Growing MedTech Translation 2019 Dr Danielle Miles, Programme Lead and Technology Innovation Manager (left) and Dr Josephine Dixon-Hardy, Programme Director

Contents

Introduction 3 Proof of Concept 16 Meet the Team 26

Proof of Market 6 Translate MedTech 18 Acknowledgements 27

Proof of Engaging the Grow Feasibility 10 MedTech Community 25

2 Contents Connecting capability to support competitive growth

The development of new The team works closely with User-focused innovation regional medtech stakeholders medical technologies to identify promising technology The six partner universities have is vital to provide more opportunities and to de-risk these co-developed and implemented efficient and effective to build the confidence of companies robust processes to ensure healthcare, capable of and other funders and investors to that our approach to medtech support their further development. addressing 21st century development is effective. Our governance brings together global health challenges. Each of the technology innovation national and regional stakeholders managers is based in one of the who ensure that Grow MedTech Social, economic, technological six partner universities, connected is guided and scrutinised by and political factors, including an into all the relevant capability industry, academia, healthcare increasing and ageing population, of their host university but also providers, patient groups, mean that the global market networked with a wider multi- regional government, funders for medical technologies is disciplinary community of potential and regulators. Our funds, which forecast to grow to $675 billion technology development partners support Proof of Market, Proof of by 2022. This growth is fuelled and collaborators, including Feasibility and Proof of Concept by technology convergence, companies, healthcare specialists projects, are overseen by an including transformative digitally- and innovation enablers. Opportunity Management Panel, enabled solutions, creating huge involving independent medtech opportunities and tough challenges Although they are geographically and digital industry and innovation for companies faced with rapidly distributed, the technology specialists in decision-making and evolving technologies, changing innovation managers work project guidance. regulatory requirements and together as a single team, associated new skills needs. with each having distinct and The following pages provide a complementary technology flavour of some of the exciting It is essential that the assets and business experience. Their technologies, productive and capabilities of universities collaborative approach to partnerships and inspiring across the Leeds and Sheffield innovation support ensures that individuals that, with our support, City Regions can be leveraged the most appropriate knowledge are driving technologies forward to respond effectively to these and expertise are brought to bear towards clinical application and changing industry needs. on each challenge and opportunity commercial products. presented to Grow MedTech, with Capability connected support from the whole team. Dr Josephine Dixon-Hardy Programme Director Grow MedTech provides a route In this way, the complementary into the medtech strengths and medtech capabilities and Dr Danielle Miles assets of six Yorkshire universities resources of not one but six Programme Lead and Technology – Leeds, Leeds Beckett, Bradford, universities are accessible through Innovation Manager Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam a single interface, enabling these and York – through a single universities to connect to make a collaborative team of specialist broader offer to meet R&D needs, medtech technology innovation far exceeding what any individual managers. institution could provide.

Introduction 3 160 Partners involved in projects: £5.9m technology 234 academics 51 companies additional funding development 124 clinicians or 29 universities has been leveraged projects healthcare into the consortium supported professionals by Grow MedTech

269 55 individuals applications supported for Proof by Translate of Market MedTech received interventions

15 GMT 34 Grow MedTech Proof of funded projects Market generated by projects £ early-stage funded support

Technology development towards clinical application and commercial product

4 Introduction Of the Grow MedTech funded projects: 488 35 are convergent 71 have direct clinical technologies engagement people are actively involved in involve a include patient and public Grow MedTech 41 76 development partner involvement activities

37 19 applications expressions for Proof of of interest Feasibility for Proof received of Concept received

19 GMT 13 Proof of Proof of Feasibility Concept projects £ projects funded funded

Technology development towards clinical application and commercial product

Introduction 5 a

Proof of Market £

Our Proof of Market awards may be our smallest grants FUNDING: in value, but they are among the most important. £ Up to £5k They help researchers determine whether the clinical need they are seeking DURATION: to address is real and widespread and whether their proposed solution 6 months presents a viable commercial opportunity.

Proof of Market grants are very flexible and can be used in multiple ways, such as establishing the clinical need or identifying the most promising application for a technology, understanding its unique selling points, market SINCE LAUNCH: size or potential competitors and the regulatory barriers it might face. The work involved might require focus groups with clinicians or patients or bringing in external medical technology experts to carry out a professional 55 applications analysis, but the desired outcome is always the same: to demonstrate whether the technology is one worth pursuing. projects 34 awarded Case study: Assessing international markets for a new funding test for Alzheimer’s

OF THE 34 FUNDED A new test that uses an existing “We’re confident there’s a need PROJECTS: clinical drawing task will enable for this technology and with Grow clinicians to provide an early MedTech’s support we’re able to and objective assessment of test the market both in the UK have direct clinical 62 Alzheimer’s and related conditions. and overseas. Our team has led engagement The technology uses machine workshops in the UK and China with learning to identify subtle experts from Leeds and Shanghai involve a differences in the patients’ pen hospitals and held discussions 44 development movements that can indicate with medical device companies partner cognitive decline. worldwide. The next step is to use Grow MedTech funding to arrange a are convergent 35 “It’s really important to involve similar event in America.” technologies different stakeholders early on,” explains Professor Stephen include patient Technology Innovation Manager Smith, leading the research at the 53 and public University of York. “All our work is involvement clinically led – we’re working with Dr Clare Green activities consultants who understand the University of York condition; a nurse specialist, who has expertise in managing patients; and, importantly, the patients and their carers.

