About Opportunity

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a Wireless Electroencephalogram Neuro-feedback System for rehabilitation and the treatment of chronic pain. Neuro-feedback uses real-time displays of brain activity—most commonly (EEG), to teach self-regulation of brain function. 

Typically, sensors are placed on the scalp to measure activity, with measurements displayed using visual displays or sound.  DrAlexsandra Vuckovic has been developing and validating a Neuro-feedback system for the neuro-rehabilitation of hand function and central neuropathic pain in patients with paralysis of the upper extremities (tetraplegia).

The core university innovation is the brain-computer interface software to analyse and visualise selected features of the EEG brain signals to patients in the form of a graphical user interface on a computer screen. The visual information gives the patient information about their brain activity which they can use to modulate this activity in a desired direction. The main hardware components of the system are commercially available as an expensive EEG  device initially designed for gaming and a tablet computer.

In software developed for rehabilitation of the hand, the system detects when the person is attempting to move their hand based on EEG measurement. This signal is then used to activate a functional electrical stimulator (FES) device to achieve the desired movement. Thus when a paralysed person attempts to use their hand, a ‘though driven’ FES activates hand muscles.

The second application of the system is for ‘brain training’ in spinal cord injured patients for relief of chronic nerve pain. It targets EEG based ‘signatures’ of pain and patients can see a computer screen graphical presentation of their brain activity, learning to regulate that activity at will. 

Key Benefits

• The trials have demonstrated that spinal cord injured patients who used the brain-computer interface software therapy achieved better neurological recovery than patients who received ‘passive’ functional electrical stimulator (FES) therapy.
• A daily 30 minutes of the brain training system results in reduced pain over a period of several hours to several days.
• The technology has been validated through a registered clinical trial on patients in the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Applications

• The Wireless EEG Neuro-feedback System have been developed to address two major problems of spinal cord injured people; rehabilitation of hand function and chronic central neuropathic pain.
• A common feature for these two applications is that they are based on active brain training that promotes neurological recovery.

IP Status

Contact is welcomed from organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this IP with a view to commercialisation.

About Opportunity

Following injury or disease, an organism undergoes a variety of (natural or induced) processes to direct cells, tissues and cellular processes towards healing and eventually regeneration. These processes generally involve growth factors (GFs), substances that control cell function through the activation of specific signalling pathways and that are capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation, and cellular differentiation.

rhBMP-2 is a powerful growth factor that is essential in tissue morphogenesis and is utilised to promote bone growth in trauma, spine and maxillofacial clinical applications. Current clinical delivery has however encountered serious complications associated with the high doses used.

The technology is based on synthetic materials that allow the simultaneous and co-localised signalling between growth factor receptors and integrins. These polymeric materials organise fibronectin (FN), an important protein of the extracellular matrix, and sequester rhBMP-2 in synergy with the integrin binding region to direct stem cell differentiation in vitro.

In vitro testing and animal models have demonstrated that this new technology enhances bone regeneration and vascularisation with much lower and safer rhBMP-2 doses (< 5 mg/cm3). Results are comparable to the higher doses used currently in the clinic (~ 1.5 mg/cm3), which makes the technology robust in terms of safety, effectiveness and economically competitive to current commercially available products.

Current commercial uses of rhBMP-2 growth factor can be complicated, adsorbed in collagen sponges or other materials at high doses. The GF Synergy technology has been developed with these challenges in mind for easy integration into medical devices and implants manufacturing. The base materials can be manufactured in the form of biocompatible implantable constructs and orthobiology products. For regeneration applications the materials can be coated on bioabsorbable materials already commonly used in medical devices.

