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Extensible fibrillin-rich microfibrils are the template for elastic fibres that endow dynamic tissues with elastic recoil. Researchers at the University of Manchester (UoM) showed that microfibrils are degraded in photoaged skin. We developed a rapid in vivo assay, `The Manchester Patch Test Assay', which predicts the potential of anti-ageing products to restore microfibrils in photoaged skin. The assay was used to demonstrate the efficacy of a Boots Healthcare anti-ageing product and was showcased on the BBC's Horizon in 2007. Impacts include: dramatically increased sales for Boots, investment and changes to the product development strategies of more than 10 international personal care companies, which have used our assay to support product claims.
Research at the University of Manchester (UoM) has changed the landscape of medical care and research in fungal infections internationally. The impacts include: the world's first commercialised molecular diagnostic products for aspergillosis and Pneumocystis pneumonia (£10m investment); pivotal contributions to the preclinical development (£35m investment), clinical developments and registrations of 3 new antifungals with combined market share of ~$2 billion; one (voriconazole, 2012 sales >$750m worldwide) now first line therapy for invasive aspergillosis with improved survival of 15-20%; and internationally validated methods to detect azole resistance in Aspergillus (an emerging problem partly related to environmental spraying of azole fungicides for crop protection).
WHO estimates that 600 million school-age children need deworming treatment and preventive intervention.
The University of Manchester (UoM) Immunology Group delivered an educational programme on the immune response and biology of parasitic worm infections in areas where worm infections are most prevalent, including Uganda and Pakistan, and with UK immigrant communities.
International benefits include health worker and educator training, which is critical for improving the understanding of worm infection and distribution of health education messages to endemic communities. Nationwide engagement activities provided immigrant communities and school pupils with improved awareness of global health issues and a greater understanding of immunology, and have inspired some participants to pursue careers in science.
15m people have a stroke each year worldwide. In England alone, stroke generates direct care costs of £3bn and a wider economic burden of £8bn. Service users report high levels of unmet need in relation to cognitive dysfunction (e.g. concentration). Improving cognition was the number one priority agreed by users and providers (James Lind Alliance, Lancet Neurology 2012). Research led by the University of Manchester (UoM) underpins recommendations in several recent clinical guidelines for stroke management and rehabilitation in the UK and internationally. Our 2012 aphasia trial and qualitative study made key contributions to the recommendations in the recent NICE (2013) and Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party (2012) guidelines. UoM-led Cochrane reviews (e.g., neglect, apraxia, perception) have directly influenced recommendations in guidelines produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, the European Stroke Organization and the Australian National Stroke Foundation.
Falls are a common (30-40% >65 year olds fall each year) and important age-related health problem costing the NHS and social care >£5.6m each day. University of Manchester research has contributed to reducing the burden of falls worldwide.
We demonstrated that falls are better predictors of fracture than bone mineral density. We developed an effective intervention, reducing falls amongst older people by 30%; identified barriers to service use, and approaches to increasing uptake and adherence; and developed a fear of falling instrument (FES-I), now translated into 30+ languages and widely used in clinical practice.
By 2012, 54% NHS Trusts used training programmes based on our research. It moulded service provision nationally and internationally, changing the emphasis of how falls prevention services are presented, from "reducing risk" to "improving/maintaining independence".
Development of the human cell GADD45a assay enabled accurate identification of carcinogens in vitro, with a low rate of misleading positives. Through the spin-out company Gentronix, this research is reducing costs to industry and decreasing the use of animals in research. Industrial collaboration has enabled commercial adoption of the technology in many sectors. With a 10-fold increase in orders in 2012 versus 2008, Gentronix is a profitable business employing 17 people and with an annual turnover of £1.88m. During 2008-12, Gentronix released a series of new products, established testing services, and signed a product license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline. More than 100 companies worldwide are using Gentronix kits, including pharmaceutical, agricultural and health and beauty companies, along with manufacturers of food flavourings and household goods. The Gentronix assay is currently being reviewed by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.
Ground breaking and unique research carried out at the Centre for Skin Sciences at the University of Bradford has led to the realization of commercial opportunities in two very high-value consumer brands. Technologies developed in collaboration with multi-national personal-care and cosmetic companies for the treatment of skin hyper-pigmentation have been launched on the market and have reached thousands of consumers. The first product launched by Alliance-Boots (April 2012) is sold within the UK's premier skincare range (No. 7). Success in Britain led to its launch in the US, Finland and Thailand. A second product within the Diorsnow range has been launched by Parfum Dior — a branch of LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A.
Atopic eczema affects approximately 30% of children, causing suffering at a crucial time in their development. An increasing prevalence has raised concern that newborn skin care may be a factor. University of Manchester (UoM) research explored the effect of a range of products including commercial baby skin care products on skin integrity. We identified harmful practices related to topical oil use; established that a specially formulated newborn cleansing product was safe; and demonstrated increased maternal-reported nappy rash, when cotton wool and water, as opposed to baby wipes, were used. The findings have: changed the attitudes of healthcare professionals to baby skin care practices; informed the guidance provided to parents of newborns, allowing them to make informed choices (a YouTube video featuring the research has been viewed almost 400,000 times); and increased sales of Johnson & Johnson baby skin care products by 15%.
Although, by definition, individually rare, the cumulative burden of `rare disease' is significant, with as many as 3m affected individuals in the UK. The University of Manchester (UoM) has an exceptional record in rare disease gene identification, with 29 such genes defined since 1993. This research paved the way for clinical diagnostic testing for patients and their families, demonstrating the immediate translational impact of gene discovery. The research has resulted in a reduced diagnostic burden for patients and health services and has enabled the provision of more effective counselling. Testing for genes identified at UoM is now offered in more than 140 laboratories in more than 30 countries worldwide. More than 1,100 patients have been tested for mutations in TCOF1, BEST1, IRF6, SAMHD1 and C9ORF72 in UK NHS laboratories alone.
One in ~1,000 children has significant short stature that needs medical evaluation, one in ~4,000 has growth hormone deficiency and one in ~≥10,000 has a genetic growth disorder. Research at the University of Manchester (UoM) has impacted on clinicians worldwide who manage growth disorders. UoM researchers have: characterised growth disorder phenotypes to ensure the right tests are used for the right child and verified the accuracy of diagnostic biochemical tests; discovered new genes associated with a primordial growth disorder and introduced new molecular diagnostic tests for international use; and generated clinical practice guidelines adopted by the worldwide paediatric endocrine community.