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Medtronic Acquires Rights to Revolutionary Wound Healing Treatment

Frameshift Assay Inventor Professor Warren Tate awarded the 2010 Rutherford Medal

Otago Innovation congratulates Professor Warren Tate on his award of the 2010 Rutherford Medal. His great achievements have also lead to the invention of the "Frameshift Assay", a drug discovery screening tool he developed together with co-inventor Dr Tony Cardno. Validation and implementation into an HIV drug discovery program currently progresses in collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. The translation of Professor Tate's science into a potential new therapy against HIV is an exciting ongoing project for Otago Innovation.

To read the full University of Otago press release regarding Professor Tate's Rutherford Medal, click the link below: http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago015069.html

For further information regarding the commercial application of the Frameshift Assay, please contact Dr Alex Tickle alexandra.tickle@otagoinnovation.com

2011 Proof of Concept Grant

The University of Otago's commercialisation arm, Otago Innovation Limited, recently announced its 5th annual Proof of Concept grant round. The grant, valued at $50,000, will be awarded to one University of Otago researcher or research group after the conclusion of the round in February 2011. The idea behind the grant is to encourage researchers to think about the possible commercial applications of their research, including what an end product or service might look like and who would buy it - a similar requirement to that sought by a number of today's funding agencies. A panel of commercially oriented experts will consider the applications and make their recommendations in early February 2011.

Applications close 21 December 2010. Any Otago researcher who believes they have a relevant concept that needs proving is encouraged to apply.

Download the 2011 Proof of Concept Grant Application form (91 KB in MS Word format).
Download the 2011 Proof of Concept Grant Guidelines for Applicants form (82 KB in PDF format).

For more information contact:

David Christensen
Otago Innovation Ltd
Email david.christensen@otagoinnovation.com
Tel 479 8781

University of Otago Bulletin Otago Innovation Series - Developing a urine test for Prostate cancer

Anatomy and Structural Biology Senior Researcher Dr Jo-Ann Stanton is working closely with Otago Innovation’s Dr Alexandra (Alex) Tickle, searching for a partner to assess the viability of RNA biomarkers for use in a urine test for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The biomarkers were discovered when Dr Stanton and Dr Stephen Assinder (who has since moved to the University of Sydney) conducted an analysis of international prostate tissue libraries and came up with a list of potential prostate biomarkers (specific RNA which indicate the presence of prostate cancer). After a screening and testing process, they narrowed the list down to a set of biomarkers that could be picked up in urine tests.

“We did a very simple clinical trial with 10 patients and narrowed the list down to a particularly promising chromosome. That’s where Alex first came in, helping us file our patent on a RNA biomarker related to chromosome 8q23,” Dr Stanton says.

“We know we can pick it up in urine, we know RNA is expressed in prostate cells, but we need a partner to help us do a further, thorough clinical investigation to determine if the marker is of clinical or diagnostic value.

“Ideally the partner will already be interested in men’s health, with access to sizeable prostate tissue collections and experience in RNA assay development. They should also have a good number of patients so they will be able to develop the test alongside their usual client testing.”

Dr Tickle has already found potential collaborators in Canada, Germany and Auckland.

“Demand for a urine test is strong and competition to develop one is intense,” Dr Tickle says. “Blood tests are often non-specific and inaccurate. Eighty per cent of prostate biopsies don’t detect the cancer, they are invasive and can have side effects of impotence and incontinence. Some of the advantages of a prostate-specific biomarker urine test are early diagnosis, distinction from benign disease, it is non-invasive, and unnecessary biopsies are prevented.”

View the full University of Otago Bullet (Issue 21, 29 October 2010) here

2010 Proof of Concept Grant Winner - Associate Professor Richard Walter

For the first time the annual Otago Innovation Proof of Concept Grant of $50,000 has gone to a Humanities staff member, Anthropology, Gender and Sociology's Associate Professor Richard Walter.

