THE NORWICH RESEARCH PARK TRANSLATIONAL FUND CONTENTS 03 FOREWORD 18 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH: 32 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY 06 OVERVIEW MICROBES AND HEALTH 40 ICT THE PROJECTS 24 FRONTIER BIOSCIENCE 44 CHEMISTRY 12 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH 28 CULTURE AND HERITAGE 46 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DR KAREN LEWIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INNOVATION AND SKILLS BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (BBSRC)
Research and Innovation Campuses such as As BBSRC Executive Director, Innovation and Norwich Research Park form an important Skills, it was an immense pleasure to work closely component of the UK innovation ecosystem. with partners across Norwich Research Park to The Norwich Research Park hosts a thriving establish the Norwich Research Park Translation community of over 80 businesses, 3,000 Fund, with the ambition to support, develop scientists, researchers and clinicians. and nurture the innovation ecosystem across the Park. Timely access to flexible funding to enable the development of innovative ideas so that they are The Fund has kick started the development of of value to business and other users is extremely promising opportunities for commercial and important. Access to small-scale early stage societal impact from researchers across the investment is key to realising impact from the Park. It has helped foster new collaborations, UK’s world class research and capability. and encouraged a culture of enterprise and innovation. BBSRC’s vision is to ensure the power of biology delivers a healthy, prosperous and sustainable It is particularly pleasing to see how the different future in the UK and beyond. Essential to projects supported through the Fund are delivering this vision is providing access to such enabling public sector investments in world flexible and early stage investments so that class research and capability to deliver real researchers and their partners on the Park can world impacts. I look forward to seeing how the realise their ambitions and help us fulfil our projects, supported through the Fund, continue commitments to develop the bioeconomy to progress and deliver long lasting impact. and support the delivery of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
2 3 WELCOME TO NORWICH RESEARCH PARK IS MADE UP THE NORWICH OF SIX PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: RESEARCH PARK EARLHAM INSTITUTE (EI) JOHN INNES CENTRE (JIC) NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS (NNUH) QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE (QIB) LOCATED JUST THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY (TSL) 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA (UEA) HOURS FROM LONDON Norwich Research Park has particular strengths in plant and microbial sciences, genetics and genomics, BASED IN SIX PARTNER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS climate and geo-sciences; and food, health and human nutrition.
The Park’s six institutions work collaboratively to 230 address the major global challenges faced by us all, in ACRES particular food and energy security, healthy ageing and living with environmental change.
NORWICH RESEARCH PARK IS A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF OVER The Park is home to three of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s (BBSRC) eight strategically funded National Institutes of Bioscience (EI, QIB, JIC) between them receiving over £50 million 3,000 p.a. in research funding from the BBSRC. SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS AND CLINICIANS Norwich Research Park offers a supportive and collaborative environment for businesses, with a dedicated Innovation Centre offering high quality PLUS MORE THAN office and laboratory units, ideal for innovative start ups.
To find out more, visit www.norwichresearchpark. 80 com/property-and-park/availability-by-building/ BUSINESSES AND COUNTING innovation-centre
4 5 OVERVIEW
THE FUND BOARD HAS ALLOCATED OVER OVERVIEW £1.6 MILLION The Norwich Research Park Translational Fund (the Fund) TO 37 PROJECTS FROM ACROSS THE PARK was established in 2014 with funding from the research OVER 3 YEARS partner institutions on the Norwich Research Park (the Park), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and local authorities.
The Fund was established with three key objectives: 1. 2. 3. Increase the likelihood Encourage researchers Support collaboration that ideas and and clinicians at all career between individuals and innovations developed stages to engage in organisations across at the Park will have a activity that will translate the Park. successful commercial their work outside to outcome or real create commercial or world impact. social impact. PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY RAISED ANOTHER To achieve these objectives, the Fund: £1 MILLION 1. 2. 3. OF FUNDING Provided early stage Contributed to delivering Operated in conjunction financial support the innovation and with later stage funding to accelerate the enterprise vision for to help projects to realise development of ideas the Park. their potential. from the excellent researchers and clinicians on the Park, to enable real world impact.
Funding awarded was typically used for commissioning market assessments, technical feasibility studies, prototype development
With the majority of the funding allocated, the Fund is not currently considering further applications but continues to and research to strengthen the patent positions. actively manage its portfolio of funded projects which are anticipated to be completed by June 2018.
6 7 OVERVIEW
The most common sector for applications was Medicine and Health with other common sectors Projects that have been funded have already led to plans for: being Agritech, Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology, and Food and Nutrition.
11% AGRITECH NEW8 COMPANIES POTENTIAL12 LICENSING 4% DEALS IN PLACE ARTS AND HUMANITIES
12% BIOTECH AND SYNTHETIC ADDITIONAL5 INCREASED AVAILABILITY 4NEW SERVICE 46% BIOLOGY PATENT FILINGS OF RESEARCH RESULTS TO OR CONSULTANCY MEDICINE EXTERNAL USERS OFFERINGS AND HEALTH APPLICATIONS BY SECTOR
7% THE LARGEST SINGLE PROJECT FUNDED RECEIVED CHEMISTRY £52,246 7% THE AVERAGE FUNDING APPROVED FOR PROJECTS WAS ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES £44,075 2% 12% ICT FOOD AND NUTRITION
8 9 THE PROJECTS
The project portfolio is balanced across a spectrum of activities and academic disciplines to accelerate the development of promising ideas and inventions that have potential for societal impact or commercial application.
The following 37 projects are grouped under seven themes.
THEMES: INSTITUTIONS: Bioscience for health Earlham Institute (EI) – formerly The Genome Analysis Centre Bioscience for health: Microbes and health John Innes Centre (JIC) Frontier bioscience Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) Agriculture and food security Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB) – Culture and heritage formerly the Institute of Food Research ICT The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) Chemistry University of East Anglia (UEA)
EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Iceni Fund Low Carbon Innovation Fund Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL) UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund
10 11 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH
BIOSCIENCE NORWICH SKIN PLATFORM DR JELENA GAVRILOVIC (UEA) DR DAMON BEVAN (UEA) FOR HEALTH PROF CATHIE MARTIN (JIC) PROF JEREMY TURNER (NNUH) PROF MARC MONCRIEFF (NNUH) DR JONATHAN CLARKE (JIC) DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
A 3D PRINTED SYNTHETIC SCAFFOLD New products and medicines that impact clinical partners at the Norfolk and Norwich NSP combines scientific, clinical and technical on skin conditions are continuously being University Hospital (NNUH) they developed know-how to perform “in-house” assays (lab- FOR EX-VIVO HUMAN COLONIC developed and there is an urgent need for a model with many small pieces of the surplus based investigative procedures) to provide a TISSUE CULTURE MODEL ways to test them on human skin. Testing skin, which can survive long enough outside range of analytics. In addition, NSP’s whole therapeutics and compounds directly on the body to test in the laboratory a number of skin assay has more biological relevance than DR ARAM SAEED (UEA) DR MARK WILLIAMS (UEA) a model of human skin provides the gold different products and treatments, including commonly-used reconstituted skin or cell- DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) standard to identify their potential beneficial new plant extracts. This human skin testing based assays, due to the complex interplay of use on skin and addresses ethical concerns model, which can be used to test potential the numerous skin components and different regarding the numbers of animals used in compounds active in skin disease, will very cell types present in whole skin. Before being given to patients, potential new more