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Abingdon Health, a tenant at the University of Birmingham’s bio-incubator, is developing a rapid diagnostic test for bovine mastitis, a common and serious health problem in dairy cows, which has an estimated £14-23 billion impact on the global dairy industry1.

Mastitis is usually caused by bacterial infection in the cow’s teats or udder, and reduces the quality of milk, rendering it unsaleable – and can be fatal to the cow.

Currently mastitis is detected by visual inspecting the milk, and the type of infection is confirmed by sending it off for laboratory testing – which is both time-consuming and expensive.

The University’s relationship with Abingdon Health started in 2010, when a joint venture resulted in a new start-up company called Serascience, who developed Seralite®, the world’s first rapid test for multiple myeloma. The test is used in human healthcare and is now available in 70 countries worldwide.

Abingdon’s diagnostic test for mastitis will be based on a lateral flow technology that can be used on the farm, to identify the type of bacteria that caused the infection.

Test results will ensure that the cow is quickly prescribed the right antibiotic to treat the infection, and it is expected that this will reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, and the spread of disease between cattle in milking herds.

The test will aim to provide sensitive measurements in order to stratify mastitis by bacterial class (gram-negative or gram-positive).

Dr David Pritchard, Chief Technical Officer of Abingdon Health Ltd, commented: “The pressure to reduce the use of antimicrobials in food production is growing rapidly. To do this, we need to provide farmers with rapid diagnostic tests that guide the choice of antibiotic, and ensure animals are treated quickly and effectively with the right antibiotic. We also believe this test will provide benefits to the dairy industry in terms of milk quality and yield, and to the cattle in terms of animal welfare.”

University of Birmingham Enterprise announces the formation of a new spinout company, Viatem Ltd, to develop and exploit the therapeutic potential of PEPITEM (Peptide Inhibitor of Trans-Endothelial Migration).

The announcement coincides with the presentation of new research showing that synthetic PEPITEM can prevent or delay the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animal models of disease, and restore regulation of white blood cell migration in human tissues1.

RA is an autoimmune disease that affects over 20 million people worldwide2. It results in extensive damage to joints and causes significant disability. Currently there is no curative treatment.

PEPITEM is a 14 amino acid peptide, and a naturally occurring mediator in the adiponectin pathway which controls the recruitment of immune cells into inflamed tissues. The pathway was discovered by researchers at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham, and described in their seminal paper in Nature Medicine in 20153.

The adiponectin pathway is believed to be pivotal in protecting inflamed tissues from excessive damage, and is disordered in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes, all of which are characterised by chronic inflammation that destroys the patient’s own tissues.

According to Dr Jonathan Watkins, Head of IP at University of Birmingham Enterprise, it was the foundational nature of the science that first attracted the attention of the University’s technology transfer and commercialisation teams. He commented: “It is extremely rare that a completely new regulatory pathway is discovered, and that it is possible to modulate it through an identified target.”

Dr James Wilkie, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise, commented: “Despite substantial innovation over the last few decades, there are still significant unmet needs in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. We are delighted to be commercialising this novel therapeutic target which is supported by a robust and increasing body of evidence.”

The new research, presented today at the Latin-American Association of Immunology in Cancun, Mexico showed the administration of synthetic PEPITEM:
• When administered prophylactically: inhibition of the onset of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in mouse models (measured by clinical score, autoantibody, bone erosion and incidence) compared to controls
• When administered therapeutically: reduction in disease severity in CIA mouse models (measured by clinical score, ankle and footpad thickness, leukocyte infiltration, bone erosion, and autoantibody) compared to controls
• Improved regulation of T-cell recruitment in ex vivo human peripheral lymphocytes taken from newly presenting RA patients (measured by T-cell migration and response to adiponectin).

The University has licensed the technology to the newly formed spinout company Viatem Ltd. The University is a shareholder in the company, which has received funding from Innovate UK, the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network and the University of Birmingham’s Enterprising Birmingham Fund.

