| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/L01646X/1 |
| Title: |
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Therapeutics & Nanomedicines |
| Principal Investigator: |
Stolnik-Trenkic, Professor SS |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Pharmacy |
| Organisation: |
University of Nottingham |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 May 2014 |
Ends: |
31 October 2022 |
Value (£): |
4,662,299
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Drug Formulation & Delivery |
|
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Healthcare |
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
|
23 Oct 2013
|
EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel H
|
Announced
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|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
At the forefront of global pharmaceutical research is the development of "intelligent" medicines which are effective,
affordable and safe, for diseases that are poorly treated (for example, cancer, infections, cardiovascular disease and
neurodegeneration). The ideal medicine could be taken by a variety of means (pill, injection or inhaler), but should only act
on diseased tissue at a 'specific' site in the body. However, the ability to direct a drug to particular desired locations in the
body is still a major scientific challenge. Drugs can easily be degraded en route to their target leading to quickly decreasing
drug levels. Higher levels of medication do not circumvent this problem due to potentially increased side effects or toxicity.
Some drugs can simply not be delivered to their target due to barriers within the body: the ability to reach specific disease
sites while leaving healthy cells intact would mean not only better therapeutic outcomes, but better qualities of life for
patients and carers. Benefits through better formulation and targeting will be very apparent for those diseases that are
increasing in ageing populations, such as cancer, which is predicted to affect (directly or indirectly) 1 in 3 in the European
population by 2020. For these and other devastating diseases new therapeutic regimens are urgently needed.
Research into Advanced Therapeutics requires not just scientific innovation but also a changed training paradigm for the
scientists involved. Many advanced therapeutic formulations are inherently in the 'nano' size range i.e. larger than
conventional drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, but smaller than human cells, and thus spanning the traditional
domains of chemistry, biology and medicine. Developing the science of these emergent nanomedicines towards clinical
products requires a new generation of researchers trained across multiple scientific disciplines. The Centre for Doctoral
Training we propose builds on our existing close partnerships with leading industry and academic institutions world-wide to
offer training in the diverse and challenging disciplines underlying pharmaceutical science. The proposed Centre will
combine expertise in analytical and medicinal chemistry, with materials science, engineering, biology and industrial
pharmaceutics, to equip researchers with the skills they need to develop the next generation of pharmaceutical products.
Accordingly, the CDT offers wider benefits to society as researchers trained in the Centre will be attractive to the
chemicals, engineering and materials sectors as well as healthcare and medicine. Within the proposed CDT we aim to
continue our broad-based training approach, such that researchers will have innovation and entrepreneurial skills, so vital
for the developing industry sector. This focus on translational and business skills helped a team from Nottingham in the
existing CDT to be winners of the NanoCom business competition in 2012.
Ultimately, improvements in the industry and practice of therapeutics combined with enhanced academy / industry
pathways to translation offer many future advantages, not just to the science, industry and medical base, but to patients,
carers and society as a whole.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk |