Round 8 of Biomedical Catalyst awards announced

Twelve new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies will receive funding from the eighth round of the Biomedical Catalyst (BMC)

BMC is a joint programme run by the Medical Research Centre (MRC) which contributed £13m of the total £18m in this round, and Innovate UK.

Any UK small or medium-sized business or academic institution undertaking research and development has been able to apply to the BMC on a rolling basis, with applications assessed by independent experts.

This latest round brings the total number of BMC awards to 318 since 2011, when it was set up, with a total investment of more than £370 million split between the MRC, Innovate UK and leveraged funding from industry.

Minister for life sciences, George Freeman, said: “The UK’s healthcare industry has a worldwide reputation for excellence.  By providing early support to these latest treatment and diagnosis developments, we are not only going to potentially help improve or save lives, we are helping businesses grow and boost the UK’s productivity.”

Chief executive of Innovate UK, Dr Ruth McKernan said: “Delivering efficient and effective healthcare has never been more important, and innovation is central to making that happen.”

MRC projects funded in this round:

Development of an infection-detecting wound dressing

£900,898

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed an early prototype wound dressing which gives a quick and clear visual indication following the presence of key infection-causing bacteria.

Targeted therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

£2,908,102

Researchers at Kings College London and the NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centreopens are trialling a personalised treatment using T cell therapy.

Valium without the sedation:  reducing the sedation effect of valium for the treatment of anxiety disorders

£1,777,756

Researchers at the University of Sussex are looking at ways to ‘retool’ valium to remove the sedation and allow it to once again be considered a frontline treatment for anxiety disorders.

Pre-clinical development of an influenza vaccine to induce broad protection through multiple immune mechanisms

£677,290

Researchers at the University of Oxford are working alongside Mount Sinai in New York and are focused on attacking the core of the Flu virus that doesn’t change. The new vaccine is designed to boost T cell production and induce protective antibody responses, to create what would be the ultimate universal flu vaccine.

Spotting bowel cancer sooner with a fluorescent dye      

£634,024

Researchers at the University of Oxford will trial a new approach in 50 patients which will coat their bowels in a dye that will only stick to healthy tissue leaving a ‘black spot’ where cancerous cells are.

A Phase I/IIa clinical trial of a humanised monoclonal antibody to treat age-related macular degeneration

£5,501,648

Researchers at University College London will conduct a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of a humanised monoclonal antibody, firstly in patients who are no longer responsive to standard treatment and later in newly diagnosed patients, and if the trials are successful the treatment could be a major step towards improving the eyesight of patients with wet AMD.

A potential cure for Graves' hyperthyroidism in young patients

£780,643      

Doctors at Newcastle University are leading a trial to see if one dose of rituximab, a drug used to treat arthritis and leukaemia, could be given in conjunction with the standard treatment to see if it improves the chances of a cure for Graves’ disease.