their OCT system can be improved using our normative dataset as reference values. We will also discussed the use of Optopol software designed for adults to segment paediatric data. Discussions are ongoing 5) Visit to the Translational Imaging Innovations, Inc. (TII), USA. Discussions with TII were around the format of paediatric normative data for the research community and how integrated segmentation algorithms can be applied. Discussion resulted in us pursuing with TII (who will pay for the regulatory activity) the development of an FDA approved normative pediatric OCT database, which will be used to develop and test new hard and software with TII (and potentially other providers, using a fee for access model). This collaboration is the most likely to produce a meaningful long term collaboration and we are writing for follow on NIHR funding (see elsewhere in the form for details).
Impact A key goal of this is to develop a competitive application for the Invention for Innovation route of the NIHR funding stream. The provisional plan is to submit an i4i Connect application (Deadline for the i4i Connect application is September) which will be followed by a full application (Deadline for Stage 1 i4i full application is December 2019 and stage 2 in April 2020). linked to award MRC CiC MC_PC_17171. This led to MTAs being signed with Leica and TII. TII also signed a collaborative research agreement to enable support for the analysis of the MRC datasets. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX - Making age-adjusted normative data of the eye (paediatric eye disease) -LumoRes, Leica.Optopol,IIBI,TII, 
Organisation Translational Imaging Innovations
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The purposes of exchange visits is to explore commercial collaboration in the incorporation of a paediatric reference dataset into commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Data has been previously collected through two MRC grants (MR/J004189/1; MR/N004566/1). The work is also complementary to an LD3 funded project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Paediatric Ophthalmology - a pilot study". .
Collaborator Contribution 1) Visit to LumoRes LLC, Seattle, USA LumoRes are developing the next generation of paediatric OCT device with improved acquisition speeds (swept-source OCT). This visit was to establish the best pathway to bring the paediatric normative data into next generation paediatric OCT equipment. Dr Zhanhan will collect pilot data from LumoRes and Leica devices as proof of concept that our age-adjusted data can be used across platforms into next generation FDA / CE approved machines. 2) Visit to Leica Microsystems, Switzerland Leica are not planning to develop segmentation software for their current machine tht would be suitable for collecting/collating pediatric data. The meeting focused on discussions around the integration of an independently developed software program (devleopend by UoL/UHL) that can be used with the Leica machine in the Leicester clinic 3) Visit to the Iowa Institute of Biomedical Imaging (IIBI), USA Discussion about the release of IIBI as an open access version of segmentation software for use by UoL/UHL for non-commercial purposes. Preliminary analysis, using this software, indicates that the programme will be useful to segment our paediatric data of the retina well and that we will be able to scale up to run batch routines. Collaborative discussions are ongoing around the optimisation of software (e.g. for the optic nerve head) and developing a strategy to make a cross-platform version of the software available. 4) Visit to OPTOPOL Technology, Poland Optopol have developed a paediatric OCT imaging device that does not contain age-adjusted normative data (currently the values are estimated using biometry). Discussions with Optopol were based on how their OCT system can be improved using our normative dataset as reference values. We will also discussed the use of Optopol software designed for adults to segment paediatric data. Discussions are ongoing 5) Visit to the Translational Imaging Innovations, Inc. (TII), USA. Discussions with TII were around the format of paediatric normative data for the research community and how integrated segmentation algorithms can be applied. Discussion resulted in us pursuing with TII (who will pay for the regulatory activity) the development of an FDA approved normative pediatric OCT database, which will be used to develop and test new hard and software with TII (and potentially other providers, using a fee for access model). This collaboration is the most likely to produce a meaningful long term collaboration and we are writing for follow on NIHR funding (see elsewhere in the form for details).
Impact A key goal of this is to develop a competitive application for the Invention for Innovation route of the NIHR funding stream. The provisional plan is to submit an i4i Connect application (Deadline for the i4i Connect application is September) which will be followed by a full application (Deadline for Stage 1 i4i full application is December 2019 and stage 2 in April 2020). linked to award MRC CiC MC_PC_17171. This led to MTAs being signed with Leica and TII. TII also signed a collaborative research agreement to enable support for the analysis of the MRC datasets. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX - Making age-adjusted normative data of the eye (paediatric eye disease) -LumoRes, Leica.Optopol,IIBI,TII, 
Organisation University of Iowa
Department Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The purposes of exchange visits is to explore commercial collaboration in the incorporation of a paediatric reference dataset into commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Data has been previously collected through two MRC grants (MR/J004189/1; MR/N004566/1). The work is also complementary to an LD3 funded project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Paediatric Ophthalmology - a pilot study". .