like they would in the patient than the the development of therapeutics. In addition likely reduce the number of animals used in drugs are tested on cells grown in the laboratory. conventional plastic surfaces currently used. established differences between human and therapeutics development. NSP also provides Since receiving initial funding, the project has Laboratory cells are grown on flat plastic mouse skin make human skin testing models access to a more relevant testing regime for been awarded BBSRC Business Interaction surfaces which is a very artificial and unnatural Dr Saeed and Dr Williams are developing a very attractive. Human models are also innovative industry. Vouchers with two different SMEs, as well method since the surfaces bear no resemblance bespoke 3D synthetic matrix. This product is required in the cosmetics arena where animal as a grant from the Big C cancer charity for to the bodily environments in which cells unique as it uses cells provided by the NNUH testing is not permitted in the UK or rest of Market and business analysis by external studies on skin cancer and NRP Seed Links normally reside. This means that many drugs that tissue bank which allows researchers access to Europe and in many other countries. consultants, together with other information funding establishing a new collaboration on show promise in a laboratory environment don’t more realistic models, reducing the number gathered by NSP partners, was used to survey impaired skin wound healing with consultant work when tested in other situations. of costly late-stage failures in drug research, Every day surgeons remove skin from the competitive landscape and consider the diabetologist, Dr Ketan Dhatariya (NNUH). and the need for animal testing. patients with some of this skin not required to business opportunity. Key service offerings, Increased funding will allow NSP to recruit For those researching new drugs, this is costly complete the surgical procedure. This surplus which fully exploit cross-Norwich Research and train additional dedicated personnel and in terms of both time and money, as they are The project was awarded £51,000 from the skin can then be used, with the patient’s Park collaborations, include development of to contract necessary support services. working with compounds that are later found Fund to support the development of the new consent and full ethical approval, to test the state-of-the-art techniques for analysis of to be ineffective. Therefore, there is a need for system and build relationships with companies effectiveness of new skin therapeutics and different proteins and their location in specific NSP currently offers its services through a more sophisticated cell model of the human who could work with UEA to bring the product other products. skin areas. NSP has developed a business plan UEA Consulting Limited, with the possibility intestinal tract that can be used in the global to market. that clearly defines its unique and valuable of developing into either a contract biomedical research market to investigate the Dr Gavrilovic, Dr Bevan and partners were range of services, from sourcing the skin research organization in its own right, or mechanisms of disease risk. awarded £50,000 from the Fund to develop required to test compounds, experimental a subcontractor to an existing contract a system to test new products on human design and analysis. This results in a range of research organisation. 3D cell culture scaffolds provide a significantly skin and have established the Norwich data outputs which can be tailored depending better representation of the natural environment Skin Platform (NSP). Working with their on the requirements of the end user. experienced by cells within living systems, and under these conditions, cells behave and respond
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EVERY YEAR MORE THAN % STROKE REHABILITATION: 46,000 50 RETRAINING WALKING MEN IN THE UK WILL OF PROSTATE – FROM CONCEPT TO DEVELOP PROSTATE CANCER CAUSES COMMERCIALISATION CANCER NO SYMPTOMS
DR NICOLA HANCOCK (UEA) PROF VAL POMEROY (UEA) DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
In the UK alone, 1.2 million people live with the devastating effects of stroke, and the numbers VALIDATION OF URINE BIOMARKERS FOR ISNP – A STRATIFIED of younger people (20-64 years) having a DETECTING PROSTATE CANCER, AND stroke are rising. Many stroke survivors have DISTINGUISHING AGGRESSIVE FROM MEDICINE PIPELINE difficulties walking, resulting in reduced ability NON-AGGRESSIVE DISEASE to work and reduced community engagement. PROF SIMON CARDING (UEA/QIB) Learning to walk again is a priority for stroke PROF COLIN COOPER (UEA) DR TAMAS KORCSMAROS (EI/QIB) survivors. The best way to improve walking DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) DR JO BROOKS (NNUH/UEA) STUART CATCHPOLE (EI – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) is to practice walking – this is difficult, often impossible, for stroke survivors due to Prostate cancer is the second most common predict which tumours will progress and require substantial weakness. Rehabilitation devices to The human genome contains genetic With the support from the NRP Translational cancer in men worldwide and the most common clinical treatment. The Fund awarded £50,000 retrain walking do exist, but are limited in their variations called Single Nucleotide Fund, they carried out a translational project in the UK. Some prostate cancers are highly to the project to develop the prototype that In England around half therapeutic impact due to cost, challenges in Polymorphisms (SNPs) that underlie and developed an automated version of the aggressive whereas others do not cause any will enable a commercial partner to develop a of the men diagnosed deployment or unsuitable product design. susceptibility to diseases such as diabetes pipeline called integrated SNP Network further problems. The current Prostate Specific clinically viable test. This prototype work focused with prostate cancer and cancer. For inflammatory bowel disease Pipeline (iSNP). iSNP effectively reduces Antigen (PSA) blood test, which is widely used on the validation of early stage biomarkers Dr Hancock, and colleagues from the Acquired following the PSA test (IBD), the severity and prognosis of the the time and resources required to identify for the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer, identified from urine samples of prostate Brain Injury Rehabilitation Alliance at UEA, have are classed as being illness and the response to treatment have and assess the functional attributes of cannot accurately predict individual cancer patients. designed a novel device which has the potential of immediate risk of been linked to these genetic variations. SNPs so the analysis can be automated prostate cancer behaviour. to revolutionise how stroke survivors are and completed within one day. This means This project generated promising data which aggressive form of the assisted to learn to walk again. Funding will Currently, IBD costs the NHS £700 million genetic mutations can be identified more There is therefore a need for a test that was further validated in a second study and the disease. Yet as many be used to validate the product design with annually, which is set to rise as this chronic than 100 times faster than is currently can more reliably distinguish aggressive from team has now identified a set of novel biomarkers end-users and key decision makers, and as 50-80% of these disorder has a peak incidence in the third possible. This will dramatically reduce the non-aggressive cancer to minimise the trauma which, are able to identify patients who are generate a test-ready prototype. The work will ‘cancers’ are clinically decade of life and is a lifelong disease. cost of analysis of this data, in turn reducing and costs associated with unnecessary treatment. likely to develop prostate cancer, and those who also validate the commercialisation strategy. ‘irrelevant’ and would would go on to develop the aggressive forms and the costs associated with the treatment and not have caused any ‘Omics technologies, which can identify diagnosis of IBD (and many other diseases). Prof Cooper and his team are developing a need to be treated. The project is exploring how and characterise every gene, have provided urine-based diagnostic test that will more reliably to effectively employ this research to benefit further problems for detect prostate cancer, distinguish between patients and these promising results will be the patient. data that, combined with network biology INFLAMMATORY BOWEL aggressive and non-aggressive cancers and published in the near future. expertise, can be utilised to assess the impact DISEASE COSTS THE NHS of individual SNPs on disease susceptibility 1.2 MILLION and progression. However, a platform is PEOPLE IN THE UK LIVE WITH THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF STROKE needed to combine SNP genomics with £700 advances in ‘omics and network biology. Manually, this process can take four months MILLION to analyse one SNP. A faster, automated ANNUALLY platform is therefore required.
