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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.
Aston's fibre Bragg grating research on optical sensing has had a global commercial impact, in particular the development of low-cost fibre FBG sensor interrogation methods. The work has been carried out with a diverse range of companies (including BAE Systems, Airbus, Insensys, Schlumberger) working across different sectors including oil and gas aerospace and marine. Specific impacts include the acquisition of 70% of the stock of Insensys Wind for US$15.7 million by Moog in 2009 and continuing employment by Smart Fibres, Moog Insensys and Astasense.
Research at the University of Leeds has underpinned the company Lhasa Ltd. which has made widely available the toxicity prediction software currently known as Derek Nexus. The use of Derek Nexus by large pharmaceutical companies to support drug development is effectively universal. Toxicology prediction software has led to changes in guidelines issued by regulatory authorities and to industry-wide changes to the investigation of the toxicity of trace impurities. These changes have reduced the resources needed for experimental investigation of toxicity, and have increased revenues derived from launched drugs by extending their patent period of exclusivity. Lhasa Ltd. derives income in support of its charitable aims from Derek Nexus , and a related product Meteor Nexus (Meteor) also based on research undertaken in Leeds. The company reported revenues over £5.4M in 2012 and employs 71 highly qualified staff.
Sensors and on-line monitoring systems have clear benefits for various sectors including water utilities, food, health, safety and defense. Current approaches include optical, acoustic, mechanical, electrical and bio sensors, however they often suffer from low reliability, sensitivity and accuracy, combined with infrequent measurements and high cost, all of which hinders their industrial application. Hence, to meet the current industrial demand the scientists at the Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute have developed a new real-time non-invasive sensor platform based on the use of electromagnetic waves. These are being used extensively by United Utilities PLC, Mechan Controls PLC, the UK Defence Science & Technology Laboratory and Animalia in Norway.
Research at the University of Portsmouth (UoP) has created new user-friendly control, navigation and communication systems for powered-wheelchairs that have made a significant and positive impact on the lives of users. These have given many disabled children and adults an opportunity for independent mobility, some for the first time.
The systems have been used in six special schools and institutions (including RNIB and NHS) and many private homes. Economic impact in reducing the need for carers alone has been estimated at more than £250,000 p.a and the devices have also changed some professional services.
A commercial continuous glucose sensor/monitor that provides real time data has been developed by GlySure, a venture capital funded company founded on the basis of Bath chemistry. The sensor enables Tight Glycaemic Control (TGC) for control of glucose levels in patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), reducing severe hypoglycaemia, glycaemic variability and the nursing burden, maximising both patient and economic benefit. This has led to (i) £13.5M investment in the company GlySure Ltd directly for development of the system based on the Bath chemistry and (ii) successful results from full clinical trials of the device, involving more than 200 ICU patients, prior to CE approval and launch in the EU.
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.
A team at the University of Sunderland has undertaken research into equipment maintenance for over 20 years. This has been undertaken within a series of funded UK and EU projects. The work of the team has resulted in a new model for maintenance strategy, and the development of novel artificial intelligence algorithms to monitor the condition of key factory assets. A series of software tools have been developed in collaboration with industrial partners. These tools and the strategic model have been tested in industrial settings and have had impact in the UK, across the EU, and internationally.
As 288,000 UK construction workers were estimated to have contracted vibration white finger and 170,000 had claimed compensation by 2011 this study relates to the design and development of a hand and arm vibration (HAVmeter) monitor by the ERPE Reactec student start-up company. This company initially focussed on optimisation of sweeping for curlers, contributing to team GB winning the 2002 Winter Olympic Gold medal. The current Reactec (HAVmeter) instrument measures and reports on vibration white finger, which potentially affects 5 million British workers.
The HAVmeter has sales in excess of £9M, over the 2008-2013 period, and is now in use by 45,000 construction workers. Reactec, with 23 employees and a turnover of ~£2.5M p.a., company innovation has been recognised with 4 industrial awards since 2009.
Many of the millions of people worldwide with disfigurement face significant psychological challenges. Research at UWE's Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) has made a substantial contribution to the interventions and healthcare provision available for patients with the most common congenital disfigurement — cleft lip and palate — in the UK and internationally. Specifically, our research has underpinned: (1) The inclusion of psychologists as key members of all UK cleft teams; (2) The development of effective forms of psychological support and interventions currently in use by psychologists and charities across the UK and abroad; (3) The development of evidence-based training packages currently being used by practitioners across Europe.