Collaborator Contribution 1) Visit to LumoRes LLC, Seattle, USA LumoRes are developing the next generation of paediatric OCT device with improved acquisition speeds (swept-source OCT). This visit was to establish the best pathway to bring the paediatric normative data into next generation paediatric OCT equipment. Dr Zhanhan will collect pilot data from LumoRes and Leica devices as proof of concept that our age-adjusted data can be used across platforms into next generation FDA / CE approved machines. 2) Visit to Leica Microsystems, Switzerland Leica are not planning to develop segmentation software for their current machine tht would be suitable for collecting/collating pediatric data. The meeting focused on discussions around the integration of an independently developed software program (devleopend by UoL/UHL) that can be used with the Leica machine in the Leicester clinic 3) Visit to the Iowa Institute of Biomedical Imaging (IIBI), USA Discussion about the release of IIBI as an open access version of segmentation software for use by UoL/UHL for non-commercial purposes. Preliminary analysis, using this software, indicates that the programme will be useful to segment our paediatric data of the retina well and that we will be able to scale up to run batch routines. Collaborative discussions are ongoing around the optimisation of software (e.g. for the optic nerve head) and developing a strategy to make a cross-platform version of the software available. 4) Visit to OPTOPOL Technology, Poland Optopol have developed a paediatric OCT imaging device that does not contain age-adjusted normative data (currently the values are estimated using biometry). Discussions with Optopol were based on how their OCT system can be improved using our normative dataset as reference values. We will also discussed the use of Optopol software designed for adults to segment paediatric data. Discussions are ongoing 5) Visit to the Translational Imaging Innovations, Inc. (TII), USA. Discussions with TII were around the format of paediatric normative data for the research community and how integrated segmentation algorithms can be applied. Discussion resulted in us pursuing with TII (who will pay for the regulatory activity) the development of an FDA approved normative pediatric OCT database, which will be used to develop and test new hard and software with TII (and potentially other providers, using a fee for access model). This collaboration is the most likely to produce a meaningful long term collaboration and we are writing for follow on NIHR funding (see elsewhere in the form for details).
Impact A key goal of this is to develop a competitive application for the Invention for Innovation route of the NIHR funding stream. The provisional plan is to submit an i4i Connect application (Deadline for the i4i Connect application is September) which will be followed by a full application (Deadline for Stage 1 i4i full application is December 2019 and stage 2 in April 2020). linked to award MRC CiC MC_PC_17171. This led to MTAs being signed with Leica and TII. TII also signed a collaborative research agreement to enable support for the analysis of the MRC datasets. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX people exchange for visiting far east life science companies -NTT Data and Shimadzu, Tellgen 
Organisation NTT Data
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Knowledge exchange,connections and relationships were formed and strengthened as a result of this visit, with clear vision of future activities delineated. Very much worthwhile trip. Face-to-face discussion increased understanding significantly, and willingness of company to engage with UoL, espcially relevant and hugley important for interactions with Japenes companies.
Collaborator Contribution Discuss potential for partnership and potential collaboration on research using, testing and co-devloping new equipment/analytics, clinically relevant biomarker pannels and work on clincal data science projects. Tour of facilities to see new equipment with opportunity to test functionality.
Impact The Purpose is to progress potential and existing relationships with these companies, based around our clinical data initiative. Significant ongoing discussions are still ongoing with plans to establish and work with the companies on de-identified patient data to model, map and discover novel markers for the development of early diagnotiscs, prognostic markers and new insights into diease etiology (including ethic and mutimorbity influences) in common multigenic cardio-metabolic diseases. Discussions ongoing but affected by COVID due to lead PI undertaking additional COVID related clinical duties. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX people exchange for visiting far east life science companies -NTT Data and Shimadzu, Tellgen 
Organisation Shimadzu Corporation
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Knowledge exchange,connections and relationships were formed and strengthened as a result of this visit, with clear vision of future activities delineated. Very much worthwhile trip. Face-to-face discussion increased understanding significantly, and willingness of company to engage with UoL, espcially relevant and hugley important for interactions with Japenes companies.
Collaborator Contribution Discuss potential for partnership and potential collaboration on research using, testing and co-devloping new equipment/analytics, clinically relevant biomarker pannels and work on clincal data science projects. Tour of facilities to see new equipment with opportunity to test functionality.
Impact The Purpose is to progress potential and existing relationships with these companies, based around our clinical data initiative. Significant ongoing discussions are still ongoing with plans to establish and work with the companies on de-identified patient data to model, map and discover novel markers for the development of early diagnotiscs, prognostic markers and new insights into diease etiology (including ethic and mutimorbity influences) in common multigenic cardio-metabolic diseases. Discussions ongoing but affected by COVID due to lead PI undertaking additional COVID related clinical duties. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description IAX people exchange for visiting far east life science companies -NTT Data and Shimadzu, Tellgen 
Organisation Tellgen
Country China 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Knowledge exchange,connections and relationships were formed and strengthened as a result of this visit, with clear vision of future activities delineated. Very much worthwhile trip. Face-to-face discussion increased understanding significantly, and willingness of company to engage with UoL, espcially relevant and hugley important for interactions with Japenes companies.