Viatem is located in the BioHub Birmingham®, the University’s bioincubator, which is based at the Birmingham Research Park.

The researchers will be presenting further data at EULAR 2018.

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About PEPITEM and the adiponectin pathway
The adiponectin pathway was discovered by a research group led by Professor Ed Rainger of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK. ([email protected])
The pathway modulates the migration of T-cells (white blood cells) from the blood stream into body tissues, and PEPITEM is its key regulator3.

PEPITEM is a potential novel therapeutic for T-cell mediated inflammatory diseases:
• In response to adiponectin, B-cells release PEPITEM
• PEPITEM binds to cadherin 15 on EC
• Triggering formation and secretion of S1P via SPSN2
• S1P binds S1PR1 on T-cells inhibiting their migration

About University of Birmingham Enterprise
University of Birmingham Enterprise supports academics who want to innovate, take their ideas to market, work with businesses and social enterprises, or enrich their professional lives by doing academic consultancy projects. We do this by providing enterprise training, funding, office and laboratory space, and a full technology transfer service. University of Birmingham Enterprise also manages the incubation services and facilities at the Birmingham Research Park.

About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.

References
1. McGettrick H. Emerging role for the adiponectin-PEPITEM pathway in the pathology of Rheumatoid arthritis: New therapeutic avenues targeting T-cell trafficking. Presented 14th May 2018 at the Latin-American Association of Immunology (ALAI) and the Mexican Society for Immunology (SMI), Cancun, Mexico.
2. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet, Vol 388 October 8, 2016.
3. Chimen M et al. Homeostatic regulation of T cell trafficking by a B cell-derived peptide is impaired in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disease. Nature Medicine, Volume 21, Number 5, May 2015.

PICTURES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

10th April 2018: The University of Birmingham is to lead a connected system of incubators and accelerators that will drive jobs and economic growth across the Midlands region, following a £5 million award announced today by Research England.
The award will establish MICRA as the largest formal technology transfer collaboration in the UK, providing a single gateway to the collective intellectual property (IP) resources from the eight Midlands Innovation universities – Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick.
The Midlands Innovation universities already generate more new inventions and patents per unit of research income than any other leading group of UK universities, and the funding is expected to be a key driver for significant new investment and jobs in the region.
Collaborating with industry and organisations from all sectors, the MICRA programme will provide support and access for enterprise development, investment and investor relationships to help entrepreneurs drive their ideas forward, meet a wider community of like-minded people and find the right targeted incubation support within the partnership.
Dr James Wilkie, Director of Enterprise & Innovation at the University of Birmingham, commented: “The Midlands of the UK has a strong track record of innovation and tremendous capacity for growth. We are very proud to be leading this initiative that brings together our leading universities to provide a single point of contact for investors.”
“Collaborating with strategic partners is crucial. It allows us to collectively offer a critical mass of innovation for the region and appeal to investors who are seeking long-term investment opportunities,” says Dr Helen Turner, Midlands Innovation Director. “Offering a single-route that makes it easy for investors to access opportunities and enhance the support available for growing businesses is highly appealing. Attracting large ‘patient capital’ investors who are willing to back new ideas with vision and management talent, and who understand the potential for success will drive new growth businesses and new high value jobs in the UK economy.”
With state-of-the-art technology platforms, science parks and incubators, the Midlands Innovation partnership is well positioned to underpin the social and economic fabric of the Midlands. Working across the partnership, the Technology Transfer Offices will be able to access Intellectual Property Case Managers with detailed sector knowledge quickly and efficiently.
Professor Stuart Croft, Chair of the Midlands Innovation Board and Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, commented: “I am delighted that the Midlands Innovation partnership continues to go from strength to strength with the announcement of this Connecting Capability Fund Award from Research England. Our expertise and capabilities cuts across all disciplines and its rewarding to see how this activity is now translating into new and exciting strands for the partnership.”
The University of Birmingham is already well known for the economic and social benefits of its research. It shares its knowledge and expertise to help a wide range of enterprises, including entrepreneurs, start-ups, social ventures and major industrial concerns to innovate and grow.
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Notes to editors
The £5 million award was made from Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund, which supports universities in working together, and with businesses and other partners, to commercialise research and share good practice and staff.
About University of Birmingham Enterprise
University of Birmingham Enterprise supports academics who want to innovate, take their ideas to market, work with businesses and social enterprises, or enrich their professional lives by doing academic consultancy projects. We do this by providing enterprise training, funding, office and laboratory space, and a full technology transfer service. University of Birmingham Enterprise also manages the incubation services and facilities at the Birmingham Research Park.
For more information about University of Birmingham Enterprise contact:
Ruth Ashton, [email protected], tel: +44 (0)121 414 8646, mob: +44(0)7989 558041.
Follow: @UoBAccelerate

