News 2011
Stay connected - If you would like to keep up to date with the latest IBST news and receive information about the latest technologies and opportunities, including funding programmes, conferences and events, please email us to subscribe to IBST's free e-newsletter and e-alerts.
Tell us your news - To submit your own news item, please email us with details.
Technology and innovation centres become Catapults
The Technology Strategy Board has announced the name for the elite network of technology and innovation centres which is now taking shape.
Catapults are centres of excellence that bridge the gap between business, academia, research and government. They are a powerful new element in the UK economy, helping businesses develop relevant and exciting ideas in receptive and invigorating environments.
By promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange, many progressive businesses and organisations will be able to build new partnerships with reduced risks.
The Technology Strategy Board are establishing six Catapults in specific technology areas. Substantial progress has already been made towards establishing the first three Catapults: High-Value Manufacturing, Offshore Renewable Energy and Cell Therapy. The High-Value Manufacturing Catapult is already open for business, with Cell Therapy and Offshore Renewable Energy to open by summer 2012.
Following extensive engagement throughout the UK, three more Catapults will be selected from ten potential technology areas. These will be announced in the early part of 2012.
| Click here to find out more about Catapults | 16/12/11 |
£50 million Technology and Innovation Centre in Cell Therapy to come to London
The Technology Strategy Board has announced further details about its Technology and Innovation Centre in Cell Therapy. The new centre will support the development and commercialisation of cell therapies and advanced therapeutics, as well as the underpinning technologies for manufacturing, quality control, safety and efficiency. It will receive £10 million per annum (up to £50 million over the next five-year period) funding from the Technology Strategy Board in collaboration with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Iain Gray the Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said: “The cell therapy industry is expected to be worth £3.1billion by 2014 with even greater growth predicted beyond that. With an established technology and innovation centre in Cell Therapy, the UK will be ideally positioned to gain a substantial share of this young industry due to its leading position in the science of stem cells and regenerative medicine, its supportive regulatory environment, the NHS as a potential lead market, access to mature capital markets and established pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and blood transfusion industry sectors”.
| Click here to find out more. | 06/12/11 |
UWE's Centre for Research in Biosciences shaping our future
UWE's Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB) has been cited in a a report by the Research Council UK (RCUK) and Universities UK (UUK) to mark Universities Week 2011.
The report, Big ideas for the future, uncovers the top 100 pieces of research that will shape our future. The three themes cited in the report were:
Rapid screening test for prediction of patient responses to cancer chemotherapy
CRIB researchers are investigating a rapid screening test that will predict how a patient will respond to cancer chemotherapy within hours. The research is seeking to solve the problem of why some patients do not respond to chemotherapy treatment first time round by developing a quick and simple test based on a blood sample before chemotherapy treatment begins which shows a response to a range of drugs. The results of the test will ensure that a patient receives the right combination of chemotherapy drugs to meet their needs and therefore prevent any delay in treatment.
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
A team of CRIB researchers are studying ways of detecting Alzheimer’s disease and new therapies to slow down or prevent its progression. To do this the researchers are working to understand the pathways involved in the development of the disease. If they can single out what might cause the disease, they can develop new therapies to slow down or prevent it progressing. The team also hope to identify the early biomarkers of the disease which will make early diagnosis possible and ensure people are treated more quickly. Ultimately this research could radically change the way in which Alzheimer’s disease is treated and so improve the lives of those who suffer from it and their families and carers.
Biomarkers for food quality and safety
A team of CRIB researchers are trying to discover the DNA and protein biomarkers for a range of food quality traits including the fatty acid composition. They then intend to develop new technology that can detect these traits in food. An important aspect of this project is not only to deliver new knowledge, but also to establish an effective international training and research network which will sustain food quality research and new technology development in the future.
| Click here to read the full report. | 02/12/11 |
Opportunities for product design assistance
UWE is offering the opportunity for businesses to be supported by product design students to help companies access a fresh perspective to address their design requirements and support innovation. This is a chance for Product Design students to get some relevant ‘real-world’ experience and at the same time, employers can tap into a ready-made pool of motivated new recruits who are keen to learn about a real business problem.
These 2nd year projects are for large groups of students, lasting 6 weeks. Companies can choose how involved they would like to be, for example, they could have a couple of initial briefing meetings or ongoing contact. Please note that students only look at the design aspect, not the technology underlying the product.
Examples of how previous students have combined their creativity with leading-edge technology and enterprise can be seen in the 'Make' Product Design Graduate Catalogue 2011.
