The Partners
University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Expertise:
The University of Dundee has a reputation for excellence in research and continues to successfully attract leading researchers from across the world to Dundee. The discovery of the p53 cancer gene by Professor Sir David Lane, FRS, and pioneering research into keyhole surgery by Prof. Sir Alfred Cuschieri are two major advances that have had an enormous impact on research around the globe.
The Dundee Group, centred at the Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSaT) led by Prof. Andreas Melzer and Prof. Sir Alfred Cuschieri, enjoys access to state-of-the art facilities for MRI imaging including 1.5 and 3T MRI. The team has extensive pioneering experience in MRI interventions and related medical technologies 1,2, biophysics and research on the ultrasoundtransducer technology for sonoporation of cells 3. As one of the leading centres in sonoporation technology worldwide, and one of the dominant academic players in this field in Europe, they are the only researchers in the world to have demonstrated by optical trapping, the cavitation processes involved in sonoporation of cultured cells. Imaging and analysis at the nano-scale will be essential for a successful Nanoporation research program4. To this end, Dundee’s Nano-Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) is well equipped both in equipment and personnel for these purposes. NMRL has state-of-the-art imaging, analytical and nano-materials manufacturing equipment, and is the highest resolution facility in Scotland, and is amongst the best equipped research facilities.
Project Roles:
Integration of industrial partner’s technologies into a robust research platform enabling nano-scale visualization nano-capsule imaging and ultrasonic protocol development.
Assessment and optimisation of the convergence of developed technologies and factors for release of cytotoxic agents from drug carriers.
Experimental in-vivo oncology studies of nano-encapsulated compounds to proof of concept stage followed by confirmation of efficacy by in-vivo human tumour xenografts animal studies.
Incorporation of technologies and materials to aid visualization under MRI
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Key Personnel:
Prof. Andreas Melzer heads the Dundee Group at the Institute for Medical Science and Technology IMSaT. Currently IMSaT has a research group of post-doctoral research associates and PhD students. The laboratories are uniquely equipped for cell culture, sonoporation, microbubble production, biophotonics and with novel equipment for study including laboratories with AF Microscopy and ultra-high speed microscope cameras high frequency high resolution ultrasound and interventional MRI.
Sir Alfred Cuschieri is the Chief Scientific Advisor of the Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Universities of Dundee and St Andrews and Professor of Surgery at the Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento S.S. Anna, Pisa. He was Professor of Surgery and Head of Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, University of Dundee, 1976 – 1988, 1988- 2003. He is one of the world’s pioneers of minimally invasive “keyhole” surgery and surgical oncology.
Dr Sandy Cochran is the Team Leader in Medical Ultrasound Devices in IMSaT. Previously, he held a personal Professorship at the University of the West of Scotland, where he established a research team addressing many aspects of ultrasound
device design and fabrication for a range of applications. Dr Cochran has worked extensively with industry and has on-going collaborations with key institutes in his field.
Dr Paul Prentice is a RCUK research fellow at IMSaT. His interests cover physically based intra-cellular drug delivery modalities. He was the first to demonstrate optical trapping of ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles with parallel high speed imaging to optimise sonoporation protocols on the microscopic level. Currently, he is developing novel pulsed laser induced cavitation in the context of biomedical applications.
Dr. Gari Harris is the Professorial Senior Research Fellow for Nano and Molecular Systems at Dundee University, and Director of the Nano Materials Research Laboratory. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Nanotechnology, and has led in development of seminal work in nanotechnology published in both Science and in Nanotechnology (cited over 580 times). The nanotechnology labs have state-of-the-art equipment, and are now one of the highest resolution microscopy facilities in the World.
Professor Alastair Thompson is Professor of Surgical Oncology at the Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee. He heads an internationally recognised laboratory translational research program in Dundee, linking the p53 network to clinical care in breast and oesophageal cancer. He is Chairman of the Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Advisory Board and leads a range of clinical trials in the prevention, early detection and therapy of breast cancer. He is the licence holder of the nude mice human xenograft project. In 2007 he became the director of the Clinical Research Centre at Ninewells Hospital (collaboration of NHS Tayside and University Dundee)
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CapsuTech Ltd., Nazareth, Israel.