About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
For more information about the University of Birmingham contact:
Dominic Benson, [email protected], tel: +44 (0)121 414 5134, mob: +44 (0)7976 327067
Follow: @news_ub

About Midlands Innovation
Midlands Innovation is a world-class research and innovation partnership, combining the collective excellence of eight leading universities in the heart of the UK – Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick. It unites the power of university research with the unique strengths of Midlands industry to drive cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development.
For more information about Midlands Innovation contact:
Sue Clayton, [email protected], tel: +44 (0)115 828 3061, mob: + 44 (0)7870 510 402.

New technology makes micro-chips with features 4,000 times smaller than a human hair

University of Birmingham spinout Irresistible Materials (IM), announces the final stages of testing for a novel material used for manufacturing micro-chips with features smaller than 18 nanometers (nm) – 4,000 times smaller than a human hair.

The new materials will enable electronic device manufacturers to make smaller, lighter devices, and pave the way for IM to enter the multi-billion dollar global semiconductor market.

The new materials incorporate small molecules, developed at and patented by the University of Birmingham, which are part of a ‘multi-trigger resist’ (MTR) solution. The MTR is part of a ‘photoresist’ that coats the silicon chip before it is etched, and is activated by exposure to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, which has a wavelength of just 13.5nm.

Light is used to etch grooves onto the surface of silicon micro-chips, and these grooves define the ‘wires’ on the semi-conductor base (see illustration below). Current manufacturing techniques use light with a much larger wavelength of 193nm, and this has limited the size of the features that can be etched onto a micro-chip.

The electronics industry requires ever smaller and lighter micro-chips and has committed to the introduction of EUV lithography by 20191.

The testing will take place at the University’s Nano-Physics, Chemistry and Engineering Research Laboratory, under the auspices of Dr Alex Robinson, one of the inventors of MTR technology, who is also a founding Director of Irresistible Materials.

Alex Robinson commented: “Staff expertise at the University will be central to this £1m collaborative testing project, which will use state of the art nanoscale testing facilities at the University, as well as partner laboratories in Europe and the US, to investigate the application of extremely novel chemistry to a large scale industrial problem.”

David Ure, founding Director of Irresistible Materials, commented: “We have already demonstrated superior or equivalent performance to leading EUV photoresist products and are extremely excited to enter the last stages of testing. Major manufacturers have had EUV lithography on their roadmaps for several years, and there is a now growing urgency for the industry to be ready for mass production involving EUV lithography in 2019.”

These final stages of testing are part funded by a grant from the UK’s innovation agency Innovate UK, and part funded by private investment funds raised by Irresistible Materials.

ENDS

13 December 2017: Abingdon Health Ltd announces the completion of a £1.1m funding round, raised from current shareholders.
The funding will be applied to working capital and will be used for the continued extension of the company’s lateral flow device product set and associated reader systems.
Abingdon’s lateral flow device products include Seralite®, a rapid test for the diagnosis and management of patients with multiple myeloma.

Based on technology originally developed at the University of Birmingham, Seralite®– FLC (free light chain) launched two years ago as the world’s first rapid diagnostic device in multiple myeloma. The test provides results within 10 minutes rather than days or weeks and enables clinicians to monitor patients in real time, supporting faster decision making.

