Swansea University – Confidence in Concept 2019
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
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
Bilbao-Asensio M
(2022)
Redox-Triggered Nanomedicine via Lymphatic Delivery: Inhibition of Melanoma Growth by Ferroptosis Enhancement and a Pt(IV)-Prodrug Chemoimmunotherapy Approach
in Advanced Therapeutics
Curtis D
(2024)
Editorial to the Commemorative Special Issue of JNNFM in honour of Professor Ken Walters FRS
in Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics
Evans VJ
(2022)
The treatment effect of rivaroxaban on clot characteristics in patients who present acutely with first time deep vein thrombosis.
in Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation
Farook MR
(2024)
Loss of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 supports proline-dependent proliferation and collagen biosynthesis in ovarian cancer.
in Molecular metabolism
Francis LW
(2021)
Highly glycosylated MUC1 mediates high affinity L-selectin binding at the human endometrial surface.
in Journal of nanobiotechnology
Holt A
(2023)
Aspirin reprogrammes colorectal cancer cell metabolism and sensitises to glutaminase inhibition
in Cancer & Metabolism
Howard D
(2022)
Dinaciclib as an effective pan-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor in platinum resistant ovarian cancer.
in Frontiers in oncology
Khan Z
(2021)
Chronic Urinary Infection in Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Prospective, Blinded Case Control Study.
in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Lawrence MJ
(2023)
The Impact of Patient Characteristics and Antiplatelet Regimes on Clot Microstructure in Patients Treated for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Clot Microstructure can Evaluate Therapeutic Efficacy.
in Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis : official journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis
Moura J
(2024)
Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation
in Journal of Functional Biomaterials
| Title | Additional file 2 of Adipocyte derived exosomes promote cell invasion and challenge paclitaxel efficacy in ovarian cancer |
| Description | Supplementary Material 2 |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/presentation/Additional_file_2_of_Adipocyte_derived_exo... |
| Description | British Society for Nanomedicine |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | By designing and implementing a standard education accreditation framework for the BSNM, we have utilised our learning in Nano medicines development, to educate other projects, stakeholders and education institutes. So far 3 or 4 leading institutes in our space have engaged with our process and are implementing our standards, as recommended. |
| URL | https://www.britishsocietynanomedicine.org |
| Description | CReSt: the cancer research strategy for Wales |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Dedicated research strategy for cancer research in Wales. Its adoption and implementation was a key element of the successful refunding of the Wales Cancer Research Centre in 2025. |
| URL | https://walescancerresearchcentre.org/crest/ |
| Description | AgorIP market review and IP protection |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | AgorIP |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | CLOT BUSTING - ADVANCED RHEOMETRY FOR INFORMING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE THROMBOLYTIC THERAPIES |
| Amount | £957,419 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Z536040/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Description | EPSRC DTP |
| Amount | £95,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Houston Methodist Research Institute |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 05/2026 |
| Description | Optical based approaches for the rheological characterisation of blood |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2676073 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Title | Red Blood Cell Rheology |
| Description | Novel technique for characterising Rheology of red blood cells. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It is being used by Clinical Colleagues in an NHS setting. |
| Title | ADC Target Vault |
| Description | Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) constitute a rapidly expanding category of biopharmaceuticals that are reshaping the landscape of targeted chemotherapy. The meticulous process of selecting therapeutic targets, aided by specific monoclonal antibodies' high specificity for binding to designated antigenic epitopes, is pivotal in ADC research and development. Despite ADCs' intrinsic ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells, developmental challenges persist. In this study, we present a rationalized pipeline encompassing the initial phases of the ADC development, including target identification and validation. Leveraging an in-house, computationally constructed ADC target database, termed ADC Target Vault, we identified a set of novel ovarian cancer targets. This robust platform for high-throughput screening of potential ovarian cancer ADC targets, is equally applicable to other cancer types. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Development of at least 4 ADC targets |
| URL | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10594448 |
| Description | Induction of anti-tumour immunity and ferroptotic cell-death in the tumour microenvironment (TME) using engineered lipid coated iron oxide nanovaccines (IONVs) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided nanoparticles |
| Collaborator Contribution | In collaboration looking at macrophage phenotype in response to nanoparticles |
| Impact | TBD |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Loreal for SMART polymer nano-vectors for ovarian cancer |
| Organisation | L'Oreal (Paris) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Initial discussion and data sharing |
| Collaborator Contribution | Initial discussion and data sharing |
| Impact | TBD |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Midatech Pharma (Cardiff) for SMART polymer nano-vectors for ovarian cancer |
| Organisation | Midatech Pharma PLC |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Discussion, data sharing and scoping of future relationship |
| Collaborator Contribution | Discussion, data sharing and scoping of future relationship |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary partnership - outputs are a collaborative agreement to explore collaboration and future research, if and when appropriate |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | SMART polymer nano-vectors for ovarian cancer |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Initial discussion and data sharing |
| Collaborator Contribution | Initial discussion and data sharing |
| Impact | TBD |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | THERAPEUTIC AGENTS AND USE THEREOF |
| Description | A therapeutic agent comprising a cell binding agent which binds the Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) linked to an anti-cancer drug, for use in the treatment of gynaecological cancer, endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome. Novel cell binding agents, pharmaceutical compositions and methods are also described. |
| IP Reference | US2020055934 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Development of ADC candidate drug for ovarian cancer. The drug have been further developed as a chimeric variant for applications in female cancers. |
| Title | THERAPEUTIC DELIVERY VECTORS COMPRISING AMPHIPHILIC BLOCK COPOLYMERS |
| Description | A nanoparticle for encapsulation of one or more active pharmaceutical ingredient, said nanoparticle comprising an amphiphilic block copolymer, wherein said amphiphilic block copolymer comprises: i. a hydrophobic polymer block comprising structural units of trimethylene carbonate; and ii. a hydrophilic polymer block comprising structural units of one or more alkylene glycols. A drug delivery vector comprising one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients encapsulated within said nanoparticle. A process for preparing said nanoparticle, the process comprising: i. dissolving said amphiphilic block copolymer in an oligomeric alkylene glycol solution to prepare an alkylene glycol-polymer solution; and ii. hydrating said alkylene glycol-polymer solution by addition of water, an aqueous solution or an aqueous buffer to prepare said nanoparticle. A process for preparing said drug delivery vector by encapsulating one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients within a nanoparticle, wherein said process comprises: i. co-dissolving said amphiphilic block copolymer and said one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in an oligomeric alkylene glycol solution to prepare an alkylene glycol-polymer solution; and ii. hydrating said alkylene glycol-polymer solution by the addition of water, an aqueous solution or an aqueous buffer to prepare said drug delivery vector. Said drug delivery vector for use as a medicament, preferably for use in the treatment of cancer. |
| IP Reference | WO2024194616 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2024 |
| Licensed | No |
| Description | Accepted abstract for The 7th ed. of Nanotech France 2022 Int. Conference and Exhibition |
| 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 | People attending conference will view abstract and have discussions relating to cutting edge content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://setcor.org/conferences/nanotech-france-2022 |
| Description | Presentation to Clinical Colleagues |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of a new biomarker of red blood cells to Clinical Colleagues at Morriston Hospital. Talk was attended by 10 NHS Consultants, Junior Doctors, and Research Nurses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Speaker at Annual BSNM conference, Swansea August 2022. 'Flexible Polymer drug delivery for HGSOC'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Speaker at Annual BSNM conference, Swansea August 2022. 'Flexible Polymer drug delivery for HGSOC'. 300 people attended. Questions and discussions sparked and new contacts made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.britishsocietynanomedicine.org/ |
| Description | Speaker at 6th Annual Formulation and Drug Delivery Congress, London, May 2022. 'Precision Medicine Technologies for Advanced Therapeutics; targeting the Ovarian Cancer Tumour Microenvironment.' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Speaker at 6th Annual Formulation and Drug Delivery Congress, London, May 2022. 'Precision Medicine Technologies for Advanced Therapeutics; targeting the Ovarian Cancer Tumour Microenvironment.' Also Session Chair and Academic expert in Industrial taskforce discussion group for BSNM. Reached 300 people. Discussion sparked and awareness generated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.oxfordglobal.co.uk/formulation-delivery-series-uk/?utm_source=EventListing&%3Butm_med... |