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Innovation Birmingham, Alta Innovations and the University of Birmingham have secured £2.05m funding from the European Union to deliver business support and incubation services for the city’s hi-tech entrepreneurs and SMEs.

University of Birmingham commercialisation teams, in addition to The Birmingham BioHub®, a purpose-built facility that provides entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups with access to affordable laboratory facilities and equipment.

In addition to technical support, businesses will benefit from local professional experts through a combination of one-to-one structured support, workshops and networking events. They will be able to locate themselves within co-working spaces at either the E4F Incubator on the Innovation Birmingham Campus, the focal point for Birmingham’s tech/digital community or the BizzInn Incubator. Support will be provided to eligible companies free of charge, typically over a period of up to nine months.

Katharine Fuller, head of projects at Innovation Birmingham, said: “With over 14,152 companies launched in Birmingham last year alone, the region continues to be a hotspot for entrepreneurialism and, with a large, skilled and youthful workforce, established infrastructure and strong digital connectivity, it is vital that we continue facilitate and support new and existing talent by providing the necessary conditions for them to thrive.

“This funding will go some way towards achieving this goal and BizzInn will be a fantastic addition in delivering the next phase of this project.”

David Coleman, head of enterprise acceleration at the University of Birmingham, said: “Through the close collaboration of our respective hi-tech support programmes, we’re providing stronger and more identifiable places for hi-tech entrepreneurs and businesses in Birmingham to access support.  Our interventions will help teams at all stages, from proving the viability of their concept, to building teams and relevant supplier or customer contacts, to attracting finance.”

Since the launch of the Entrepreneurs for the Future programme in November 2009, over 136 tech start-ups have been created, with £12.3m of investment secured during initial funding rounds. As part of the incubator programme, qualifying innovative start-ups receive up to nine months’ office space, mentoring, use of video conferencing equipment and meeting room and superfast broadband at the Innovation Birmingham Campus.

Serviceteam IT has announced it has achieved a Silver Cloud Productivity Competency, thereby demonstrating readiness to meet the evolving needs of Microsoft customers in today’s dynamic business environment. Increasing numbers of businesses are looking to transition to Office 365, as a result of it’s enhanced productivity and security features. However, in what can be a challenging and complex process, Serviceteam IT have demonstrated their capacity to successfully deliver and support Microsoft’s suite of Office 365 services. In earning a silver competency, Serviceteam IT has placed amongst the top 5 percent of Microsoft Partners Worldwide.

In recognising the future of cloud-based technologies, Serviceteam IT also provide Connectivity Services such as Leased Line Fibre Ethernet, Cloud Security, and Amazon Web services. Most recently they have been working with fellow Research Park tenant, Arun Luther of Genesis Innovations, to streamline business communications with IP Telephony.

Figures published in 2016 by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have confirmed that the Clinical Research Network (CRN) West Midlands is the highest recruiting Network in England.

The NIHR is the research arm of the NHS, and this research is delivered and supported by 15 local Networks. In the last ten years the Network has recruited 544,115 participants into high quality studies across the West Midlands – 64,278 of these in the last 12 months alone; the highest in the country.

Ultimately, clinical research means patients get access to new treatments, interventions and medicines, and investment in research means better, more cost-effective patient care. And with more than 3,000 different studies available in the West Midlands across 30 health specialties, Network Clinical Director Professor Jeremy Kirk explains how over the last decade the region has earned its reputation as the most active in the country.

Professor Kirk commented: “It is a fantastic reflection of the hard work and enthusiasm of our dedicated staff and researchers within the Clinical Research Network West Midlands that we have recruited over 64,000 patients this year into portfolio studies, the largest number of any region in England. Moreover, that since the formation of the NIHR 10 years ago we have recruited more patients than anyone else not only confirms our regional credentials as a research powerhouse, but has also meant that over half a million patients regionally have been recruited into high quality studies.

“The more patients that we can encourage to take part in vital clinical research, the quicker the NHS can introduce new and better treatments for the benefit of all patients, as well as using NHS resources more efficiently.”

Participants have been recruited from every NHS Trust in the West Midlands, from more than half of the region’s GP practices, and in hospices, nursing homes, pharmacies, schools and prisons.

David Loughton, Chief Executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which hosts the Network, adds: “The success of the CRN in the West Midlands is testament to a lot of hard work, commitment and excellence and as a Trust we are delighted with this success story.”

