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Press Release 22 November 2007 - Cell therapy research to receive £10 Million boost

UK research into regenerative medicine is to receive a boost following the Technology Strategy Board’s decision to invest £10 million in highly innovative collaborative research and development projects.

The Technology Strategy Board is inviting applications for financial support for research projects that involve the development of living cell processes and cell-focussed applications for improved healing, including living cell bioprocessing, smart dressings, veterinary, surgical and dental applications and wound repair. Projects that demonstrate significant innovation in the following areas will be particularly welcome by the Board:

• Engineered systems for scale-up of tissues and cells,
• Functional integration and immunocompatibility,
• New dressings with reactive elements,
• Control of cellular movement.

The Technology Strategy Board will provide partial investment in winning projects that address one or more of these areas, and which involve businesses working collaboratively with other businesses and/or with research organisations and academic institutions.

The projects, which can last for 2 to 3 years, can range from small, highly focussed basic research projects, aimed at establishing technical feasibility, through to applied research and experimental development projects aimed at producing technology demonstrators. Additional funding from the Research Councils may be available where there is a significant, high-quality academic component.

The Cell Therapy competition is part of the Technology Strategy Board’s Autumn 2007 call for proposals in a number of innovation and technology areas.

Explaining the background to the competition, Technology Strategy Board Chief Executive Iain Gray said “Regenerative medicine is at the forefront of 21st century healthcare and will revolutionise healthcare treatment. The worldwide market is conservatively estimated to reach $500 billion by 2010. The UK has a significant presence in this field. However, to realise the potential for regenerative medicine, the successful development and application of bioprocessing technologies will be required in order to make manufactured products available at a reasonable cost.”

He added “The aim of the Technology Strategy Board is to support the research, development and exploitation of technology for the benefit of the UK economy and to improve the quality of life. We are therefore delighted to invest in cell therapy research and development.”

Applicants must register their intention to apply for funding by 11 January 2008 and the final closing date for applications is 14 February 2008. Further information is available at www.technologyprogramme.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

The Technology Strategy Board’s Collaborative Research and Development Programme is investing directly in new and emerging technologies and has been designed to help businesses work with each other or with academic partners to develop technologies that will underpin products and services of the future. Since 2004, the programme has supported about 700 projects across 40 technology areas with a combined business and government investment worth over £1 billion.

On 8 November 2007 the Technology Strategy Board announced a new competition for proposals for collaborative research and development, representing a Government investment of around £100 million. The competition is designed to generate innovative proposals in which the business and research communities collaborate on research and technology projects to deliver successful new products and services.

Submissions have been invited in eight technology areas: Cell Therapy, Material for Energy and High Value Manufacturing (opening 8 November 2007), Low Carbon Energy Technologies, Advanced Lighting, Lasers & Displays and Technologies for Health (opening 19 December 2007), Gathering Data in Complex Environments and Creative Industries (opening 30 January 2008).

Issued by

Nick Sheppard
Media Relations Manager
Technology Strategy Board
Block B, North Star House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1JF

Switch: +44 (0)1793 442700
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e-mail: nick.sheppard@tsb.gov.uk