Aim 2: Using knowledge

To support the development and use of knowledge to create health benefit

Progress 2007/2008

During the third year of the Plan we:

provided a total of £12 million in Technology Transfer grant funding to help to bridge the gap between fundamental research and commercial application, through Translation Awards and Strategic Translation Awards
awarded £10 million funding through our Seeding Drug Discovery initiative to support early-stage drug discovery projects in a range of therapeutic areas
supported additional major Strategic Awards for product development activities, including:
* an award of £5 million to Daniel Henderson and colleagues at PaxVax Inc to develop an oral tablet vaccine for pandemic avian influenza
* a grant of £3.5 million to Mike Dawson and colleagues at Novacta Biosystems to develop a bioengineered antibiotic to combat hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infections
launched a new £45 million initiative - in partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - to support centres of excellence in medical engineering, with awards to be made during 2008/2009
continued to support the network of Clinical Research Facilities as major centres for clinical translation in the UK
developed a joint initiative with the Alliance for Health Systems and Policy Research to support capacity building for the uptake of research knowledge into policy in developing countries.

During 2008/2009 we intend to:

continue to support the development of innovative technologies, products and devices through our Technology Transfer funding schemes
work with the UK Department of Health to implement the Health Innovation Challenge Fund, which will provide up to £100 million for up to five years to promote the uptake of new healthcare technologies to benefit patients within the NHS
expand the international scope of our technology transfer activities, including through:
* the further development of global health research and development (R&D) partnerships to develop vaccines and drugs for neglected diseases
* new product development initiatives in India, working with partners from academia, industry and non-governmental organisations
use the expert advice of our Technology Transfer Strategy Panel and Challenge Committee to identify and develop new strategic highlight areas for technology transfer
continue to foster the uptake of research into policy and practice through providing support to grantholders and working with other organisations.

During 2007/2008, in follow up to Wellcome Trust Technology Transfer funding, researchers secured over £119 million in venture capital and industry finance for commercialisation of R&D efforts
Recipients of Translation Award funding reported 15 new inventions over the year; nine new projects were developed through licensing deals with commercial partners
Examples of Trust-funded activities that are contributing to the uptake and use of research knowledge for health benefit include:
* funding the clinical development of a new single-dose drinkable typhoid vaccine developed by Emergent BioSolutions Inc. [PDF 72KB]
* funding a phase IIb trial in infants to evaluate the protective efficacy of a new candidate booster vaccine for tuberculosis, partnered by University of Oxford with Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
* providing long-term support to Professor Anke Ehlers, a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow who has developed new cognitive behavioural therapies for anxiety-related disorders and supported their uptake into clinical practice [PDF 68KB]
*supporting the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles with the MRC [PDF 100KB], which has gathered invaluable data on sexual behaviour, fertility and sex-related diseases across the UK.