Leicester – Confidence in Concept 2019
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The Confidence in Concept (CIC) scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions to flexibly support a portfolio of early stage translational research projects. CIC is designed to accelerate the transition from discovery research to viable translational projects by supporting preliminary studies to establish proof-of-concept so that the approach will then become competitive for more substantial translational funding.
Organisations
- University of Leicester (Lead Research Organisation)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- Renfrew Group International (Collaboration)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- OXFORD NANOPORE TECHNOLOGIES (Collaboration)
- Isogenica (Collaboration)
- QuantuMDx Group Ltd. (Collaboration)
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (United Kingdom) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUST (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- Waters Corporation (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Allsopp RC
(2022)
A rapid RT-LAMP SARS-CoV-2 screening assay for collapsing asymptomatic COVID-19 transmission.
in PloS one
Bate N
(2022)
In vitro evolution predicts emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations with high affinity for ACE2 and cross-species binding.
in PLoS pathogens
Glenn SM
(2022)
Dimethyl fumarate eliminates differentially culturable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an intranasal murine model of tuberculosis.
in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Ibrahim W
(2022)
Visualization of exhaled breath metabolites reveals distinct diagnostic signatures for acute cardiorespiratory breathlessness.
in Science translational medicine
Kang C
(2021)
A Heuristic Neural Network Structure Relying on Fuzzy Logic for Images Scoring.
in IEEE transactions on fuzzy systems : a publication of the IEEE Neural Networks Council
Kuht HJ
(2022)
Genotypic and Phenotypic Spectrum of Foveal Hypoplasia: A Multicenter Study.
in Ophthalmology
Kuht HJ
(2023)
Abnormal foveal morphology in carriers of oculocutaneous albinism.
in The British journal of ophthalmology
Lee H
(2023)
Retinal Development in Infants and Young Children With Albinism: Evidence for Plasticity in Early Childhood.
in American journal of ophthalmology
Lu S
(2020)
Diagnosis of cerebral microbleed via VGG and extreme learning machine trained by Gaussian map bat algorithm
in Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing
Mahase E
(2020)
Covid-19: Universities roll out pooled testing of students in bid to keep campuses open.
in BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
| Description | Automation of COVID 19 test processing |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-testing-evaluation-of-the-automated-workcell/aut... |
| Description | Role in the Office of the National Data Guardian |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-data-guardian |
| Description | UHL validating and launching genomic tissue based testing |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | A platform for rapid development of entry inhibitors for blocking novel viruses. |
| Amount | £103,155 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | AKT2I |
| Amount | £37,986 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Advanced tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer with an automated sample extractor for a multiuser interdisciplinary translational research facility |
| Amount | £321,969 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_ MR/X012565/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Developing a Prototype Artificial Intelligence-based Eye Tracker (A-EYE) for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Eye Movement Disorders |
| Amount | £14,884 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Fight for Sight |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| Description | Development of a rapid and facile platform for testing viral escape-resistance of therapeutic antibodies & vaccines & determining escape mutations. |
| Amount | £360,359 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/X009521/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Institute for Precision Health |
| Amount | £27,218 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange, Impact & Proof of Concept Fund, 2022 |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Liquid Biopsies: The Future Of Cancer Patient Diagnosis And Treatment |
| Amount | £455,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Samworth Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| Description | MRC Clinical Academic Research Partnership - Liquid biopsy in aggressive T-cell lymphoma |
| Amount | £225,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | Sartorius Octet R8: a fast, sensitive, label free protein analysis platform. Equipment fund |
| Amount | £214,587 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/X012646/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | University of Leicester Staff and Student Covid-19 screening programme |
| Amount | £450,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| Description | Wolfson Foundation Intercalation Award |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Wolfson Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | i4i - Call 24 B, LifeMap-Quality-assurance User-focussed Evaluation of Safety and Tolerability (LifeMap-QUEST): developing LifeMap-Vest and LifeMap-Compute for exercise assessment with optimised digital ECG recording for sudden death risk stratification |
| Amount | £838,165 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR204553 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| Title | JPS016, a HDAC degrader PROTAC |
| Description | JPS016 is a benzamide-based Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3-ligase proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTAC). JPS016 degrades class I histone deacetylase (HDAC). JPS016 is potent HDAC1/2 degrader correlated with greater total differentially expressed genes and enhanced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Sold commercially by MedChemExpress LLC |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This is a new potent class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) degrader that can be used as a research tool to study the effects of HDAC degradation and inhibition in biological assays. |
| URL | https://www.medchemexpress.com/jps016.html |
| 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 | Cytogenetics partnership |
| Organisation | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust |
| Department | Renal University Hospitals of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supporting Cytogenetics at UHL for the implementation of genomic services in Leicester Hospitals (supported by both organisations via a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Working Agreement). Results will also inform discussions with the regions Genomic Laboratory Hub around the application of ctDNA testing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Brought in to cytogenetics ISO accreditation for delivery of diagnostic cancer services via University of Leicester |
| Impact | Delivery of ctDNA profiling for patient stratification to clinical trials |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Defence Science and Technology partnership |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Building on COVID ligand trap research for applicability to other viral threats |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding of PhD studentship |