Collaborator Contribution Discuss potential for partnership and potential collaboration on research using, testing and co-devloping new equipment/analytics, clinically relevant biomarker pannels and work on clincal data science projects. Tour of facilities to see new equipment with opportunity to test functionality.
Impact The Purpose is to progress potential and existing relationships with these companies, based around our clinical data initiative. Significant ongoing discussions are still ongoing with plans to establish and work with the companies on de-identified patient data to model, map and discover novel markers for the development of early diagnotiscs, prognostic markers and new insights into diease etiology (including ethic and mutimorbity influences) in common multigenic cardio-metabolic diseases. Discussions ongoing but affected by COVID due to lead PI undertaking additional COVID related clinical duties. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Organisation Abbott
Department Abbott UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Novel machine learning algorithm to find accurately locate the atrial locations as targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation Experience in developing new non-invase methodologies for detecting atrial fibrillation Access to patients/patient data through multiple clinical trails (learning and test data sets)
Collaborator Contribution Companies - well know device manufactures in the field of heart disease
Impact Initial contact at European Heart Rhythm Association 17th-21st March - not under CDA - follow up meetings will be covered by appropriate IP protecting paperwork Presentation of pilot data (invited speaker) Expected outputs: 1) Further knowledge of the the size of potential market of the technology 2) Explore further research collaboration on improvement of the technology 3) Explore possibility to obtain more clinical data from other centres collaborating with industrial companies for training the machine learning model 4) Arrange further conversations with industry R&D 3 publications and 1 in press, new collaboration, 2 successful funding applications and a clinical trail. Updated March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Organisation Boston Scientific
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Novel machine learning algorithm to find accurately locate the atrial locations as targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation Experience in developing new non-invase methodologies for detecting atrial fibrillation Access to patients/patient data through multiple clinical trails (learning and test data sets)
Collaborator Contribution Companies - well know device manufactures in the field of heart disease
Impact Initial contact at European Heart Rhythm Association 17th-21st March - not under CDA - follow up meetings will be covered by appropriate IP protecting paperwork Presentation of pilot data (invited speaker) Expected outputs: 1) Further knowledge of the the size of potential market of the technology 2) Explore further research collaboration on improvement of the technology 3) Explore possibility to obtain more clinical data from other centres collaborating with industrial companies for training the machine learning model 4) Arrange further conversations with industry R&D 3 publications and 1 in press, new collaboration, 2 successful funding applications and a clinical trail. Updated March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Organisation Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital
Country China 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Novel machine learning algorithm to find accurately locate the atrial locations as targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation Experience in developing new non-invase methodologies for detecting atrial fibrillation Access to patients/patient data through multiple clinical trails (learning and test data sets)
Collaborator Contribution Companies - well know device manufactures in the field of heart disease
Impact Initial contact at European Heart Rhythm Association 17th-21st March - not under CDA - follow up meetings will be covered by appropriate IP protecting paperwork Presentation of pilot data (invited speaker) Expected outputs: 1) Further knowledge of the the size of potential market of the technology 2) Explore further research collaboration on improvement of the technology 3) Explore possibility to obtain more clinical data from other centres collaborating with industrial companies for training the machine learning model 4) Arrange further conversations with industry R&D 3 publications and 1 in press, new collaboration, 2 successful funding applications and a clinical trail. Updated March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Organisation Johnson & Johnson
Department Biosense Webster
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Novel machine learning algorithm to find accurately locate the atrial locations as targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation Experience in developing new non-invase methodologies for detecting atrial fibrillation Access to patients/patient data through multiple clinical trails (learning and test data sets)
Collaborator Contribution Companies - well know device manufactures in the field of heart disease
Impact Initial contact at European Heart Rhythm Association 17th-21st March - not under CDA - follow up meetings will be covered by appropriate IP protecting paperwork Presentation of pilot data (invited speaker) Expected outputs: 1) Further knowledge of the the size of potential market of the technology 2) Explore further research collaboration on improvement of the technology 3) Explore possibility to obtain more clinical data from other centres collaborating with industrial companies for training the machine learning model 4) Arrange further conversations with industry R&D 3 publications and 1 in press, new collaboration, 2 successful funding applications and a clinical trail. Updated March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Organisation Medtronic
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Novel machine learning algorithm to find accurately locate the atrial locations as targets for catheter ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation Experience in developing new non-invase methodologies for detecting atrial fibrillation Access to patients/patient data through multiple clinical trails (learning and test data sets)
