Confidence in Concept 2012 - Queen's University Belfast
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The Confidence in Concept scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions, to be used flexibly to support the earliest stages of multiple translational research projects. The award can be used by the institution to support a number of preliminary-stage translational projects. The projects supported should aim to provide sufficient preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach –– before seeking more substantive funding. It is intended to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach.
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Annett S
(2020)
FKBPL-based peptide, ALM201, targets angiogenesis and cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer.
in British journal of cancer
Gonzalez-Fernandez T
(2017)
Mesenchymal stem cell fate following non-viral gene transfection strongly depends on the choice of delivery vector.
in Acta biomaterialia
McClements L
(2013)
Targeting treatment-resistant breast cancer stem cells with FKBPL and its peptide derivative, AD-01, via the CD44 pathway.
in Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
Pauly HM
(2016)
Mechanical properties and cellular response of novel electrospun nanofibers for ligament tissue engineering: Effects of orientation and geometry.
in Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
Pauly HM
(2017)
* Hierarchically Structured Electrospun Scaffolds with Chemically Conjugated Growth Factor for Ligament Tissue Engineering.
in Tissue engineering. Part A
| Description | Development of EGFR-targeted camptothecin-loaded nanoparticles for targeting Kras wild-type colorectal cancer |
| Amount | £110,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Development of a Novel Bioinspired Fibre Reinforced Hydrogel that Recapitulates the Developmental Processes to Regenerate the Bone-Ligament Interface |
| Amount | £885,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | |
| Description | Grant for R&D |
| Amount | £306,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Invest NI - Almac Collaboration |
| Amount | £3,106,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NIS Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Proof of Concept - Development of thermo-sensitive growth factor delivering hydrogels incorporating calcium phosphate releasing nanoparticles for the targeted promotion of endochondral bone formation to facilitate strategic regeneration of bone-tissue int |
| Amount | £106,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Protease-Tags: Development and Clinical Validation as Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Respiratory Disease |
| Amount | £183,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation |
| Department | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | |
| Description | Sponsored research |
| Amount | £122,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Proaxsis Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Targeting treatment resistant cancer stem cells utilizing FKBPL-based therapeutic peptides; towards effective drug combination strategies for clinical trial. |
| Amount | £405,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Invest Northern Ireland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| End | 06/2015 |
| Description | The utility of MN as a dosage form capable of reducing methotrexate side effects in children |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Versus Arthritis |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Tripartite Scheme |
| Amount | $4,200,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | InterTradeIreland |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Development of a biomarker for the SRC pathway in ovarian cancer |
| Organisation | Almac Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The clinical samples from the SAPPROC trial have all been received and a complete pathological review of the samples has been performed by Professor Glenn McCluggage (QUB). The samples are currently under-going DNA microarray analysis using a proprietary DNA microarray platform, the Ovarian Cancer DSA™ array (Almac Diagnostics, Craigavon, UK). Correlations with signature score and response will then be made. It is anticipated that the results of this will be completed end of December 2014. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Commercialisation of the SRC biomarker may involve require a multi-centre prospective study for EOC patients in which treatment with a SRC inhibitor is selected on the basis of the SRC assay. Almac Diagnostics has extensive experience in these types of studies and is currently delivering the biomarker in 6 clinical trials for patient treatment selection. Funding for the validation study could be applied for through the MRC DPFS/DCS scheme or Invest Northern Ireland. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | KTP Partnership with Fusion Antibodies |
| Organisation | Fusion Antibodies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Technology developed under the project is introduced to the KTP project for validation and development in the partner company's labortatories |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner will employ a joint researcher with the university and devote their internal resources to the project |
| Impact | Research is still ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Title | ASSAY METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF FKBPL EXPRESSION LEVEL IN THE CONTEXT OF BREAST CANCER |
| Description | Disclosed are methods that employ FKBPL as a marker for a subject's sensitivity to endocrine therapies in the treatment of cancers, and as a predictive marker of cancer progression and disease free survival in relation to hormone responsive cancers. |
| IP Reference | WO2010133880 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | The patent is now granted in the US, published under US9110163 B2 on 18 August 2015, and China, published under CN102428370B on 25/04/2012 and is pending in Europe. This project has informed the development of the FKBPL biomarker as a companion diagnostic for ALM201 and directly contributed to the filing of a US patent continuation on 16 July 2015 which includes methods to stratify patients response to ALM201 using the biomarker. |
| Title | BINDING COMPOUND AND USES THEREOF |
