16 research and development projects in the field of regenerative-medicine therapeutics are to receive a total of £3.6m of investment, while a further £1.6m is to be invested in 12 feasibility studies in the area of regenerative-medicine tools and technologies.
The funding for therapeutics research will enable the companies involved to accelerate product development to take advantage of future market opportunities.
Feasibility-study funding will enable companies to explore opportunities to develop platform tools and technologies to overcome product-development challenges, including safety/efficacy testing and manufacturing.
One project concerns the preclinical control of stem cells using functionalised self-assembling hydrogels
According to a statement, the study will develop a platform technology in the form of biocompatible hydrogels. They will be capable of reversible, tuneable self-assembly; nano-ordered presentation of biosignals to resident cells; and delivering, through these properties, reproducible preclinical stem-cell cultures.
The study, which involves Avanticell Science and Brighton University, is expected to deliver proof of principle that nano-engineered hydrogels mimicking the stem-cell niche environment facilitate the preclinical processing of stem-cell populations.
The investment is part of a £21.5m programme of competitions, managed by the TSB, in the area of regenerative medicine.
In January 2010, the board announced its first investments through the programme, with 31 feasibility studies receiving £2.8m of funding while three major collaborative research and development projects received a further £2.3m.
Doctors could soon be able to use 3D printing to produce blood vessels and even whole organs. Click here to read how it is done.
Project to investigate hybrid approach to titanium manufacturing
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