Otago Innovation Commercialisation Manager David Christensen explains, "Each year for the last four years Otago Innovation has run the Proof of Concept Grant competition with all University of Otago researchers eligible to enter. The idea behind the grant is to encourage staff to think about commercial applications for their research. Previous winners have all been from the Health Sciences."

Dr Walter's entry was Excavation Manager - aptly referred to as 'ExMan' - a mobile, distributed, data gathering and analysis tool for archaeologists.

ExMan was conceived to minimise error rates in field databases Dr Water says. "In an archaeological excavation everything you pick up has to be accurately recorded to its three dimensional location, when it was collected, who by and what the object is. The amounts of data can be colossal, 20-30,000 records from a site. It's an unrepeatable exercise; you're dealing with unique New Zealand history, so you can't get it wrong.

"With ExMan we use simple hand held devices for data entry. Every artefact is recorded immediately and the entry is sent via wireless connection to a central server on the site. A unique barcode label is printed and stuck to the bagged item. The system keeps track of the item through all the stages of analysis, from field, through the laboratory to long term storage."

The device's error checking algorithms have sliced database error rates to below two percent.

Dr Walter says, "I developed ExMan to provide solutions for fieldwork projects my research group, Southern Pacific Archaeological Research, was engaged in, but I think the system appeals to Otago Innovation because it can easily be applied to other sectors, such as forensics or museum exhibition management."

Dr Walter was generously supported in his bid by the Humanities Division which put forward funds to encourage their staff to compete for the Proof of Concept Grant.

Associate Professor Richard Walter, Proof of Concept Grant winner.

Otago Innovation at NZBio 2010 Auckland

This year, our stand at the annual NZBio conference represented the entire commercialisation pipeline from the University of Otago; from University research to an Otago start-up company Pacific Edge. Otago Innovation manages the commercialisation process through which new technologies can leave the University of Otago and be developed to a stage where they can be applied to the benefit of society.

Pacific Edge's recently launched diagnostic test for urologists to diagnose bladder cancer "Cx bladder" gained a lot of attention. Together with staff from the University's Research and Enterprise Office, we informed conference participants (500 registrations this year) about commercial research activities and technologies at the University of Otago.

Otago booth at NZBio representing the pipeline from research at the University of Otago through commercialisation into a product such as Cx bladder from Pacific Edge.

University of Otago researchers Professor Andrew Mercer and Professor Frank Griffin (from Microbiology and Immunology), and Professor Martin Kennedy (from Pathology), presented some of their exciting research in the Investor & Technology Showcase session. These can be accessed on www.nzbio2010.co.nz/programme-speakers. You can also view our Investor & Technology Showcase presentation on our antifungal therapy development programme www.nzbio2010.co.nz/speaker/alex-tickle-dr-commercialisation-manager-otago-innovation.

The publication "SIGHT 2009: The Importance of New Zealand's Human Therapeutics Sector in Future Economic Growth" was launched at the conference. It aims to shed light on an area that is overdue for recognition in New Zealand: the human therapeutics industry. NZBio's Special Interest Group for Human Therapeutics (SIGHT) was formed to support stakeholders in this sector and a key decision of the group was to commission independent consultants to analyse the current state of the industry in New Zealand. This report shows that this sector has grown rapidly in recent years with a three-fold increase in investment and expenditure in new drug discovery and development companies in the last six years, already contributing $200 million a year to the New Zealand economy. You can read the NZBio SIGHT report here.

NZBio gave us the opportunity to meet with existing and new investors, partners, collaborators and contractors who help to develop the University of Otago's technologies into products that benefit human and animal health.

University of Otago Bulletin Otago Innovation Series 2/4: Team explores HIV weakness.

In the second of our Otago Innovation series the Bulletin learns how a trans-Tasman marriage of technologies could give rise to a new HIV drug exploiting a weakness in the HIV-1 virus, all fostered and supported by the University’s commercialisation team...

