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Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a frequently fatal disease of haematological malignancy patients, caused by fungi from the genus Aspergillus. Dr Christopher Thornton has developed and commercialised a novel point-of-care test for the diagnosis of IPA with an Aspergillus-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) JF5 generated using hybridoma technology. Using this mAb, he has developed a lateral-flow device (LFD) for the rapid detection of Aspergillus antigen in human serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALf) that signifies active infection. Commercial exploitation of the patented technology has been met through the establishment of a University of Exeter spin-out company, Isca Diagnostics Limited.
This Keele University research in multiscale object recognition has led to two key breakthroughs: (a) the automated identification of tissue boundaries in computer tomographic (CT) scans, enabling the latest radiotherapy equipment to more accurately target diseased tissue thus avoiding neighbouring healthy organs. Such improvements are essential to the successful roll-out of new more precise linear accelerators in the treatment of cancer; (b) new fractal algorithms to characterise the quality of transplanted cell growth from post-operative biopsies. By automating the selection of the healthiest cells this has assisted the generation of patient-specific cartilage and is essential for the development of a medical capability for large-scale patient-specific generation of cartilage growth for the treatment of arthritis. It has indirectly led to software improvements in cell-tracking and to achieving reliable auto-focussing in high throughput non-invasive microscopy.
This research significantly improved the accuracy of antenatal screening for Down's syndrome and the extent to which maternal choices are informed by robust evidence. Tests developed by Professor Nick Wald's team at Queen Mary's Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and validated in the SURUSS (Serum Urine and Ultrasound Screening Study) study were adopted as national UK policy in 2003 and remain an established gold standard worldwide. As a result, most Down's syndrome babies in UK are now born through parental informed choice, and (using age-adjusted figures) approximately 3,000 fewer babies with the syndrome were born between 2008 and 2013. Screening programmes in numerous countries are based on this research.
Analytical methods and nanotechnology developed and patented since 1994 by the University of Sunderland, for healthcare, forensic and environmental monitoring applications have been exploited for their commercial and healthcare benefits. The patents were out-licensed to a University spin-out company for the production of a `sniffer' device to detect raw material air contamination in a manufacturing environment. The proof of concept project resulted in significant commercial benefits, such as inward investment, new industry, specialist training, and >20 new jobs for a range of skilled workers, both in the UK and overseas, development of health and welfare protection, exploitation of technology to meet new industry regulations, and improved efficiency in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and products for household goods.