Collaborator Contribution Companies - well know device manufactures in the field of heart disease
Impact Initial contact at European Heart Rhythm Association 17th-21st March - not under CDA - follow up meetings will be covered by appropriate IP protecting paperwork Presentation of pilot data (invited speaker) Expected outputs: 1) Further knowledge of the the size of potential market of the technology 2) Explore further research collaboration on improvement of the technology 3) Explore possibility to obtain more clinical data from other centres collaborating with industrial companies for training the machine learning model 4) Arrange further conversations with industry R&D 3 publications and 1 in press, new collaboration, 2 successful funding applications and a clinical trail. Updated March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Investigation of machine learning approaches to integrate genomic profile and novel treatment strategies for stratification of patients to different risk groups 
Organisation Roche Pharmaceuticals
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Roche to investigate machine learning approaches to integrate genomic profile and novel treatment strategies for stratification of patients to different risk groups. UoL brings significant experience in the development of biostatistical pipelines for complex clinical trails data analytics.
Collaborator Contribution Roche Limited has access to a unique resource of patients with haematologic malignancies; the data include the genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity of individuals along with ex vivo drug efficacy of several inhibitors approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The initial findings of these data highlighted the potential of the heuristic value of an integrated functional genomic approach to the identification of novel treatment strategies (Kurtz etal, PNAS, 2017, E7554-E7563).
Impact The key milestones of the project are: 1) Exploration of the deep-sequencing panel of genetic data; 2) Assessment of drug panel data including both individual and combined inhibitors; 3) Identification of potential candidates and possible modelling scenarios under the machine learning framework; 4) Evaluation of selected machine learning algorithm(s) on the integrated data. 5) Appraisal of the model outcomes, draw conclusions and identify future possibilities. The project focused on identifying a subgroup of patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (FL) or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have High Unmet Medical Need (UMN) with available therapies. The project has addressed the theoretical issues of different machine learning models and develop a statistical analysis plan.
Start Year 2018
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Casma Therapeutics
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Evotec (UK) Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Meira GTx
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation OMass Technologies
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Sanofi
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Vernalis
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description LISCB Bench to Business films 
Organisation Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Collaborator Contribution Multiple projects/commercial interactions involved - not specific details available.
Impact Too early to chart. Entered March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description Large-scale production of poultry in Thailand's leading company, Betagro 
Organisation Betagro
Country Thailand 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This visit has opened a dialogue between academia and industry to allow future activities to have a better chance at being implemented in industry. Visiting industry enabled me to gain strategic skills which now will enable me to think of more realistic solutions that in the future can easily be implemented in industry. Research and development with a business mindset will also help in fast-tracking the translation of research to industry.
Collaborator Contribution Full access to all aspects of the business and opportunities to network with people involved with the day to day running. Discussed and proposed possible routes for phage interventions. Partners highlighted the key challenges and concerns in industrial scale processing, and we discussed possible ways to overcome this. Partners agreed to support future projects and will act as part of an advisory body to better fulfil project aims in academia.
Impact Industry officials are now more open to academic research having seen the potential for it to benefit the business. The visit has helped not only me but also them in understanding there are alternative ways to improve processes, giving them a competitive advantage and safer product for the consumer. Reviewed March 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description Nonacus placement to learn and develop next-generation sequencing methodologies 
Organisation Nonacus Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Significant experience of detecting cancer causing mutations in lung and breast cancers using non invasive methodologies (ctDNA) Experience of monitoring for disease relapse using ctDNA and whole exome sequencing approaches Access to patient samples, clinical and follow up data Experience of beta testing kits for clinical/diagnostic validation(tumour and germline samples)
Collaborator Contribution Nonacus, a local SME, specialises in cancer genome analysis and developing customised targeted NGS panels for sequencing of ctDNA.
Impact Project in start up phase - due to commence late March 2019 The anticipate outputs of the exchange are: * experience an industry environment for PhD student * data towards PhD projects including industry standard bioinformatic pipelines and the co-development of customised targeted NGS panels, * translational research grant applications (>£200K including Wellbeing of Women, Wellcome Trust, Rosetrees Trust) * strategic POC support date for an application for an MRC Biomedical Catalyst Award .
Start Year 2018
 