In the 1980s Biochemistry’s Professor Warren Tate discovered a genetic mechanism called a ‘frameshift’, within a bacterial gene. A few years later he learned that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV), used the same mechanism and saw the potential for exploiting a weak point in the HIV biology.

The ‘frameshift’ mechanism is a method that HIV uses to regulate the ratio of viral enzymes and structural proteins required for the virus to multiply. If that frameshift is interfered with, the virus does not assemble properly and its infectivity goes down dramatically .

But first, says Professor Tate, there needed to be confirmation that the frameshift was occurring in the manner suspected. “To validate the strategy we will need to identify a compound that interferes with the frameshift target.”

Otago Innovation’s Dr Alexandra Tickle points out, “It is when a compound is found that you have something valuable – a potential new drug to combat HIV-1 and hopefully a better one than those already in use.”

A former PhD student of Professor Tate’s, Dr Tony Cardno, had patented a cell-based high throughput screening test, or assay, to explore the frameshift mechanism as a drug target and the effects of likely compounds. But, to take the development further, they needed a research partner with the requisite equipment, skills, a bio-secure laboratory and access to human T-cell(s) infected by HIV.

Dr Tickle commenced a search for such a partner and her efforts brought Professor Tate and Dr Cardno together with the highly reputed Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), based in Melbourne. Founded in 1915 WEHI was Australia’s first medical research institute.

“WEHI were very interested,” Dr Tickle says. “ Its High-Throughput Chemical Screening Facility led by Dr John Parisot, is ideal for exploring the effectiveness of the assay and after being introduced to Warren and Tony, they felt they could complement each other.”

Dr Cardno says, “We’ll be marrying our technology with theirs. We aim to target the HIV frameshift by using our cell-based assay and slotting it into WEHI’s drug discovery systems.

Dr Tony Cardno is observed by Professor Warren Tate and Dr Alexandra Tickle conducting an experiment for his cell-based high throughput screening test which may lead to a new HIV drug.

View the full University of Otago Bulletin (Issue 3, 19 February 2010) here

University of Otago Bulletin Otago Innovation Series

The University teems with original ideas, some of which could help people world-wide if brought to the market as a developed product. This article introduces an Otago Bulletin series exploring the many projects of the Otago Innovation Ltd team - taking promising ideas and turning them into commercial reality.

University innovations brought to life

Otago Innovation Chief Executive Colin Dawson heads a team dedicated to leading the promising concepts of University of Otago researchers along the sometimes long road to market production.

"There is a fairly simple initial process," says Mr Dawson. "We love to meet researchers who have an idea that could lead to significant benefits for a sector of society. The researchers make a disclosure of their idea to the Enterprise Office in the Research and Enterprise Office. We arrange a 'show and tell' meeting to ask all the necessary questions to ascertain the concept's potential - it is enjoyable for all involved, not a tough Dragon's Den!

"We then investigate the concept's patentability and look to see if there is a market demand for it. Does it solve a major problem or need? We might initially do simple internet searches then gather industry reports and check within our market networks to see if there are similar projects in other places near completion. We learn as much as we can about the characteristics of the market we are seeking to gain entry to. One very important aspect is can the product be manufactured, distributed and sold at a cost that customers are willing to pay?

If the concept is found to be original and in demand, the Otago Innovation team does its best to support researchers in developing their concept - trialling, testing, creating prototypes and providing early funding. One or more of Otago Innovation's four Commercialisation Managers, Dr Alexandra Tickle, Hamish Findlay, Fleur Lankesheer or David Christensen work with the researcher(s) to come up with a business plan. Each has different areas of expertise and all assist with obtaining patents, finding investment and research partners, and generally smoothing the pathway of product development.

TB diagnosis a breath away

Plans to develop a portable device that could cut tuberculosis diagnosis time from weeks down to minutes may go ahead if a breath test for people with active TB fulfils its promise in field tests in Bandung, Indonesia this year.