Prof Carding, Dr Korcsmaros and Dr Brooks GENETIC MUTATIONS CAN have developed and validated a workflow for BE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN SNPs in IBD with paradigm-shifting potential. 100 TIMES FASTER 14 15 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH
THE ADC MARKET IS GROWING AND IS ANTICIPATED TO BE VALUED AT $12.7 BILLION BY 2020
SHEET MASKS ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE NOVEL KOREAN FACIAL SKINCARE MORE BANG MARKET AND ACCOUNTED FOR FOR YOUR BUCK: DELIVERY % ANTIBODY DIRECTED 8 CONJUGATES WITH TECHNOLOGY OF LAUNCHES IN KOREA IN 2014 MULTIPLE WARHEADS HIGH VALUE PROF MARK SEARCEY (UEA) FOR SKIN: IN CHINA DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) ISOTOPE ‘MIX & MATCH’ BIOACTIVE 70% ABSORBING NANOFIBERS OF FEMALES USE FACE MASKS Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging SYNTHESIS EVERY WEEK class of highly potent biopharmaceutical drugs able to PLATFORM (2MBAN) deliver targeted cytotoxic “warheads” to tumours. This DR SEAN P BEW (UEA) approach has immense potential for the production DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) DR SHENG QI (UEA) DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) CHINA RECORDED SALES OF of anti-cancer therapeutics and is an already rapidly growing market, with three ADCs already in the clinic Aziridines are highly versatile intermediates used as key starting and several others in clinical trial. materials for sought after molecules, such as amino acids. These Research by Dr Qi led to the discovery Facial mask products are one of the $800 MILLION FOR FACIAL BEAUTY MASKS IN 2013 core building blocks have a plethora of uses in the medical, of a novel approach for the delivery of fastest growing segments of the global WITH SALES EXPECTED TO REACH The ADC market is fast growing and is anticipated to be pharmaceutical, agrochemical, biotechnology, high technology, bioactive ingredients to the skin. The beauty industry, with the strongest valued at US$ 12.7 billion by 2020 (Global Antibody Drug security and materials industries. Dr Bew has developed a novel approach has the potential to deliver growth in the Asian and Pacific region, Conjugate Market Outlook 2020). The breast cancer method of synthesising high-value aziridines labelled with stable bioactive ingredients to the skin for specifically Korea and China. This rapid $130 BILLION drug market value will exceed $13 billion by 2020. isotopes, including nitrogen, carbon and deuterium. Stable both cosmetic use (in the form of growth has caught the attention of BY 2019 isotopes are important, they allow a molecule to be easily traced facial sheet masks) and pharmaceutical global cosmetics companies, with The Searcey Group at UEA is at the forefront of this or followed in whatever compound it has been incorporated in. applications, such as topical medical L’Oreal taking over Magic Holdings YOUNG WOMEN AGED field and their research has led to the development products for treating skin conditions International (the Shenzhen-based of a novel approach for the design of and assembly Current methods to incorporate multiple isotopes require such as open wounds and severe manufacturer credited with making 18-29 of ADCs. The Group was awarded funding to develop reaction processes that are not only cumbersome, expensive and localised irritation. masks a sensation in China) in a $862 ARE THE KEY DEMOGRAPHIC the approach further, and in September 2017 it time consuming, but also cannot guarantee that the isotopes will million deal. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWING was granted a US patent. The team is currently in incorporate at the desired location. Dr Bew’s development means The project was awarded £50,000 INTEREST IN KOREAN PRODUCTS discussion with a potential commercial partner, who is the exact locations of the isotopes within the aziridines can be from the Fund to explore the Dr Qi’s novel, nanomaterial-based IN CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN seeking collaborators and technology to develop next precisely controlled from the outset to the end. This unique feature commercial possibilities of the delivery method has superior sensation AND SINGAPORE generation DNA-interactive payload molecules for use means single or multiple, identical or diverse isotopes can, now, approach, with the aim of developing and appearance qualities compared in antibody-drug conjugates. Research in this field in the be placed, at will, in different locations within the aziridine in a a minimal viable product (MVP) and to current products, and this could Searcey lab is also currently funded by Novartis and LGC. single reaction. product testing the effectiveness of significantly increase treatment EUROPE AND THE US HAVE this ‘Mix & Match’ bioactive absorbing, effectiveness and offer high flexibility in ALSO RECENTLY SHOWN The funding is enabling Dr Bew to develop three ‘demonstration nanofiber platform (2MBAN), initially terms of the active ingredients that can INCREASED SALES IN FACIAL isotope syntheses’ for further evaluation by industry. It has also only targeting the cosmetic market, be included. The technology has had MASKS, WITH US SALES OF supported a consultant to engage with Dr Bew to review the due to a lower barrier to market. significant interest from industry. market opportunities and develop a commercialisation strategy $65.5 MILLION and a business plan for a new spin-out company IsoChemiX Limited, IN 2014 founded by Dr Bew in September 2016.
SPIN www.isochemix.com A O E U U
T A C O Y 16 MPAN 17 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH
OVER 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE UK SUFFER FROM BIOSCIENCE SEVERE INFECTIONS EACH YEAR FOR HEALTH: MICROBES PATH RICH – AND HEALTH PATHOGEN DNA ENRICHMENT
NOVEL ANTIMICROBIALS FOR THE FROM CLINICAL INHIBITION OF SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH SAMPLES GUT INFLAMMATION DR JUSTIN O’GRADY (UEA) PROF JOHN WAIN (UEA) PROF ARJAN NARBAD (QIB) PROF DAVID LIVERMORE (UEA) PROF MICHAEL MCARTHUR (UEA/PROCARTA BIOSYSTEMS LTD) – EXTERNAL PARTNER DR HELEN WILLIAMS (NNUH) DR MARTIN STOCKS (PBL) – EXTERNAL PARTNER DR LISA CROSSMAN (SEQUENCEANALYSIS.CO.UK) – EXTERNAL PARTNER DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
Sulfate-reducing bacteria live naturally within the gut and are part of the normal gut microbiome that plays a critical role in the health and disease Over 100,000 people suffer bloodstream large amounts of human DNA. The bacterial of humans and animals. However, in abundance these bacteria overproduce infections annually in the UK. These DNA can then be used to identify which a corrosive gas called hydrogen sulphide. This triggers a strong immune infections often cause people to be organism is causing the infection and which response from human cells in the gut, causing inflammation and damage hospitalised, and identifying the cause of antibiotic will kill it. This will result in better which can contribute to the development of debilitating inflammatory bowel the disease can take a long time. Whilst treatment for people with severe infections disease such as ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer. In extreme cases, these tests are being carried out, patients and more sustainable use of antibiotics. this can be life threatening. are frequently given antibiotics, which can sometimes be too strong or not strong Since receiving £50,000 from the Fund, Prof Narbad and Prof McArthur are developing an experimental approach enough for the particular infection. This a patent on the technology has been filed using an antimicrobial that specifically targets the bacteria that produce inaccurate application of antibiotics is and engagement with industry partners to hydrogen sulphide. This project was awarded £40,000 from the Fund and resulting in bacteria becoming resistant take this technology to the market place is it is hoped will further our understanding of gut diseases which affect both to antibiotics, and which, if unchecked, taking place. the quality of life of individuals and the economy. Further development of will affect our ability to treat infections this technology will inform future projects aimed at modulating the complex effectively in the future. The project has received further funding human gut microbiome towards a more healthy status. from the UEA Innovation Development Dr O’Grady is leading this project to reduce Fund to validate its patented technology for the amount of time it takes to identify the rapid pathogen detection and identification specific bacteria causing the infection. The in clinical, veterinary, food safety and technique developed will enable clinical aquaculture samples. scientists to separate the small amount of bacterial DNA in clinical samples from the
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In April 2009, a new flu virus appeared in than existing methods of testing, Mexico, causing pneumonia and 59 deaths removing the need to send samples on in Mexico City alone. This virus, known as for laboratory testing and allowing ‘swine flu’, soon spread to the USA and much faster decisions to be made about around the world. Within two months, the appropriate antibiotic treatment. World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the viral outbreak met the criteria of The project received £49,000 from the a level 6 pandemic. Fears emerged that it Fund to further develop the diagnostic could pose a threat akin to the Spanish Flu test and obtain clinical data. A further pandemic that killed between 50 million £8,000 was obtained for market research and 100 million people worldwide in 1918- with a BBSRC Pathfinder award with an 19. While swine flu was not as virulent as additional £194,000 grant from the first feared, the US President’s Council BBSRC Follow-on fund. of Advisors on Science and Technology recommended that ‘…the development In 2014, a spinout company, Iceni of novel accurate point of care diagnostics Diagnostics was established in order for influenza’ was a major priority. to develop the potential of the new technology, and is based at the Norwich Even in the absence of a global pandemic, Research Park Innovation Centre. Since in winter around 70,000 people a week then, Iceni Diagnostics has received in England and Wales will consult with numerous accolades and awards, including ICENI DIAGNOSTICS: DETECTION AND their health care providers over flu-like the prestigious Longitude Prize Discovery DISCRIMINATION OF HUMAN AND symptoms, with more than 800,000 Award which supports the development people a year admitted to hospital as a of a diagnostic device for anti-microbial AVIAN INFLUENZA AROUND result. This highlights the importance resistance, one of the biggest challenges PROF DAVID RUSSELL (UEA) of being able to definitively identify flu facing modern medicine. They are one of PROF ROB FIELD (JIC) infections as early as possible in order to 12 winning teams who will use the prize to DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) 70,000 take appropriate therapeutic action. develop their technology and compete for PEOPLE A WEEK IN ENGLAND AND the coveted Longitude Prize, a challenge Even in the absence of a global pandemic, WALES WILL CONSULT WITH THEIR Prof Russell and Prof Field have developed with an £8 million prize fund to reward a in winter around 70,000 people a week in HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OVER a simple diagnostic test that can detect and point of care diagnostic test that most fully FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS discriminate between human and avian flu addresses the global problem of bacterial England and Wales will consult with their virus. The test is suitable for point-of-care antibiotic resistance. health care providers over flu-like symptoms, use and medical surveillance applications. WITH MORE THAN with more than 800,000 people a year This technology has been protected and SPI A NO E U U published and market research shows that www.icenidiagnostics.com T