Description Phylogenetic analysis of malignant mesothelioma using machine learning tools 
Organisation Novogene Corporation
Country China 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have interrogated the genomic data of patients with mesothelioma together with our collaborators, it has enabled us to further understand the mechanisms that cause/drive the progression of the cancer, underpin the aggressiveness and drug response.
Collaborator Contribution Our collaborators has developed a comprehensive bioinformatics pipeline to analyse the genomic data we have.
Impact The collaboration will result in number of publications within next few months. The collaboration is multi - disciplinary which involved clinicians, bioinformatician, lab scientists. Work ongoing. Reviewed March 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Predicting adherence to a diabetes prevention programme 
Organisation Ingeus
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of the successful diabetes programme that is now being implemented by Ingeus for NHS England and follow on input to successful Ingeus bid for programme delivery
Collaborator Contribution Successful bid to NHS England to deliver the NHS the Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP), attended by >65,00 people to date.
Impact Placement will look at prognostic data to model issues preventing patients completing the programme & to develop interventions to increase adherence. Placement to be undertaken May 2019 - contracts in progress. Expected outcomes include: research collaborations, peer reviewed publications and input into REF impact case studies
Start Year 2018
 
Description screen to identify inhibitors of NEK kinases 
Organisation AstraZeneca
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Significant background knowledge of NEK kinase targets in cancer Biophysical assays for molecule/target engagement - ADP-Glo assays to screen potential kinase inhibitors Evidence of drugability of kinase targets (commercially available compounds)
Collaborator Contribution High throughput set up to maximise efficacy of kinase screens Access to novel compounds (AZ IP) Information about industrial criteria for the analysis of assay (efeficiency and the accuracy)
Impact * Improved by the automation system to bring back industrial standards for performing biochemical assays to UoL * 4,000 compounds screened and EC50 activity profiles obtained for NEK1 & 8 kinases * Discovered 4 potent inhibitors against NEK * Ongoing med chem programme with AZ is shortlisting compounds for future development - high specificity, selective binding and appropriate physico-chemical properties for drug discovery platform for NEK1 kinase * Publication in preparation for targeting NEK8 Follow on support and commercial engagement for project supported from other MRC P2D & CiC wards (MC_PC_15056, MC_PC_16051 & MC_PC_17171) Project has come to a natural end point, research at UoL ongoing (seeking additional funding). Reviewed for P2D award March 2021.
Start Year 2018
 