Two million people die each year from tuberculosis, many in undeveloped countries where diagnosis by the standard 100-year old method of growing cultures can take weeks. Meanwhile those tested return home, possibly infecting those around them.

The research of Professor Steve Chambers of Pathology, University of Otago Christchurch and Dr Mona Syhre has confirmed that consistent gascous bio-markers are released into the breath from tuberculosis organisms. Now they are marrying that knowledge with gas detection technology in human trials in Bandung that will take six months to complete.

Director of the University of Otago's Centre for International Health Professor Philip Hill came into the project in 2008 to help find a site to assess the test's functionality.

"The Bandung site has X-ray facilities and culture facilities which many other TB regions in developing countries don't have," Professor Hill says. "We also have Research Fellow Merrin Rutherford based there working with TB cases and their household contacts."

Otago Innovation's Dr Alexandra Tickle has lined up investors for the product's future development. "They want evidence from the Bandung trial that the test is sensitive enough to detect active TB cases and will only detect TB, not any other illness," Dr Tickle says.

Professor Chambers says, "In Bandung we will compare the new test with standard diagnostic techniques such as staining and cultures of sputum. Merrin will do our recruitment and Mona will do our diagnosis from her base in Leipzig, Germany."

If the tests go as hoped, they will look to engage the interest of a prototype developer to work towards a miniaturised tool. "Our ideal is to have a highly portable instrument where you just say, 'Blow' and you get a 'yes' or a 'no' on the spot," Professor Chambers says.

Dr Mona Syhre (left) and Professor Steve Chambers are utilising gas-sensing technology in developing a speedy tuberculosis test.

Otago Innovation at Ausbiotech 2009, Melbourne

To represent Otago Innovation’s technologies that are available for partnering or require further guidance and support, I attended , along with over 1,900 other participants, the annual biotechnology conference Ausbiotech 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The conference included a business-partnering programme (a form of business speed-dating) allowing one to meet with a large number of potential investors, licensing partners, collaborators and service providers. The challenge is that you’ve got to get to your point quickly to remain within your allocated time of 30 minutes per meeting. These meetings are important to identify potential leads and to establish contacts so more in-depth discussions can continue after the conference. Such follow-up discussions often require the presence of the scientists from both the University of Otago as well as the potential partner entity.

Developing a product from a scientific invention is a complex process with many involved parties. The insights and support of personal contacts are very valuable, and a conference like Ausbiotech helps to maintain these. In addition to meetings, there are also other less formal opportunities to mix and network within the conference timetable.

Photo from left: Brad Duft (CEO) and Tracey Sunderland (COO) from CoDa Therapeutics are sharing drinks, laughs, and stories with Alex Tickle at the Ausbiotech 2009 Welcome Reception.

To give some examples, I met with investors such as Burrill & Company, Big Pharma including Merck and Pfizer, diagnostic companies like Johnson & Johnson Ortho Diagnostics and Tyrian Diagnostics, along with other parties such as our collaborators from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, with whom we are developing a new HIV drug. Many of them I’ve known for some time, but there are still coincidental meetings that can potentially lead to partnerships in the future. May be it’s the “technology scout” from a large pharma company I literally ran into. It turned out we grew up within 20 km of each other.

Big grant for Otago HIV drug research

http://www.odt.co.nz/on-campus/university-otago/74999/big-grant-otago-hiv-drug-research

2009 Proof of Concept Grant Winner - Professor Steve Brennan

Posted on Friday, 09 October 2009 16:00:03

Christchurch campus-based pathology researcher Professor Steve Brennan has won the third annual Otago Innovation Proof of Concept Grant, with his anti-coagulant drug candidate. The grant gives Professor Brennan $50,000 to further his work on the naturally occurring anti-coagulant protein, which has the potential to become a valuable addition to existing anti-thrombotic therapies. The Proof of Concept Grant aims to encourage researchers to think about the possible commercial applications of their work.

