Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Spring 2011
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Stepping out 14
Nexxus Events
March 2011
Sharing reaps rewards
COMMERCIALISATION
STRATEGIES FOR benefit of industry and academia. fundamental value of a piece of
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS It was a busy and very productive science and research. I would
Glasgow three days and thank you to suggest that both Andy’s
everyone involved, especially to presentation and NuCana BioMed
TECHNOLOGY-PUSH OR Den Barrault of SULSA for project Hugh Griffith’s call for a ‘proof of
CLINICAL-PULL managing the visit. relevance’ fund at the Scottish
How to deliver innovation in Enterprise Life Sciences dinner,
NHS Scotland, Edinburgh Scotland has placed itself in a give a clear direction for the future
globally competitive position of investment in our sector. It is
NEXXUS BIOSCIENCE CLUB through research collaboration one that we need to work together
Industry Skills for Young and Nexxus aims to develop even on to make happen.
Academics, Glasgow closer links with our research
pools and the Universities they As part of the process of
April 2011
represent. encouraging investment in the life
COMPANIES SHOWCASE
sciences in Scotland, Nexxus
Edinburgh
An unfortunate accident February also saw our second organised a delegation of Scottish
involving me, a mountain in event with the WS Society for the SMEs to the OneNucleus Genesis
NEXXUS BIOSCIENCE CLUB
Lanzarote and the force of gravity Life Sciences and Law Network conference in London at the end
Career Paths in Life Sciences,
Glasgow
meant that I had an unexpected (LSLN). The LSLN is based upon of last year. This event is a
trip (pun intended!) to my local the premise that sharing ‘must-do’ in many people’s
May 2011 hospital earlier this week. knowledge between Scotland’s life calendars. It proved to be a winner
SME TOOLBOX Thankfully this is something I have scientists and the country’s legal with many new contacts made and
Drug development/Clinical not had to do for many years and professionals is key to contracts secured (see page 15
Trials, Glasgow it was a revelation. The courtesy development and investment in for details of just one success
and kindness of the staff was the sector. We were fortunate to story). Currently we are working
HORIZONS IN MEDTECH exemplary and the facilities tip-top. secure the services of Professor with Scottish Enterprise and
Glasgow I was admitted, examined, x-rayed Andy Porter and James Shaw of Scottish Development
and ‘stookied’ (eg plaster cast) all Grampian BioPartners (see page International and using our strong
6TH ANNUAL CONVERGENT in an hour. I was especially taken 12). They gave a thought- links with BayBio - the San
TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE by the fact that the x-ray was provoking presentation on Francisco Bay area life sciences
AND CONFERENCE* real-time and shared remotely with de-risking life science investment network - to secure face-to-face
Healthcare Efficiency through the orthopaedic consultant - all by sharing knowledge on the meetings for Scottish SMEs with
Prevention and Intervention, part of a seamless and speedy
Stirling (Jointly organised by service.
EDTC, SHIL, SUIP, Wellness
& Health Innovation and Nexxus)
This brought home to me just how
much sharing of information and
June 2011
knowledge is changing the face of
NEXXUS BBQ
healthcare and the life sciences.
Glasgow
It also chimes with a number of
For further info about the above recent developments within
free (except*) events see
www.nexxusscotland.com
Nexxus.
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Nexxus News 3
Zebrafish Facility
in the West Coast USA. Watch this science would agree with this
space for further developments. observation but would also
conclude that it is not just the
In addition, Nexxus is working with quantity, but also the quality, of
partner organisations such as the thought that counts. In Scotland THE ZEBRAFISH, Danio
Scottish Stem Cell Network we are fortunate to have both and rerio, is a powerful model
(SSCN) and Scottish Health it is by linking together and sharing organism for biomedical
Innovations (SHIL) to provide a ideas that we will further enhance research. Its genome
series of industry related events our position as a global player. is known and there are
on crucial topics such as quality many genome features
management and regulatory conserved in humans.