Title Brain TV - LD3 project: exchange with Nihon Kohden (Japan) 
Description Brain tissue pulsation measurements using ultrasound. With Nihon Kohden support we are now seeking further funding 
Type Diagnostic Tool - Imaging
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Non-clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2020
Development Status Actively seeking support
Impact None yet (still under development/assessment or closed) 
 
Title Further development of a phage-based qPCR as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease and co-infections at an industrial setting 
Description Main funding is from Phelix Research and Development coupled with Impact fund, PoC and LD3 fund from Leicester 
Type Diagnostic Tool - Imaging
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Non-clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2020
Development Status Actively seeking support
Impact N/A 
 
Title Intelligent systems for target identification of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation 
Description needs completing 
Type Support Tool - For Medical Intervention
Current Stage Of Development Initial development
Year Development Stage Completed 2020
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Impact needs completing 
 
Title Understanding the Electrophysiological Substrate Underlying Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study II (USURP AF- Study II) 
Description Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of chronic heart rhythm disease worldwide, with significant associated co-morbidities. Although there have been advances in understanding the mechanisms of AF, the underlying cause of AF and factors which perpetuate it remain incompletely understood. This is particularly the case for persistent AF (persAF). Drug treatments for persAF have a role but can have undesirable side effects with relatively limited efficacy. Furthermore, current invasive therapies for persAF remain suboptimal, requiring significant resources, and with potentially serious complications for patients. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for paroxysmal AF. For persistent AF (persAF), however, catheter ablation does not provide similar results. This is because there remains a poor understanding of the electrophysiological mechanisms driving persAF. Part of this study aims to further explore the specific locations that represent important substrates which would guide more effective catheter ablation. There have been several different ablation approaches explored in the past (see below), however, these did not improve the outcome post procedure compared with pulmonary vein isolation alone. A pilot study has already been carried out and I aim to expand this further with a larger cohort of patients (10-20) over 2 years. In this study the investigators want to explore whether stable high dominant frequency (HDF) sites (with a high organisation index) act as potential drivers of Atrial Fibrillation. Thus, targeting these sites may results in prolongation of the cycle length and thus possible termination of the arrhythmia. 
Type Therapeutic Intervention - Surgery
Current Stage Of Development Refinement. Clinical
Year Development Stage Completed 2019
Development Status Actively seeking support
Clinical Trial? Yes
Impact NA 
 
Title All-cause and cardio-renal-metabolic mortality in people with type 2 diabetes: a comparative international trend study. 
Description Package for epidemiological analysis 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact None noted to date 
 
Title Brain TV - modelling software 
Description Pulsation signal analysis and modelling software. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Brain TV correctly excluded patients with no major brain injury, with the exception of one patient with a 5 mm mid-line shift whose brain tissue pulsations were correctly identified by as abnormal. This case was presented as a poster at the London Trauma conference in December 2019. 
 
Title CcpNmr Analysis software suite V3 
Description his is a modern, flexible, fully reworked version of the CcpNmr Analysis 2.4 software for Biomolecular NMR. CcpNmr Analysis v3.0 currently contains modules for Assignment, Metabolomics and Screening with a Structure module in development. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Working with academia and industry partners - multiple outputs and impacts covered in other sections and in detail on the CCPN web pages (see URL below) 
URL https://www.ccpn.ac.uk/
 
Title LD3 project - Bacterial aerosol sampling device (MASS) 
Description Development of a bacterial aerosol sampling device which is compatible with routine clinical practice. To provide a simple, cheap and effective test which enables rapid detection of respiratory pathogens and early use of targeted antimicrobials. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nq3y0P6t44 for a public health video explaining how the mask works 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact None to date. 
URL https://le.ac.uk/news/2020/february/19-tb-masks
 
Description A personalised approach to detect and treat endometrial cancer recurrence 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact IAX Celebrating Success - Discuss success stories from IAX funding and disseminating information to show impact of IAX funding for PGRs
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BHF Research Accelerator Award VIP Launch 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact The aim of this launch is to promote the success of Cardiovascular Research to date, thank benefactors for their previous support and promote collaboration and forge links between UoL research and industrial partners. Networking, and engagement with a number of experts who currently work in industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Bacteriophages as diagnostic markers and therapeutic agents for predicting and treating Lyme disease - Invitation to give a talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dr J.S who received two rounds of LD3/ MRC CiC awards (MC_PC_15045 and MC_PC_17171) to develop a PCR-based test to diagnose Lyme disease got invited to give a talk at the international Crypto-Infection Conference, Dublin, Ireland, on June 2019 . Presentation title: "Bacteriophages as diagnostic markers and therapeutic agents for predicting and treating Lyme disease".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Benjamin Franklin and Lafayette Seminar 
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 This was an invitation-only workshop in France focused on eating, nutrition, and exercise. I met and discussed my work with Danielle Greenberg, President of Research Science and NutriSci and until recently Senior Director of Global R&D at PepsiCo
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Brain TV - LD3 project: exchange with Nihon Kohden (Japan) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Brain pulsation phantom exhibited at two venues for British Science week
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Bringing the OCT to the patient, and not the patient to the OCT 
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 591 participants in 82 different countries engaged with the Webinar which was presented by an expert panel from the world-renowned University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit (UK) sponsored by Leica and TII:

Comparisons between hand-held OCT and table-mounted OCT
Clinical applications including detection and assessment of foveal and optic nerve abnormalities and monitoring of disease progression
Research applications with a focus on nystagmus, childhood glaucoma, and cerebral malaria

In short, discover how hand-held OCT (namely, Leica EnVisu) in ophthalmology procedures can support you in the diagnosis of physiological and pathologic conditions of the eye.

(Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://theophthalmologist.com/webinar/clinical-applications-of-hand-held-oct-bringing-the-oct-to-th...
 
Description Discussion of Industry needs for CCPN with UCB and Novartis 
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 Collaborative Computing Project for NMR (CCPN) Conference hosted by the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology (LISCB) on 4-6 September 2019
,
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://ccpn.ac.uk/meetings/past-meetings/2019-ccpn-conference-leicester
 
Description Further development of a phage-based qPCR as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease and co-infections at an industrial setting 
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 Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Answering questions for a Dutch journalist working on a new documentary on phages. We already did this twice in the last couple of years and every time it gets broadcasted it attracts loads of people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Improving personalised treatment for Rare cancers- Research Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Scoping meeting focused on 'rare cancer research' in Leicester with a view to developing personalised approaches for patients.
The aim is to develop links with companies that can offer personalised drug testing on cancer tissue; opportunities to investigate the use of 'repurposed drugs'; develop links with drug companies with the aim of developing a pipeline to target the chemotherapeutic drugs to patients who are more likely to benefit.

Meeting will include :
Consultants and other Clinical staff from UHL-NHS trust who are directly involved in the treatment of patients with rare cancers - soft tissue sarcomas; mesothelioma; rare haematological cancers.
University of Leicester Research staff: from GGB and LRCR and our Entrepreneur in residence
Industry staff from: Imagen Therapeutics (Chief Scientific Officer); Drugs with a difference (Chief Scientific Officer); Immedica (UK Medical lead)- all confirmed.The meeting will include talks and time for questions and discussion as follows:
• Three short overview presentations from clinical Consultants on : treatment options and limitations for patients with STS; mesothelioma; rare haematological cancers; followed by questions
• A talk from Imagen Therapeutics including a summary of their experience with testing STS
• A pitch-talk from 'Drugs with a difference'
• Overview of available drugs and their uses by Immedica .
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Industry Academia Exchange Launch 
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 Launch of the new MRC funding award - showcase of successful placements from MRC P2D MC-PC_15056. Including video highlights and live presentations from secondees and companies. Talks addressed the positive outputs on a personal level (how industry/accademia work), the gathering of proof of concept data (for larger commercial projects and grant applications), publications and the establishment on long standing relationships.
Positive outputs were noted on both sides and heightened interest in the exchange programme has resulted from this. This is especially true for the early career researcher group who now account for the majority of out placements under the IAX scheme (for the 2016 award it was predominantly academic PIs).
A number of new relationships were developed at this meeting e.g. further links between Protexin and researchers in our Renal Team.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Industry and Academia Exchange - Closing ceremony (How industry and academia can work together) 
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 This event was aimed at communicating the activities that have been supported using the MRC Proximity to Discovery funding. A number of presentations and short videos will be used to highlight a number of successful projects. Industry partners, academics and individuals from UK-RI (MRC and Innovate) will be invited, with time for networking.
With Talks/presentations from:
* Supporting Early Career Researchers - introduction by Sarah White
* What's next(gen)? Working with industry for improved cancer diagnostics - Diviya Gorsia (LCRC) and Nonacus
* The development of novel expectorant sampling and biomarker analysis- Jonathon Decker (RS) and QuantumDX
* Making the moveacademia to industry - Ana Sousa Manso (C4XDiscovery)
* Building on MRC Funding - introduction by Andrea Cooper
* Delivering integrated precision medicine approaches for cardiometabolic disease - Toru Suzuki (CVS) and NTT Data
* Compound screening to identify inhibitors of NEK kinases - Li-Ying Lin (LD3 project with Andrew Fry) and AstraZeneca
* Industry Engagement Day - introducing breathomics to "Big Pharma"- EMBER consortia
* Academic-industrial collaboration as a key to success for translational phenomics - Dennis Bernieh & Toru Suzuki (CVS) and Shimadzu
* Multidisciplinary Approaches - introduction by Di Levine (LIAS)
* Artificial intelligence for radiomic prediction of radiotherapy side effects -Chris Talbot (GGB) and Axial3D
* Improving diagnosis of paediatric eye disease using large data sets - Frank Proudlock (NPB) & Translational Imaging Innovations
* BrainTV - imaging approaches to detect brain damage- Emma Chung (CVS) and Nihon Kohden
* Keynote speech - Andreea Iftimia-Mander, Innovate UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Leicester's unique mask capture technology highlighted for detection of TB 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The University wanted to showcase the unique technology being developed by Prof Barer in the mask capture strips. This was to raise the profile of the project with the local arae (Leicester has a high TB rate compared to the rest of the UK) and potential philanthropic funders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://le.ac.uk/news/2020/february/19-tb-masks
 