Expertise:
CapsuTech is an SME company focused on research and development of semi-natural, peptide-based polymers for drug targeting and encapsulation of various chemical and biological agents. Use of various combinations of modified amino-acid building-blocks allows the synthesis of high-diversity population of polymers and thus enabling the formulation of large spectrum of molecules to meet specific and various needs including targeting, site-specific release and controlled release, as well as protection from pH, enzyme proteolysis, oxidation, and other damaging factors.
Project Role:
Design and production of ultrasound – responsive nanodrug carriers. Establishment of in-vitro human cancer cell culture studies involving their nanocarriers.
Key personnel:
Dr. Jallal Gnaim, is an experienced pharmaceutical chemist with vast experience in development of new formulations for pharmaceutical and cosmetic usage. Dr. Gnaim has both academic as well as industrial experience in leading companies. He served as a Senior Research Team Head in leading cosmetic and chemical companies and at present he is an active academic researcher.
Mr. Muhammad Athamna Graduated his B.Sc. in 2001 from the Dept. Chem., the Tel-Aviv Univ. In 2007 he accomplished his M.Med.Sc in Medical Microbiology at the Ben-Gurion Univ. Of the Negev. Before joining CapsuTech in 2006 Mr. Athamna has gained an extensive experience in active research including supervising small research teams. He has a firm experience of laboratory work and he has gained much experience in the various procedures required for the project. Mr. Athamna was involved in all the procedures and products developed by CapsuTech. His work formed the basis for CapsuTechs IP.
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InSightec Ltd. Haifa, Israel.
Scientific Expertise:
InSightec is the world leader in MR-guided Focused Ultrasound therapy. An independent business, privately owned company founded in 1999, InSightec is a truly innovative, being the first company to receive FDA approval for patient treatment using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). It also received the 2004 IST 1st prize award from the EU for its innovative platform of phased array acoustic technology. InSightec was the first company to perform MR guided HIFU treatments for brain tumours in humans.
Project Roles:
Transfer of knowledge, ddevelopment and optimisation of ultrasonic device for potential integration with MRI. Implementation of new sonication protocols optimized for nanoporation. Establishment of nano-scale research platform and expertise.
Key personnel:
Dr. Yoav Medan, Vice President and Chief Systems Architect, is responsible for developing new technology platforms for the Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound technology. Prior to joining InSightec in 1999, Dr. Medan spent 17 years in senior research and management positions at the IBM Research Division and was elected to the IBM Academy of Technology. Dr. Medan has academic and teaching experience including the EE department at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, in addition to serving as a lecturer for Avionic Systems at the Aeonautical Engineering faculty. He is also a Senior Member of the Institute of Electircal and Electronics Engineers. Dr Medan has widely published and holds 9 IBM, and several other patents.
Dr. David Freundlich, Vice President of Clinical R&D, oversees a variety of programs to develop the capabilities of InSightec’s Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound technology, marketed as ExAblate 2000 and to educate and familiarize physicians with its use. Prior to joining InSightec in 1999, Dr. Freundlich served as Vice President of Marketing for Elbit Medical. Previously Dr. Freundlich spent twenty three years at Elscint Ltd, where he held various positions including CT R&D Manager, MRI R&D Manager, Corporate CT Chief Scientist and Vice President of Marketing. He also was awarded the 1980 Rotshiled Award for Industrial Developments.
Dr. Shuki Vitek, Vice President of Research and Development, oversees the development and application of Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound for the treatment of uterine fibroids and continues to oversee development for future applications.
Before joining InSightec in 1999, Dr. Vitek spent 19 years at RAFAEL and where he held several positions including Deputy General Manager of R&D, Missile Division. He began his career with Rafael as a research engineer.
Dr. Oleg Prus, senior physicist, has invented and is leading InSightec’s proprietary high density HIFU array transducers development effort. Prior to joining InSightec, Dr. Prus completed his Ph.D studies at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.
The multidisciplinary InSightec project team encompasses the full spectrum of technical skills essential for this project – Physics (MR and acoustics), Electronic, Software and Mechanical Engineering, plus a clinical applications support team.