Tiffany Thorn

I am incredibly proud to announce that we have been awarded a £1.6M project from Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst 2023 Round 2: Industry-led R&D 🙌 This application took a tremendous amount of effort, including working well into the early hours of many mornings to perfect the initial submission and cancelling leave over Christmas to prepare for the interview stage. Innovate UK grants (rightly!) require significant work; the application is scrutinised by five experienced assessors from various areas across Life Sciences. The next-stage interview is then attended by up to ten other people, with our panel including professionals from the NHS, academia, and CDMOs, among others. With a pot of £17.8M, and average project cost at £415,191, only 30 of the 358 applications could be funded 💰 . It is therefore truly gratifying to have so many experts agree that the cause we are developing solutions for is important and worthy of this substantial investment ✊ We do not take this funding lightly and will work tirelessly to ensure the success of our exciting project. Time to get cracking! https://lnkd.in/ev58aTt8 #biomedicalcatalyst #healthcare #infantmicrobiome #microbiome #grantfunding #grants #investment #innovateuk #biotech

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Rapid, detailed cell analysis technology soon ready to assess the difference it can make to process insights and timelines

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Congratulations Purespring Therapeutics 🎉 Recently they announced raising £80m in an oversubscribed Series B financing round. This funding will be used to accelerate the development of their novel podocyte-targeting AAV #GeneTherapy platform, which has the potential to transform the lives of the 840 million people globally with kidney diseases. This includes advancing their lead programme, PS-002, which targets IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), a common, chronic kidney disease affecting young adults, towards a Phase I/II #ClinicalTrial. There are currently no therapeutic options to stop disease progression, nor a cure, and nearly one third of IgAN patients will go on to lose their kidney function within five years and require a kidney transplant or dialysis. #genetherapy #kidneydisease https://lnkd.in/gjBZbDkD

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Fantastic set of talks today highlighting the unsung hero of drug discovery - Enzymology. Sincere thanks to Argyrides Argyrou , Claire McWhirter and Karl Syson for organising such a valuable and engaging symposium, AstraZeneca for hosting and all the speakers for their fantastic presentations! Really important topics discussed including the non-equilibrium environment of biological systems and the requirement for drug and target to be bound in order to have an effect, and the risks of using oversimplified metrics to support programme progression (from simply underestimating affinity through to fundamentally flawed selections). Data is of critical importance to effectively power decision-making and context is key. With the evolving ecosystem of instrumentation (including BMG LABTECH, SPT Labtech, FORMULATRIX, Tecan) reagents (including Cisbio, Revvity, Promega UK) and analytical capabilities (Genedata, GraphPad Prism) all now delivering the quality and consistency required to deliver the data resolution required, these concepts are becoming more readily accessible. Reflecting on the morning session over lunch highlights to me the still largely untapped potential of kinetic information. As an industry, we have been here before, discussing the advances in capabilities and significant merits on offer. However, this has largely been to an audience that is already receptive and uptake has remained pretty flat. So, how do we shift the dial? My personal view is that success is inextricably connected to more effective communication - I will expand on this concept in a future post. However, I’d love to hear your ideas on how you think we should tackle the challenges we face in translating untapped potential into tangible value. Please leave your thoughts below ⬇️ and follow/connect with me if you are keen to contribute to the discussion! #enzymology #kinetics #futuresuccess

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🙌…and therapy developers push even harder to implement our revolutionary Celledonia™️ cell analyser at scale. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿An homage to Caledonia squared to the power of Celidonius (“a man born blind whom Jesus healed in the Gospel of John 9:1–38”): AuraCyt empowers our industry to finally “See the Unseen”… 1️⃣ predicting the unpredictable: high-producing clones in Cell Line Development - saving 3-6 crucial months in that process, every single time; 🧫 2️⃣ enabling scale-out of CGT to manufacture the unmanufacturable; 🧬 3️⃣ unlocking automation with rapid cell analysis for direct CGT process control;⏰ https://lnkd.in/e_bPw6Wz https://lnkd.in/eUE2Fhdw #CellAnalysis game-changer 👾| #CellAndGene | #CGT 🧬| #AdvancedTherapies 🧪 #SpeedToMarket 🏁 | #SpeedToPatient 👩‍🔬⌛️👨‍🔬

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This is such an important subject and a big thanks to British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) for raising it at a Parliamentary Reception this week. Getting innovations into the NHS is challenging, especially for SMEs who have limited resources and significant pressures from their investors to get sales. One of the unfortunate consequences of this is that SMEs are forced to focus their efforts on larger international markets with quicker pathways to adoption, and UK patients cannot access homegrown innovations. Surely there must be a way to reduce the barriers to adoption to ensure British innovations are available in their home market first? #skincancer #melanoma #diagnostic # innovation #AMBLor