Prof. Paul Olomolaiye, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Technology at UWE said, "Our final year Product Design students have combined their creativity with leading-edge technology and enterprise to present you the products at this exhibition [plan+make Degree show 2011]. I am most delighted at their achievements and confident that you’ll agree that they are the type of graduates that our economy need and will, through their passion for innovation and enterprise, enable the well-being of our society for years to come.
"Real live application’ is core to our Product Design courses at UWE and we are proud that some of the products at this exhibition have already won awards with significant prizes. The students have worked on several live projects with several companies and it is not surprising that our students easily find employment or start their own companies on graduation."
| 23/11/11 |
2nd International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology - Award winners announced!
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to offer our thanks to you for making the 2nd International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology such a great success and for helping us achieve our goals to create a platform for a high level of interaction and networking between the many areas of bio-sensing technology. In addition, we would like to thank the poster presenters and speakers for sharing the latest findings from their research also the companies for participating in the conference, demonstrating the latest in technologies that drive so much research and development.
We would also like to express our gratitude to Elsevier who have been instrumental in delivering this outstanding conference and have put together the short video above which captures the essence of the conference.
Finally, we hope that you derived much benefit from the conference and that we see you at the 3rd International Conference in two years time!
With best wishes,
Prof. Richard Luxton and
Prof. Janice Kiely
Directors,
Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, University of the West of England
Award winners
Award for Outstanding Oral Presentation
Nanoplasmonic holes for biosensing- exploring unique possibilities
M P Jonsson, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Award for Outstanding Oral Presentation - Runner Up
Fibre optic pressure sensors for in-vivo monitoring of peristalsis
I D Underhill, CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Australia
Award for Outstanding Oral Presentation - Runner Up
Novel splice variants of the branched chain aminotransferase proteins: Potential biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease
M Conway, University of the West of England, UK
Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation
Smarttransfuser: A lab-on-chip system for enhancing transfusion security
W Boireau, Université de Franche Comté, France
Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation - Runner-Up
Outside the lab: In-situ analysis of volatiles in insect interactions with couples mass spectrometric, antennal and sensory response
M Schott, Institute for Physiotherapy & Applied Zoology, Justus-Liebig-University, Germany
Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation - Runner-Up
A new biosensor the screening of toxic compounds in water samples
K Buonasera, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
| Click here to see the conference video and details of all the award winners. | 03/10/11 |
UWE brings together world leading experts in bio-sensing technology to Amsterdam
Amsterdam will be the focus for the international bio-sensing technology community in October when the University of the West of England's, Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology (IBST) and scientific publisher, Elsevier host the '2nd International Conference on Bio-sensing Technology' (10-12 October 2011).
Bio-sensing technology, is the fusion of electronic engineering with biology and has become a key component in the development of tools and devices to aid disease diagnosis, environmental analysis, food safety, animal welfare and security systems. Examples can be found in everyday life from the pregnancy testing kits and on the spot diagnostic tools for blood and urine tests used by medical practitioners to the tests that will detect the pesticides in our food chains and water supplies.
Over 300 delegates from industry and academia will come together from across the world to exchange and share their experiences, present research results, explore collaborations and to spark new ideas, with the aim of developing new projects and exploiting new technology for bio-sensing applications.
Professor Richard Luxton, Director of UWE's internationally renowned Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology (IBST), said, “Following the success of the inaugural conference in 2009, we are delighted that even more colleagues are able to join us in Amsterdam for what promises to be a great event. This year's conference has a strong industry focus and ten partner companies will be presenting their latest technologies. It really is a unique opportunity to bring together such a diverse range of expertise under one roof and represents a huge step forward in addressing our common goal of making technology better, to produce the smaller, lighter, cheaper diagnostic tools of the future that will benefit society in so many ways.”
The themes of the conference are: Biomarkers, Sensor technology, Instrumentation and data processing and System integration.
The full programme will include presentations from leading specialists highlighting new opportunities in bio-sensing technologies, an exhibition of leading-edge, commercial technology and a poster forum. There will be an opportunity for networking and to share best practice in the integration of technologies for bio-sensing.
Invited speakers include:
- Professor Marco Mascini, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence will give the conference address, Peptide and oligonucleotides aptamers as new ligands for analytical chemistry.
- Professor Ingemar Lundström, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden will present The 2011 Bio-Sensing Technology Lecture, Biosensing with surface plasmon resonance: past, present and future.
- Dr Till T Bachmann, Division of Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh Medical School will give a keynote address on Biomarkers for personalised medicine.
- Dr Jeff D Newman, Cranfield University will focus on Integration and Commercialisation in his keynote address: Biosensors – Have we got an App for that.
- Ian Bell, Market Development Manager, National Instruments UK and Ireland will give a keynote address on Instrumentation and Signal Processing.
