MONDAY 30 JUNE 09.30 – 12.30

University Technologies

The commercial applications of new and emerging technologies

Chairs: Tom Hockaday, Managing Director, Isis Innovation Ltd
John Francis, Director of Research & Business Development, Oxford Brookes University

Oxford University’s Isis Innovation Ltd and Oxford Brookes’ Research & Business Development Office bring together presentations from leading researchers and innovators who are developing technologies with exciting commercial potential. The presentations will describe latest technologies and innovative opportunities for their applications in diverse areas, as well as a case study of one opportunity that has been through the process of company start-up and growth and has achieved success.

09.30

Introduction

09.35

Building a Commercial Business – The Story of Oxonica Ltd

Dr Kevin Matthews, Executive Director, Oxonica Ltd

The reality of developing a commercial business from a technology spin-out, raising money, developing product, winning customers, building channel, events and uncertainties.

10.00

Novel quantitative methods for assessing soft tissue changes

Professor Alison Noble, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, www.ibme.ox.ac.uk/biomedia

Changes in soft tissue biomechanical properties provide a clinical indicator of functional change or disease state, as well as response to therapy. Recent advances in ultrasound technology are enabling researchers to develop technology to quantify such changes aimed at improving clinical diagnosis and patient management in oncology, orthopaedics and cardiology. Professor Noble will provide an overview of some of her laboratory’s activities in this area including recent studies showing its clinical and commercial potential.

10.25

Novel genomic therapeutics based on modulating gene expression

Dr Richard Wade-Martins, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford

The complete DNA sequence of the human genome is providing a wealth of information on how gene expression may be regulated. This gives an opportunity to develop novel therapeutics based on modulating gene expression. Dr Wade-Martins describes work from his laboratory to develop therapeutic reagents to tackle neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease through altering gene expression.

10.50

Nanopores for sensing and sequencing

Hagan Bayley, Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Oxford, Founder of Oxford Nanopore Technologies

Protein nanopores, remodeled by genetic engineering or chemical modification, can be used to detect a wide variety of substances at the single-molecule level. Emerging applications range from the detection of chemical weapons to the sequencing of human DNA, and form the basis of the University start-up Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

11.30

Formula Student Racing Cars

Dr James Balkwill, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology, Oxford Brookes University

The design, development and competition of Formula Student Racing Cars face new challenges every year, including a fresh team of students and rule changes. The teams entered by Oxford Brookes have consistently been one of the leading UK entries in a competition attracting over 60 international teams.

11.50

Zigbee – A global communications networking radio technology

Ollie Smith, Bussiness Development Director, Telegesis

Zigbee technology and international alliances offer a new mesh approach to global wireless communications. The system is easy to deploy, supports a large number of nodes and is secure, reliable and self healing. Applications include remote monitoring of industrial systems, remote monitoring of domestic metering systems and smart grids.

12.10

A whistle stop tour of emerging technologies from Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Nick Trigg and Ian Tracey, Business Development Managers, Central Laboratory Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Ltd (‘CLIK’)

Technologies emerging from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory include Cloud radar, quantum detectors, ballistic armour, terraherz products and novel vacuum technologies.

Organised by Isis Innovation and Oxford Brookes University

(Return to Programme at a Glance)