admitted to hospital as a result. This highlights A C the importance of being able to definitively it has advantages over existing available O Y 800,000 MPAN identify flu infections as early as possible in tests. The test involves dipping a tiny sample PEOPLE A YEAR ADMITTED TO into a solution of sugar labelled with gold, HOSPITAL AS A RESULT order to take appropriate therapeutic action. and provides a quick diagnosis, with results being indicated by a rapid colour change. The simple ‘dipstick ‘ test is much faster 20 21 BIOSCIENCE FOR HEALTH
Scientists collaborating from institutions Many ants also grow actinobacteria on LEAFCUTTER ANTS STARTED across the Park were awarded £45,000 the outside of their bodies and use the FARMING – AND USING from the Fund to develop a pipeline antibiotics made by these to kill the ANTIBIOTICS – AT LEAST to discover new antibiotics from unwanted microbes. When the colony actinomycetes isolated from challenging produces new queens, they take a piece of environments and unique ecological their fungus and some of the actinobacteria niches which have not previously been with them to start their new colonies. investigated. They specifically focused on studying leafcutter ants from South and The research team used the latest genome Central America. sequencing technology to identify which microbes have the potential to produce the 50MILLION The researchers are looking at both the highest numbers of novel natural products YEARS AGO antibiotics made by the actinomycete that may be useful in tackling multidrug HUMANS HAVE BEEN USING bacteria that live on the leafcutter ants, and resistant bacteria. This bacterium was then ANTIBIOTICS FOR LESS THAN the leafcutter ant colonies themselves, to grown under many different conditions to understand how they form interdependent induce them to produce the full repertoire PIPELINE FOR THE DISCOVERY relationships with beneficial bacteria. of antibiotics and other compounds OF NEW ANTIBIOTICS encoded by their genes and which may Leafcutter ants started farming – and using treat different diseases. PROF BARRIE WILKINSON (JIC) PROF MATT HUTCHINGS (UEA) 100 antibiotics – at least 50 million years ago, DR MATT CLARK (EI) YEARS long before humans evolved. In comparison, The project has demonstrated that certain PROF MERVYN BIBB (JIC) humans have been using antibiotics for less actinomycete strains secured from the DR ANDREW TRUMAN (JIC) DR GOVIND CHANDRA (JIC) than 100 years. Leafcutter ants belong to leafcutter ant colonies contain bacterial DR JON CLARKE (JIC – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) the tribe Attini, more commonly known strains that are talented – possessing as fungus-growing ants. They collect plant multiple pathways with antimicrobial THERE ARE MORE THAN material and feed it to a symbiotic fungus, potential. This biochemical diversity is Over the last 70 years antibiotics have which they use as the sole food source for of interest to both other academics and revolutionised human health and how their larvae. They create a warm, humid industry. Further evaluation of selected diseases are treated. Many antibiotics we environment to grow their fungus, which antimicrobial products is being undertaken use in medicine today are made by soil 10,000 is attractive to many other parasitic and and potential prospects taken forward disease-causing microbes. To protect their in industrial collaborations and grant organisms called actinomycetes and were ANTIBIOTICS STILL WAITING discovered over 40 years ago. As bacteria food source, the worker ants constantly applications. This collaborative project TO BE DISCOVERED patrol their fungus gardens and remove has resulted in improved PacBio DNA become resistant to current antibiotics, unwanted bacteria and fungi. sequencing from actinomycetes at EI. scientists are looking back to actinomycetes to develop new drugs to fight the superbugs.
22 23 FRONTIER BIOSCIENCE
FRONTIER SMALL RNA BIOSCIENCE COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR THE CLOUD
PROF VINCENT MOULTON (UEA) DR CHRISTOPHER APPLEGATE DR DANNY REYNOLDS DR MATTHEW STOCKS DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) NAVIGOMIX — VISUALISATION AND DATA INTEGRATION SOFTWARE FOR Every cell in a plant has the same DNA, Their tools enable researchers to LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES yet some cells form flowers whilst perform computer analysis to help others form leaves, stems or roots. The them understand what is happening DR TAMAS KORCSMAROS (EI) ability of different cells to form this to the small RNAs in a cell. STUART CATCHPOLE (EI – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) variety of structures from the same DNA is caused by different genes The Fund allocated £50,000 to Prof Scientists around the world generate and publish Dr Korcsmaros and his team at EI were awarded being used at different times. Genes Moulton and his team to develop thousands of new biological datasets every year. This initial funding to bring NavigOmiX close to the therefore need to be switched on or off cloud-based small RNA tools. The team Big Data revolution can help lead to new insights and market-ready stage, and used this to employ a by a cell at different times, and small has now developed these small RNA discoveries. However, evaluation of these systematic software developer and a business consultant, as well RNAs are the short molecules that are tools and made them available freely results is difficult as many of the datasets are stored as organising outreach and networking activities. involved in this switching. through a cloud-based version of the in different formats. Roughly 70% of any data- NavigOmiX was developed to allow complex analyses sRNA Workbench on Amazon Web driven project now involves simply managing data – which would have occupied a trained clinical For scientists trying to understand Services (AWS). – integrating, transforming, and cleansing it – before researcher for several months – to be tested and which genes are controlled by which any actual analysis can begin. Integration of diverse completed in a matter of days or weeks. small RNAs, they require efficient Since its introduction in 2012, the sRNA data types is a very time and resource consuming computational tools to effectively workbench has been downloaded over process that makes the collected data much less As a result of this success, the project was awarded analyse the small RNA data produced 16,500 times, and has a worldwide useful. Existing data analysis tools are efficient to further funding, which was being used to develop by large scale research projects. user-base, including in the UK, USA, focus on one data type but cannot help the users to clickable demos of the software, carry out focus India and China. The new cloud-based work on the necessary, multi-scale level and combine groups and prepare a proposition which can be Computer scientists in the School of version of the software should make different datasets. presented to general investors, with the ultimate goal Computing Sciences at UEA have been the workbench more easily available to of forming a spin-out company. NavigOmiX is developing these types of tools for scientists across the world, helping to Dr Korcsmaros has created a software platform called a game-changing technology that is easy to use, several years. enhance small RNA research in a wide NavigOmiX which provides an all-encompassing fast, and efficient in producing insights of high variety of sectors. solution to systems biology (studying biology business value for the Biotech, CRO, Pharma and through the use of predictive and explanatory Wellness industries. computer models). It takes the user from data import; Since launching, the software has been downloaded through data integration, processing and analysis; to over 16,500 times and has a worldwide user-base, visualisation and exploration of results. including in the USA, India and China.
2424 25 FRONTIER BIOSCIENCE
PROFESSOR OSBOURN INDUSTRIAL WAS AWARDED NOVEL COMMERCIAL SURFACTANTS £51,000 FROM THE FUND TO FROM SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY EVALUATE THE DETERGENT
PROF ANNE OSBOURN (JIC) PROPERTIES OF THE PLANTS DR JON CLARKE (JIC – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) NEOSAPONIN Plants produce a huge array Saponins are surfactants produced Prof Osbourn has been collaborating of natural products, some of by plants and there is considerable with industry partners, developing a commercial interest in using saponins as method for increasing the diversity of which can have wide ranging biobased alternatives to the traditional saponins produced by plants, resulting in industrial applications. chemically synthesised petrochemical the production of Neosaponin, using the Household products contain surfactants in detergents, with the hope HyperTrans technology developed at JIC. a range of chemicals called that this will both reduce fossil fuel use This is a unique and efficient method for surfactants that are typically and improve detergent performance. rapid transient expression of proteins and produced at least in part enzymes in tobacco, enabling the rapid and However, most saponins derived from large scale production of proteins. from petrochemicals and are plants currently have limited commercial therefore highly dependent availability and use because they are Prof Osbourn was awarded £51,000 on fossil fuels. extremely difficult to source. They are from the Fund to evaluate the detergent present at low levels, are often produced properties of the Neosaponin and increase by rare or endangered plant species, and the amount that can be produced; have limited structural diversity, making and investigate the diverse possible naturally occurring saponins too expensive industrial uses of the new saponin in for widespread commercial use. the biotechnology, human health and agriculture sectors.