| Impact | PhD studentship investigating 'A platform for rapid development of entry inhibitors for blocking novel viruses' |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| 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 | Development of novel antimicrobial agents to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis persisters |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Exploring systems biology in TB |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exploring systems biology in TB |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Diagnosis of Covid-19 by MS |
| Organisation | Waters Corporation |
| Department | Waters Corporation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My research group has developed high fidelity MS proteomics techniques applicable to detection of low concentrations of specific peptides. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Waters created a set of research reagents for the generation of peptides from Covid-19 virus particles and an enrichment capture system to enable MS detection of the virus specific peptides. Waters provided access to these research tools free of charge for my research group to evaluate in clinical samples. |
| Impact | Preliminary results show that MS can detect Covid-19 particles in spiked samples, swab samples and in blood. There is a publication in draft at the moment. (Reviewed March 2021 - Updated March 2021) |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Genexus sequencing partnership |
| Organisation | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Leicester Molecular Diagnostics is now ISO 15189:2012 accredited to deliver sequencing for cancer patients via Cytogenetics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of 2 x Genexus sequencers |
| Impact | Societal benefit, delivering patient stratification for cancer therapy |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Isogenica collaboration |
| Organisation | Isogenica |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Clinical input in haematological malignancies |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bispecific antibody development/knowledge exchange |
| Impact | To be developed |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| Organisation | Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research team has brought new research application to the ONT portfolio |
| Collaborator Contribution | Advice on data analysis, training |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | the optimisation of shallow whole genome sequencing (s-WGS) |
| Organisation | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The expertise with the ctDNA workflow has contributed to an MTA being signed between the University and Thermo Fisher for the optimisation of shallow whole genome sequencing (s-WGS), currently used in reproductive health, as a potential low-cost cancer screening tool and/or monitoring tool. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ThermoFisher will provide the software updates and reagents in amounts sufficient to achieve the Purpose |
| Impact | Optimising a low cost cancer screening/monitoring tool |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | Minimal Residual Disease: A trial using liquid biopsies in solid malignancies. |
| Description | To cross-validate the Thermofisher Oncomine tissue and cfTNA assays (in house) against the FDA approved Foundation Medicine platform by comparison of the spectrum and variant frequency of cancer-specific alterations detected in matched tissue and blood. |
| Type | Support Tool - For Medical Intervention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2022 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | Future utility investigated within patient pathway. Trial has just finished recruiting, and awaiting outputs |
| Company Name | BIOXHALE LTD |
| Description | Delivering Breathomics capacity. |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Impact | Breath analysis services and products under development. |
| Website | https://bioxhale.com/ |
| Description | Case study detection of SARS-Covid-2 |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Case study available on New England Biolabs website for LAMP for molecular diagnostics and IVD |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://neb.uk.com/support/lamp-for-molecular-and-in-in-vitro-diagnostics |
| Description | Demonstration of the 3D foot scanner to Leicester Partnerships trust |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Demonstrated equipment utility to the podiatry team at the Leicester Partnerships Trust assessing interest in making test orthotics based on 3D foot scans. This may have significant impact for patient care of those with diabetic foot ulcers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Dimethyl fumarate eliminates "invisible" Mycobacterium tuberculosis persisters from infected murine organs. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of findings (poster, abstract) at https://www.tuberculosis2022.conferences-pasteur.org/ S. Glenn, O. Turapov, V. Makarov, D. Kell, G. Mukamolova*.Dimethyl fumarate eliminates "invisible" Mycobacterium tuberculosis persisters from infected murine organs. EMBO TB WORKSHOP, Institute Pasteur, Paris, 14/09/22. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.tuberculosis2022.conferences-pasteur.org/ |
| Description | Myocardial infarction detection and quantification based on Convolution neural network with error correction. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Xin Li gave an oral presentation at the IEEE WORLD CONGRESS ON COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (WCCI) 2020, 19 - 24th July, 2020, Glasgow (UK), "Myocardial infarction detection and quantification based on Convolution neural network with error correction." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | NIH Albinism Genes Variant Curation Expert Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Pi invited to be part of the NIH Albinism Genes Variant Curation Expert Group and work within the ClinGen ocular guidelines group: https://www.clinicalgenome.org/working-groups/clinical-domain/ocular-cdwg/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.clinicalgenome.org/working-groups/clinical-domain/ocular-cdwg/ |
| Description | Nystagmus Network Open Day (Cardiff University, 24th June 2022). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Conducted engagement activities with patients through the nystagmus network community and Global Albinism Alliance committee. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Organisation and attendence of International Scientific Conference on Albinism (ISCA) 2022 - 16-19 November 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organisation and attendance of International Scientific Conference on Albinism (ISCA) 2022 - 16-19 November 2022. This included providing lay talks to patients and public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Press Release - Researchers identify how multiple genes impact vision development and result in rare sight disorder |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Press release by University of Leicester on the largest study to date involving multiple centres across the world (UK, South Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, USA, China, France, Australia, Germany, Brazil and India) led by team at the University of Leicester. High impact publication in Ophthalmology (IF = 14.27) The international effort led by researchers at the University of Leicester consisted of 20 expert centres , examining the genes associated with arrested development of the fovea. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://le.ac.uk/news/2022/april/fovea-genes |