2013 Market Research Project Abstracts

Coller IP Management Ltd - Dr Jackie Maguire

The commercial viability of IP concerning Medical Foods

Medical Foods is a new area of research. It has an evolving legal definition, led in the US, but now gaining greater understanding in the EU.

The project will consider examples of Medical Foods that are protected by patents and patent applications and will study the evolving patent landscape surrounding developments in this area.

It will also investigate the commercial viability of examples of IP on Medical Foods, identifying the applications that have the greatest potential.

Corin Ltd - Alison Traynor

Disposable instruments

The manufacture of disposable instrumentation would remove the need for costly processes such as cleaning and sterilisation and would represent a step change in instrument manufacture. Further it would enable the introduction of more complex mechanisms and geometries which would facilitate ease of use.

This project is designed to investigate the business case, in terms of the current market and costs, the design considerations (including IP) for the manufacture of disposable instruments and the potential benefits for the healthcare system.

Corin Ltd - Alison Traynor

Combined Scanning

Obtaining patient scans, whether these are x-rays or CTs is often a time consuming and inconvenient process. The development of a combined, small, x-ray/CT scanner which can be used within the hospital clinic for patient diagnosis during their first visit could enhance the patient treatment pathway. Such a facility would provide easy access for patient and surgeon to instant imaging for hip or knee consultations. This would cut the time taken to make further appointments and would save the patient and surgeon from further consultations. This project will investigate the feasibility for the development of such a device.

George Institute - Kazem Rahimi / Chris Paton

Non-invasive and potentially scalable point-of-care diagnostics for measurement of kidney function

Measurement of renal function is a critical element for monitoring of a range of conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease etc. The prevailing methods for such tests rely on venous blood tests (creatinine and urea). However, this makes measurement and monitoring of such variables dependent on availability of experts for sample collection, processing and analysis. A step towards scalable solutions are point-of-care devices that allow reliable measurement of kidney function with the use of capillary blood (similar to glucose monitoring in diabetes). However, even such approaches are not going to offer scalable solutions because most patients would not have sufficient capacity or willingness to operate such devices. The aim of this market research project is to identify alternative solutions for direct or indirect assessment of kidney function. The search should include a review of literature but also any other sources of information such as patent registrations, start-ups etc.

GSMA - Richard Cockle

COPD management opportunities and mHealth regulatory pathways in Latin America

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made the challenge of managing the increase in non-communicable diseases, such as Diabetes & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) a priority, and is working with the ITU, GSMA and other associations to understand if/where utilisation of mobile health solutions can help to deliver against this objective.
One of the major barriers against the widespread uptake of mobile health and achievement of the WHO goal is a lack of up to date information relating to health ecosystems and stakeholders in individual countries. The Latin America Market specifically is important to mobile operators and within the region it is apparent patients, healthcare providers and health ministries could benefit from greater utilisation and integration of mHealth solutions to manage non-communicable conditions. In order for mHealth solutions to achieve the greatest impact for all parties requires an understanding of the treatment pathways for these specific disease areas.

The aim of this research project would therefore be twofold.

1. To understand the treatment pathway for Diabetes & COPD in Latin America
2. Produce a health regulatory map for this market – providing a process descriptor.

Identifying solutions, understanding diagnostics/screening and care team activity in remote communities.

Within this research paper evidence of existing mobile health solutions in these countries should be investigated and strong evidence should be highlighted. Recommendations should also be made into where mHealth solutions would best fit within the management/treatment process to bring the most value to the health ecosystem.

GSMA - Richard Cockle

Diabetes management opportunities and mHealth regulatory pathways in Latin America

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made the challenge of managing the increase in non-communicable diseases, such as Diabetes & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) a priority, and is working with the ITU, GSMA and other associations to understand if/where utilisation of mobile health solutions can help to deliver against this objective.

One of the major barriers against the widespread uptake of mobile health and achievement of the WHO goal is a lack of up to date information relating to health ecosystems and stakeholders in individual countries. The Latin America Market specifically is important to mobile operators and within the region it is apparent patients, healthcare providers and health ministries could benefit from greater utilisation and integration of mHealth solutions to manage non-communicable conditions. In order for mHealth solutions to achieve the greatest impact for all parties requires an understanding of the treatment pathways for these specific disease areas.

The aim of this research project would therefore be twofold.

1. To understand the treatment pathway for Diabetes & COPD in Latin America
2. Produce a health regulatory map for this market – providing a process descriptor. Identifying solutions, understanding diagnostics/screening and care team activity in remote communities.

Within this research paper evidence of existing mobile health solutions in these countries should be investigated and strong evidence should be highlighted. Recommendations should also be made into where mHealth solutions would best fit within the management/treatment process to bring the most value to the health ecosystem.

Isis Innovation - Bharti Ranavaya

Assessing micro vascular haemodynamics using MRI

MRI is a very flexible technology for imaging inside the body, particularly in the brain. One widely method is to image blood flow using a contrast agent. Normally this is used to measure the supply of blood to the tissue. However, the images may also offer more detail information on the health of the blood vessel network. This project looks at a recently developed algorithm that could be used in this process.

Isis Innovation - Dr Brijesh Roy

Laser gas analysis for oxygen consumption and cardiac output

An evaluation of the market for an in-line laser gas detector for the accurate measurement of oxygen usage and cardiac output in patients undergoing anaesthesia, intensive care or exercise.

Isis Innovation - Ruth Barrett

Electrochemical insulin biosensor

Researchers at Oxford have developed an electrochemical insulin biosensor for use in diabetes, to aid clinical decision-making. This project will look into exactly how the test will meet unmet medical need, assess any competition to make similar products and look at the industrial landscape to identify companies who may be able to develop the test into a successful product.

Reasonable expected outcome of project:

• Competitive analysis of the insulin testing landscape
• Outcome of Q&A with clinicians on medical need / utility
• Outcome of Q&A with companies on attractiveness of such a test to industry
• Landscape of companies in the area who may be targeted as potential licensees.

Lein Applied Diagnostics - Dr. Dan Daly

Scanning Confocal fluorometer for in vitro diffusion tracking

Mirada Medical Ltd - Dr Frederik Kaster

Quantitative Dynamic Imaging for Oncology

Oxford Medical Diagnostics  - Ian Campbell

Breath test for ketosis: a potential lifesaving device

Oxford Medical Diagnostics  - Ian Campbell

Evaluation of gaseous biomarkers in healthcare

Oxford Micro Medical Ltd - Prof Philip Prewett

A Portable Mass Discriminator for Healthcare Applications

Prosthetics, Ortho Europe Ltd - Dominic Hannett

Evaluation of Pneumatic Post Amputation Mobility (PPAM) Aid

Sharp Labs of Europe - Chris Brown

Clinical, economic, educational and regulatory constraints on the expansion of ultrasound in primary care and emerging markets.

This project considered the clinical, economic, educational and regulatory constraints on the expansion of ultrasound in primary care and emerging markets and provided an estimation of market size in each area.

Sony Europe - Dr Antonio Avitabile

Robotic Surgery

The use of robots in surgery is growing. This project analyses the current scale and application areas of robotics in surgical applications.

Technikos LLP - Stephen Brindle

The economics of franchising a 3D gait analysis system