Descrizione del progetto
Una nuova tecnologia di microscopia potrebbe accelerare lo sviluppo di farmaci
Il progetto SMIMS, finanziato dall’UE, mira a dimostrare l’ampio potenziale della microscopia a diffusione interferometrica per la spettrometria di massa di singole biomolecole in soluzione. I ricercatori intendono produrre un prototipo quasi pronto per il mercato e implementare le modifiche software necessarie per dimostrare che la tecnologia è sufficientemente affidabile da giustificare un finanziamento di capitale di rischio per un’azienda spin-out. Questo strumento portatile consentirà di effettuare test in loco su un’ampia gamma di potenziali analiti e ambienti. Una nuova tecnologia di microscopia, ampiamente accessibile, potrebbe offrire nuove opportunità per lo screening di potenziali farmaci e consentirci di approfondire la nostra comprensione delle interazioni farmacologiche a livello molecolare.
Obiettivo
We aim to demonstrate the disruptive commercial and societal potential of interferometric scattering microscopy for mass spectrometry of single biomolecules in solution. The PoC grant will be used to produce a near-market ready prototype and implement the required software modifications expected of a commercial device, to demonstrate that the technology is sufficiently robust to warrant venture capital funding for our spin-out company. Our early discussions with both pharma and instrument manufactueres have highlighted a need for more in-depth application of our technique. The novelty of our approach requires both demonstration and testing on a broad range of potential analytes and environments, which is why we require a portable instrument, that not only enables on-site testing, but also on-site demonstration in a non-university research environment. Similarly, there is a clear and pressing need to produce more intuitive and clearly commercially viable software to unlock the full potential of our technology. Data from these experiments will help define our final product(s) and to translate this research into a viable package for raising venture capital. The development of a novel, broadly accessible technology enables new avenues for screening potential drug candidates that could be used to further our understanding of drug interactions at the molecular level. The economic benefits will, therefore, be realised primarily through the pharmaceutical, healthcare and allied industries as well as the bioanalytical industry, through increased sales of instruments. All will have a considerable impact on the European economy. In addition to drug-discovery-related advances, our technology has the potential to transform cholesterol classification and change current approaches to cancer screening, through its intrinsic single molecule sensitivity.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discovery
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomolecules
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy
- natural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometry
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantIstituzione ospitante
OX1 2JD Oxford
Regno Unito