Cambridge & FIPP collaborate to tackle gum disease

RNS REACH

AIM: FIPP

17 June 2020

Frontier IP Group Plc

("Frontier IP" or the "Group")

University of Cambridge and Frontier IP collaboration to tackle gum disease wins grant funding from the National Biofilm Innovation Centre

Frontier IP, a specialist in commercialising intellectual property, today announces that a collaborative project between the Group and the University of Cambridge (the "University") to tackle gum disease has been awarded a £52,891 grant by the National Biofilms Innovation Centre ("NBIC").

The collaboration builds on the work of Dr Ioanna Mela, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University, into DNA nanostructures and their potential as drug delivery vehicles that can penetrate and disrupt biofilms.  Biofilms are films of microorganisms that grow on surfaces, such as animal and plant tissue, minerals and metals. They include dental plaque, pond scum and many others.

The NBIC Proof of Concept grant is supporting an eight-month project to explore the potential of origami-like DNA nanostructures to disrupt the dental plaque biofilms formed by P.gingivalis, the bacterium responsible for gum disease. The project will also seek to identify at least one DNA nanostructure to take forward into commercial development in partnership with industry. It is one of 14 projects awarded funding by the NBIC.

Frontier IP identified the potential of Dr Mela's work for use against P.gingivalis and will work on the commercialisation of the technology as part of the project.  

The NBIC is an Innovation Knowledge Centre funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Innovate UK and the Hartree Centre, and is led by four universities - Edinburgh, Liverpool, Southampton and Nottingham - with a consortium of 52 academic partner institutions.

Dr Ioanna Mela, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, said: "I am grateful for the funding and very excited to explore the potential of DNA nanostructures against biofilms. It is a question I was keen to answer since I started working with DNA nanostructures that target bacteria and this short project will let me take the first steps towards this goal."

Frontier IP Chief Executive Officer, Neil Crabb, said: "We strongly believe in the benefits of identifying innovative technology at a very early stage to better understand and shape its commercial potential through engagement with the industry partners. The funding from the NBIC for this project is a clear validation of Dr Mela's work on DNA nanostructures and its potential to combat the scourge of gum disease."

ENQUIRIES

ABOUt THE NATIONAL BIOFILMS INNOVATION CENTRE

The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) is an Innovation Knowledge Centre (IKC) funded by the BBSRC, Innovate UK and the Hartree Centre and is led by four Universities (Edinburgh, Liverpool, Southampton and Nottingham), with a consortium of 52 academic partner institutions across the UK. It is the central hub where academia, industry, government, and public policy come together to tackle the grand challenges biofilms present, impacting ~$5 trillion in global economic activity, from food and health to ships, clean water and energy. NBIC's mission is to establish a network of research and innovation capacity to catalyse partnerships with industry to achieve breakthrough innovations and impact.

ABout frontier IP

Frontier IP unites science and commerce by identifying strong intellectual property and accelerating its development through a range of commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's work is involving relevant industry partners at an early stage of development to ensure technology meets real world demands and needs.

The Group looks to build and grow a portfolio of equity stakes and licence income by taking an active involvement in spin-out companies, including support for fund raising and collaboration with relevant industry partners at an early stage of development.

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