26 27 CULTURE AND HERITAGE
OVER CULTURE AND 20,000 MEDIEVAL CHURCH TRAIL MAPS HERITAGE HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED
THE MEDIEVAL PARISH CHURCHES OF NORWICH: CITY, COMMUNITY AND ARCHITECTURE
PROF TA HESLOP (UEA) CHRIS BLINCOE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
Medieval parish churches are important social The project has made use of technology to a further 8,000 trail maps of Norwich and cultural assets that are vibrant centres for increase relevance, including the development Over-the-Water churches. their communities when in religious, cultural of 3D virtual reality visualisations of some or economic use. However, when they are no of the churches in the context of the The project team have also undertaken a longer used they can also unfortunately create development of the city of Norwich, which number of public engagement activities. This foci for anti-social behaviour and negative are available to view on the project website. includes a public lecture at the Royal Norfolk societal impact. In addition, a trail of the medieval churches Show, and a collaboration in Flintspiration, a in the Cathedral quarter of the city has been festival weekend with over 50 free events, Prof Heslop is leading a research team helping launched on the Discover Norwich app, as well including performances, workshops and to inform local organisations, policy makers, as a paper map version, of which 15,000 copies family activities, exhibitions, talks, a series of citizens and tourists to understand the historic, have already been distributed. themed church trails and guided walks and social, functional and architectural context open buildings. The project’s own exhibition, of medieval churches in Norwich and how The project has also supported the “Drawing in the Archive” at the Norfolk alternative uses for sites and buildings could development of the heritage app and business Record Office, was visited by about 3,000 be identified. GoWalkeez, a physical and digital heritage people, 400 attended eight associated events engagement project that helps to get kids out and over 200 catalogues were sold. The funding was used to employ a Partnership to explore cultural places and spaces in a fun Co-ordinator to establish a dialogue and and interactive way. www.norwichmedievalchurches.org knowledge exchange with the relevant stakeholders, such as the Norwich Historic The project partnered with the Norwich Churches Trust, which has led to a number of Historic Churches Trust on a successful successful outcomes, including regeneration Heritage Lottery Fund bid, winning £68,400, strategies, cultural tourism and urban and also secured sponsorship from St Mary’s development of these historic buildings. Works for the production and distribution of
2828 29 CULTURE AND HERITAGE
THE PUBLISHING PROJECT
NATHAN HAMILTON (UEA) DR PHILIP LANGESKOV (UEA) CHRIS BLINCOE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) JON CARTER (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) Kazuo Ishiguro was awarded the The KESHIKI series launched in Five Boiler House Poets series Nobel Prize in Literature 2017 February 2017 UEA has contributed hugely over the decades to the nurturing of writing talent in the UK by providing space to focus on and study the craft of writing. The UK’s first MA in Creative Writing was established here by the novelists Malcolm In 2011, in recognition of its continuing ground-breaking work. Alongside UEA’s Foundation. Further series following the excellence in delivering innovative courses prestige and expertise in Creative Writing, KESHIKI model are in the pipeline, including Bradbury and Angus Wilson in 1970 and, since that at a world-class level, UEA’s Creative this gives the enterprise a distinct two focussed on Korean and Bengali time, Creative Writing at UEA has made a significant Writing programme was awarded a Queen’s competitive advantage over other literature respectively. contribution to the literary landscape, both in the Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further fledgling university presses. UK and internationally. UEA also established the Education, the UK’s most prestigious higher Under the Boiler House imprint, other first PhD in Creative and Critical Writing in 1987 education award. UEA Publishing Project operates presently publications include Literary Activism, a and many students and teachers – such as Naomi through three main imprints: collection of essays from the UEA India UEA Publishing Project draws on UEA’s • Boiler House Press – innovations in fiction, Symposium of the same name, edited by Alderman, Trezza Azzopardi, Tracy Chevalier, Louise many cultural inheritances, including the poetry, non-fiction, and everything Amit Chaudhuri; Writers in Conversation, a Doughty, Joe Dunthorne, Anne Enright, Emma University’s pioneering heritage in the in between compilation of Prof Christopher Bigsby’s Healey, and Ian McEwan – have gone on to become research and study of Creative & Critical • S trangers Press – which believes in the interviews with the world’s greatest writers household names and win major literary prizes. Writing. In the current climate, when the power of literary translation as a vehicle from over a decade of the Arthur Miller business models of the major publishers for cultural exchange Centre’s International Literary Festival Kazuo Ishiguro, possibly UEA’s most renowned can often seem at odds with the original • Egg Box – designed to help students at UEA; and the Five Boiler House Poets interests of the creative producer, we learn about publishing through publishing series, which publishes innovative poetical Creative Writing alumnus, was awarded the believe it is imperative for UEA to be seen works, which the Project are already in Nobel Prize in Literature 2017. to be creating further spaces for talented The first project to be published under profit for – with plenty more lists and writers and their work by, among other the Strangers Press imprint was the projects in the pipeline. things, contributing proactively to the KESHIKI series, launched at a public independent publishing scene. Small presses event at Norwich Cathedral in February www.ueapublishingproject.com are the lifeblood of our literary ecology. 2017. KESHIKI (meaning ‘landscape’ in Japanese) is a series of exquisitely designed UEA Publishing Project has been formed chapbooks, showcasing the work of eight SPIN from an existing not-for-profit company. of the most exciting writers working in A O E U U T
Its innovative, co-operative, independent Japan today. Many of these writers also A C ‘not-for-profit’ approach, and its have a particular connection with Norwich, O Y MPAN distribution model, maintains the physical England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, book at the heart of its offering while having studied in, visited or taught in the TURNING seeking the development of a digital city. KESHIKI aims to take the stories of network of engaged readers, pointed these writers to a wider audience and towards and supporting easy-interface, in doing so foster a wider readership of direct sale book purchases, in a way that international contemporary fiction. The minimises overheads and allows greater series is part of a wider collaboration with risks to be taken on – and more income to Norwich University of the Arts and Writers’ be reinvested in – innovative or Centre Norwich, and funded by The Nippon
30THE PAGE 31 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
SEEDGERM THE NEXT GENERATION PHENOTYPING PLATFORM TO QUANTIFY CROP SEED AGRICULTURE GERMINATION AND SEEDLING VIGOUR FOR SEED INDUSTRY AND SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH AND FOOD DR ZHOU (JIC/EI) STUART CATCHPOLE (EI – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) PROF STEVE PENFIELD (JIC) SECURITY DR JON CLARKE (JIC – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) Commercial seed lots are routinely tested carried out through robotic gantry systems several times during processing by seed as well as computing controlling mechanism, companies, then by regulatory agencies, and in an automate time-lapse photography finally by growers. The two key measures approach. The Zhou laboratory has also when testing for seed performance are seed developed a standalone software application germination frequency, and seed vigour – in to conduct machine-learning based image PROTEIN RECOVERY AND ENRICHMENT other words, the speed and uniformity with analysis that can quantify germination FROM FOOD CHAIN CO PRODUCTS which seedlings emerge. Most of the testing frequency based on morphological features USING NOVEL NRP PROCESS for these traits is still undertaken manually. at the seed level. Seeking to unblock this major bottleneck, PROF KEITH WALDRON (QIB) Dr Ji Zhou and Dr Steve Penfield jointly Going forward, the team aims to produce DR LISA CLARK (QIB – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) devised SeedGerm. a sound research device that can reliably quantify seed germination frequency, as well Due to the continuous world population growth, there is an increasing There is therefore a significant opportunity for the UK in terms of SeedGerm consists of an imaging device, as seedling vigour, so that the SeedGerm global demand for new sources of protein, and protein concentrates competitiveness, reducing reliance on imports and potentially growing which uses single-board computers to technology can be connected to in-field of 50-75% are widely sought by the human food and animal feed exports of protein for animal feed. control and perform high-resolution time- traits such as early establishment or be used industries. This latter market is growing, with global demand for lapse imaging to capture the entire seed in other academic and industrial seed testing livestock feed estimated to be worth £236 billion (US $370 billion). Prof Waldron’s project aims to develop and tailor process to enrich germination procedure. A standalone experiments. The SeedGerm technology Regarding human food, initiatives such as the Protein Challenge protein from oilseeds press cakes (OSPC) and residues from the machine-learning based software application has the potential to enable crop researchers 2040 are already trying to increase the consumption of more alcoholic beverage industries such as brewers’ spent grain (BSG). Whilst then analyses the collected image series to and breeders to study faster canopy closure, vegetable protein. the primary target market of this work is the animal feed industry, the score germination frequency. This automated weed suppression, and increased crop yields. project is also exploring the feasibility of developing novel food protein process can dramatically increase the The Food Standards Agency specifies that approximately 20 million sources for human consumption in both wealthy economies and the throughput of high quality seed germination Furthermore, the funding will facilitate the tonnes of feed materials and feeding stuffs are used annually in developing world. image acquisition and the accuracy of translation of the SeedGerm technology Great Britain, two-thirds of which are in the form of compound scoring, as well as reducing labour costs for into a marketable product that can be feeds. The Food Standards Agency also reports that the UK has about The project was awarded £50,000 by the Fund, to evaluate and develop seed companies and seed science research. used to evaluate the performance of crop 200,000 animal feed businesses involved in importing, producing, a new technology developed by QIB’s Biorefinery Centre that can seeds, such as wheat and post-harvest seed handling, storing and distributing animal feed. This industry is worth enrich protein. The team will then evaluate the potential markets for this The funding has been used to improve the enhancement processes. This is important about £4.4 billion to the economy. enriched protein, and develop a relevant business plan in response. hardware design of the SeedGerm box for use in seed certification, developing through germination experiments at JIC led guidance on sowing density, and for Europe was the second largest market for protein ingredients in 2015, by Dr Penfield and hardware R&D at EI led insurance purposes. accounting for over 30% of the global consumption, owing to growth The Food Standards Agency specifies by Dr Zhou, so that seed phenotyping can be of personal care and cosmetics sector in France, Germany and UK. that approximately 20 million tonnes of Plant proteins accounted for over 40% of global volumes in 2015, and feed materials and feeding stuffs are used is expected to grow over the next nine years on account of increasing consumer inclination towards vegetarian products. annually in Great Britain.
