Three University of Aberdeen projects have been awarded funding from the Scottish Government as part of a nearly £3 million investment to help turn university research into commercial business propositions.
Seventeen projects from seven different universities will share £2.92M of funding from the Proof of Concept fund, which was piloted last year to help researchers explore and realise the commercial potential of their research. Three of this year’s projects are from the University, receiving £400K of the funding.
The funding will help accelerate various aspects of the spinout process, from developing prototype products to undertaking market analysis and pitching to investors.
University of Aberdeen projects being funded are:
Development of a Non-Invasive Stool-Based Diagnostic for TDP-43 Aggregation
Led by Dr Sergio Dall’Angelo, this project is developing a simple stool test to help diagnose unexplained digestive conditions linked to abnormal TDP-43 protein build-up which can cause cell damage, enabling earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment.
A First-in-Class Muscle-Targeted Therapy to Preserve Lean Mass During Weight Loss
Dr Brendan Gabriel's team is developing a new therapy to help preserve muscle mass during weight loss, addressing a key limitation of current obesity treatments and supporting better long-term health outcomes.
Scensai: An Electronic Nose for the Beverage Industry
Scensai is developing an affordable handheld electronic nose for beverage quality control. An alternative to subjective human sensory assessment, the device gives an objective chemical reading on the production floor, by any member of staff without specialist training. The project is led by Marcus Campbell Bannerman. Scensai was also named the winner of the flagship CONVERGE Challenge award last week.
Dr Heather-May Morgan, Vice Principal (Regional Engagement and Innovation) at the University of Aberdeen, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see three University of Aberdeen projects being included in this much-needed investment from the Scottish Government.
“Supporting spinouts and entrepreneurial activity, transforming innovation-driven enterprise into viable businesses, is a vital part of how we deliver societal, economic and environmental impact. I am excited to see what this financial backing can do to accelerate these projects towards commercialisation.”