the quarterly newsletter from Edinburgh BioQuarter Issue 07 winter 2012
A good end to a great year In this issue, you’ll see the great news that Mölnycke Health Care has extended its collaborative activity with our scientists, underlining the great work being done at our Division of Pathway Medicine and across the broad spectrum of medical research here at BioQuarter. Looking back, we’ve had a great year, with three new companies - i2eye Diagnostics, Aquila BioMedical and Cytomos. We also signed three collaborative deals with pharma companies from the UK, Sweden and Belgium in areas as diverse as oncology, acute pancreatitis and fibrosis. To top all that off, we’re announcing our eighth tenant at Nine (see this issue) just over six months since the facility opened, and we’ve held our first networking event and first annual conference. You’ll also notice a new, cleaner look to this newsletter and our other marketing materials. Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletters and, as always, please use the buttons on this newsletter to get in touch.
Mike Capaldi Commercialisation Director, Edinburgh BioQuarter
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Mölnlycke Health Care establishes a full subsidiary at BioQuarter
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n 11 December, Mölnlycke Health Care announced that it had signed an agreement with Scottish Enterprise to develop products that detect antibiotic resistant bacteria. This work will be undertaken by a new Scottish subsidiary, Mölnlycke Health Care Scotland, based in offices and laboratories at Nine the BioQuarter, our multi-occupancy building. Dr Till Bachmann of the University of Edinburgh’s Division of Pathway Medicine (DPM) will be the Scientific Programme Director in the new venture. The technology, owned by Scottish Enterprise and developed in collaboration with research carried out by externally
Science Squared Become Eighth Tenant at Nine
contracted partners including the University of Edinburgh, utilizes Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to detect and quantify biomarkers that show the presence of pathogens such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Current methods of screening patients for MRSA often involve centralized laboratory facilities and can take up to forty-eight hours to process results. During this time, MRSA can spread among patients or healthcare workers. Rapid Point of Care (PoC) testing enables the early identification of infected patients. This helps to reduce the risk of
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cience Squared Limited, a company that aims to develop powerful and innovative online tools that improve communication both within the scientific community, and between the scientific community and the public, has become the eighth tenant at Nine the BioQuarter.
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transmission and infection, thus reducing healthcare spending and increasing positive outcomes for patients. The global PoC diagnostic market is estimated to be in excess of $4.3 billion and forecast to grow to $7 billion by 2018 with infectious diseases testing being the most dynamic sector. Pierre Guyot, CEO at Mölnlycke Health Care, comments, “We are delighted to be expanding our capabilities and product offering in close collaboration with Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh. This initiative marks our entry into the diagnostic market. We are very proud to be extending our offering of efficient infection control and prevention solutions that make life easier and safer for health care professionals Dr Till Bachman and patients.”
Nick Oswald, Managing Director at Science Squared, said: “We’re excited to be joining the growing community at BioQuarter, and looking forward to working with Scottish Enterprise and the rest of the BioQuarter team as we seek to expand our business internationally.”
W: www.bioquarter.com T: 0131 242 9249 E: james.wood@bioquarter.com
the quarterly newsletter from Edinburgh BioQuarter Issue 07 winter 2012
contact us
locate at bioquarter
MAUNA KEA TECHNOLOGIES SIGNS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH BIOQUARTER
Meet the team: DR. jenny cusiter
Three leading University of Edinburgh/NHS Lothian scientists create new clinical-grade molecular imaging Smart-probes
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auna Kea Technologies will be used with QMRI’s clinicalhas entered into a research grade novel molecular imaging agreement with BioQuarter at Smart-probes that selectively the University of Edinburgh generate fluorescent signals whilst to develop a novel imaging with Cellvizio. molecular imaging If successful, the accessory device for combined technology use in conjunction could dramatically with Cellvizio, its change the way world-leading confocal physicians diagnose endomicroscopy device. and monitor patients Mauna Kea will with lung disease. be working with a “The ability to multidisciplinary team precisely deliver a Professor of scientists and molecular imaging Chris Haslett physicians from the Smart-probe to the Medical Research lung and then perform Council Centre for optical biopsies with Inflammation Research (CIR) in Cellvizio has the potential to the Queen’s Medical Research revolutionise pulmonary medicine Institute (QMRI) at the University of leading to rapid diagnosis, Edinburgh to develop an accessory personalized tailored therapy and device for Cellvizio that will allow monitoring. The initial focus will physicians to visualize and monitor be in patients with life-threatening lung disease. This accessory device inflammatory lung disease in
intensive care where rapid diagnosis and accurate monitoring is imperative.” said Dr Kev Dhaliwal, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine and Honorary Consultant at the Centre for Inflammation Research located at Edinburgh BioQuarter. Professor Chris Haslett, the Sir John Crofton Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Professor Mark Bradley of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry and Dr Dhaliwal have been leading the development of the new molecular imaging Smart-probes. Dr Mike Capaldi, Commercialisation Director at Edinburgh BioQuarter, said: “Three of our senior scientist/ clinicians from different research areas have been involved in the development of this technology, further proof of the strength and depth of research talent we’ve got available at BioQuarter.”
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am a Business Development Executive with the BioQuarter Team. I have a background in synthetic chemistry and market research for Life Sciences and Healthcare. My remit is to commercialise intellectual property from NHS Lothian; I work with medics, nurses and allied healthcare professionals who have good ideas to help improve patient benefit, reduce costs or generate income for NHS Lothian. I work on a wide range of projects looking at developing new medical devices, diagnostics and educational resources as well as service provision. I help NHS Lothian project teams find funding, develop their ideas and protect their intellectual property. I work with the project teams to partner with suitable commercial companies to take a new product to market. If you have a good idea for a new product please get in touch so we can help you develop your idea further. e: jennifer.cusiter@bioquarter.com t: +44 (0)131 242 6493 m: +44 (0) 7793 203 608
W: www.bioquarter.com T: 0131 242 9249 E: james.wood@bioquarter.com