32 33 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
BIOCONTROL OF CAMPYLOBACTER AND OTHER PATHOGENS IN THE POULTRY GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT PROF ARJAN NARBAD (QIB) DR MARTIN STOCKS (PBL – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) DEVELOPMENT Campylobacter is responsible for more than Prof Narbad devised an approach in which the 280,000 cases of food poisoning each natural gut microflora found in poultry could be year resulting in more than 100 deaths in enhanced to protect against Campylobacter and OF A NUTRITIONAL the UK alone and costing the UK economy other pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens. an estimated £900 million per year. Four The approach could also have other beneficial INFORMATION out of five cases of Campylobacter result effects for the livestock industry, such as an from contaminated poultry. Recent surveys increased growth rate and improved SOLUTIONS SERVICE conducted by the Foods Standard Agency feed conversion. (FSA) indicate that meat products currently PAUL FINGLAS (QIB) DR CHRISTIAN ROGHI (QIB – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) sold in the UK supermarkets are still Prior to funding being awarded, preliminary contaminated with high levels of this pathogen. studies showed that Prof Narbad’s approach was effective in controlling the levels of Novel and alternative methods are urgently Campylobacter in the poultry gastrointestinal needed to control the levels of such pathogens tract, and the funding was used to develop a NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION EU Food Information Regulations set a deadline created a growing community, with many positive in meat products by reducing their initial practical delivery method to poultry, undertake SOLUTIONS HAS MORE THAN of December 2016 for all businesses selling pre- testimonials on the website and an increase in repeat colonisation of the poultry gastrointestinal a study under a simulated farm environment and packed foods within the EU to include nutritional business from clients. tract. Such reduction of Campylobacter and to assess the impact of the approach on poultry information on their labelling. This had a dramatic other zoonotic bacteria at the farm level could health levels and Campylobacter. 5,000 effect on SMEs who had not previously provided NIS has more than 5,000 small businesses on its significantly reduce human cases of food email subscriber list, and has calculated more than SMALL BUSINESSES ON ITS nutritional information and do not have the poisoning by preventing it entering the food 60 product range types (ice creams, cakes, juices etc) EMAIL SUBSCRIBER LIST resources or expertise to provide it. chain, as well as having positive impact on for customers. animal welfare. Nutritional analysis can be obtained in several ways, including direct laboratory compositional The project has also partnered with a number analysis of the product, software calculation using of business network organisations and was Campylobacter is responsible for more than AND HAS CALCULATED known nutritional data for the ingredients used, or invited by Marks & Spencer to present to over MORE THAN calculation from generally established and accepted 100 SME suppliers. 280,000 cases of food poisoning each year data. The Food Databanks National Capability, based resulting in more than 100 deaths in the UK alone. at QIB, has access to numerous UK, European and US NIS is currently exploring ways of expanding its offer, 60 ingredient databases and is therefore able to calculate including working with Nutritics, a well-established PRODUCT RANGE TYPES the required nutritional information from a product nutritional software solution provider, to produce a FOR CUSTOMERS recipe alone. ‘do-it-yourself’ service for companies with a product portfolio greater than 20 products; and a software Nutritional Information Solutions (NIS) was awarded solution (based on current Nutritics software) £47,000 from the Fund to develop and market a for food producers with a very high technical bespoke web-based nutritional labelling service for specification and capability. food producers. NIS was launched in March 2016, and the associated marketing and promotional activities www.nutritionalinformationsolutions.com (including social media, blogs and exhibitions) have 34 35 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
CROPQUANT – THE NEXT GENERATION CROP POTATOES ARE THE IN THE REGION OF MONITORING WORKSTATION TH FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE 4 400 DR JI ZHOU (JIC/EI) LARGEST AGRICULTURAL STUART CATCHPOLE (EI) CROP WORLDWIDE MILLION DR SIMON GRIFFITHS (JIC) DR JON CLARKE (JIC – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) TONNES ARE PRODUCED EVERY YEAR Rising temperatures, drought, nitrogen uptake, plant disease and crop lodging are major threats to global crop production. Currently these threats to food supply NITRATE-SENSOR are identified and monitored by skilled people spending weeks in the fields. This is time-consuming, laborious, PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE subjective and expensive. Therefore, there is a pressing need for cost-effective and reliable field phenotyping DEVELOPMENT INFRARED SENSORS FOR devices, which can automate crop monitoring and provide consistent readings of key agronomic traits that PREDICTING DORMANCY are important for agriculture. By enabling growers and AND TESTING farmers to continuously inspect crop growth in the field PROF TONY MILLER (JIC) DR MARTIN STOCKS (PBL) BREAKING IN POTATO TUBERS during the season, problems such as drought and plant DR KATE KEMSLEY (QIB) disease could be identified at an early stage, reducing Nitrogen fertiliser is comfortably the comparable product on the market DR MARTIN STOCKS (PBL – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) potential costs. biggest input cost in many crops and which can provide this constant flow the most important component in of information. Consequently, this Dr Zhou and Dr Griffiths have jointly developed the Potatoes are the fourth largest agricultural crop Product design company, Cambridge Design agricultural fertilisers. To ensure the collaborative project with PBL seeks CropQuant platform, a comprehensive in-field crop worldwide: in the region of 400 million tonnes are Partnership, worked with the team to produce correct amount of fertiliser is applied, to build on the N-sensor’s already monitoring system which is considerably more cost- produced each year. A large proportion of these are two prototype devices, one incorporating a the nitrogen concentration of the soils extensive testing by developing a effective and easy-to-use than most of the existing stored to provide a year-round supply. Under optimum micro-spectrometer component made by Japanese needs to be measured. The traditional more robust, longer-lived and more solutions. The associated software for CropQuant conditions in commercial warehouses, potatoes can be opto-technology company Hamamatsu, the approach for measuring in-soil nitrate reliable prototype for commercial developed by the Zhou laboratory has the ability to stored for up to twelve months. other based on LED sources and detector. content is to take a soil sample and use. According to a report conducted automate the dynamic quantification of wheat crop analyse it in the lab. Typically, this by Harper Adams University, the However, keeping tubers dormant is not growth, canopy compactness and vegetative greenness Extensive testing of the devices was carried out on means that only one reading from a commercialisation of N-sensors is likely straightforward, and the sector frequently suffers losses index during the season – key indicators of successful forced-aged retail purchased potatoes, and both few locations is taken per farm each to develop into an opportunity with an of up to 25% of the crop due to sprouting. Dormancy crop production. devices were found to function beyond expectation year, yet nitrogen content of soil annual sales value of several hundred breaking can be temporarily halted by spraying with a in terms of sensitivity to chlorophyll detection. Even changes over time. As a result, the million pounds globally. sprout suppressant, but this needs to be done at the The project was awarded £50,000 from the Fund the LED-based device (with component costs of a wrong amount of fertiliser is often correct time. Spraying when it may not be necessary is to develop a prototype, based on which Dr Zhou has few pounds) was able to detect tiny concentration added to soils, leading to field run-off By outlining a route to market for the wasteful and adds to the chemical residue of the tubers. leveraged an East Agri-Tech Innovation fund from the changes in chlorophyll virtually in real-time. The aim and water pollution that costs the EU N-sensor, this project will not only Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise is to measure these changes and relate them to the an estimated €70-320 billion per year. benefit the agricultural industry but also Dr Kemsley was awarded £50,000 from the Fund to Partnership (LEP). A workable prototype has now been dormancy status of tubers in a predictive model. the public at large. Farmers will lower produced, and has received substantial attention and build on two years of lab-based research in building In response to this increasing need for their fertilisation costs through better interest from the national farming network. prototype infrared sensing devices aimed at early Ongoing testing shows that this system has the more precise in-soil monitoring, Dr targeted use of nitrogen and increase prediction of dormancy breaking in stored tubers, potential to be a highly valuable tool for the industry, Tony Miller has devised the ‘N-sensor’, yield by optimising fertiliser use. This will with the aim of assisting better crop management. reducing waste and economic losses, and the project an in-field nitrate sensor designed in turn limit over-fertilisation and have team are discussing commercialization with a number to provide farmers with continuous a positive environmental impact, as the of potential industry partners. measurements which can enable leaching of nitrate into water courses a highly efficient application of is reduced. nitrogen fertiliser. There is no 36 37 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