Researchers from UWE's Centre for Research in Biosciences will also be presenting oral and poster presentations. Professor Tony Killard will present his latest research on electrochemical sensing devices and Dr Myra Conway will share developments on identifying potential biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
| Click here for more information and the full conference programme. | 03/10/11 |
Uniscan Instruments introduce a new state of the art multi-channel electrochemical impedance analyser
has announced the introduction of the Model 3300 multi-channel electrochemical impedance analyser.
The Model 3300 is a new generation of instrumentation with the FRA and potentiostat mounted on a standard format card rack. This modular approach allows plug-in expansion capability. Uniscan’s hybrid 32 bit DAC technology creates ultra smooth voltammetry waveforms with precise digital control which provide the versatility and performance required for electrochemical applications in a multi-channel format.
Research application areas which will utilise the capabilities of the Model 3300 multi-channel electrochemical impedance system include: -
- Materials characterisation
- Electrodeposition studies
- Combinatorial electrochemistry
- Fuel-cell catalysts
- Corrosion
- Energy storage
- Sensor development / Q.C.
- Research Electrochemistry
| Click here to find out more about the Model 3300 multi-channel electrochemical impedance analyser | 15/09/11 |
Presentations from Men and Cancer event now online
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Men and Cancer event - we hope you found it interesting. For those that couldn't attend, presentations from the day are now available online:
| Click here to view Men and Cancer presentations | 05/08/11 |
IBST is now on Twitter!
Follow us on Twitter for the latest IBST and industry buzz. Check out what we've been tweeting about at:http://twitter.com//BioSensingTech
| 04/08/11 |
IBST launches new Master Class Series
The IBST Master Class Series provides a relaxed forum to learn about key emerging and potentially disruptive technologies in the life sciences. Presented by expert practitioners in the field, the informal lectures will describe the technology, discuss current research and describe some application areas in the commercial market place. The master classes are targeted at senior managers and technical officers who need to keep abreast of key technology developments. There will be ample opportunity for discussions with peers and experts.
Sessions include:
- STEM Cells
- Biosensors
- Biophotonics
- MEMS
This will be run as an all-day event in late autumn and individual sessions can be run on demand - please contact us if you would like to know more.
| Click here for more information about the IBST Master Class Series | 29/06/11 |
IBST launches Technology Profile service
If you’re keen to make the most of your bio-sensing technologies, the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology has the expertise, resources and networks to help you make this happen. Our Technology Profile is specially designed for ambitious companies ready to understand their potential.
| Find out more about the IBST Technology Profile service | 29/06/11 |
UWE + Chinese partners hold workshop on innovative technologies for the food industry
Food quality and safety is the global issue that will be addressed at a free two day workshop hosted by the University of the West of England (UWE) on 21-22 July 2011, bringing together academics and business leaders from the UK and China to discuss innovative technologies for the food industry.
Professor Steve West, UWE Vice-Chancellor, says, “We are delighted to be involved with this new international partnership with our Chinese collaborators. UWE has an established reputation for its excellent innovative research in bio-sensing technology, combined with the expertise of our new partners, I'm sure this collaboration will be successful in developing solutions to some of the challenges in this crucial global industry. ”
For more information or to book a place at the workshop visit: http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/chinapartnership/itftfiw.asp
| For full press release please click here | 24/06/11 |
2nd International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology 2011 - WIN!
Register by 12th August 2011 and go into a raffle for a chance to win a FREE Delegate Pass or one of five tickets to the world-famous Van Gogh Museum. All Delegates who register by this date will automatically be entered into this competition.
| Register today at www.biosensingconference.com | 24/06/11 |
UK/China Partnership for Novel Food Technologies - Web pages now live!
The main aim of this partnership is to establish a sustainable network, long-term research collaboration and student and staff exchange between the UK and China in order to develop, evaluate and take to the market new, rapid and cost-effective technologies (bio-sensors) for the detection of environmental pollutants in animal feed and animal-derived food.
| Click here to view the new web pages. | 25/05/11 |
Department for Business Innovation and Skills, May 2011: Funding for EU research and innovation from 2014 - A UK Perspective
The UK considers it timely to revisit the role and future shape of EU research and innovation instruments within the context of a Common Strategic Framework. The UK believes that research and innovation must play an increasingly vital role...
| To read the document, please click here | 25/05/11 |
Dr Tim Cox Presenting at the 33rd ISP Meeting
Dr Tim Cox will be talking about a cell based system for toxicity testing of potential drug compounds
at the 33rd Intelligent Sensing Programme Meeting on 25th May.
| Find out more | 11/05/11 |
Congratulations to the recipients of the BRIG-H Health Innovation Awards 2011
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the BRIG-H Health Innovation Challenge and Showcase and made it a huge success - we hope you found the events rewarding and interesting.