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There is an absolute, pressing need to reduce the prices of advanced therapies, especially gene therapies If you believe the cost-benefit analyses out there (which I pretty much do), current prices can make sense - but only in the long term. For example, keeping to round numbers, lifetime Hemophilia A healthcare costs are ~$20 million, life expectancy of those afflicted is ~70 years, so Roctavian at ~$2 million (probable price w/discounts etc.) only has to work for ~7 years to break even. It probably will work for at least that long and also provides material QOL benefits which often come with further health cost savings, like markedly reduced ER visits for bleeding events But also significant is the short-term impact of these prices on payers: having to write such multi-million dollar checks is a cash-flow problem more than a cash problem, but a problem nonetheless. As Bloomberg News’s excellent Gerry Smith writes below, the immediate economic impact of such claims (‘lightning strikes’ as he terms them) on smaller insurers is real. It’s societally disturbing, but hard to blame them for trying to avoid these lightning strikes by excluding such therapies in the fine print However, it’s equally unfair just to expect biopharma to reduce prices, as even at current levels this would land most far from break-even on development and manufacturing costs. The industry needs to show decent margins to justify further investment in advanced therapies. But if we can’t afford even ultra/rare treatments, forget about advanced therapies for more common conditions As I see it there are only a few options: * Reduce COGS (a partial solution) * Amortization and/or performance-based installment pricing. I think these could be offered by biopharma or even governmentally forced upon them, perhaps in return for longer exclusivity * I’m open to suggestions (read the article first though!)…

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We, the team at CellCentric, are pioneering a new approach to treat multiple myeloma, with an oral p300/CBP inhibitor drug, inobrodib. Huge progress has been made in treating the disease, particularly with recent antibody-based therapies (BCMA targeting agents, TCEs). But 75% of people diagnosed still die of the condition. Beyond and alongside existing approaches, there is a need for oral agents with novel modes of action. Community based delivery also helps address health inequities, meeting the needs of people who are not suitable or able to access more complex treatments in specialist centres. New financing maintains full momentum to registration studies. RA Capital Management and Pfizer Ventures now join Morningside as shareholders. Further additional contribution too from the American Cancer Society’s impact fund, BrightEdge. Total funding: $60.7m. Great to have Laura Stoppel of RA Capital joining the Board, as well as Irena Melnikova from Pfizer Ventures. Press release: https://lnkd.in/d9QpfvFz Endpoints coverage: https://lnkd.in/dg4geESK. Many thanks Lei Lei Wu Business Weekly: https://lnkd.in/e4ZsaJkA Many thanks Tony Quested #multiplemyeloma Debbie Haynes Tomasz Knurowski Karen Clegg Kris Frese Thea Stanway

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How do growth factors produce cell division? Growth factors promote cell proliferation by initiating a chain of events when they bind to their receptors, which ripple through the cell. Our latest blog article explains these events. https://lnkd.in/eSS-qsjS

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The UK has seen a dramatic drop in commercial clinical trial participation in recent years. Can we turn the tide? Clinical research is crucial for advancing medical innovation, and at Barts Life Sciences we believe our diverse population provides a unique opportunity for research that is both representative and impactful. Next year, thanks to funding from Barts Charity, we’re thrilled to open a much larger, pioneering Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at The Royal London Hospital. Led by Consultant Nephrologist Dr. kieran mccafferty, this state-of-the-art facility will greatly enhance our research capabilities and offer new opportunities for our local community. In our latest article, Dr. McCafferty highlights that research-active healthcare organisations are crucial for high-quality care. Yet, despite the UK’s strong global reputation, delays in study approvals have made our country less appealing for internationally-sponsored studies. How are we addressing these challenges and driving progress? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/egcuTjaq Barts Health NHS Trust Queen Mary University of London #BartsLifeSciences #UKLifeSciences #EastLondon #HealthcareInnovation #ClinicalResearch #Innovation