In quarter three 2017, three separate studies were published validating the benefits of Seralight® in a total sample size of more than 5,700 patients1,2,3.

Abingdon has also recently entered into a co-marketing agreement with Innova Biosciences Ltd, a SYGNIS company, making the company Innova’s preferred supplier for lateral flow contract manufacturing. A separate agreement with Skannex results in Abingdon being Skannex’s preferred partner for lateral flow development and manufacturing.

Abingdon CEO, Chris Yates, commented “We are delighted to secure this funding and we thank our shareholders for their continued support. At Abingdon, we have created a growing immunodiagnostics-based rapid-test company and this additional investment will allow us to continue to develop and sell our portfolio of products and services”.
University of Birmingham Enterprise CEO, Dr James Wilkie, commented: “Abingdon Health has grown rapidly. Since the launch of Seralite®, which is now available in 70 countries, the company has passed several significant milestones and is now poised for further expansion in 2018.”

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For further information:
For further media information contact Ruth Ashton, [email protected], or call 0121 414 9090 (out of hours number 07989 558041).
About University of Birmingham Enterprise
University of Birmingham Enterprise supports academics who want to innovate, take their ideas to market, work with businesses and social enterprises, or enrich their professional lives by doing academic consultancy projects. We do this by providing enterprise training, funding, office and laboratory space, and a full technology transfer service. You can follow us @UoBAccelerate.
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
About Abingdon Health
Abingdon develop and manufacture lateral flow assays and readers under the Abingdon brand specialising in the area of multiple myeloma. Abingdon also offers development and manufacturing services for customers looking to develop new assays or looking to transfer existing laboratory-based assays to a lateral flow format. Abingdon take projects from initial concept through to routine and large-scale manufacturing. Abingdon’s patented lateral flow reader, the ADxLR5®, is CE marked and FDA registered and can be fully customised to meet the needs of clients looking for a quantitative solution for a lateral flow assay.
About Myeloma
• Myeloma is a blood cancer related to lymphoma and leukaemia.
• There is no cure although there are treatments that can slow down the course of the disease
• A third (33%) of people diagnosed with myeloma in England and Wales survive their disease for ten years or more (2010-11)4
• Myeloma survival is improving and has quadrupled in the last 40 years in the UK4

References:
1. Campbell, J. P. et al (2016). Development of a rapid and quantitative lateral flow assay for the simultaneous measurement of serum κ and λ immunoglobulin free light chains (FLC): inception of a new near-patient FLC screening tool. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM). https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2016-0194/cclm-2016-0194.xml
2. Heaney, J. L. J. et al (2017). Diagnosis and monitoring for light chain only and oligosecretory myeloma using serum free light chain tests. British Journal of Haematology. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjh.14753/full
3. Heaney, J. L. J. et al (2017). Multiple myeloma can be accurately diagnosed in acute kidney injury patients using a rapid serum free light chain test. BMC Nephrology. https://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12882-017-0661-z
4. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/myeloma

Two medical devices developed by University of Birmingham researchers to help the fight against antibiotic resistance will be exhibited in the Superbugs: The Fight For Our Lives exhibition, which opens at the Science Museum in London on November 9th.

Spinout company Linear Diagnostics, whose device can perform a test for both bacteria and antibiotic resistance from the same sample, will be exhibiting alongside GFC Diagnostics, whose test detects antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria using a simple easy to use device called Safetube.

While the two technologies are very different, both are displayed because they have entered the competition for the Longitude Prize.

The Longitude Prize was inaugurated in 2014, and is a £10million prize fund that will reward a competitor that can develop a diagnostic test that will help save antibiotics for future generations. Entries for the prize have to meet an exacting set of criteria – the device has to be affordable, accurate, fast and easy-to-use at the point of care.

The two entries from Birmingham have been designed to help prevent the inappropriate use of antibiotics, which fuels antibiotic resistance.
The Linear Diagnostics’ device uses polarized light to measure the alignment of detector molecules. When these molecules are flowing in solution they are aligned, but when they attach to the target – which can be either bacteria, or antibiotic resistance genes from bacteria – they lose alignment and the measurement changes.