Congratulations to the recipients of the BRIG-H Health Innovation Awards 2011
Winner: Decipher Impact Ltd is a new company set up to develop the market for a peer support programme which combats teenage smoking. The programme trains and supports teenage ‘peer supporters’ and has been shown to reduce the uptake of smoking in 12-13 year olds. Project Leaders: Professor Rona Campbell, University of Bristol and Professor Laurence Moore, Cardiff University. BRIG-H partners involved: University of Bristol and NHS Bristol
2nd Place:Safe Sit TM - An innovative solution to assist patients to sit up after therapy and scanning procedures. Designed and developed by an oncology nurse at UH Bristol. Project Leader: Jayne Bailey, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.
3rd Place: Bristol Active Life Project - Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) works in partnership with people who experience severe and enduring mental illness by enabling them to improve their own health through taking part in sport and exercise in community leisure facilities. Project Leaders: Helen Abbott, Paul Davies and Margot Hodgson, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; and Jonathan Amphlett and Mark Owen, Bristol City Council.
| The Showcase booklet is now available to download here. | 11/04/11 |
New updated and expanded 'Guide to UK Companies involved in Biosensors and Biosensing'
FREE and available NOW
Issue 2 of the ESP KTN's 'Guide to UK Companies involved in Biosensors and Biosensing' has just been published and is now available, free of charge, to members of the Biosensing sub group. It provides information on the skills, capabilities, products, services, achievements and collaborations of eighty-six UK companies operating in this area.
If you are a member of the Biosensing sub group you can get a copy of this guide by simply sending an e-mail to Robert Angus requesting one.
If you are not already a member of the Biosensing sub group but would like a copy of the guide you first need to join the _connect platform (button at top left hand side of home page) then join the Biosensing sub group (button at top left hand side of Biosensing home page). Once you've joined send an e-mail to Robert Angus to request a copy.
| 11/04/11 |
2nd International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology 2011 - Abstract Submission Deadline extended until 30th April!
We have had an excellent response to our call for abstracts and due to unprecedented demand, have decided to extend the deadline for any late submissions.
Bio-sensing technologies are of increasing importance in healthcare, agri-food, environmental and security sectors, and this is reflected in the continued growth of global markets for such technologies. This two and a half day Conference will provide a forum for accessing to the most up-to-date and authoritative knowledge from both commercial and academic worlds, sharing best practice in the field as well as learning about case studies of successfully integrated bio-sensing technologies. The meeting will provide an opportunity to highlight recent developments and to identify emerging and future areas of growth in this exciting field.
Following the success of the inaugural conference, the second International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology will bring together leaders from industry and academia to exchange and share their experiences, present research results, explore collaborations and to spark new ideas, with the aim of developing new projects and exploiting new technology for bio-sensing applications. The conference will take place 10-12 October 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| Visit the conference website for more details. | 11/04/11 |
New TSB 'Grant for R&D' funding scheme available
On 4 April 2011 the Technology Strategy Board is launching a new £20m Grant for R&D scheme to provide funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology, from which successful new products, processes and services could emerge.
The Grant for Research and Development (Grant for R&D) scheme will support R&D projects which offer potentially significant rewards and could stimulate UK economic growth. In contrast to the Collaborative R&D programme, Grant for R&D funding is available to single companies.
Three types of grant are available: Proof of Market, Proof of Concept, Development of Prototype. Any UK SME working in any sector (except defence) may apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for assessment by independent experts and funding for successful proposals will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Grant for R&D replaces the scheme previously offered by regional development agencies.
The new scheme will work alongside existing programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
| Visit the TSB website for full details. | 23/03/11 |
How can we make things better for health in Bristol?
A unique exhibition, the first of its kind to be held in Bristol, will showcase the outstanding health innovation achievements in the city that have had a positive impact on people's lives and offer a glimpse into the future at what new developments might bring.
The Bristol Health Innovation Showcase is the first exhibition from BRIG-H (Bristol Research and Innovation Group for Health), a partnership of universities and NHS Trusts committed to improving the health of people in Bristol and beyond through research, innovation and closer collaboration.
The Showcase will take place at UWE's Exhibition and Conference Centre on 30 March 2011 from 17:30 – 20:30.
The event will provide an opportunity for professionals and members of the public to see firsthand 30 exciting innovations on display which have been developed by members of the partnership. Clinicians, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs behind the latest developments and innovations will be on hand to answer questions and explain their inventions, new procedures and advances in health services.