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Where better than the UK's largest life sciences event to learn about the future of genomic medicine? At The Festival of Genomics and Biodata, you can expect lots of #genomicmedicine content including: Next Steps in Precision Medicine Matthew Brown, Chief Scientific Officer, Genomics England How NHS England Is Continuing To Reshape Healthcare With Genomics Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England Polygenic Risk Scores & Pharmacogenomics Approaches in Type II Diabetes Colin Palmer, Chair of Pharmacogenomics, University of Dundee A Unique Collaborative Model Providing Supportive And Self-Advocacy Tools To The Rare Disease Community Juliette Harris, PhD, MSc, Registered Specialist Genetic Counsellor, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust Causes & Consequences of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy Caroline Ovadia, Clinical Senior Lecturer, King's College London The Added Value Of Codesign With Patients To Inform Research And Clinical Pathways For Genetic Cancer Susceptibility Kelly Kohut, Consultant Genetic Counsellor, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Supporting Patients Through PGT At Guy’s And St. Thomas’ (GSTT) Hospital PGT Service Charlotte Tomlinson, Consultant Genetic Counsellor, Guy's and St Thomas'​ NHS Foundation Trust The Unseen Hand: How AI-Informed Prescribing can Impact Our Understanding of Real-World Medicine Safety and Effectiveness Harriet Dickinson, RWE Director, Gilead Sciences Critical Evaluation of the Performance & Utility of PRS in Screening & Prediction of Common Diseases Aroon Hingorani, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Honorary Consultant Physician, UCL Designing Efficient, Manufacturable & Safe mRNA Therapeutics Tobias von der Haar, Professor of Systems Biology, University of Kent Polygenic Risk Scores For Disease Risk Prediction in Africa Segun Fatumo, Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London   NHS England Accelerating Research into Cancer Vaccines Gillian Rosenberg, Innovation Transformation Lead, NHS Cancer Programme, NHS England Pharmacogenomics in Wales Sophie Harding, Pharmacogenomics Lead, All Wales Medical Genomics Service Engaging Mental Health Services in Genomics - Improving Equity of Access Jana Mikova, Senior Nurse Practitioner, Tower Hamlets Diagnostic Memory Clinic, East London NHS Foundation Trust & Clinical Nurse Specialist, NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service MCEDs for Population Screening for Cancer. Hope or Hype: A Public Health Perspective Clare Turnbull, Professor of Translational Cancer Genomics, The Institute of Cancer Research Dynamic Precision Medicine: A New Approach to Therapy Resistance Bob Beckman, Professor of Oncology & of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, & Biomathematics, Georgetown University Register now: https://hubs.la/Q02Tn5140 #FOG2025 #genomics

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AMLo Biosciences are delighted to read this news about the partnership between the ABPI and the UK government. With the additional funding and the creation of further clinical trial hubs, it will mean patients receive access to new treatments faster. https://bit.ly/3zfFhmr We would like to see this investment extended further to include #diagnostics and #prognostics. With advancements in these technologies, patients can get diagnosed without delay, their disease prognosis fully understood, and their treatment and management tailored to their individual needs. Our prognostic #melanoma biomarker #AMBLor accurately identifies early-stage melanomas at low risk of progression. We are proud that it successfully received its UKCA mark last week and is now available to healthcare professionals. But this is just the beginning. Our test needs to be incorporated into clinical practice to be able to benefit melanoma patients, as well as utilise and free-up valuable healthcare resources. Read more: https://bit.ly/479VHJK #dermatology #dermatopathology #histopathology #histology #oncology #skincancer #cancerresearch #biomarkers #healthinvestment

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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health. The UK government has recently announced a new action plan to combat AMR, which includes support for industries to develop new treatments. I believe that a similar action plan is needed in India. AMR is a major problem in India, and it is essential that we take steps to address it. The Indian government should provide support to industries for the development of new treatments and diagnostics for AMR. This could include financial incentives, such as tax breaks or grants, as well as regulatory support, such as fast-tracking the approval process for new drugs/diagnostics. Organisations like Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are already doing it, but more is needed. The government and industries should also work to raise awareness of AMR among the public and healthcare professionals. This could be done through public health campaigns and educational programs. #publichealth #amr #policy Module Innovations

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Congratulations, Mestag Therapeutics! The Cambridge-based biotech shared in a £12 million Innovate UK grant to advance nextgen immunotherapies for cancer, securing £1.5m of the total UK allocation. Harnessing new insights into fibroblast-immune interactions, Mestag is using the award to accelerate the development of its MST-0300 antibody. MST-0300 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody designed to induce TLS in solid tumours in a highly specific and localised fashion. The presence of TLS in tumours has recently emerged as being strongly correlated with improved outcomes for cancer patients across multiple tumour types. #mabs https://lnkd.in/dTBkp-7C

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Do you know how growth factors can cause a cell to differentiate and change function? We explain in our weekly blog: https://lnkd.in/etAqwuX7

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🌟 Congratulations to our portfolio company Verinnogen on its Innovate UK grant! The grant will support its collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to optimise its 3D surface profiling technology, designed to measure grafted tumours in preclinical cancer models more accurately, precisely, and quickly than traditional methods. Find out more below ⬇ #OnMyHorizon #Oncology Cancer Research Horizons

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