David Christensen, Commercialisation Manager, (left) and Colin Dawson, CEO, (right) present Professor Steve Brennan with the 2009 Otago Innovation Proof of Concept Grant winner's cheque.

NZBio Conference 2008

Posted on Tuesday, 29 January 2008 13:33:03

The Staff of Otago Innovation are again looking forward to attending the annual NZBio Conference in March. Otago Innovation has found this conference to be of real relevance to its business.

The 2008 conference theme Enterprising Technologies - Global Benefits highlights the broadening impact of biotechnology across many industries and its growing importance to our future. The conference will provide a perfect forum to explore new business opportunities across the spectrum of biotech.

The programme presents a broad view of developments across biotechnology, life sciences and high tech. It includes plenary sessions, industry updates, discussion panels, partnering forums and meetings, specialty workshops, an exhibition, poster competition and significant networking opportunities.

Pharmatelevision: Meet the Experts Special: Biotech in Australia and New Zealand

Posted on Monday, 03 December 2007 13:17:53

In this ‘Meet the Experts' special, Fintan Walton is joined on the panel by Colin Dawson, CEO of Otago Innovation and David Williams, CEO of Chemeq. Together, they discuss a variety of important issues that face the biotechnology industry in Australia and New Zealand. They talk about the current climate for early-stage financing of start-up companies and the problems that many companies have when they enter the public markets via the ASX. They also talk about the bidirectional opportunities for partnering Australian or New Zealand companies with their European, US and South-East Asian counterparts.

http://www.pharmatelevision.com/article/interview14

'Supernose' co-inventor wins science award

Posted on Friday, 17 November 2006 12:43:19

'Supernose' co-inventor wins science award (109 kbs)

Copper wire to the future

Posted on Friday, 17 November 2006 12:40:19

Copper wire to the future (98 kbs)

30th October 2006- ODT - Figures show NZ universities leaders in creating wealth

Posted on Tuesday, 31 October 2006 17:03:06

AUCKLAND 29 October 2006: The market value of companies started by New Zealand universities grew more than four times between 2003 and 2005, according to figures compiled by Ernst & Young – to a total of more than $430 million.

The findings, when applied to overseas benchmarks by the University Commercialisation Offices of New Zealand (UCONZ), showed that New Zealand universities are matching or significantly outperforming overseas benchmarks:

Per dollar invested, New Zealand universities produced more than twice the number of new companies than the United States average, and over 50% more than Canada.
New Zealand universities produced patent applications on a par with US performance and 30% more efficiently than Canada, with New Zealand's leading number of invention disclosures signaling strong future growth.

"These figures show exponential growth in some areas and confirm New Zealand is getting very good value for money from investment in university research," said Dr John Chang, CEO of Canterprise Limited, which is a member of UCONZ.

Research, Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey welcomed the results, saying: "Developments in universities to set up organisations that commercialise intellectual property are part and parcel of a modern university setting. The government applauds this rapid success."

Dr Chang said the gains confirmed by the results may only be the beginning. "Most new companies and many licensing ventures are still at an early stage, so in many ways the best is yet to come," he said.

"This is especially so as our spinout companies are substantial and high-quality. They are built on solid, core science and have potential for global impact."

Because university research has a very high multiplier effect the actual gains to the economy go well beyond the direct figures quoted.

A recent NZIER report on the economic impact of the University of Auckland showed that for every dollar generated by university research another seven dollars of new value was created in the regional economy.

UCONZ launched in late 2005 to bring the commercialisation offices of all the country's universities together and establish closer links with government and commercial research partners.

"By coming together in UCONZ, we are taking another key step forward in increasing the benefits of successful commercialisation for the whole of New Zealand," Dr Chang said.

