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First commercialised in 1996, Quadrupole Orthogonal Acceleration Time of Flight (Q-TOF) Mass Spectrometry (MS) has become the most important of the enabling technologies for structural characterisation in `omics research including Proteomics, Metabolomics, Glycomics and Lipidomics. Prior to this revolutionary development, mass spectrometric methods lacked the sensitivity and resolution needed for unambiguous structural characterisation at the femtomole (10- 15M) level. Today, research is both enabled and accelerated by the use of many thousands of Q-TOF instruments in medical research, cancer research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, forensics and chemical industry laboratories worldwide. As a consequence of this innovation, which resulted from the research and consultancy advice of Professor Howard Morris, industry has invested in R&D, and highly skilled (mainly British) jobs have been created as well as protected.
Carol Robinson's research at the University of Oxford in the mid-1990s led directly to her proposing a new type of mass spectrometer to enable more detailed analyses of larger molecular assemblies than previously possible. The design is marketed worldwide by Micromass UK Ltd (part of Waters Corporation), generating a new area of research within industry and academia in which intact protein complexes can be analysed by mass spectrometry and the chemistry of small molecules and drugs bound to them investigated, thus contributing to the search for novel pharmaceuticals. Since 2008, Waters' successful commercialisation of the new technology has led to sales worth many millions of dollars.
A novel technique named Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry, SIFT-MS, has been researched and developed by Professor David Smith and Professor Patrik Spanel at the Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine (ISTM), Keele University. This technique allows real time, on-line analysis of trace gases in air and exhaled breath. This development stems from basic research into the reactivity of ions in the gas phase, in which Smith & Spanel are recognised international experts, combined with a complete understanding of the engineering and technical requirements of successful analytical instrumentation. SIFT-MS instruments have been developed initially from large laboratory devices to the current, transportable commercial instruments that are produced by two independent manufacturers and sold worldwide. They are used in various fields of research, including immediate analysis of exhaled breath and urine headspace for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, cell biology, and in environmental and food sciences. They have important practical use in the safety of customs workers in container ports and in prospecting for oil and gas. SIFT-MS instruments manufactured in the UK have been exported to Austria, Czech Republic, China and the USA.
Nu Instruments is a successful mass spectrometer company set up in collaboration with geochemists at the University of Oxford. This joint effort was initially based around the development of a new kind of mass spectrometer; the Nu Plasma. Subsequent research in the UoA demonstrated the capabilities of this instrument for analysis of a large range of isotope systems, leading to its widespread use in geochemical and industrial laboratories around the world. Research in the UoA also aided in creation of new products, further contributing to growth in sales. Nu Instruments have sold over 150 instruments worldwide since 2008, while their turnover grew from £5.2M to £14.7M, and their employee numbers more than doubled to 105.
The commercialisation of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) and the associated novel fabrication processes developed at the University of Glasgow has provided Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd (CSTG) with a new foundry product supplying quantum cascade lasers for gas sensing, safety and security, and military applications. This resulted in 40% turnover growth from 2010-2012 and the company is now recognised as a global leader in QCLs and their fabrication. Based on University of Glasgow research, the company has created a manufacturing toolbox for the production of a wide variety of QCL chip designs. CSTG has also achieved a world first, manufacturing QCLs for systems that detect explosives at a safe distance and can counter heat-seeking missile attacks on aircraft.
The development of microelectronic sensor arrays for biological applications, pioneered at the University of Glasgow, is central to a unique gene sequencing system developed by Ion Torrent. The Ion Torrent personal genome machine is a bench-top system that, compared to optically mediated technologies, is cheaper and easier to use. Ion Torrent was founded in 2007 and bought by Life Technologies in 2010 for $725M; they, in turn, were bought by Thermo Fisher for $13Bn, citing Ion Torrent as a motivation. Ion Torrent now has 62% of the bench-top sequencing market, estimated to be worth $1.3Bn in 2012.
Economic impact is claimed through the growth of the biopharmaceutical spin-out company Q Chip Ltd. During the REF period, this has created 19 new jobs, £7.5M investment, a new Dutch subsidiary (Q Chip BV), and staged-payment, six figure contract sales to four major international pharmaceutical companies.
Q Chip has generated over £928K in contract sales from the pharmaceutical industry from 2008-2012, with further sales of over £1M projected in 2013-14.
Originally established by Professor David Barrow in 2003 from his micro technology research, Q Chip has developed new processes and miniaturised equipment to encapsulate materials, including drugs, within uniform polymeric microspheres as injectable therapeutics.
The underpinning research has led to a methodology for cost-effective monitoring systems to interpret complex and emergent conditions in real-world applications. There are ten different organisations utilising the technology, benefitting the UK economy and health care provision, both nationally and internationally. These include MAST Group Ltd, Electricity North West Ltd, TMMHRC (India) and the Milestones Trust (Bristol). The impacts are (i) Economic: improving business capabilities and UK company profit margins (ii) Societal: benefiting health sector organisations in India and in the UK through improved diagnosis and care for the elderly and vulnerable; and (iii) Environmental: reducing waste and carbon footprint.
Today's global telecom systems are powered by technology developed at the University of Glasgow. This technology has been utilised, endorsed and developed by a series of internationally successful companies, facilitating multimillion pound investment from across Europe and the USA for the companies.
Gemfire Europe acquired the University of Glasgow IP and technology and between 2008 and 2012 launched a range of `green' products with reduced power consumption. The company's revenues reached $12m annually and in 2013, Gemfire was one of the world's top five planar lightwave circuit companies. Gemfire was bought by Kaiam, one of the world's market-leading optical networking companies in April 2013, stimulating further innovation and investment in the production of high-speed components for the global data networking market.
Clench's research on Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation - Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) technologies has impacted directly on pharmaceutical industry practice regarding studies of drug distribution studies in biological tissues, providing increased information, more rapidly. Companies have benefitted from long-term relationships with Clench's Bioanalysis Research Group and seek its expertise for consultancy purposes. Former members of Clench's group hold key positions in industry, implementing and further developing these technologies. Francese has had significant success in applying MALDI-MSI to analysis of latent fingermarks for forensic applications benefiting Home Office scientists and crime scene investigation units. Research advances in MALDI-MSI by Clench and Francese are patented and exploited via licensing.