A British tech start-up has invented a world-first multi-function antenna for laptops that fits into the extremely limited space of the hinge cavity.

The Department of Health has awarded Birmingham £12m to help advance research into inflammatory diseases.

The funding from the National Institute of Health Research  (NIHR) for the Birmingham BRC in Inflammation combines our world-class strengths in immunology and inflammation research and extensive experimental medicine infrastructure. This will support a five-year programme between the NHS and University as core partners of Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) to better understand and treat a range of debilitating diseases for patients in Birmingham and beyond.

Professor David Adams, Head of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Director of Birmingham Health Partners and the new Birmingham NIHR BRC comments; “We are delighted that the NIHR have funded a Biomedical Research Centre in inflammatory disease in Birmingham.  We will build a centre of excellence that will allow us to take scientific discoveries through into new treatments for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune joint, muscle, bowel and liver diseases.

“Chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, colitis and liver diseases are increasingly common and a major cause of suffering and early death.  In Birmingham, we have been researching the underlying processes behind these diseases for many years.  This award will enable the University and University Hospitals Birmingham to continue to develop the facilities and teams to help better understand and treat these disabling diseases.”

Through this funding, leading NHS clinicians and top universities throughout the UK  will benefit from new world class facilities and support services built by the five-year funding package – the largest ever investment into health research.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham are one of 20 NHS and University partnerships across England, who have each been awarded funding through the National Institute for Health Research, boosting growth in cities across the country.

Each of the new Biomedical Research Centres will host the development of new, ground-breaking treatments, diagnostics, prevention and care for patients in a wide range of diseases like cancer and dementia.

ENDS

For more information please contact Luke Harrison, Communications Manager for Health Sciences, on +44 (0) 121 4145134. Out of hours please call +44 (0) 7789 921165 or email [email protected]

AltaBioscience announces UKAS accreditation of new ‘hormone fingerprint’ test: application as an aid to diagnosis of adrenal cancer

A new analytical test has been launched in the UK that provides sensitive, specific and efficient predictive analysis of a rare form of cancer from a simple urine sample. The ACC steroid analysis service will be marketed by Birmingham-based AltaBioscience, which has an exclusive licence on this patented technology from the University of Birmingham.

The steroid profiling test is expected to improve diagnosis for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a highly aggressive type of cancer of the adrenal glands, which manufacture and control the level of steroid hormones in the body.

Early diagnosis is critical for people with ACC: there are few treatment options and the 5-year survival drops from 65% of those diagnosed in the early stages of disease to less than 10% of those diagnosed at the later stages¹.

The test is a significant development on the current diagnostic procedures, which rely on CT/MRI imaging or tissue biopsy – both of which are time-consuming and costly, and rely on indicators that can be ambiguous. The new test accurately quantifies up to 32 steroid hormones and metabolites in urine, delivering a ‘hormone fingerprint’ which is then compared to a comprehensive database containing profiles from patients with benign and malignant adrenal disease.

This comparison with the reference database provides a detailed picture of urinary steroid metabolites profiles as biomarkers of Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC) resulting in a report detailing probability of malignancy. This test is a non-invasive analysis supporting clinicians in ACC diagnosis and quickly signposts the need for treatment.   The database was developed by Professors Wiebke Arlt and Paul Stewart from the University’s Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, who identified a set of urinary markers which can differentiate adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) from adrenocortical adenomas (ACA).

Professor Wiebke Arlt commented: “Urine steroid analysis delivers a detailed steroid fingerprint of adrenal tumours and can help determine whether the tumour is harmless or a cancer. This test has several advantages over existing methods, as it is easy, non-invasive and radiation-free. I am delighted that this test, developed in the University’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, is now available in the clinical setting for the earlier and more effective diagnosis of Adrenal Cancer.”

Marion Peak, Director of Operations at Alta Bioscience commented: “Until now this test has only been available to researchers and clinical research organisations. However our urinary steroid analysis service, which includes the more specific ACC steroid testing, is now accredited to ISO 17025:2005,and we are delighted to be able to offer it more widely to clinicians who are at the frontline of patient care.”

The licence granted by the University of Birmingham allows Alta Bioscience to commercialise and market the steroid profiling test globally.

Scope of Quality Management System extended.

25th July 2016

Abingdon Health announces the registration of its manufacturing facilities as GMP compliant, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for the design, development and manufacture of lateral flow devices, and device readers for in vitro diagnostic medical use.