Currently different UCONZ members are involved in a range of activities including: licensing technology used by Samsung and Intel in making microchips; a revolutionary in-home power saving device at the centre of a $300 million deal in Europe; bringing a potential new treatment for Parkinson's to clinical trial; marketing patented products in agricultural technology, and taking new battery technology and a treatment for asthma through to market.

The range of economic benefits for New Zealand arising from the universities' commercialisation activity as detailed by Ernst & Young include:

Between 2003 and 2005 the market capitalisation of companies founded using intellectual property developed by New Zealand universities grew from $76m to over $430m.
The universities' commercialisation organisations raised over $100m in capital for spinout companies, and
The number of people directly employed by these new companies grew almost 200% from 198 to 356.

While UCONZ has been working with the Government and industry since its inception in 2005, the publication of these results marks the organisation's first public release of material and reflects its commitment to acting as a catalyst for further growth, Dr Chang said.

Ernst & Young Partner Jon Hooper says while the results are an impressive start, he expects the numbers will continue to grow significantly as many of the companies are still at an early stage.

"In three years the university commercialisation offices have produced 23 start-up companies, with a combined market capitalisation of $430 million. Many of these companies have global potential and have already attracted significant interest from local and overseas investors."

October 2006: OILing the Wheels of Commercial Success

Posted on Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:43:30

Otago Magazine Issue 15 (138 kbs)

October 2006: $50,000 for Proof of Concept

Posted on Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:40:12

Otago Innovation announces the inaugural Otago Innovation Proof of Concept Grant. In recognition of the University's strategic intent to make commercialisation one of its key outcomes, Otago Innovation is making a research grant available to a University researcher for Proof of Concept.

The grant is to provide University of Otago researchers with experience in considering commercial outcomes as part of their research.

The value of the grant is $50,000 and will be available in 2007.

Applications close on December 11, 2006.

For further information visit: http://www.otago.ac.nz/research/forms/

Or Contact Hamish Findlay

7 October 2006: Company Leader in Cancer Research

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 17:52:15

Company Leader in Cancer Research (418 kbs)

July 2006: Otago Researchers invent new drug to fight Parkinson's Disease.

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 17:51:20

Otago Magazine Issue 14 (28 kbs)

1 July 2006: Kiwis Pioneer Parkinson's research

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 17:51:15

Kiwis Pioneer Parkinson's research (6,106 kbs)

26 May 2006: Ground Breaking Parkinson's Drug Hailed

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 17:49:07

http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/2006/26-05-06_press_release.html

12 July 2005: SYFT Supernose Starts work at the Hospital

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 16:42:02

SYFT Supernose Starts work at the Hospital (428 kbs)

1 July 2005: Boosting Research

Posted on Thursday, 19 October 2006 16:39:58

Boosting Research (429 kbs)

A dream of dramatically increasing externally funded research is a giant step closer for the Department of Information Science.

The University of Otago's commercial activities company has acquired a well-established research organization which will develop into MediaLab Ltd. The objective is to run it as a profitable applied research company and to gain significant research income for the department.

Information Science has been associated with the original company for some time and has received substantial research assistance.

Professor George Benwell, Head of the Department of Information Science, says MLL is expected to grow in the next few years to a turnover of several million dollars. It will retain links established previously with Telecom, Vodafone, Lucent and other major information and communications technology (ICT) corporates in Wellington, Auckland and overseas.

There will also continue to be a close association with other universities and service providers.

"I believe it will be a major boost to the department's research efforts and should help us to grow," says Professor Benwell. And it needs to grow not only through research but also by increasing student numbers.

Professor Benwell says forecasts indicate there will be 125,000 New Zealand ICT jobs in seven years compared with current levels of about 41,000.

Already there are significant skills gaps between the number of jobs available and suitably qualified applicants. Last year the number of ICT jobs rose by 84% while the number of graduates fell by 20%.

"The jobs are out there – we need to attract the people who can fill them after a thorough education.