Description Midlands Academic Training Programme - IP and Commercialisation Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Midlands Academic training programme:
This was set up as a cross Midlands event (with MICRA http://midlandsinnovation.org.uk/programmes/micra.aspx) aimed at providing useful engagement, information and training to clinical academic trainees (but was also open to a wider audience). There was also time and scope at the event for establishing collaborations/partnerships/discussion. It is too early to define if any of these have lead to anything further but we will follow up and report in any advances.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://midlandsinnovation.org.uk
 
Description Midlands Meeting Place | Medilink Midlands (LISCB films) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Midlands Meeting Place, a partnership between Medilink Midlands, West Midlands Academic Health Science Network, East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, Midlands Health Alliance and MI Health. Aimed to offer the Midlands a central source of help and support through collaboration.

During this difficult time, it is important to be able to bring together the region's wealth of expertise and opportunities to support the Life Science sector.

Our multi-discipline consortium is here to help your businesses to overcome challenges and to continue to maximise the potential of your innovations. We will utilise a range of virtual media to achieve this and will work with you to make this resource appropriate for your needs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.medilinkmidlands.co.uk/midlandsmeetingplace/
 
Description PDRSA (Post-Doctoral and Research Staff Association) Annual Conference at the National Space Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The aim of this one-day conference was to promote knowledge exchange between Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and figures from industry. Approx 100 ECRs participated, in this event with a chance to network and engage with a number of speakers who currently work in industry. This conference will be the first in an annual series for ECRs with subsequent conferences organised by WTISSF and BHF Fellows.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www2.le.ac.uk/colleges/medbiopsych/research/ecr-symposium-2019/pdrsa/view
 
Description Precision Medicine student business engagement residential 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This was a three-day residential programme designed to enable PGRs to develop a wide range of career skills that involves both taught elements and experiential learning. The training and assessment will be delivered by industry focused facilitators, local venture capitalists alongside members of the Leicester Precision Medicine Institute and the Doctorial College.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Targeting NEK kinases for cancer therapy 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact It was myself spending two weeks at AstraZeneca's Alderley Park site, in order to perform high throughput assay for the follow up screening of hit compounds from an initial screen to identify inhibitors of NEK kinases, also learnt methods aligned with industrial criterion to analyze the data by working alongside AZ's scientists.
The most excited thing was from this activity, we had enough data for AstraZeneca's chemist to analyze the structure activity relationship (SAR) of compounds
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description The Reversible Protein Acetylation in Health and Disease Conference 
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 This purpose of this event was to meet with multiple industry partners who have an active R&D pipeline in our particular field and with whom we hope to have initial non-confidential conversations to identify potential collaborations in drug development. We have made initial contact with Novartis and Constellation Pharmaceuticals at this event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019