In addition, the Company’s Quality Management System certification encompassing ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 13485:2012, has been further extended to cover the design, development and manufacture of lateral flow devices, ELISA kits, reagents and device readers for in vitro diagnostic medical use.

The first product to benefit from this enhanced regulatory environment is the newly available lateral flow immunoassay reader – ADxLR5® which is now registered with the FDA and CE marked as a Class 1 Medical Device. The ADxLR5® has been developed as a next generation technology designed to offer the user the most up to date features required for the most complex quantitative lateral flow applications as well as the benefit of touch screen technology, barcode scanning and enhanced connectivity features.

The launch of the ADxLR5® will support the growth and expansion of the Abingdon Health multiple myeloma assays: Seralite®-FLC serum and Seralite®-FLC urine. In addition, the ADxLR5® will also be provided as an OEM reader solution for those customers wishing to have a bespoke reader developed alongside the development of lateral flow assays. Using their core expertise Abingdon Health are now able to offer the complete solution to OEM customers to deliver lateral flow assays and customised state of the art readers suitable for sale in USA, European and other markets.

Marsha Leeman, Quality and Regulatory Affairs Director said “The registration of our manufacturing facilities as GMP compliant reaffirms Abingdon Health’s commitment to making the groups Quality Management system integral to the company’s core business principles both for our own assays and also for our OEM customers”

Fiona Kilvington, Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “The availability of the ADxLR5® Reader for our customers will provide improved connectivity and traceability features with unique icon driven software providing workflow solutions for our own assays: Seralite®-FLC serum and Seralite®-FLC urine. Furthermore, we understand that this is an important solution for our OEM customers and GMP compliance will enable the development of lateral flow assays and reader solutions suitable for the USA market.”

Enquiries:

Abingdon Health Ltd +44 1904 406 082

Chris Yates CEO

Fiona Kilvington, Head of Sales and Marketing

About Abingdon Health – www.abingdonhealth.com

Abingdon Health Ltd is a UK-based in-vitro diagnostic group focused on developing a range of rapid testing products in the area of haematology-oncology. The Company launched its first rapid testing product in 2016, Seralite®– FLC, a rapid diagnostic device in multiple myeloma, and is in the process of launching a range of complementary rapid tests.

The Company’s core expertise lies in the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of rapid lateral flow immunoassay diagnostics and reader systems. To support its strategic plan Abingdon is currently working with its partner Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd on the development of a multiplexed immunoassay system for the rapid testing market. This device uses printed electronics technology-based components for versatile and quantitative optical detection in a portable and disposable format.

The University of Birmingham has launched a £5 million investment plan to double the number of commercial spin outs within five years.

Alta Innovations, the university’s commercial arm, will double the number of business managers seeking out new inventions from the institution’s 3,400 academics.

Now, for the first time, the £5 million investment fund will enable the university to partner with venture capitalists to invest into its best inventions.

Alta Innovation’s chief executive James Wilkie said: “Thanks to this new investment, backed by the university, Alta Innovations will be able to invest directly in its spin outs.

“We will be able to provide very early stage investment into the most exciting inventions that are developed by the university’s brilliant academics.

“This new £5 million fund is a direct result of progress by the Alta Innovations that has pushed Birmingham to fifth in the UK for identification of new inventions.

“It allows us to fully realise the potential of inventions that have real potential to benefit society.”

Alta Innovations operates at the Birmingham Research Park, on the university’s Edgbaston campus.

It is backing a number of the institution’s spin out companies including Smart Antenna Technology, which has secured £3.3 million investment to develop a multi-use antenna for laptops and mobile phones.

The firm is also leading the development of a high-tech medical cluster centred around the university and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston.

Last year, the company opened the BioHub, a £7 million facility that provides affordable laboratory space to medical tech start ups.

Dr Wilkie said: “The BioHub is a fantastic facility for early stage medical start ups. The space is affordable and start ups can receive business advice on marketing and protecting their intellectual property.”

Dr Wilkie said the BioHub Birmingham was more than half full and had plans in the pipeline for future expansion.

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/business-news/university-birmingham-launches-5m-mission-11358883

In the second part of our series, editor Thierry Heles takes a closer look at how Birmingham University is building a complete ecosystem for spinouts, startups and late-stage companies.

full article: http://www.globaluniversityventuring.com/article.php/5222/alta-innovations-the-future-of-success