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Fifteen years of research in advanced Lab-on-a-Chip technologies at the University of Glasgow has led to three spin-out companies: Mode-Dx, Clyde Biosciences and SAW-Dx. Since 2008 these companies have developed a range of products and services for the diagnostic screening of chronic diseases, for the detection of acute infections and for improving the drug discovery process. The three companies have secured a total of £2.3M in venture funding and secured key strategic collaborations with stakeholders including industry partners and the NHS.
Research during the 1990's at Newcastle University resulted in the development of CANopen (Control Area Network open), a manufacturer independent communication protocol for connecting multiple devices used in industrial systems. It has resulted in opening up the market by providing the platform for a low-cost simplified method of connecting off-the-shelf devices to communicate effectively over a network, benefiting the global economy and inspiring innovation. The significance of the impact is evident by the wide incorporation of the technology in a diverse range of products ranging from health care, automotive, renewable energy, rail and aerospace industries. The reach of the impact is evident by its use in product development by national and international companies and is the de-facto European standard EN 50325-4 (CiA 301).
For stroke patients and any patient undergoing surgery the time period from diagnosis to treatment is a major factor in clinical outcomes. Research carried out at the University of Warwick has led to the development of sensors that can be used to measure, in whole unprocessed blood, diagnostically useful analytes that can be used to select the best therapeutic treatments. Point-of- care diagnosis and prompt referral to an appropriate care pathway, facilitated by the use of biosensors, will result in efficiency savings for healthcare professionals and the NHS in the long- term, and will also improve patient outcomes. To commercialize these biosensors, Sarissa Biomedical Ltd was founded in 2002, as a UK-based spinout from the University of Warwick. Sarissa sells, around the world, microelectrode biosensors fabricated by a unique enzyme deposition technology protected by patents filed in 2004 and 2008 by the University of Warwick. The diagnostic sensors are based on technology that incorporates Ruthenium Purple and use a sol-gel coating to entrap enzymes on a microelectrode. Sarissa is pursuing human trials of its biosensors as diagnostic tools in two main areas: stroke, and trauma with associated sepsis.
Research led by Dr A McNally at Nottingham Trent University has driven the development of rapid diagnostic protocols and devices for infectious diseases, principally Influenza, Salmonella and Campylobacter. This began by working on the validation of a standardised real-time PCR test for H5N1 avian influenza which is now used in European reference laboratories. Follow on funding from European Union and Technology Strategy Board led to the development of fully automated diagnostic devices for companies who have taken their products to market and attracted substantial investment from world-leading pharmaceutical companies.
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.
In the UK, 20-25% of the population (around 15 million people) sufferer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) resulting in about 4 million `sick days' per year. Research undertaken by the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU) over a period of 20 years has resulted in the development of a national pollen forecasting system for the UK which has had direct benefits on the health and wellbeing of hay fever sufferers. This research has also raised awareness of the importance of pollen information for sufferers, fed into policy on allergy services (and subsequently practice of these services), underpinned training of health professionals, and informed clinical trials of anti-allergy products and devices.
Research at the Interface Analysis Centre (IAC) has made innovative analysis products available in a wide range of industries and research fields.
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.
Building on excellent computer science research, carried out in a number of applied research centres, the University has taken a leading role in the establishment and development of the software sector in the North East. This has resulted in a regional strategic approach, which has delivered significant social and economic benefits, with impacts including the creation of jobs, SME growth, cluster establishment and inward investment. Sunderland's applied computing research has also resulted in an increase in innovation and research in software SMEs and has impacted on the perception of Sunderland as the heart of a regional software cluster.
Chemtrix Ltd. was established in February 2006 as a 50-50 joint venture between the University of Hull and Lionix Ltd. In 2008 the company attracted investment from Limburg Ventures BV, Panthera, Technostartersfund, Microfix BV and Hugo Delissen (€2 million) that led to the creation of Chemtrix BV. In 2009 the Company launched Chemtrix USA and a second investment round followed with investors Particon BV. In 2012 ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG, acquired a minority interest (30%) in Chemtrix BV based on a valuation of €5.3 million.
The three products developed and marketed by Chemtix, Labtrix®, KiloFlow® and Plantrix®, are differentiated from competitor products as they offer `scalable flow chemistry', such that optimised reaction conditions can be easily scaled from R&D to production. In addition to the employees and investors in Chemtrix the main non-academic beneficiaries of the research have been industrial customers such as Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Edward Air Force Base, Iolitec GmbH and DSM.