Engaging with Industry

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Engaging with Industry 5th NIHR Trainee
Meeting Dr Ceri Williams Director of
Operations Innovation and Knowledge Centre in
Regenerative Therapies and Devices
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A Track Record of Working with Industry

• A good grounding as an academic working almost
  exclusively with companies
• Developed my experience of working with companies
  through working in the private sector and also in
  economic development at Yorkshire Forward where
  I led science and innovation programmes for the
  region
• Developed an understanding of partnerships and
  the value of collaboration by developing
  strategic activities within the Universities in
  Yorkshire in partnership with all the UK Research
  Councils and the Technology Strategy Board
• I now lead a national innovation centre that
  helps academics translate their research so that
  it can effectively be utilised and taken up by
  industry
• I also mentor new knowledge exchange specialists

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My Experience of Working with Companies through
IKC
A unique centre that operates across the medical
technologies spectrum from implantable devices to
regenerative therapies .with a clear focus
on outcomes that help the body repair and restore
function.

• All activities focus on research translation and
  commercialisation of new medical and regenerative
  technologies, products and services
• The centre translates value from a world-leading
  research platform to support innovation in
  medical technology companies

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A Focus on Technology Priorities that can be
Accessed and Utilised by Companies

• At RTD we focus on our unique capabilities and
  knowledge in
• Longer lasting joint replacements for the hip,
  knee and spine
• Regenerative biological scaffolds to replace
  damaged joint and heart tissue
• The use of stem cells for musculoskeletal and
  cardiovascular repair
• Novel protein biosensors to diagnose disease and
  monitor patient's responses to treatment
• Improved imaging to allow early diagnosis and
  targeted treatment
• Successful development of new medical technology
  products requires input from applied health
  sciences to support regulatory approval, robust
  health economics, clinical trails design and
  effective adoption in a clinical or health
  services setting.

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The IKC Approach to Innovation

• The IKC is a multi-disciplinary environment where
  innovative scientists and engineers collaborate
  on broad systems based projects and work flexibly
  with industry and clinicians at different stages
  of the innovation pathway.
• RTD is built upon a tripartite relationship
  between innovation in medical technologies
  companies that is supported by knowledge,
  capability and people within the university that
  is shaped by clinical need.
• This approach underpins successful medical
  technology innovation to develop new products,
  services and processes that meet clinical need
  and deliver significant patent benefits.

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IKC aims to Close the Translation Gap

• IKC focuses upon early validation of technical
  concept and commercial feasibility to reduce late
  failure and accelerate innovation

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How IKC Accelerates Innovation

• Professional innovation management to support
  innovation
• Funding for Proof of Concept for research that is
  ready for translation and meets clear criteria.
• Funding for legal, IP and professional support so
  that projects can be progressed in a timely
  manner and overcome any barriers.
• Support to help companies understand and access
  our knowledge and capability.
• Close engagement with the clinical trials and
  health economics expertise to determine the full
  value of new medical technology innovations and
  to help achieve regulation, reimbursement and
  adoption.
• Commitment to support projects to ensure
  effective use of investment and clear decisions
  for progression to recognise the value of
  successful commercialisation
• .. and stop late failure.

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Working with a Large Corporate

• 1999-2003 Basic research EPSRC
• 2001-2003 IP secured U of Leeds
• Licensed to DePuy
• 2003-2005 Applied research and
  development DePuy
• 2005-2007 Clinical trial international
• CE mark EU launch
• 2007 AAOS Hip Society Award
• 2007-2009 FDA trial
• FDA approval USA launch
• 2000-2013 Continuous technology
  partnership with DePuy
• 2010 Target sales

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Working to Support a new Start Up Company

• Acellular biocompatible multiscale biological
  scaffolds
• Use the right tissue for the job
• - Replace a heart valve with a heart valve,
  meniscus with meniscus, ligament with
  ligamentetc
• Regenerate in vivo with recipient endogenous
  cells
• - Large animal studies (heart valve and vascular
  patch)
• Deliver molecular signals to control cellular
  regeneration
• Tissue structure and micro biomechanical stimuli
  drive cell differentiation pathways
• Implant will not need further surgery
• Patented processes for individual tissue types
• Available off-the-shelf
• Outcome a successful spin out company Tissue
  Regenix Limited

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Delivering Improved Health Services with a Company

• 3 Tesla clinical MRI scans of the knee
• Examined to investigate biomarkers e.g. bone
  marrow lesions to characterise the progression of
  Osteo Arthritis
• A manual segmentation program is used -
  Imorphics
• 3-D models can be developed

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Delivering Impact in a Research Environment

• National drivers through NIHR and other
  programmes have shifted the focus of research
  more towards delivery of tangible outputs and
  outcomes Impact delivery
• There is still quite poor understanding of impact
  amongst the broad academic community
• There is still a perception in some areas that
  commercial work tarnishes academic quality
• Many projects offer potential to deliver outcome
  as opposed to a tactical plan of actions that
  will deliver known and clearly defined end points
• A clear focus on a defined end point will help
  develop both the work plan and the activities
  that are more likely to deliver tangible
  outcomes and lead to improved products and health
  services.

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Key Learning Points on Working with Industry

• Working with industry must be a contact sport
• Interactions with people and understanding what
  they want and when they want it it is all about
  people
• Robust processes that align with industrys
  normal operations make life easier for you and
  for the company it is all about process
• You must listen to understand needs
• Deliver in a timely and professional manner
• The costs must be appropriate don't under sell
  your skills or expertise and don't over value
  what you can offer
• Make sure companies can understand what you offer
  focus on features and benefits of your
  technology or know how
• Develop the tenacity of a terrier and don't give
  up

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Thank you

• c.j.r.williams_at_leeds.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]
• Our website
• www.ikcrtd.leeds.ac.uk

Please feel free to contact me