Key Benefits

Safer, minimal dose delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) for bone tissue engineering.
Easy to develop into commercial clinical products, as the technology is acellular and requires only use of autologous or recombinant human proteins and growth factors.
Control of synergistic signalling between cell adhesion and growth factor receptors as in physiological environments
Based on synthetic materials commonly used in other biomedical approved applications

Applications

Clinical bone regeneration – the GF Synergy technology can be used to make bone substitutes for non-union fractures, materials for spinal fusion procedures, and to improve long term stability of implants.
Stem cell/osteoblast research – The technology is useful to academics interested in studying bone differentiation in cell culture research projects
Pharma – the device provides ‘clean’ osteogenesis in 2D and 3D and so will be useful in the study of drugs for e.g. osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfect etc.

IP Status

Contact is welcomed from organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this IP with a view to commercialisation.

About Opportunity

Mosquitoes are responsible for huge losses in human and animal life through their role as vectors of infectious diseases. Successful control of mosquitoes depends on accurate surveillance of their abundance and pathogen infection rates, of which the malaria parasite represents the most important human pathogen. Currently, the ‘gold standard’ method for estimating the abundance of mosquitoes and number of infectious bites that a person would be exposed is called the “Human Landing Catch” (HLC). This technique requires a volunteer to capture mosquitoes that land upon them and test them for pathogens. This method obviously poses some risk of infection the volunteer, and is thus its use is being increasingly restricted for research and surveillance purposes.

The research team have developed a prototype to address these current shortfalls. The prototype has been developed following laboratory optimization and field testing in rural and urban Tanzania, where it was compared with the HLC procedure both inside houses and outdoors. The latest version of the MET equalled (in 30cm3 size) and exceeded (in 1m3 size) HLC performance in terms of the number of malaria vectors that were collected from human baits. Additionally the large version of the trap performed very successfully in sampling mosquitoes attempting to feed on cows, indicating MET’s utility for surveillance of vector-borne diseases of livestock.

Key Benefits

• MET is lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble and does not require mains electricity
• MET can be placed in close proximity to human or animal bait
• MET acts as a barrier around the host which prevents them being exposed to infection bites
• Electrocuting panels also act as a barrier to trap insects
• MET can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments
• Mosquitoes trapped by MET remain intact and suitable for identification by morphological and molecular methods.

Applications

MET could provide a very valuable and safe tool for monitoring the abundance and transmission potential of mosquito vectors, and for evaluation of control measures used to target them.

IP Status

The University of Glasgow and the Ifakara Health Institute have jointly filed a UK patent application disclosing this technology and is interested to contact organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this IP with a view to commercialisation.

About Opportunity

Food irradiation is the use of high energy ionising radiation to extend shelf life by reducing the bacterial loads associated with natural foods. The University of Glasgow has developed methods and equipment for screening foodstuffs for irradiation.

The pulsed photo stimulated luminescence system was designed and developed at the Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, and provides an opportunity for effective detection of irradiated foods using a rapid instrumental method. Originally developed for rapid screening of irradiated herbs, spices and seasonings, it has been validated for a wider range of foodstuffs and is finding other scientific applications in assessment of fire damaged structures, and environmental dosimetry.

During the measurements the sample is stimulated with a pulsed Infra-Red (IR) source, and UV-VIS Anti-Stokes Luminescence is measured with exceptional sensitivity using a patented digital lock-in photon counting method. Irradiated samples produce a specific signal which is detected and quantified.

For screening, the signal level is compared with two thresholds defined from reference data. The majority of irradiated samples produce a strong signal above the high threshold level. Signals below the lower threshold indicate that the samples have not been irradiated. Intermediate signal levels between the two thresholds suggest that further tests or investigations should be made.

Key Benefits

• The system can be used in a stand-alone mode, with simple push button controls, or in conjunction with a laboratory computer for data storage and record keeping. 
• It is readily transported and easy to use. 
• Simple screening measurements are possible (PSL Screening), or the system can be used in conjunction with a calibrated radiation source (calPSL). 
• The process is extremely quick, usually taking 15-60 seconds.

Applications

The system will be of interest to any organisation concerned with the detection of whether food or food ingredients have been treated with ionising radiation.

IP Status

The Pulsed PSL System is commercially available from the University of Glasgow.