Liverpool – Confidence in Concept 2019
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
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.
Publications
Bertagnolio S
(2024)
WHO global research priorities for antimicrobial resistance in human health.
in The Lancet. Microbe
Dunai C
(2024)
Pulmonary SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to para-infectious immune activation in the brain.
in Frontiers in immunology
Michael B
(2023)
Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses
in Nature Communications
Yang X
(2025)
High-speed low-cost line-field spectral-domain optical coherence tomography for industrial applications
in Optics and Lasers in Engineering
| Description | Antabio Ltd |
| Organisation | Antabio |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The collaboration was to develop novel galectin-3 antagonists. We now have those ready for progression into full pre-clinical evaluations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration was to develop novel galectin-3 antagonists. We now have those ready for progression into full pre-clinical evaluations. |
| Impact | The discovery from this CiC project has helped the filling of a patent application, the preparation a new MRC DPFS application, and the proposed formation of an University spin out company to lead further therapeutic development of those novel compound inhibitors. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Biochemical Toolkit for Discovery and Optimisation of Fungal Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitors (University of Liverpool - University of Exeter) |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tao You will construct an in vitro PK/PD model to recapitulate the relationships among PK - target engagement - disease modulation (cell cycle distribution / apoptosis biomarkers). Tao You will qualify and refine PK/PD modelling. Based on the PK/PD modelling work, Xiao-Ling Cockcroft and Tao You will optimise. Tao You will perform PK/PD modelling to support human dose selection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Steven Bates will help produce and purify thioredoxin reductase protein (Trr1 protein) from medically important fungal pathogens, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida auris, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. |
| Impact | To follow when outputs and outcomes of the work have been reported on. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with expert silica consultant Dr Kevin Skinnley (formerly Thermofisher) by Simon Maher |
| Organisation | Thermofisher - Uppsala |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Ideas and research on airborne virus capture. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Skinley was consulted regarding his opinion on the potential to upscale manufacture the material. |
| Impact | Insight into scope for upscaling. Advice received. |
| Start Year | 2023 |