Tepnel awarded BBSRC grant in molecular diagnostics development
Technology that promotes the rapid detection and identification of pathogenic micro-organisms known to cause fatal infections in humans is to benefit from funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The technology, developed by international molecular diagnostics and research products & services group – Tepnel Life Sciences, identifies living pathogenic micro-organisms and simultaneously generates a profile of their antibiotic resistance. This offers much simpler and more rapid targeted antimicrobial treatment than current microbiological methods.
A further benefit is that the technology does not give false positive reactions in the presence of non-viable organisms, such as those killed by pasteurisation, which is a vital differentiation in the food processing industry.
The technology was developed at The University of Manchester and was brought to the attention of Tepnel by its IP commercialisation company, The University of Manchester Intellectual Property (UMIP). The technology has broad market potential including the identification and treatment of bacterial, parasite and fungal infection in both humans and animals. Organisms that could be profiled and treated include MRSA, C. difficile, pathogenic E.coli and Salmonella.
The University of Manchester has been awarded a £50,000 grant by the BBSRC to work with Tepnel in commercialising this technology. The grant was awarded under the Industry Interchange Programme, which supports exchanges that provide strategic advantages to the UK science base and industry. This grant will fund research conducted by a scientist from Tepnel, working alongside the team who discovered the technology in the laboratory of Professor David Clarke of the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Science, University of Manchester.
Ben Matzilevich, ceo of Tepnel, said: “Tepnel is committed to expanding its product pipeline and entering into new markets. This research project enables us to explore this innovative technology and to assess its potential for animal and human applications.”
Tepnel has secured worldwide exclusive rights to cornerstone patents supporting this technology through an agreement with UMIP.