6 Proof of Market Case study: Support breathes life into MS project

A breath test to help diagnose stage, but patients can currently other conditions with similar multiple sclerosis (MS) is being wait years for a definite diagnosis. symptoms. The funding has also developed at the University paid for a report on the market of Huddersfield’s Centre for Project lead, Dr Patrick McHugh opportunity for the test and Biomarker Research (CeBioR), and ran workshops with MS patients, the most promising pathway to Grow MedTech funding enabled nurses and clinicians and commercialisation. the team to work with patients to presented the technology at an inform the design of the project. event for people newly diagnosed Technology Innovation Manager with the condition. He found Progression of MS can be slowed patients responded positively to Luke Watson and its symptoms eased if the concept of a diagnostic tool University of treatment is given at an early that could differentiate MS from Huddersfield

Case study: Plant biologists join war on fungal infections

Plant biologists at the University of Current tests are inadequate, “A new test for fungal infections Leeds are applying their expertise in costly, and frequently lead to false could prevent up to 1.5 million a clinical setting with support from diagnoses, meaning effective deaths globally each year,” says Grow MedTech. treatment can be delayed. Dr Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, of the University of Leeds. Working in partnership with The new test is based on new, researchers at Sheffield Teaching highly sensitive monoclonal Programme Lead and Technology Hospitals Trust, the team is antibodies that can detect a specific Innovation Manager developing a new generation of glucan present in most fungal cells. tests to detect fungal infections Dr Danielle Miles such as candida or aspergillosis. Grow MedTech is currently helping University of Leeds the team fully investigate the use These can be extremely dangerous of current tests and meet with – particularly to patients with clinicians to see if a convincing weakened immune systems. commercialisation case can be built.

“Our novel assay has the potential to be transformative in terms of both patient care and healthcare finances. The support from Grow MedTech in supporting the academic and clinical team in commercial aspects of the work is invaluable.” Dr David Partridge, Consultant Microbiologist, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust

Proof of Market 7 Case study: ‘Virtual physiotherapist’ improves stroke rehab

Stroke patients rely on physical tasks, and can link patients directly what incentives they might need rehabilitation to improve quality of to their health professional. We to keep making progress. Those life – but attending clinics is often also use gamification technology insights will enable us to apply onerous and finding the motivation to deliver progress updates and for further funding to develop the to exercise at home can be difficult. maintain motivation. Virtual Physiotherapist in line with This stalemate is what inspired patients’ needs.” Professor of Computer Science, “Translate MedTech helped us to Dorothy Monekosso, from Leeds work directly with clinicians and Technology Innovation Officer Beckett University to develop the a stroke survivor group, to get ‘virtual physiotherapist’. invaluable end-user feedback. Now Cat Colquhoun Grow MedTech funding is helping Leeds Beckett “Our system uses cameras to to confirm the clinical opportunity. University automatically assess movement as We’ll be working further with the patients undertake rehabilitation same group of survivors to find out

“Through Grow MedTech we’ve been able to find the right partners to develop and test this technology, and prove that it will work for patients.” Guy Parkin, Director, AMAT Dr John Buckley, Performance University of Bradford

Case study: Athletic movement analysis technology can spot early frailty

A partnership between an expert Performance, a company introduced “By spotting early on weaknesses in movement biomechanics at the to him by Grow MedTech. in how a person performs simple University of Bradford and a company everyday gait tasks, we can suggest specialising in athletic technique A Proof of Market grant is interventions which could be key to analysis has led to the concept of a determining the clinical need for such delaying frailty.” new system for predicting fall risk a system and brings together patient among older people. groups and the NIHR Devices4Dignity Technology Innovation Manager MedTech Co-operative. Dr John Buckley at the University of Bradford is proposing developing “Our aim is to devise an early Kieran Perkins the system which would augment detection system that can ‘catch you University of Bradford existing technology owned by AMAT before you fall’,” says Dr Buckley.

8 Proof of Market “Translate MedTech helped us to work directly with clinicians and a stroke survivor group, to get invaluable end-user feedback. Now Grow MedTech funding is helping to confirm the clinical opportunity.” Prof Dorothy Monekosso

Prof Dorothy Monekosso, Leeds Beckett University

Proof of Market 9 a

Proof of Feasibility £

Once the clinical need and market opportunity has FUNDING: been established, the next question is clear: can your £ Up to £20k technology provide a solution?

DURATION: Our Proof of Feasibility awards enable prototypes to be developed or initial 6 months testing to be carried out, to gather the evidence needed for the technology to progress to the next stage and attract further funding. Proving feasibility can cover a wide range of activity depending on the type of technology involved, from laboratory work to validation of algorithms.

SINCE LAUNCH: During this stage of development, project teams are often still building the business case for their technology as well as developing the product, so the grant can also cover areas like market positioning or early health economics applications 37 analysis and identifying the most appropriate commercialisation strategy. We also expect teams to have a robust patient and public involvement (PPI) projects strategy in place, to ensure they co-develop their technology with end-users. 19 awarded funding

OF THE 19 FUNDED PROJECTS:

have direct clinical 84 engagement

involve a 42 development “PPI is most effective partner when researchers build are convergent relationships with 37 technologies patients and see them as

include patient assets to be nurtured.” and public involvement Sue Watson, Opportunity activities Management Panel patient representative

10 Proof of Feasibility Case study: Best foot forward for technology

Collaboration with clinicians and NHS Blood and Transplant is enabling the evaluation of an existing technology to help prevent foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Nerve damage caused by diabetes can cause the foot to change shape, losing fatty areas that provide protection to the bones. The increased pressure on the skin can lead to ulcers which are slow to heal. Management of diabetic foot ulcers – which at their worst can result in amputation – is estimated to cost the NHS £1 billion a year.

