Nexxus Scotland

Collaboration, the Key to Success

As if the importance of collaborations within the life science industry needed to be stressed, all of the winners of this, the third year of the Annual Nexxus Life Science Awards, were keen to point out that their success was due not just to their own abilities but partly as a result of successful collaborations with others.   Whether in developing their research or bringing to fruition a novel device, the involvement of other organisations - whether local or further afield in Europe - had added valuable insights, ideas and practical assistance.   This ability to reach out and work with others is one of the things which distinguishes the industry in the West of Scotland and ensures that it is a major player in Scotland's burgeoning life science industry.   Keynote speaker Professor Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government, also stressed the importance of collaborations to the life science industry here in her presentation.

Nexxus, the West of Scotland BioScience Network, awarded prizes in four categories after submissions were invited from those involved in academia, industry and the NHS throughout the West of Scotland.

The winners, who were presented with their awards at a ceremony in the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow on 7 November 2007 were:

• Nexxus Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Roshan Maini, President Vascutek Terumo
• Nexxus Award for Innovation: Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices for its Wound Monitor
• Nexxus Most Promising Young Life Science Company of the Year: PWB Health Ltd
• Nexxus Young Life Scientist of the Year: Dr Matthew Dalby, University of Glasgow

The occasion also saw the presentation of prizes to the three adults and three Primary 7 City of Glasgow schoolchildren who were winners of the Nexxus Life-Sci Visions Competition to produce a visual image of what life science meant to them.   The winning images were published in a 2008 calendar produced by Nexxus in December 2007.   They can be seen at http://www.nexxusscotland.com/news/life-sci_visions_competition/life-sci_visions_entries.

From left to right: Dr Matthew Dalby, Dr Roshan Maini, Professor Chris Packard, Professor Trish Connolly, Dr Kate Rowley and Mr Russell Overend.

DR ROSHAN MAINI

Kenyan born Dr Roshan Maini was educated at the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde where he gained qualifications in chemical engineering and bioengineering.  He was a member of the New Ventures team at Coats Patons which resulted in the creation of the vascular graft company, Vascutek.  His contribution was initially in the development of a novel bioresorbable sealant using his expertise in biomaterials.  This work was carried out in collaboration with the Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde and Mr John Pollock, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

His knowledge of biomaterials technology and identification of increasing demand by vascular surgeons for high quality medical products, has continued over the years to lead to innovative improvement of surgical products and, importantly, their timely delivery to the patient.   Working his way up from Research Director to his current post as President of Inchinnan based Vascutek Terumo, his strategic ability, drive and determination have resulted in the organisation receiving five Queen's Awards for export and technological achievement.     Earlier this year the organization was a recipient of the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Award in respect of its invention of a pioneering new technique used in blood vessel operations and its vascular shunt, a medical device which can help save limbs of those in trauma settings or emergency situations such as soldiers in combat, received FDA approval for US marketing in record time.

In accepting the Nexxus Lifetime Achievement Award for Life Science Dr Maini said: "I am honoured to receive this award.  I should point out that I have been privileged to lead a team of very talented individuals who have ensured the success of Vascutek Terumo."

Vascutek Terumo has an indigenous workforce of 360 highly skilled employees in Renfrewshire and brings over £35M turnover per annum into the Scottish economy.  

STRATHCLYDE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL DEVICES - WOUND MONITOR

In the UK today there are approximately 3 million patients with chronic wounds - leg ulcers, diabetic ulcers, pressure sores etc - and the cost of wound care is estimated at approximately £1bn per annum.   A novel system developed by Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices not only allows the moisture level of a wound to be measured using a non-invasive wound dressing monitor but does this without disrupting the healing process or causing unnecessary discomfort to the patient.    The device consists of a simple, disposable sensor that can be used with a range of currently available dressings and a small hand-held meter.   Carers, nurses or the patients themselves can use this as required to monitor the wound's condition and obtain guidance as to when the dressing should be changed.

Professor Trish Connolly, Director of the Institute, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the recipients of this Award. The ideas embedded in the wound monitor were developed to address a real clinical need. Creating a device that could be used for patients from the basic laboratory work was a substantial challenge for the staff in the Institute and the researchers of the Bioengineering Unit at the University of Strathclyde with whom they collaborated.  We are indebted to NHS colleagues at Clydebank Health Centre and their patients who made the clinical trial possible. Recognition by our peer group in receiving the Nexxus award is very gratifying and gives us the boost that we need as we tackle the next stage of this work which will move the wound monitor into its commercial phase."

PWB HEALTH LTD

Vale of Leven based PWB Health Ltd was founded in 2007 with the intention of developing and marketing a range of innovative personal wellbeing products designed for home use.   Their first product, the BreastLight is on track to be brought to the market next summer.   The device is the result of collaborations on intellectual property and patent with partners Highland Innovation Centre Ltd (HCIL) and on design and optical matters with Wideblue of Dumbarton.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer amongst women in the UK, with almost 44,000 women diagnosed with the disease annually.   Over 12,000 of those - around 34 women a day - die from the disease and 1 in 9 will develop breast cancer at some point during their lifetime.   The BreastLight will be a welcome aid to breast awareness providing reassurance where there is no abnormality and encouragement to seek advice where any change has been noted.

Director Mr Russell Overend said: "PWB Health are delighted to win this award which a credit to everyone's hard work in developing the BreastLight.    Response from all the studies so far has been very favourable with women instinctively finding the device easy to use as part of their regular breast awareness routine.    Indeed 60% of women who admitted to never checking their breasts felt that they would be encouraged to do so with a BreastLight."

DR MATTHEW DALBY

Dr Matthew Dalby, BBSRC David Phillips Fellow, University of Glasgow is a classic example of today's independent, enthusiastic, highly motivated and innovative young scientists who are pushing back the boundaries of research.  

Based at the University since 2003 and working at the boundaries of cell biology, cell engineering and functional genomics, he has quickly become one of the rising stars in Cell Engineering UK wide.   His research has contributed to an improved understanding of cell biology and the opportunities this offers to translate fundamental biological discoveries into practical applications.    As a result, clinical approaches to degenerative diseases and, in particular, hip replacements and bone grafting have the potential to be transformed.   The subsequent impact on health and the costs of healthcare delivery are potentially immense.   Collaborations with organizations such as the University of Strathclyde locally and further afield with Chalmers University in Sweden have been a key feature of Dr Dalby's multi-disciplinary approach to the challenges of cell engineering.

He said: "I'm delighted to receive this award but couldn't have achieved it without the advice and support of my peers, my division and department at the University of Glasgow and funding from my BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship which all helped me to raise my research profile and be a contender for the award.

"In trying to establish a research group there is immense competition for grants.   Winning the Nexxus Young Life Scientist of the Year award will not only enhance my CV but I hope will also help me secure funding to continue my work by the demonstration of confidence in my abilities it will accord, on a local, UK and  international basis."