The device will be used for early diagnosis, and to check that the antibiotic prescribed is not one the bacteria are resistant to. Its first use is expected in the UK in 2018, when it will be trialled in hospitals and GP surgeries as a detector for anti-microbial resistant Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

GFC’s device uses a proprietary DNA hybridisation technology called Microscreen to rapidly detect the genes in bacteria responsible for antibiotic resistance. The device was developed in the University of Birmingham and is used in the company’s other products which are on the market. The MicroScreen technology enables the detection of the antibiotic resistance genes to be made quickly and simply , it needs no laboratory equipment and the end result is a colour change which makes it ideal for use in a wide range of situations across the world. The product will be tested on clinical samples next month.

Dr James Wilkie, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise, commented: “ The University has major research strengths in infectious diseases and anti-microbial resistance and a strong inventive pipeline in diagnostic technologies. We are delighted that the Science Museum has chosen two University of Birmingham technologies to exhibit in the forthcoming exhibition.”

For more information about the University of Birmingham / University of Birmingham Enterprise:
Ruth Ashton on [email protected], or call 0121 414 9090

University of Birmingham spinout Oral Health Innovations Ltd and Simplyhealth Professionals announce today that 100,000 assessments have been carried out by the highly regarded Denplan PreViser Patient Assessment oral health assessment tool (DEPPA).
DEPPA is an evidence-based online individual risk assessment tool which helps patients understand their current oral health and future disease risk. It assesses an individual patient’s medical history, dental history, lifestyle and their clinical status and provides feedback on current health and future disease risk directly to patients via a personalised report.
The system was developed for the UK by Oral Health Innovations Ltd to help patients understand their oral health needs and to support decision making by dental professionals.
The reports use a traffic light colour-code system of red, amber and green to indicate what is going well and what the patient needs to improve on with the help of their dental care provider.
Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals said: “There is evidence to support that personalised biofeedback, delivered using reports such as DEPPA for patients, is more likely to trigger the emotional response required in order that behaviour change can occur than traditional methods. Improved oral health can only be achieved through a strong partnership between dentist and patient.”
Recent research has shown that patients who receive an individualised communication about risk as part of a routine dental consultation took advice on periodontal disease more seriously, and felt better able to follow it, than those who receiving a routine consultation alone (p<0.05). 1 Moreover, research presented earlier this year at the International Association for Dental Research conference showed that sharing the report with patients resulted in reduced levels of bacteria in their mouths and gum inflammation, and better daily oral hygiene routines.2 Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, commented: “As routine dental consultations incorporate risk assessments for future disease, it is vital that we understand how to communicate this risk to patients, so they can distinguish between generalised advice and individual risk.”

The BioHub Birmingham, the University of Birmingham’s flagship biomedical incubator, will be hosting a bio-networking showcase and event on November 8th from 3.30 – 5.00pm.

The event will showcase selected assets and facilities at Edgbaston Life Sciences ecosystem to a delegation of Indian Medtech companies on the first day of the Innovate UK conference, which is being held at Birmingham’s NEC.

The Indian delegation will include companies such as Meril, SMT, Romsons Disposable Medical Devices, Bhat Bio-Tech India, BPL Medical Technology, Cipla, and Trivitron Healthcare.

The Edgbaston Life Sciences ecosystem hosts 64% of the city’s healthcare economy and has been described as the most complete medical innovation ecosystem in Europe.

Dr Ewa Truchanowicz, Business Engagement Manager for the BioHub Birmingham said: “The local ecosystem brims with opportunities for commercial and research collaborations, and the visit of this Indian delegation holds the prospect of facilitating productive introductions and dialogues.”
UK life science companies, researchers or investors who are interested in attending the showcase and networking event should apply by email to: [email protected].

ENDS

For further editorial information about the BioHub Birmingham®, or pictures, please email Ruth Ashton at [email protected].