The innovations on display range from medical innovations, through to novel improvements to service delivery and community health initiatives.
The BRIG-H partners are: The University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, North Bristol NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust, in association with Bristol City Council, NHS North Somerset, and NHS South Gloucestershire.
Scientists, clinicians, and health executives from these organisations have worked together to create new innovations and processes that have benefited health in Bristol.
Deborah Evans, Chief Executive NHS Bristol and Chair, Bristol Health Leadership Executive says, “We know that Bristol is regarded as a beacon of innovation. Innovation in health is changing the lives of patients and the city: inventions, research, new companies, treatments, devices and tools are transforming the care and quality of the lives of patients. This event is an ideal opportunity to be inspired by examples of Bristol innovations that have changed people's lives and talk to the people who have made it happen.”
Professor Richard Luxton (Director Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, UWE) says, “This event demonstrates how the partners working together can make huge gains. We want to encourage other researchers and clinicians to get involved in innovation and applications for their research. There are many projects which would not have happened without the expertise and innovation of both universities, and the support of the NHS Trusts. We hope this event will show just how much we have achieved together, and the enormous potential there is in the city for further innovation and health improvement in the city in the future.”
For more information visit: Showcase
| For full press release please click here | 22/03/11 |
Funding Call - Nutrition for Life
The Technology Strategy Board, together with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) is to invest up to £6.25 million to stimulate innovation in the food and drink sector. £12.5 million of funding from the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (£6.1 million) and partner investments.
The investment is intended to encourage the development of innovative processes and technologies with an emphasis on providing “healthy” and “safe” food and drink, and will support both feasibility studies and collaborative research & development projects.
The feasibility funding is a single-stage competition that will open on 9 May 2011 and close on 29th June 2011. Collaborative R&D is a two-stage competition opening on 9 May 2011. Expressions of interest must be submitted by 15 June 2011. The second stage, for invited applications, will open on 11 July 2011 and close on 17 August 2011.
| For more information, please click here | 07/03/11 |
iNets South West launched at UWE
Over the next three years five iNets or 'innovation networks' will have a significant impact on the South West region by making links that foster creativity and knowledge exchange supported by funding that will act as a springboard for innovative new products and services.
The five iNets for the South West region will be launched at a special event entitled 'Accelerating Innovation' at the University of the West of England's Exhibition and Conference Centre (ECC) on Thursday 10 February 2011. Special guest Communities Minister, Baroness Hanham from the Department for Communities and Local Government will address 150 delegates from private and public sectors from all over the region.
The iNets will have a dramatic impact on businesses and projects in a wide spectrum of arenas including advanced engineering and aerospace, biomedicine, creative industries, the environment and microelectronics. Each will help businesses transform ideas into new products and services that will drive growth in these five sectors that have high growth potential in the South West region.
iNets are part of a wider government support for business entitled Solutions for Business and are supported by £12.5 million of funding from the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (£6.1 million) and partner investments.
UWE is leading the iNets in Biomedicine, Microelectronics and the Environment. The iNet in Advanced Engineering & Aerospace is led by the West of England Aerospace Forum, and the Creative Industries sector is led by South West Screen. UWE is also involved in the Advanced Engineering and Aerospace iNet.
Professor Steve West,Vice Chancellor, said, “UWE is proud to be leading three of the five iNets – potentially we have a unique opportunity to galvanise people from organisations that do not yet have links and come up with some very exciting outcomes that could have international impact.The iNets represent a really exciting opportunity for businesses, innovators, inventors, organisations and academics to come together, pool ideas, knowledge and expertise. The idea is that the iNets will encourage groups to form, working towards common goals that result in new products or ways of doing things that will benefit the wider community locally, nationally and internationally. “
| For more information, please click here | 07/02/11 |
Funding Call - Sustainable Protein Production
The Technology Strategy Board, in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Scottish Government is launching a collaborative R&D competition with up to £15 million available to invest in projects focusing on the challenge of sustainable protein production.
As global demand for animal products increases, demand for vegetable proteins as animal feedstock also rises. The UK faces a shortfall in domestic vegetable protein production capability, which we are seeking to help food producers overcome.
The competition opens on 4 April 2011 and will have two interrelated core themes:
- Increasing domestic supply of sustainably produced vegetable protein for farmed animals (including land and marine based aquaculture)
- Increasing production efficiency and sustainability of domestically supplied animal and fish protein for food, and reducing waste in the food chain to the point of retail sale.
The projects should be business-led and seek to develop new products or processes. Most of the funding is expected to be allocated to proposals in the applied R&D (attracting up to 50% funding) or experimental development (up to 25% funding) categories.
| For more information, please click here | 02/02/11 |