compliance. We are keen to Accordingly, Zebrafish
continue with this and would be are increasingly used as
pleased to work with other a model to study human
members of the community. Graeme Boyle diseases and to date
Director cardiovascular disease,
Linus Pauling once commented T: 0131 200 6411 or cancer, neurodegenerative of disease-associated
that the best way to have a good T: 0141 300 5381 and infectious disease and variants and large-scale
idea is to have lots of ideas. I am E: g.boyle@nexxusscotland.com visual disorders have been screening of a small
studied. It is a particularly chemical library for the
attractive experimental identification of therapeutic
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viable cells. Already generating an innovative Aberdeen funds. Enquiries from both with his vast knowledge of life
revenues, the company has company that has developed a potential investors, and sciences business success. His
big plans to develop more tools clinically proven non-invasive from companies looking for particular dual skill set as both
and techniques, and to further early and predictive test for investment are routed through a highly regarded scientist and
promote its expertise in antibody bladder cancer diagnosis the ‘contact’ page on its a successful business owner, is
isolation and engineering. and monitoring. A similar website. Several investments a very useful combination and
Dr Ruth Murray CEO of approach looks very likely to are under discussion, and GBP serves to make Pharmacells
ImmunoSolv adds, ‘…support be applicable to diagnosis and will be investing further funds into a stronger business all
through the investment funding monitoring of prostate cancer over the coming months. round.’
from Grampian BioPartners and too.
the Scottish Co-Investment Fund The final words are, perhaps, For further information about
is a key part of ImmunoSolv’s During the past year, new best left to Athol Haas who Grampian BioPartners and the
strategy to strengthen our investors have joined the succinctly summarises the companies featured see
presence in key markets and syndicate, and James Shaw, strength of GBP’s proposition, W: www.grampianbiopartners.com
to deliver sustainable growth.’ GBP’s Company Secretary, ‘One of GBP’s key contributors, W: www.cytosystems.com
has established his own Professor Andy Porter, has W: www.immunosolv.com
Cytosystems practice in London and become a non-executive W: www.novabiotics.co.uk
Edinburgh, extending GBP’s director of Pharmacells. Andy W: www.oristem.com
In the area of diagnostics, GBP geographic reach, and its works continually to add to our W: www.pharmacells.co.uk
has invested in Cytosystems access to further investment proposition and product range
Neuroscientists gather
GLASGOW NEUROSCIENCE covered optic nerve hypoplasia, clinic induced neuroprotection,
- an academic and clinical visual perception, amblyopia and neurotoxicity, spinal cord injury,
community which aims stereopsis. pain inflammation, vision,
to stimulate and improve neurodevelopment
neuroscience across Glasgow Among the neurodisabilities and neurodegeneration.
- reconvened in January explored, either in the laboratory
for the second Glasgow or in patients, were stroke, During the wine reception at the
Neuroscience Day. Over a schizophrenia and Rett’s end of the day, Graeme Boyle,
hundred neuroscientists from syndrome. Nexxus Director, awarded prizes
universities and hospitals Graeme Boyle presents to PhD students Emma Reid and
gathered at Glasgow Caledonian Basic research was also well Emma Reid with her prize Kamal Gadalla – both from the
University for a day of talks and represented with presentations University of Glasgow – in respect
posters with sponsors including on free radicals, P2Y receptors, research as it is understood and of best oral presentation and best
Blackwell Exhibitions, Nexxus, auditory cortex organisation, disseminated by policy makers poster prize respectively.
PerkinElmer, PsyRING, and neurotransmission and and the media.
Stratech Scientific Ltd. interneurons. The organising committee
As before on Glasgow received extremely favourable
The neuroscience of vision Universally acknowledged as Neuroscience Day, the speakers feedback from attendees,
was a prominent theme of the the highlight of the day however were at all stages of their and are already using their
day. Consultant Paediatric was Keynote Speaker Professor academic careers, from PhD suggestions in planning
Ophthalmologist Professor David Nutt, a global expert on students to senior professors. The Glasgow Neuroscience Day
Gordon Dutton’s opening talk neuroscience who has devoted more junior speakers rose to the 2012. To keep abreast of
gave fascinating examples his career to the development of challenge admirably, producing this and to hear about other
of people’s responses to responses to the heath problems talks of excellent quality and forthcoming neuroscience-
compromised vision and Dr associated with addiction, anxiety clarity. The poster presentations related events, seminars and
Carrie Ballantyne described and other psychiatric diseases. His demonstrated further the jobs, contact Tomoko Iwata
compromised visuo-spatial lecture ‘Science and nonscience in great diversity and quality of (E:Tomoko.Iwata@glasgow.
development in children with drug policy’ was entertaining and neuroscience research being ac.uk) to request the monthly
autism and fragile X syndrome. informative and took attendees carried out in Glasgow. Topics e-newsletter produced by the
Other talks and posters on vision on a journey through drug ranged from basic research to group.
