Research and Innovation Services : University of Dundee, Scotland, UK

Studies at the University of Dundee using patient samples have identified Siglec-9 as a novel target for the treatment of AML. A monoclonal antibody(mAb) is under development as a novel therapeutic for this condition  and other proliferative  diseases of the haematopoietic system. system. This provides an exciting new opportunity for the treatment of AML.

Based in the School of Computing, the group led by
Dr Jesse Hoey, Professor Stephen McKenna and Professor Manuel Trucco has built up an international reputation in its field. Computer vision is relevant to a wide variety of technology sectors including animation, construction, surveillance, robotics and medical diagnostics.

A range of expertise is available in concrete science, environment and construction technology; durability, repair and maintenance strategies; recycling/reuse of materials and sustainability issues; novel construction applications; and risk assessments and whole life cost analysis.

The University of Dundee’s School of Engineering offers a strong interdisciplinary approach, excellent research links and an international reputation. This has resulted in substantial research income from both research councils and industry.

A method to enable the rapid identification of optimal or desirable conditions for maintaining a selected protein in solution for further investigation has been developed by the University of Dundee. This overcomes current problems in maintaining sufficient quantities of protein in solution for subsequent evaluation.

The University of Dundee has developed accurate predictive tools to model eye response to internal effects such as diseases, intraocular pressure and external effects such as sports impacts, laser surgery and contact lenses. This improved understanding of eye behaviour will be of interest to companies in the areas of contact lens development and manufacture and tonometry instrumentation.

A program for generating molecular topologies and unique molecular descriptors from coordinates of small molecules. Rapid Licence - non-exclusive software licence - cost: £500 + VAT.

Researchers at the University of Dundee have shown that the human cytochrome P450, CYP2S1, is expressed in human skin with marked individuality in expression and induction following UVR or topical drug treatment. These data suggest a functional role for CYP2S1 in the metabolism of topical drugs, leading to improved therapeutics for psoriasis patients. A commercial partner is now sought for the development of this technology through either research collaboration or licensing.

The Centre offers expertise in facial analysis and with comparison of other body parts including hands and superficial vein patterns. Collaborations currently exist with investigative agencies and biometric companies.

The IPD group can assist businesses through the delivery of creative workshops, the creation of influential prototypes and the exploration of design strategy and management. The group have a successful track record in collaborating with industry to improve processes and products.

Cytokines play important roles in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and there is a strong interest in controlling them by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Researchers in Dundee have discovered that certain protein kinases are important in the modulation of the cytokine TNF_. Methods have been developed for screening anti-inflammatory agents for use in drug development.

Researchers at the University of Dundee have identified three new mammalian protein families which show significance in a variety of cellular pathways. These provide drug targets for the treatment of cancer, strokes and diabetes.

University of Dundee researchers have identified and characterised a novel gene inducible by p53. Scotin is a potential target for new cancer therapies and could also form the basis of new therapeutic compounds. A commercial partner is now sought for development of this technology through either research collaboration or licensing.

Chronic wounds are a major clinical problem caused by failure in one of the cascade of events underlying the normal wound repair process. MSF is an ideal candidate for a topical therapeutic to 'kick-start' normal healing as it induces all the cellular events required for wound repair. The high expression of MSF in fetal skin and adult gingival tissue is thought to be the reason why these tissues heal so well without any scarring.

Researchers from the University of Dundee have developed a novel synbiotic formulation that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. A pilot trial has demonstrated the potential of the synbiotic for treatment of ulcerative colitis. This treatment provides effective therapy by promoting the body's own defence system and reducing inflammation in the bowel of patients.

A potential target for antimicrobial compounds has been developed by researchers at the University of Dundee. The highly purified target protein shows strong affinity for bacterial rRNA and is the only DEAD box protein for which a specific substrate has been identified.

A team of research scientists at the Wellcome Trust Biocentre at the University of Dundee have developed specific inhibitors and activators of protein kinases in the insulin signalling pathway with the aim of identifying novel drug targets for a variety of diseases including diabetes, cancer and ischaemic injury.

OMERO and Bio-Formats open source software projects are the leading data management and data translation tools for microscopy in the Life Sciences with over 300 users worldwide. The group’s commercial partner, Glencoe Software Inc works with business customers to provide data management software and solutions.

IMSaT is aimed at developing emerging medical technologies from the lab to commercialisation. The Institute brings together medical, applied physics, biology and bioengineering scientists together to work in purpose built laboratories. Its activities are driven by the needs of the clinical end users and the medical device industry.

In a collaborative project between the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews a series of compounds activating the p53 tumour suppressor have been identified. Data is available showing one of these compounds preferably kills tumour cells expressing normal p53 and reduces tumour growth in a xenograft model.

Researchers at the University of Dundee have identified a number of lead compounds that inhibit family 18 chitinases. Specific potent inhibitors would be of considerable interest for the development of novel therapeutics with fungicidal, insecticidal or anti-inflammatory potential. Natural inhibitors are already known but none are suitable as drug leads.

Researchers at the University of Dundee have identified that the process termed messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing can be targeted for the discovery of novel anti-fungal drugs. mRNA splicing is essential for the correct expression of genes in both human and pathogenic fungi. The team have identified chemical compounds that can bind to splicing proteins from the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. Importantly, these compounds do not inhibit the splicing process in an in vitro model of human splicing. The University is interested in seeking a collaborative partnership to progress this approach to antifungal drug discovery.

Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF) is a stress-response molecule that plays a hitherto unrecognised role in acute wound healing as a consequence of its potent stimulation of cell migration, matrix remodelling and angiogenesis. MSF bioactivities are mediated by two of its constituent IGD amino acid motifs and mimicked by small synthetic peptides containing this sequence, as well as a recently synthesised non-peptide IGD mimetic. Significantly, the bioactivities of MSF and its mimetics are critically modulated by the extracellular matrix, thereby affording the opportunity to fabricate bioengineered graft matrices containing MSF bioactives that are optimised to enhance wound healing in specific clinical indications, such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores.

IMAR expertise focuses on important aspects of our daily activities: posture, movement and ergonomics with an emphasis on sports and disability. Facilities consist of five motion laboratories, including a sports biomechanics laboratory, used for both clinical and research work.

We use eye movement recordings, brain activation studies and behavioural tests: these have relevance to the development of new products and services.

Vegetation can stabilise slopes adjacent to railways and roads and prevent failures and erosion of natural slopes and agricultural systems. The interactions between roots, water and soil strength are of particular interest with respect to the likely effects of climate change.

The TMRC Core Laboratory serves the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration which encompasses Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Scottish Enterprise, the Universities of Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow and 4 NHS Trusts.

The unit represents an integrated professional, industry standard, drug discovery facility to translate basic biomedical research into potential new therapies through the discovery and patenting of novel pre-clinical leads and candidate small molecules.

Researchers at the University of Dundee have developed a novel in vivo experimental system which induces the expression of human psoriatic genes without the need for human skin grafts. The mouse model demonstrates many clinical and histological effects of human Psoriasis within a period of 21 days. This reliable model provides a rapidly developed, complimentary tool for studying the development and therapeutic treatment of Psoriasis.

Researchers at the University of Dundee are developing a technology for a novel speech generating device for individuals with complex communication needs (CCN). Words will be generated by selecting phonemes without the need of a visual interface. The Phonic Stick is intended to assist those with a disability or medical condition that affects the ability to speak, such as cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease or dysarthria following a stroke. Once fully developed, the device will allow users blend phonics into any words by use of positioning a joystick and to "speak" these words using a speech synthesizer.