Collagen or silicone gels can be Dr Jennifer Edwards, injected into the fat pad to treat University of Leeds the problem, but they fail to provide long-term protection and are not in routine clinical use. Grow Dr Edwards has already proven Mr Russell will run focus groups MedTech support and funding is she can create decellularised with healthcare professionals helping a team of academics and porcine adipose tissue that has the and patients to help shape the clinicians see if decellularised necessary properties. The Grow technology, looking at issues such adipose (fat) tissue could provide a MedTech funding will allow her to as how often an injection would be better alternative. work with NHS Blood and Transplant needed, what size of needle to use (NHSBT) to see if the process is and whether special shoes are worn Dr Jennifer Edwards from the also effective with human tissue, to to reduce pressure after treatment. University of Leeds is leading the provide a quicker route to clinic. project with Consultant Vascular Mr Russell says: “We need the input Surgeon David Russell at Leeds “NHSBT will also help us turn the of both professionals and patients Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, tissue into a soluble gel,” says Dr to determine what protocols will be who regularly sees patients with Edwards. “An injectable form of effective and acceptable by those diabetic foot ulcers in his clinic. the product is vital, to avoid cutting using the technology.” the skin. NHSBT are also advising Because decellularised tissue on the evidence we need to gather Senior Technology Innovation includes proteins and growth to enable them to translate the Manager factors that influence cell product into the clinic.” behaviour, they hope that, unlike other gels, it will not simply pad Dr Graeme Howling out the foot, but might encourage EPSRC Medical tissue regeneration. Technologies Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC)

Proof of Feasibility 11 Case study: Self-tightening screws for small bone repair

Grow MedTech is bringing together advanced materials expertise in chemistry and engineering to develop a new medical device for fracture repair.

Small bone fractures, such as fingers and hands, are often extremely hard to repair and these injuries can lead to lifelong impairments.

One approach to treating fractures is to use metal orthopaedic compression screws, but these can loosen after they have been implanted, so surgeons are looking for alternatives.

University of Bradford chemist, Dr Tom Swift, has been collaborating with Dr Brian Thomson in Bradford’s Centre for Advanced Materials Biodegradeable implants have in our engineering laboratories, but Engineering on a multidisciplinary given surgeons cause for concern it can be tricky to get the funding project to develop new polymer- about the potential for harmful needed to launch projects like this based substitute materials with by-products to be released as they – that’s where the Grow MedTech exactly the right properties. break down. The material being funding has been invaluable.” developed at Bradford is bio-inert Using Proof of Feasibility funding but retains the useful properties of After refining the chemical from Grow MedTech, they have their existing prototypes, reducing formulation of the polymer, small been able to hire a research risk by minimising physiochemical batches of the material will be technician to work through different interactions with the patient. sent to Dr Thomson’s lab where chemical formulations to close he will use an extrusion moulding in on a promising functionalised “We know, from previous work, that technique to create sample screws material – an important step in there’s a demand for this product for testing. de-risking the technology for future among surgeons and patients. commercial partners. The aim is to But now we need to get back to Technology Innovation Manager develop a shape memory polymer the fundamental chemistry, to screw that, once implanted, will find a material that fulfils all the Kieran Perkins shrink slightly at body temperature requirements and that can be made University of at a reasonable cost,” explains Dr to draw the fractured bone together Bradford and hold it securely, allowing new Swift. “There’s excellent synergy cells to grow across the fracture. between the work I do and the work

12 Proof of Feasibility Case study: Improving stroke rehabilitation

Dr Christine Smith from Sheffield Consultant Geriatrician and Stroke “Our aim is to then install the Hallam University has brought Physician at Sheffield Teaching software into Shapemaster’s together a team of physiotherapists, Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, equipment as standard practice. stroke physicians, physical activity to develop an exercise programme We’ll trial the system with up to 15 and exercise specialists and using the machines based on clinical of Dr Ali’s patients, looking not only computer scientists with a local principles, that will help people with at whether the software makes company to improve rehabilitation stroke to increase their endurance it easier for people with stroke to for people with stroke. and strength. carry out their exercises, but also the physical improvements that “Regular exercise following a stroke “Earlier work with people with stroke result over an eight-week period.” can bring major benefits, helping showed us that they would like the people regain fitness and strength machine to tell them how much effort Technology Innovation Manager and reducing the risk of another they are putting in and how much stroke. But being able to carry out assistance is being provided by the exercise, particularly if the stroke machine. So we’re going to make this Simon Butler has left you with any disability, is part of the bespoke software that Sheffield Hallam University not always easy. will be designed by our computer science colleagues, led by Professor “My colleagues, Rachel Young, Dr Sherkat. The software will integrate David Broom, Professor Karen the exercise programme we develop Sage, Professor Nasser Sherkat, for people with stroke. and I have been working with a “The funding has company called ‘Shapemaster’ helped us get things who make power-assisted exercise (PAE) equipment. Although their moving and bring machines are used to help people together a strong with reduced mobility to exercise, team to take the they currently have limitations in a clinical setting, so we applied to project forward.” Grow MedTech to help fill that gap. Dr Christine Smith “Our Technology Innovation Manager from Sheffield Hallam, Simon Butler, has a real understanding of what we wanted to achieve and how to make that happen and worked with us on the grant application. The funding has helped us get things moving and bring together a strong team to take the project forward.