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My Job
a few classes and have even working hard to finish over the
been subjected to marking next few months.
undergraduate assignments.
The other big thing coming up
EUSci activities then take up for me is the hunt to secure
whatever time I have left in the a good postdoc. I’m keen to
day. While editing, we would continue research into the field
be constantly working towards of developmental genetics and
deadlines (content, artwork, cancer and have been looking
copyediting, printing, etc), each for labs that have the right fit
with their own set of challenges. with my research interests.
Certain days would involve I’ve started talking to people at
chasing down writers, others conferences and meetings and
were spent handling the logistics will be putting significant effort
of getting 32 pages of content into promoting myself and my
edited by different people, and research in the hope of having
then finally trying to track down a position secured by the time I
enough funding to publish. finish my PhD.
Hayden Selvadurai, PhD Student, magazine, a semesterly popular
Centre for Integrative Physiology, science magazine published Q: So what’s taken up most Q: What would you want to
University of Edinburgh and former by staff and students at the of your time recently? do if you weren’t doing what
Editor-In-Chief of EUSci magazine University of Edinburgh (www. you’re doing now?
eusci.org). After a bit of writing After handing over the editorial
Q: So what is it you do? and editing, I took over as Editor- reins for EUSci I spend less I’ve always enjoyed science
in-Chief for a couple of issues, time on the logistics of putting writing and communication and
For my PhD project, supervised a role that, in addition to writing each issue together, though had considered trying to get
by Dr John Mason in the Centre and editing content, tested my am still involved, primarily in into science publishing when I
for Integrative Physiology, organisation and management securing funding. So far we’ve finished University. However,
I’m investigating the role a skills to the extreme! been meeting the printing costs I realised towards the end of
particular gene pathway plays for each issue through a mix of my MSc back home in New
in brain development and how Q: Tell us about a typical day grant funding and advertising Zealand that I should stick to
its deregulation contributes to (or is there no such thing?). sales, though now we are trying research while I had the drive
tumour formation. to work out a sustainable way of to do it. As luck would have it
One of my favourite things about financing the magazine. To this I got a scholarship to do my
The brain is an enormously the academic environment is end we’ve initiated discussions PhD at Edinburgh University
complex structure and forms that there is no such thing as a with various members of the and fortunately have had ample
under the direction of an even typical day. Certain days I have University and Edinburgh opportunity to maintain my
more complex interplay of genes a heavy load of hands-on lab Beltane, who are providing interests in both science writing
being switched on and off in work, while other days are spent useful guidance. and research at the same time.
the right place at the right time. behind a microscope or computer
When this goes awry, defects analysing data. Q: What’s on the cards for For further information,
in development can arise or the next few months? contact Hayden
tumours can form as a result At the moment I’m also writing T: 0131 651 1707
of excessive growth. I’m trying up my findings for publication. Obviously finishing my PhD E: h.j.selvadurai@sms.ed.ac.uk.
to uncover the role one set of Various teaching activities also project in a timely fashion is my
genes plays in this process in a keep me busy. I’m supervising main concern at the moment.
particular part of the brain. an honours student, which I’ve had a bit of bad luck with
involves a mix of bench one of my experimental models
Outside of the lab, I’ve had a fair instruction and discussing the so have had to plan out a new
bit of involvement with EUSci project in fine detail. I also tutor set of experiments, which I’m
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Translational research –
a vital key
Translational research fully applied in the clinical situation Clearly, alternative approaches are candidates by assessing drug
has been much talked about in and visa versa. Information required to improve the predictability potential at the early stages of the
recent years, but what exactly is feedback from the clinic is of action and ultimately reduce pre-clinical research and clinical
it and how important is it set to particularly important with ‘first in the huge costs associated with development. Such biomarkers
become? Dr John Waller and class’ molecules (new concept clinic failures. Using translational may focus on evaluating
Dr Lorcan Sherry, both formerly drugs with no precedent in the research approaches, it is possible appropriate target expression
senior research pharmacologists clinic). Here the data from Phase I to carry out pre-clinical and clinical and compound exposure,
at MSD (Merck & Co.), and studies (typically pharmacokinetic studies using such techniques engagement, efficacy and safety.