EACH YEAR
AGRENSEQ: RAPID CLONING OF PROCESSED FOOD VENTURE VALUABLE DISEASE RESISTANCE GENES , PROF RICHARD MITHEN (QIB) FROM CROP WILD RELATIVES 15000 LAURA KNIGHT (QIB – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) DR BRANDE WULFF (JIC) TONNES OF SLUG PELLETS ARE DR MARTIN STOCKS (PBL – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) PROF JONATHAN JONES (TSL) APPLIED TO GARDENS, GOLF COURSES DR JON CLARKE (JIC – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) AND AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE UK THERE ARE There are 378 million people in the world living with The project received £47,000 from the Fund to Type II diabetes (4 million in the UK and 29 million in develop a commercially viable business plan for The wild ancestors of our domesticated The project was awarded £41,000 378 MILLION the USA), plus an estimated 1 billion pre-diabetic or this company, working with consultants with crops contain numerous useful from the Fund for a Speed Cloning at risk people globally (15 million in the UK and expertise in specific areas of food and health-related resistance genes that can be used proof-of-concept experiment in a panel PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVING 86 million in the USA). The direct and indirect cost business development and food-focused regulation to increase the immunity of plants of 200 wild wheat plants characterised WITH TYPE II DIABETES of treating diabetes in the UK is estimated to be in key markets. to potentially devastating diseases. for stem rust disease, which is a serious £23.7 billion pa. However, it is possible to delay or However, introducing these resistance constraint to wheat production. The even prevent progression to diabetes, by providing The resulting business plan estimates that it will take traits into a cultivated crop by experiment proved to be successful: a non-medical but effective intervention to five years to bring the product to market. The project traditional breeding is a long and the team cloned four new resistance SAFER AGROCHEMICAL THE COST OF TREATING those at risk. is currently in discussion with a range of prospective expensive process, which often fails. candidate genes in a fraction of the DELIVERY DIABETES IN THE UK IS investors to secure first round funding of £500,000. JIC and TSL have developed a new time that it has previously taken to ESTIMATED TO BE A collaborative project between QIB and PBL gene-detecting technology using discover and/or clone these genes in the DR BRIAN REID (UEA) DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) is seeking to address this issue through the This investment will enable the company to confirm molecular identification (cloning) past. It is estimated that this method has establishment of a new company that will bring to the findings it already has. Second round financing of £23.7 BILLION of genes. reduced the cost and time of discovery Each year, 15,000 tonnes of slug pellets are applied to market innovative food products that deliver specific £8.5 million will follow to create the scientific dossier and cloning of disease resistance genes EVERY YEAR gardens, golf courses and agricultural land in the UK. health benefits. The initial focus of the business will required to submit a health claim application and The technology, ‘AgRenSeq’, accurately by at least 10-fold. be the launch of a range of broccoli based soups bring the product to consumers through a number detects the location of disease The poison in slug pellets is a chemical called that effect a reduction in fasting blood glucose in of proposed channels. resistance genes in large plant genomes. The team has initiated very early metaldehyde which gets washed off the soil when those at risk of Type II diabetes. Subsequent products This has reduced the time it takes discussions with three major breeding it rains, entering the water supply. Removing could include the development of other processed to clone these genes in wheat from and agribiotech companies to metaldehyde from drinking water is challenging foods using the same key ingredients as well as the between five and ten years to less collaborate on applying speed cloning and expensive, leading to calls to reduce its use, possibility of creating other foods to target other than two. to solve problems in some of their or ban it completely. specific conditions. The products will be supported target crops for which GM solutions by approved health claims where appropriate. are a proposition. However, banning metaldehyde would reduce the production of wheat and oilseed rape by 30%, costing the UK economy £500 million per year. It is estimated that this method has reduced the cost and time of discovery and cloning of disease The Fund awarded £34,000 to Dr Reid and a leading crop protection company to investigate a technology resistance genes by 10-fold. solution that would stabilise the composition of slug pellets, preventing the release of metaldehyde from slug pellets while they are resting on the soil surface, before being ingested by the slugs.
The project has proved to be successful, and is expected to be patented in the near future.
38 39 ICT
MOVETECH – STATE-OF-THE-ART LOGGERS FOR TRACKING ICT ANIMAL MOVEMENT DR ALDINA FRANCO (UEA) DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
The number of projects tracking the movement of wild research and development of tracking devices. The team is animals has increased exponentially in recent years and the investigating the use of new Long Range Wireless technology data generated by these devices is enabling scientists to study that is less demanding in terms of energy and will enable the fascinating new animal behaviours and unravel previously development of lighter solutions, and to ultimately develop a unknown animal movement information. In the UK alone it is device which will allow them to determine collisions, mortality estimated that 1,500 birds have a GPS tracking device fitted and high resolution elevation data. In parallel, the team are each year. also further developing software solutions to optimise the 12g tracking device. The British Trust for Ornithology uses 100 to 150 tracking FAÇADE: AN OPEN devices each year, and the RSPB recently had a seabird This project has also stimulated collaborations with colleagues tracking project using archival GPS tags and tagged 1200+ from Heriot-Watt University and UEA’s School of Computing SOURCE LIBRARY FOR birds since 2010. However, the wildlife tracking market is Sciences to further develop hardware and data visualisation dominated by expensive technologies which can only be tools. These collaborations include two PhD studentships from VISUAL EXPLORATION afforded by generous budgets and devices are not the Next Generation Unmanned Systems Science (NEXUSS) accessible to the wider research community and other Centre for Doctoral Training. Both will take advantage of data OF GENOMIC DATA potential consumers. generated from the Movetech telemetry tracking devices and will help develop tracking devices with new sensors and DR MANUEL CORPAS Dr Franco, in a collaboration with the University of Lisbon improve visualisation tools for the data. DR TAMAS KORCSMAROS (EI) STUART CATCHPOLE (EI – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) and the British Trust for Ornithology, has developed low-cost, low-weight, high-efficiency GPS/GSM solar-powered tracking Movetech is also one of four technologies selected to take devices. The project team used the funding to develop part in the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Project High throughput technologies have revolutionised the way biotechnological and test low-weight prototypes, and was able to successfully Tag Innovation Challenge and hope to develop new tags that research is being conducted. From having little data, biology has now become a produce a product weighing only 12g, resulting in the have high resolution altitude data that will enable a better data intensive science, where the major challenge is the interpretation rather device being commercially available through the British understanding of birds’ flight and the identification than the production of data. Trust for Ornithology. of measures to minimize collision risk with wind turbines.