“The grant will enable us to work with people with stroke and clinicians, including Dr Ali Ali, Dr Christine Smith, Sheffield Hallam University

Proof of Feasibility 13 Case study: Biomarker technology points to clinical test for kidney disease

Grow MedTech is providing disease. Grow MedTech introduced Research Council, to adapt the continuity of support to take the researchers to the NIHR Leeds technology to read biomarkers in projects supported through In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative, blood. Translate MedTech’s pioneering to help with this phase of the partnership approach forward to development. The test can measure “Working with Translate MedTech, the next stage of development. three different biomarkers in and later Grow MedTech, has been parallel, significantly increasing its invaluable because the Technology Building on earlier work carried out accuracy. A key advantage is its low Innovation Managers have really with the Translate MedTech team, cost; researchers predict that the engaged with our research, asking Grow MedTech support is helping equipment can eventually be made questions that are critical but also University of York researchers for as little as £10-£20 and that constructive,” says project lead demonstrate the effectiveness of each test will cost only around £1. Professor Thomas Krauss. “Their a test that could diagnose kidney input challenges my research and disease rapidly, reliably and cheaply The evidence gathered through pushes my team to do better.” in the clinic. the new Grow MedTech Proof of Feasibility project will help the team Technology Innovation Manager The technology developed by the to bring on board a commercial team enables biomarkers to be partner. Further funding has also measured in urine using light. been leveraged through an Impact Dr Clare Green University of York A photonic sensor, used together Acceleration Award from the with a smartphone camera can Engineering and Physical Sciences detect both the presence and the quantity of biomarkers to give an accurate diagnosis of a disease and its severity.

A market research study helped the researchers identify kidney disease as the most promising diagnostic area for the technology.

Kidney disease is surprisingly common, affecting around six per cent of all adults, but current tests are expensive and require samples to be sent to a laboratory for analysis, causing delays in diagnosis “Input from the and treatment. Technology Innovation

Proof of Market funding allowed Managers challenges the team to identify the different my research and pushes biomarkers available and select my team to do better.” the most promising ones for kidney Prof Thomas Krauss, Prof Thomas Krauss University of York

14 Proof of Feasibility Case study: Getting the measure of a problem

The introduction by Grow MedTech of an industry partner into an academic- clinical collaboration is helping to move a digital urine measuring device closer to clinical use.

Information on the volume and frequency of urination can help clinicians enormously in diagnosing kidney and bladder conditions, but they are not simple things for patients to measure and record.

A digital scale to make the process easier was the idea of urologist Nicolas Bryan, from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. He teamed up with Dr James Williamson from the University of Dr James Williamson, Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision University of Huddersfield Metrology to create an initial prototype, called UScale. Using UScale, patients urinate into a bag The project team – now with around the challenges of the and the volume is measured and Elaros on board – have been existing system to evidence the stored by the device along with the awarded Proof of Feasibility clinical need.” time of day. funding to develop a wireless version of UScale, that will After many years thinking about Luke Watson, Grow MedTech’s automatically save data to the how to meet that need, Nicolas Huddersfield-based Technology cloud, allowing clinicians to access Bryan is pleased his idea is Innovation Manager, introduced the it without additional software. now taking shape. “Having this pair to Elaros, a company developing partnership in place has been a digital bladder diary that would The UScale prototype will also be transformational,” he says. “It’s like allow patients to record urination tested with patients in Nicolas pouring water on a desert – things data on their mobile phone. Bryan’s clinic, to get feedback are really starting to grow faster on the device and to compare “The feedback from Elaros on our compliance with traditional Technology Innovation Manager device was positive, but they spotted methods: measuring volume in a jug a problem,” recalls Dr Williamson. “To and recording onto a paper form. access the data, clinicians would have Luke Watson to plug the device into their computer University of Dr Williamson says: “Having Elaros and download software. Elaros saw Huddersfield on board has meant we can draw that NHS security procedures would on their earlier work with patients make this very difficult.”