now Directors of newly formed and pharmacodynamic studies) as PET imaging and receptor However, it is imperative that
OracleBio give us their thoughts. can feed back from the clinic occupancy studies to ensure that the chosen biomarker responds
and influence studies carried the compound is engaging with similarly in both pre-clinical
‘In essence, translational research out in a pre-clinical setting. This the target molecule in sufficient models and humans, thereby
involves carrying out a scientific can generate data that can be quantities and extrapolate this to allowing cross-species integration
study with the focus on how the very useful for the continued the clinical situation. of data and strong translational
data generated can be applied to development of the compound interpretation of results.
the population under study,’ said in Phase II and III studies. In Only once this type of information
John. ‘In the field of biological addition, the data can be used to has been confirmed, and the ‘In summary,’ he concluded,
research and drug development, influence the work carried out on correct molecule selected, would ‘the future value of translational
translational research strives to any ‘back-up’ compounds. a compound progress to the more research will depend on continued
better connect laboratory based costly Phase II studies with the efforts to integrate research
drug discovery with new therapies ‘This change in mindset expectation that the success rate information and knowledge across
being developed in the clinic has prompted a number of should be higher. industry, hospitals and academic
and demands a multi-directional pharmaceutical companies to institutions to deliver robust,
dialogue between the drug implement ‘proof of concept’ Role of biomarkers validated, translational research
discovery scientists and clinicians.’ teams comprising of both pre- tools to better characterise both
clinical scientists and clinical A critical component of drug and disease responses earlier
The drive for translational exploratory medicine experts translational research within drug and with greater confidence.’
research within the drug that together, can bridge the gap discovery programmes is the
discovery industry has come between pre-clinical and clinical implementation of biomarkers. OracleBio offers both practical
about due to the vast amounts studies,’ he concluded. ‘A biomarker is something that can and consultancy translational
of investment in research and be measured and evaluated as biomarker services to
development that have resulted In action an indicator of normal biological pharmaceutical companies, SME
in a significantly lower return on processes, pathogenic processes, drug development companies
investment than anticipated. An example of translational or pharmacological responses and other organisations within
research in action includes to a therapeutic intervention,’ the life science sector. For further
‘In the search for the answer clinical studies investigating said John’s co-director Lorcan. information contact John or
to this problem, drug discovery the actions of drugs on the ‘Biomarkers can reduce the Lorcan at info@oraclebio.com or
institutions have highlighted central nervous system. In the attrition rate of late stage clinical see www.oraclebio.com.
translational research as the key specific case where a new anti-
to future success,’ he continued. depressant concept drug fails to
‘Previously, it was not uncommon provide anti-depressant action,
for pre-clinical scientists to work the clinical scientists may be left
on a drug discovery programme wondering if the mechanism of
and hand over the project to a action is appropriate for treating
completely different set of clinical depression or, alternatively, if the
scientists with little or no continuity. compound failed to reach the
This scenario often meant specific target areas of the brain
however that information gathered in sufficient quantities to have
in the pre-clinical stage was not the desired effect.
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Since its inception, Nexxus has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Scottish
Enterprise Network, Glasgow City Council and the University of Glasgow. Additional funding is now also provided
by East Dunbartonshire Council; the Edinburgh Science Triangle (comprising the University of Edinburgh,
Heriot-Watt University, Moredun Research Institute, Roslin Foundation, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise,
Edinburgh Technopole, Heriot-Watt Research Park, Pentlands Science Park, Roslin BioCentre and the councils
of The City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Lothian); Glasgow Caledonian University; the
Glasgow:Edinburgh Collaboration; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; North Lanarkshire Council; Renfrewshire
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Council; SEEKIT; the University of Strathclyde and the University of the West of Scotland.