The Corpas and Korcsmaros groups were awarded £50,000 to produce Façade, Following on from this, the project was awarded £176,000 www.movetech-telemetry.com an application which allows companies and research groups to explore and interpret Proof of Concept innovation funding from the Natural genomic data. The Façade toolset will enable clinicians and researchers to explore Environment Research Council (NERC) to continue further genome data in a visual and interactive fashion without having to write complex queries or programming code. Users will be able to characterise genomic markers of interest and help diagnose genetic diseases. In the UK alone it is estimated that 1,500 birds
The toolset will speed up scientific discovery and reduce the costs of genomic have a GPS tracking device fitted each year. research and diagnostics. This project builds on Repositive.io, a proprietary platform for secure access of distributed personal genomic data sources. Façade will be open source and, based on the BioJS technology, extremely customisable. The Corpas group has built a business model around services and extensions of Façade’s basic functionality with the Cambridge based Repositive company.
40 41 ICT
THE COST OF BRINGING A DRUG TO MARKET IS APPROXIMATELY £1.2 BILLION
MODEAC: A NOVEL SOFTWARE THE NATURAL APPLICATION FOR THE LEAD STRUCTURE ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF NEW SUGGESTION TOOL PHARMACEUTICAL AND OTHER DR THOMAS WILHELM (QIB) DR WIKTOR JURKOWSKI (EI) HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES DR CHRISTIAN ROGHI (QIB – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
PROF RICHARD FORDHAM (UEA) DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) More than 50% of all new drugs from the last 30 years are derived from natural products produced by plants and microbes. However, new routes of discovery The development of new healthcare The Fund has contributed £52,000 to COMMERCIALISING are needed and there are currently no specialised products and services is expensive. For the cost of developing MODEAC into resources available to identify the active compounds example, the cost of bringing a drug a system that is easy for healthcare in natural products. successfully to market is approximately professionals to use, but in order for LIP READING £1.2 billion (Office of Health Economics, it to achieve its full potential, further Dr Wilhelm and Dr Jurkowski used the funding to 2012). With healthcare systems around investment is sought to allow for software RESEARCH (COLR) develop a prototype software tool which predicts active the world being under severe financial developments, administration of its online compounds for drug development. The new software is constraint, it is vital to be able to assess platform, some new functionality and PROF RICHARD HARVEY (UEA) DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) able to suggest lead structures for drug development the cost-effectiveness of potential new marketing costs. and to contribute to reduce the risks of having to stop therapies to ensure that limited resources at later stages of development due to adverse patient are used wisely. This decision making Meanwhile, MODEAC has been Some form of speech recognition technology is now part of every computer and side effects. This software could cut the costs of the process is informed by health economics showcased to a large number of potential mobile phone for performing tasks such as keyword spotting and transcription. drug research and accelerate the process of new which uses many different sources of commercial clients at conferences and Although significant advances have been made in improving the performance of drug discovery. information to model the advantages of one-to-one demos and has generated these embedded speech recognition systems, they are still limited in their ability a particular medical intervention. These significant interest from major to perform effectively and appropriately in environments with background noise, models typically take months to develop. pharmaceutical companies and leading with even moderate noise making systems inoperative. Therefore, systems are MORE THAN multinational consulting companies. required that can work effectively in noisy environments such as city streets, MODEAC is a cloud-based software public transport, and cars. % programme which allows health economic models to be built and run much more After over 10 years of research at UEA, Prof Harvey and colleagues at the School quickly, enabling more powerful analysis of Computing Sciences have developed a portfolio of outputs - the best known 50 OF ALL NEW DRUGS FROM to be undertaken. This enables the testing lip-reading system, codes, one of the largest speaker independent databases, THE LAST 30 YEARS ARE of many more potential options for know-how and expertise. Over time, they have improved the performance of DERIVED FROM NATURAL patient care than is possible with other their lip-reading system and have now solved the problem of speaker-independent PRODUCTS PRODUCED systems, improving decision making to lip-reading (lip-reading someone who the computer has not seen before). When BY PLANTS AND MICROBES help generate maximum patient benefit combined with acoustic recognition or applied to specialised tasks, this lip-reading from the healthcare system. system could provide that much required step change and move commercial systems from being implausible to viable.
The project was awarded £50,000 from the Fund and R&D has commenced to develop a prototype demonstrator. Good progress has been made to date and discussions held with potential licensees. 42 43 CHEMISTRY
NOVEL OLED MATERIALS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT DISPLAYS CHEMISTRY PROF MANFRED BOCHMANN (UEA) DR JOITA DEY (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD)
The technology found in most television screens today is known as liquid crystal display (LCD). Liquid crystals can control the rotation of polarised light (light filtered so that it only vibrates in one direction or plane) to change the colour of the light that is allowed to pass through, or they can switch pixels on or off. LCDs therefore require a permanent white backlight, and this light is modified pixel-by-pixel to generate the coloured image. In this case, black is truly black - no energy is consumed and no light is filtered out.
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), on the other hand, emit light THE POWER OF FRUSTRATION: only if and when needed. They contain a thin film of compounds which PIONEERING CLEAN HYDROGEN emit light when an electrical current is passed through them. In this ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES base, black of truly black – no energy consumed and no light filtered out. This technology is therefore more power-efficient. Displays can PROF GREGORY WILDGOOSE (UEA) be thinner and brighter, with better contrast. OLED technology is DR GEORGINA POPE (UEA – KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE LEAD) increasingly replacing LCDs.
The development of new technologies to generate cells (which contain catalysts made from FLPs) Prof Bochmann’s team at UEA, in collaboration with the and store energy in a clean, renewable fashion require no metal catalysts, precious or otherwise, Optoelectronics Group in Cambridge, have designed new compounds is one of the most important global challenges for the hydrogen oxidation reaction. Furthermore, which demonstrate record-breaking energy efficiency in converting currently facing us. One option is the use of fuel the Wildgoose Group has extended their concept electrical voltage into light. These new materials are particularly cells which convert the chemical energy stored of FLPs to develop the first batteries (“frustrated” suitable for solution processing technology. Solution processing (spin in fuel into electrical energy through a chemical batteries) and capacitors for over 200 years that do coating, inkjet, or roll-on printing) is beginning to replace expensive reaction called a hydrogen oxidation reaction. not rely on any metals to store electrical energy. vapour-phase deposition technology, which is based on the rare and Although the invention of fuel cell technology costly metal iridium and wastes as much as 70–90% of the emitters’ predates the internal combustion engine, its The funding has allowed the Wildgoose Group compounds in the deposition process. development has been hampered by the reliance to enlist expert consultants in carrying out on expensive, ‘precious’, metal catalysts (where the market research and identifying possible routes NRP Translational Funding is allowing the UEA team to identify and hydrogen oxidation reactions take place) such as to commercialisation. This has helped to develop work alongside commercial partners to develop their OLED materials platinum and palladium. When it comes to energy a business plan which seeks to establish a spin- for the market. storage, the use of metals in batteries also has out company for these two ground-breaking economic, environmental and safety drawbacks. technologies in burgeoning markets: the “frustrated” fuel cells for clean energy generation; In the last decade, there have been exciting, novel and the “frustrated” batteries as a new energy chemistry discoveries in the area of catalysis, using storage chemistry. catalysts based on inexpensive, abundant elements – so-called “frustrated Lewis pairs” (FLPs). The Wildgoose Group has developed prototype fuel cells where the platinum catalyst is replaced by a like-for-like FLP catalyst. Thus, “frustrated” fuel
44 45 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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