Experts share insights on the translation of nanoparticle-based medical devices

The ‘Meet with Industry Workshop: Requirements for the Translation of Nanoparticle-based medical devices’ was held at UCL’s Central House on Monday 12 May and brought together researchers across faculties looking to develop medical devices based on innovative nanoparticle technologies.

The event was sponsored by the UCL Mathematical and Physical Sciences - Innovation and Enterprise, the the UCL Therapeutic Innovation Networks (TINs) - Devices and Diagnostics, and the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering Translation and Innovation Delivery Group.

It featured information-packed short talks from Dr Alice Simon, Director of UCL Health Partnerships, and Dr Jennifer Furman, Senior Translational Research Manager at the UCL Translational Research Office, who both outlined the network of support UCL provides to academics active in translational research. The message was clear: interact early and often with these resources (UCLB, TRO, JRO, UCL I&E) to build relationships and prepare your science for translational funding calls and opportunities for industry partnerships.

Prof Quentin Pankhurst shared his experiences and learnings, having founded multiple companies based on magnetic nanoparticles, and emphasised the need for validation and verification for successful translation. Prof Hirak Patra gave the perspective of a new professor navigating translational research while building his work in nanomedicine and regenerative medicine. Prof Jesús De La Fuente, visiting from CSIC in Spain, described the resources he is building in Europe to support the translational ecosystem, including Phoenix, a GMP-compliant CMO for nanoparticle manufacturing.

Professor Nguyen TK Thanh, MAPS Vice-Dean for Innovation and Enterprise, chaired the panel discussion, delving into the challenges and how to tackle them in the translational pathway for nanoparticles as medical devices and therapeutic agents. The workshop offered ample opportunity for networking and sharing of experiences across disciplines and experience levels.

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Links

• UCL Therapeutic Innovation Networks (TINs) - Devices and Diagnostics
• UCL Mathematical and Physical Sciences - Innovation and Enterprise
• UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering 

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