Proof of Feasibility 15 Proof of Concept £

Our Proof of Concept (PoC) funding supports technologies for FUNDING: which the clinical and market need has been established and £ Up to £80k the basic research completed to demonstrate feasibility. DURATION: Longer project timescales enable technical de-risking of the concept in order 12 months to show functionality, verification and validation in a relevant environment. The funding is used to advance technologies towards commercialisation or clinical adoption leading to investment and either product development by industry or through spin-out formation. SINCE LAUNCH The application process for PoC funding is thorough. Initial expressions of interest undergo panel review and each project receives extensive feedback to help it progress. The most promising projects submit a full application, expressions which includes a detailed business case for the technology. Applications 19 of interest are reviewed by an external panel comprising patient representatives and medtech, innovation and IP experts, who question the applicant following full stage their presentation of the project. Public and patient involvement (PPI) at this 15 applications stage is key, as patient representatives ask questions and spot weaknesses that might otherwise be missed, due to their unique perspective. projects 13 awarded Case study: A technology on the rise funding A polymer-free liquid that turns into longer and prevents the dye bleeding OF THE 13 FUNDED a sticky gel on contact with biological into surrounding tissue. fluids has been developed by PROJECTS: Professor Anant Paradkar from the The team will use our funding to work University of Bradford. This platform with NHS Huddersfield Pharmacy have direct clinical technology has multiple medical Specials Unit to optimise the product engagement applications and has been awarded and scale up manufacture to clinical our PoC funding to progress its use standards. They will also develop involve a in colorectal surgery to remove pre- a strategy for clinical testing and 31 development cancerous polyps. Surgeons currently validation in collaboration with the partner use various liquids mixed with dyes NIHR Surgical MIC and its clinical to try and raise and delineate a polyp director, colorectal surgeon Professor are convergent David Jayne. 31 so it can be completely removed technologies without perforating the bowel, but existing methods don’t work well, or Technology Innovation Manager include patient for very long. Professor Paradkar’s and public technology, co-developed with involvement University of Bradford colleagues Dr Kieran Perkins activities Sudhir Pagire and Dr Sachin Korde, University of raises the polyp much higher and for Bradford

16 Proof of Concept Case study: Fertile ground for development

The conditions in which embryos closely resembling an embryo’s A key part of the project is user are grown in the laboratory is one natural growing conditions. engagement: with embryologists of the factors affecting the success and IVF clinics to finalise the device of fertility treatments, yet the Led by Dr Virginia Pensabene from design; but also with patients methods used haven’t changed in the University of Leeds, the team and the public, through patient 40 years. Fertility clinics still grow will test the safety and toxicity of groups and information events and embryos in standard open plastic three different plastics from which through patient-oriented fertility dishes, overlaid with a potentially the device could be manufactured, organisations. toxic mineral oil. Our PoC funding will then validate the best of these using enable a team involving engineers, bovine embryos which are close in Programme Lead and Technology fertility experts, clinicians and size and development to human Innovation Manager industry to progress a device that embryos. The funding will also help creates a safe, closed and precisely the team develop a manufacturing Dr Danielle Miles regulated microenvironment, more plan and market analysis to shape University of Leeds the business case for the product.

Case study: Making therapy into a game Jordan Best, Sheffield Hallam University Doing physiotherapy exercises for rehabilitation following injury or disease can be tedious and repetitive and patients – particularly children – often lapse, slowing their recovery.

Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University have found a way to make such exercises more fun and encourage repetition – by incorporating them into a virtual games are accepted and how well develop a business plan and market reality (VR) game. With our PoC they help patients adhere to their assessment, to identify potential grant, the team, led by Ivan Phelan, exercise programme. In collaboration industry collaborators to take the will work with patients and health with the hand transplant clinic at technology forward. professionals to create a suite Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS of games to support upper limb Trust, they will develop and test a Technology Innovation Manager rehabilitation in children and adults. prototype VR system for hand and finger rehabilitation with transplant Patients will use them in different patients. During the 12-month Simon Butler clinical settings and at home, and project, the team will also work Sheffield Hallam University the team will assess how well the with Grow MedTech and Medipex to

Proof of Concept 17 a

Translate MedTech

Our activities are designed to plug gaps in the innovation SINCE 2015: pipeline, offering researchers valuable training, funding or collaborative opportunities to move their project forward £14.9m at a point where it might otherwise stall. public sector income generated Frequently, these will be early-stage projects that require support to better (£2.7m in 2019) understand a clinical need, to generate additional scientific evidence, or to find the right partner to move a project forward. Because we work alongside Grow MedTech, our researchers are often in a great position to apply for 60 further funding from Grow MedTech once these gaps have been addressed. secondments funded (10 in 2019) We’re opening doors for students and early career researchers interested in finding out about research translation, too. By delivering training opportunities not typically offered by universities, we are helping to shape 73 a new generation of innovators focused on research translation. applications received for Summer Student Projects Opening up secondment opportunities (44 in 2019) Secondments offer academics projects. Other secondments the opportunity to spend time in have been arranged through 39 a different institution or within a organisations such as Devices Summer Student Projects company, working on projects that for Dignity. funded fit our core aims of progressing (13 in 2019) technologies towards translation, We’ve also funded academics or building innovation capability. to take up secondments in the National Physical Laboratory, and 195 We offer grants of up to £2,500 for universities such as the Centre academics trained researchers to arrange their own for Complex Systems and Brain (51 in 2019) secondment programmes, or apply Sciences. Ten placements have for an opportunity offered by one already been funded this year, with of our partner organisations. This a further ten expected. 139 year, for example, we’ve worked potential technology with Versus Arthritis to offer an development opportunity to a PhD student or opportunities identified post-doctoral researcher to work with the charity on a variety of communication, public and patient 15 involvement and research-based Grow MedTech funded projects generated by early-stage support

