Five proposals have been chosen for their strengths as well-structured and thoroughly thought through R&D projects. Their future commercial prospects and their potential benefit to the Highlands and Islands were also defining characteristics.
The five winners are:
The Agronomy Research Institute, Orkney
The Agronomy Research Institute conducts research into the development of Northern temperate plant species as a source of intermediate products for the healthcare, cosmetic, chemical and food industries. Their activities include:
- Agronomy and crop development
- Harvesting technology research
- Extraction technology research
- Market research
The R&D Project Manager at the Institute is Dr. John French and their project is entitled "Identification of Varietal Traits and Market Potential of Bere Barley".
Abstract: Bere is a 6-row barley variety traditional to Orkney that has not been subject to any improvements for generations. It is said to be the oldest cereal variety in the world. It has a number of distinctive characteristics, such as low gluten content, distinctive flavour and high levels of crude fibre. These and other features could be exploited to serve the needs of today's consumer. To achieve this, the project aims to address certain issues notably, the lack of data on its quality traits, confirmation of the extent of its bread-making qualities and determination of its perceived benefits in terms of health maintenance and provider of niche market bakery products. At the same time marketing partners will be identified.
Biolitec Pharma Ltd, Lewis
Biolitec Pharma are focused on the development of new PDT drugs. They presently manufacture Temoporfin the active drug substance used to make Foscan, a commercial, photodynamic, anti-cancer drug which is licensed for head and neck cancer in Europe.
The R&D Project Manager at Biolitec is Dr. Ian Law and their project is entitled "Pharmaceutical Compounds from Microalgae".
Abstract: A compound which is a precursor for a range of novel pharmaceutical compounds, and which may also have medicinal value in its own right, will be derived from a commercially produced microalgae.
The methods developed to derive this precursor will be safe, reproducible and conform to pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice.
Drug targets will be produced from the precursor for use in the fields of photodynamic therapy and bactericidal treatments. In addition to extraction, derivatisation, purification and chemical synthesis, extensive development of analytical methods will be undertaken to support the drug development programme.
Integrin Advanced Biosystems, Argyll
Integrin is a life science company, established in 1999 and focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of pharmaceutical products and processes derived from marine organisms. Another specialism is food safety, in particular using bacteria to test for toxins in seafood. These areas are supported by cell biology and biological chemistry research laboratories, based at the Marine Resource Centre near Oban.
The R&D Project Manager at Integrin is Dr. Douglas McKenzie and their project is entitled “Bioprospecting in the Marine Environment: Chemical Diversity of Scottish Marine Invertebrates”.
Abstract: Many modern medicines are derived from natural products – chemicals made by plants and animals. Examples include aspirin and taxol (a powerful anti-cancer agent). Most natural product based medicines to date have been produced from land-living organisms, particularly plants and soil bacteria. The success of 'bioprospecting' in the terrestrial environment is now being applied to the sea, with an increasing interest in discovering medicines and chemicals derived from marine invertebrates such as sponges and sea squirts. Given the still relatively unexplored nature of the world's oceans, the potential for discovery of novel medicines is high. Integrin is using Scottish marine animals as the basis of a library of extracts, which will then be screened against a number of therapeutic targets. Libraries of extracts and compounds will be made commercially available to pharmaceutical companies, as well as used for internal research programmes.
Map Maker Ltd, Argyll
Map Maker develops and supplies a number of products for creating and using maps on a computer. Some of the best known organisations in the world are clients, including the BBC, NASA and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The R&D Project Manager at Map Maker is Dr. Eric Dudley and their project is entitled "Early Design Tools".
Abstract: An early-design tool to facilitate spatial manipulation by the non-expert as a complementary tool to Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)
SAMS is a charity, operating as a company limited by guarantee (having been incorporated in 1914) and answerable to its 500+ members. Its object is to promote marine science in Scotland and it is also widely recognised as a centre of excellence for research into marine science. SAMS also has a wholly owned trading subsidiary that undertakes commercial scientific and consultancy services and additionally, provides an emergency hyperbaric service to health authorities using the SAMS recompression facility.
The R&D Project Manager at SAMS is Dr. David Green and their project is entitled “Development of an Exploitable Library of Novel Biosurfactants from Marine Bacteria”.
Abstract: Chemically produced surfactants, which often resemble soaps, are heavily used in sectors as diverse as environmental remediation and food, to alter surface properties. However high toxicity, lack of biodegradable properties, and increasing environmental regulation is turning attention towards biologically produced surfactants, termed biosurfactants, which are derived from certain bacteria existing in the natural environment. The Scottish Association for Marine Science has identified a unique source of biosurfactants from naturally occurring marine bacteria. Further work is required to fully characterise the biosurfactants using both micro and molecular biological techniques and to define the optimal production conditions, prior to appropriate commercial exploitation. |