| Description | Described are compounds for targeting proteases, e.g. serine proteases and their use in the diagnostic methods and methods for treatment of respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The compounds have the structure [H]-[B]-[A]; wherein [H] is a hydrophilic group, [B] is a subsite recognition group and [A] is a binding group; wherein A has the formula: -C(0)-CH2-NR1-COOR2 and wherein [B] has the structure :(i)-[CO-CH2- NR3]m-, or (ii)-[AA1-AA2]- or (iii) -(AA1-C0-CH2NR3)- or (iv) -(CO-CH2-NR3- AA1)- or (v) -(C0-CH2-NR4-AA1-AA3)-. |
| IP Reference | WO2018078351 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | Licensing deal with AstraZeneca: https://proaxsis.com/proaxsis-signs-global-in-licensing-agreement-with-astrazeneca-for-covid-19-serology-test/ Partnership with Aptamer Groups:https://proaxsis.com/aptamer-group-and-proaxsis-limited-enter-partnership-to-improve-global-logistics-and-stability-of-diagnostic-tests/ |
| Title | COMPOUND |
| Description | Alternative methods for the detection and measurement of proteases in biological samples and compounds which allow for such detection are required to allow for rapid and selective identification of these enzymes. Compounds which allow for selective identification of these enzymes are provided with assays and kits for their use. |
| IP Reference | WO2011024006 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2011 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | . |
| Title | GENE SIGNATURES FOR CANCER DETECTION AND TREATMENT |
| Description | A molecular subgroup of cancer is characterised by misregulation of the MAPK signalling pathway and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Biomarker signatures can be used to identify cancers within the molecular subgroup. The signatures are also useful for identifying the treatment that is best suited for a given patient. A method for selecting a treatment for a subject having a cancer, comprises measuring the expression level(s) of at least biomarker selected from Table A or Table B in a sample from the subject. By assessing the expression level(s) of the at least 1 biomarker it can be determined whether the sample from the subject is positive or negative for a biomarker signature comprising the at least 1 biomarker. Based on the outcome of this assessment different treatments selected from MAPK pathway 10 inhibitors, EMT pathway inhibitors, SRC pathway inhibitors, taxanes and anti-angiogenic therapeutic agents may be indicated. Related treatment methods and products are also provided. |
| IP Reference | US2019127805 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | Licensed to Almac.Unfortunately the assay failed to predict benefit from the AZ SRC inhibitor AZD0530 in a clinical trial in advanced ovarian cancer. Almac are currently discussing validating the assay as a potential biomarker for TGF-Beta activation with other pharma companies. |
| Title | MODULATOR |
| Description | There is provided a method for suppressing a pro-inflammatory immune response in a cell, comprising providing to a cell sialic acid or analogs thereof, wherein the sialic acid or analogs are presented by a substrate such that a pro-inflammatory immune response in a cell is suppressed or an anti-inflammatory immune response is increased in a cell. Further, there is provided a method of treatment of inflammatory disease in a subject in need thereof. There is also provided a drug delivery device and a biomaterial which can modulate the inflammatory response in a subject. |
| IP Reference | WO2011073685 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2011 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | The priority application for this patent was filed prior to the CIC project. The CIC project provided key data that led to a publication and data pack critical in securing the licence deal. Rights to the granted US patent associated with the CIC project have now been exclusively licenced to a commercial partner with options to the EP, AU, and CA granted patents. Patents were granted around 2016 / 2017 although priority date is listed above as 2011 |
| Title | NEATstik® (Neutrophil Elastase Airways Test) |
| Description | NEATstik® (Neutrophil Elastase Airways Test) has completed development and was CE marked in September 2017. NEATstik® is currently undergoing clinical validation for the real-time management of small airway inflammation in a spectrum of respiratory diseases such as CF and COPD. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2016 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | Follow on funding for the Spin-out company, Pro-Axsis,has been secured from the investors as well as R&D grants from Innovate UK and Invest Northern Ireland. The first lab-based product, ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay, was launched in July 2015 and sales have continued to increase since the CE mark was approved (Sept 2016) alongside uptake of the test by a number of pharma for end-point measurement in clinical trials. |
| Company Name | ProAxsis Ltd |
| Description | The work carried out in Dr Martin's CiC project in 2012, also attracted the early attention of AIM listed NetScientific plc, a healthcare medical technology company that commercialises research and technologies originating from leading universities. Working in partnership with NetScientific accelerated the formation of a new University spin-out venture called ProAxsis Ltd. The company has secured a range of investors including venture funding alongside Netscientific and others. |
| Year Established | 2014 |
| Impact | ProAxsis was named as one of Northern Ireland's most promising technology companies, winning the annual NISP Connect 25K awards in 2013 and recently secured funding from the first round of EU Horizon 2020 funding for small businesses. By 2018, the key technology licenced into the company from the original funded project had achieved CE mark status. In addition, the company's ProteaseTag® Active NE Immunoassay, and NEATstik®, the first test to enable measurement of active neutrophil elastase at point-of-care, have been selected for inclusion in a major upcoming clinical trial. The BRIDGE study is a 3-year collaborative study, funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), in which 1000 patients with bronchiectasis across Europe will be recruited and will have multiple assessments including microbiome, proteomics, detailed phenotyping and imaging. The study will explore novel biomarkers and demonstrate what they can add to clinical practice. |
| Website | https://proaxsis.com |