18 Translate MedTech Summer Student patient and public involvement, Fostering the the role of health economics in Projects innovation, to NHS strategy and innovation pipeline adoption. A ‘pick and mix’ approach Many research projects don’t Academics who engage with us ensures participants can attend manage to fulfil their commercial are passionate about medtech sessions according to their own potential because they run out of translation – and that passion particular training needs. money before they’ve progressed goes beyond applying for grants or sufficiently to qualify for new grant even successfully commercialising funding. By funding students to Creating new a product. We’re delighted to work on tailored projects during partnerships continue to work with these the summer we can provide a researchers to spread the word low-cost way of bridging this gap. Our ‘unmet needs’ workshops about Translate MedTech and to This means researchers have an are a great way to create new encourage new innovations with additional resource to help them partnerships and develop projects clinical and market potential. gather evidence, or enable them around challenges identified by Our Innovation Champions offer to take risks and test out their our clinical collaborators. We join mentorship to researchers within technology in new areas. At the forces with organisations such the Translate MedTech partnership same time, students gain valuable as the NIHR Medtech and In Vitro and act as an invaluable source of experience of working in a research Diagnostics Co-operatives (MICS) ideas, advice and great networking. translation environment. to design full-day events where With their help, we’re encouraging researchers, industry partners and new generations of market-savvy The scheme also gives us the clinicians can come together to researchers, as well as finding new opportunity to connect with discuss potential solutions. ways for our organisation to grow talented students in our partner and improve. institutions and is a great way By the end of each workshop, we to encourage more students to aim to have identified approaches Translate MedTech Innovation consider working in the medtech for the challenges identified. Development Officer innovation field. With 13 projects Typically, the technologies that funded from a pool of more than 40 emerge from this approach are a high quality applications in 2019, few steps ahead when it comes for Mohua Siddique it’s clear that there’s plenty of skill applying for funding, because the and enthusiasm to be harnessed. clinical need is already established.

Courses

We understand that researchers might need translation support “It totally changed my thinking and I think it is at any stage of their careers, so necessary for many researchers like me. ” the courses we offer are open to all levels of researcher, from Patient and Public Involvement PhD students to professors. Our course delegate training addresses topics not typically offered by university CPD programmes and are run by external providers who are experts in their field. We cover topics from

Translate MedTech 19 Case study: Gaining insight into medical device development

Dr Ruth Evans is a Postdoctoral temperature air, it minutely affects learned about the secondment researcher at Sheffield Hallam the skin temperature around this scheme via their newsletter. University, where she’s working area, and when you breathe out the I realised that this would be a with Reza Saatchi, Professor of air around this area is warmer. It’s a valuable opportunity to gain Electronics (Medical Engineering), really clever solution. insight into industrial processes to develop a non-contact thermal and the regulatory side of medical imaging device to help diagnose Is your background in medical devices? device development. sleep disorders in children. Ruth No, my PhD was in Physics and has been awarded £1800 by Astronomy and I was working Professor Saatchi has a long- Translate MedTech for a 3-month with infrared data using a thermal standing relationship with S-Med, part-time secondment with camera to look at galaxies! I wanted which helps develop and distribute S-Med, the UK’s leading supplier to apply my skills to something that the devices that are currently used to of specialised sleep diagnostic was more immediately useful and measure heart rate and respiration systems and services. my skill set matched with those rate in hospitals. They’ve already Professor Saatchi needed to analyse supported several of my grant What clinical need does this new and interpret his data. It sounds applications and immediately saw the technology address? bizarre, but the technical side - benefit of a fully-funded secondment. Investigating sleep-disordered the signal processing and data The Translate MedTech team helped breathing such as sleep apnoea analysis - is the same; it’s just the with feedback to strengthen my in young children is particularly subject matter that’s different. application and I heard back really difficult because they naturally quickly that I’d been successful. want to pull off the sensors How did the secondment opportunity placed on them which measure arise? What do you hope to gain from the secondment? things like blood oxygen levels, Coming from a Physics and respiration and heart rates. We’re Astronomy background to medical It’s an incredible opportunity to developing a non-contact sensor devices, I’ve been on a steep gain a much deeper understanding using a thermal camera which can learning curve. I attended several and experience of what industrial measure respiration by looking Translate MedTech training partners need from us to be able to at temperature changes around courses earlier this year and bring a new device to market. the nose and mouth. When you breathe in the colder room

“We’ve worked with plenty of universities and hospitals where they’ve used our equipment and technology for their research projects, but this is the first time we’ve worked this way round – using university expertise to help us design and develop a new product.” Selwyn Sher, Managing Director, S-Med

20 Translate MedTech Case study: Gaining insight into medical device development

The secondment will enable me to visit S-Med’s partner company, SOMNOmedics, whose production plant is in Germany. I’ll learn about the software that they’re currently using and work with the team there to find a way to incorporate the imaging software that I’m developing into the devices that they produce. I’ll also learn more about medical device regulations that govern new product development.

I hadn’t considered doing a secondment before I saw the Translate MedTech opportunity and I haven’t even seen any other organisations offering grants for secondments. Without Translate MedTech, I don’t think I’d have had the opportunity or found funding to do something like this. I can’t wait to start.

Dr Ruth Evans, Sheffield Hallam University

Translate MedTech 21 Case study: Learning the benefits of PPI

Patrick Statham is two years I discussed it with my supervisor with graphic designers to structure into his PhD research at the and Mohua Siddique, Translate the content and layout. I’ve really University of Leeds, looking at MedTech’s Innovation Development enjoyed seeing how the booklet using decellularized tissue from Officer, helped me put a strong developed. pigs to regenerate a patient’s application together. After an own cartilage following damage interview at Versus Arthritis, “Learning about the benefits of PPI, caused by osteoarthritis. Through Mohua let me know I’d been I realised that my own research Translate MedTech, he secured a successful. It was a very easy, lacked a PPI element, so I’ve already 12-week secondment to Versus smooth process. The secondment taken steps to address that by Arthritis, a national charity plus travel expenses allowed me speaking to a colleague and getting committed to improving the lives to spend two days per week at the the ball rolling on involving a patient of people living with arthritis. charity’s Chesterfield offices, visit in my research. It’s definitely the London office and travel up and something that I’ll carry forward “I heard about the secondment down the UK a fair bit too. in my research career. opportunity in the Research Liaison and Evaluation team at Versus “The Research Liaison and “The secondment has given me Arthritis during a staff meeting and Evaluation team has a variety a wider perspective of research thought it sounded really interesting. of functions, including liaising and an appreciation how the skills with Versus Arthritis-funded I have can be applied in my future researchers across the UK and career. I’ve translated research into providing research information to lay language, run focus groups, other teams across the charity, worked with patients and delivered such as communications and presentations, so it’s helped me “The end result fundraising. Day to day, my role communicate my research to non- will be a valuable covered collecting, collating, scientific audiences much better. translating and sharing information resource for many and data about funded research to “I also learned a great deal about researchers around whoever needed it, both internally the grant application, evaluation the UK, and make and externally. and approval process at Versus Arthritis. Gaining insight from a the research we fund “I was also tasked with producing funder’s perspective, together with more relevant to the a booklet to encourage and guide my greater understanding of the ultimate beneficiary researchers through the basics of importance of PPI, will definitely incorporating Patient and Public help me to strengthen future grant – people with Involvement (PPI) into their research. applications. arthritis.” PPI is a key requirement of all research funded by the charity. “Overall, it’s been a fantastic and Dr Katherine Free, highly beneficial experience. I’m Research Engagement “This was a really interesting and extremely grateful to Translate valuable project. I gained experience MedTech for enabling this Manager, Versus and managed activities that I’d opportunity to develop both Arthritis never done before – interviewing personally and professionally. If patients, writing case studies, another secondment opportunity organising photography, liaising arose, I’d jump at the chance.”

22 Translate MedTech “Projects like these provide a valuable – and cost effective – way of moving our research on to the next stage.” Dr Nat Milton, Leeds Beckett University

Case study: In silico modelling could advance Alzheimer’s saliva test

Translate MedTech’s Summer The team were able to confirm the aim of finding the best sequence to Student Projects offer valuable clinical need for an effective test bind to the protein. opportunities for students to through a Grow MedTech Proof of contribute to the commercial Market project. By modelling the sequences ‘in translation of technologies, silico’, it’s possible to test large exchange new skills with project The key to successful development numbers of aptamers before teams, and invigorate projects is now to find the right aptamers selecting the most promising for with fresh perspectives. – molecules that are essentially optimising and then testing further short sequences of DNA – that can in the laboratory. Researchers at Leeds Beckett bind to the hormones and enable University are developing a them to show up in tests. “Projects like these provide a reliable, easy-to-use saliva test valuable – and cost effective – way for Alzheimer’s disease that In the laboratory, this could be of moving our research on to the could transform the treatment slow and painstaking work but, next stage,” explains Dr Milton. and care of millions of sufferers. thanks to Translate MedTech’s There are around 44 million people Summer Student Project fund, “Most university degrees don’t teach worldwide estimated to be living the team have been able to commercial processes so these with Alzheimer’s disease, but secure the expertise of Marcus projects are essential for catching only about a quarter of these are Rock, a graduate student from students at an early stage in their accurately diagnosed. the University of Derby, who is careers and shaping their thinking – using high throughput computer whether or not they decide to pursue A team led by Dr Nat Milton has screening techniques to speed a career in research.” identified a family of hormones, up the process. This will enable called kisspeptins, that could act as randomly selected DNA sequences a biomarker for the disease. to be rapidly characterised with the

22 Grow MedTech Mid-Year Report Translate MedTech 23 Case study: Electrospinning offers implant solutions

Two separate Translate MedTech “Using Translate MedTech Summer “In our second Summer Student Summer Student Projects at Student Project funding, we’ve Project, our recent BSc graduate the University of Bradford have been able to make significant Zoe Hancox worked on a surgical enabled one manufacturing progress with both projects that mesh designed for mastectomy technique to spin out in two very would otherwise have stalled due patients, testing its effects on different directions, explains Dr to lack of money and materials. cancer cells in the laboratory. The Farshid Sefat, Lecturer in Medical aim is to create an implant that will Engineering. “Our MSc student, Safiyya Yousaf, continue to release the drug for spent three months in the laboratory, several weeks following surgery, “We’re using electrospinning optimising the solutions for killing any remaining cancer cells. techniques to produce scaffolds fabricating the corneal scaffolds and that have potential in two different then testing the mechanics of the “We already have interest from clinical areas. In the first, we’ve used material, such as how it degrades and industrial partners in both these the scaffold to create a multi-layer its porosity. This is an exciting period technologies so it’s really important artificial cornea – the first of its kind of research – we’re using different that we keep them moving forward. in the world. In the second we’ve polymers to construct the three The Translate MedTech funding engineered a mesh that can be layers of the cornea – epithelium, enabled us to do this, and retain and impregnated with anti-cancer drugs stroma and endothelium – and fitting enhance the skills of two of our most for use in mastectomy surgery. them together to make the first ever promising and dedicated students full thickness artificial cornea. as well!”

Dr Farshid Sefat, University of Bradford

“Using Translate MedTech’s Summer Student Project funding, we’ve been able to make significant progress with both projects that would otherwise have stalled.” Dr Farshid Sefat

24 Translate MedTech Engaging the Grow MedTech Community

The Grow MedTech launch event in November 2018 brought together Using social media in our over 160 members of our medtech community: communications strategy, we’ve established a highly Healthcare engaged community who 1.42% SCR_Business_Helen are keen to respond to @SCR_Business_HL medtech funding and event Innovation announcements. enabler In a very festive Leeds for launch 21.8% of @growmedtech #MedTech Academic Twitter response to 36.97% sector of growing importance our funding calendar to @SheffCityRegion. Delighted announcement to support @sheffhallamuni & Industry the other Yorkshire universities 39.81% in this exciting new partnership 5525 views #celebratemedtech 93 engagements

Application statistics

29 universities involved in We support community leaders in keeping our network engaged by providing technology them with regular medtech news, events and funding opportunities to share. development projects

111 funding 52% 869 applications of our email readership comes people have signed up to received from community shares receive our emails

500+ registrations for our events total web visits between Our community is 13,284 Nov 2018 – Sep 2019 growing. Since our launch in November 2018, we’ve picked up: of our Twitter community Communications and 56% are women 497 Engagement Co-ordinator social media followers new followers on our 631 (Twitter & LinkedIn) social media platforms Kaeyo Kelly

Engaging the Grow MedTech Community 25 Meet the Team

Our people, working with our partners, provide the foundations for our success.

Our technology innovation and Programme Lead and programme support team bring Programme Director Technology Innovation Manager specialist skills and know-how to progress technologies and develop innovation capability across our Dr Josephine Dr Danielle Miles portfolio of programmes. Dixon-Hardy University of Leeds

Technology Innovation Manager Technology Innovation Officer Technology Innovation Manager

Simon Butler Cat Colquhuon Dr Clare Green Sheffield Hallam Leeds Beckett University of York University University

Technology Innovation Manager Technology Innovation Manager Technology Innovation Manager

Kieran Perkins Dr Julian Sorrell Dr Luke Watson University of Leeds Beckett University of Bradford University Huddersfield

Senior Technology Innovation Communications and Reporting Officer Manager Engagement Manager

Dr Graeme Howling Rowan Grant Nick Chester EPSRC Medical Technologies IKC

Communications and Translate MedTech Innovation Administrative Assistant Engagement Co-ordinator Development Officer

Kaeyo Kelly Victoria Turner Mohua Siddique

26 Meet the Team Acknowledgements

Our work would not be possible without our External Advisory Board, External Advisory Board Opportunity Management Panel Opportunity Management Panel and Executive Group who provide Grow • Jacqueline Andrews, Leeds Teaching • Sean Clarkson, Yorkshire and Humber MedTech with end-user, academic, Hospitals NHS Trust Academic Health Science Network industrial, clinical, investment • Cathy Barnes, Leeds Beckett • Lindsay Georgopoulos, Medipex Ltd and regulatory perspectives. Their University • Michael Kipping, Biomedical Catalyst insights provide an invaluable steer • Victoria Betton, mHabitat Innovate UK to the strategic direction of our • Astrid Lorenz, Symbiosis IP Ltd programme and we are very grateful • John Bridgeman, University of for their support. Bradford • Patrick Trotter, Medilink North of England We’d also like to thank the following • Ruth Brown, Reliance Precision Limited people for their advice and input over • John Fisher, University of Leeds • Patient Representatives from Leeds Biomedical Research Centre the past year: • Michael Kipping, Biomedical Catalyst Patient and Public Involvement and • Roger Eccleston, Sheffield Hallam Innovate UK Engagement Group University • David McBeth, University of York • Helen Lazarus, Sheffield City Region • Alison Metcalfe, Sheffield Hallam Executive Group Local Enterprise Network University Thank you to the following for • Kelly Broadbent, EPSRC Medical • David Moore, Leeds City Region Local programme delivery and opportunity Technologies Innovation and Knowledge Enterprise Partnership Centre management support: • Claire Paxman, Paxman Coolers Ltd • Graeme Howling, EPSRC Medical • Andy Duley, University of Leeds • Bill Pigg, Holden-Consult Ltd Technologies Innovation and Knowledge • Russell Hodgetts, University of Centre • Abayomi Salawu, Hull and East Bradford Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust • Graeme Howling, University of Leeds • Ian Sharp, Future-Health Innovations • Alex Prince, Sheffield Hallam Ltd University • Martin Stow, Nexus Leeds Ltd • Julian Sorrell, Leeds Beckett University • Liz Towns-Andrews, University of • Barry Timmins, University of Huddersfield Huddersfield • Neville Young, Yorkshire and Humber • Geoff Whiteley, University of York Academic Health Science Network

“The Grow MedTech review panel brought together a good range of experience, skills and knowledge to properly scrutinise proposals and provide an independent view, which is vital to choosing the best proposals.” Michael Kipping, Innovation Lead for the Biomedical

Technology Innovation Managers, Catalyst, Innovate UK Grow MedTech

Acknowledgements 27 Contact us

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