North East England Healthcare & Life Sciences News

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June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006

June 2007

16 June 2007 - "New push to speed up referral times for children with arthritis in Newcastle"
- Researchers in Newcastle are hoping to speed up the time it takes to get children with arthritis referred for appropriate care and treatment. Currently some children with arthritis in the local area are facing “considerable delays” in being diagnosed and referred to specialist hospital care.

15 June 2007 - "Elevated Pepsin Levels May Lead to Rejection of Lung Transplants"
- Researchers at Newcastle University have demonstrated that high levels of pepsin, a digestive enzyme that is a marker for gastric aspiration, are associated with acute rejection of a lung transplant. This research provides further evidence that lung rejection may be caused by factors other than alloimmunity, the attack the body mounts to protect itself against “foreign” cells.

13 June 2007 - "Genes behind serious illnesses discovered"
- There has been wide-spread coverage of a major advance in understanding the genetics behind several common diseases. The Wellcome Trust study analysed DNA from the blood of 17,000 people to find genetic differences.

May 2007

23 May 2007 - "Quest for equality is no small matter, study shows"
- Adults with restricted growth, or dwarfism, are far more disabled by social barriers and by medical problems than has previously been realised, according to a report published today (Tuesday 8 May). A team of researchers at Newcastle University, led by sociologist Dr Tom Shakespeare and geneticist Dr Michael Wright, conducted the three-year study, which was managed by the Restricted Growth Association.

April 2007

23 April 2007 - "e-Therapeutics raises funding for next phase in drug development"
- e-Therapeutics Ltd, the leading systems biology drug discovery company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of an undisclosed 7-figure investment round with Katalyst Ventures, Novotech Investment, and NorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI). All parties will join RAB Capital as backers of the revolutionary drug discovery firm.

13 April 2007 - "Early-stage sperm cells created from human bone marrow"
- Human bone marrow has been used to create early-stage sperm cells for the first time, a scientific step forward that will help researchers understand more about how sperm cells are created. The research published today (Friday, April 13 2007), in the academic journal Reproduction: Gamete Biology, was led by Professor Karim Nayernia (pictured), formerly of the University of Göttingen in Germany but now of Newcastle Univesity and the North-east England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI).

4 April 2007 - "Centre will aid development of new therapies for debilitating diseases"
- A unique facility which puts the North East at the forefront of early phase trials of modern therapies used in the treatment of chronic diseases has been formally opened. The Wilson Horne Immunotherapy Centre is the first Centre of its kind in the UK to be dedicated to the study and development of new therapies that target the human immune system to treat diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

March 2007

20 March 2007 - "Newcastle stem cell expert advises U.S. Senators"
- A Newcastle scientist has visited Washington to advise Senators and Congressmen about research into stem cells. Professor Colin McGuckin (pictured), of the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI*), attended a Congressional Lunch on Capitol Hill as guest of honour on Monday, 12 March.

6 March 2007 - "New MRC Centre for muscle disease research"
- Newcastle University's Neuromuscular Group has been chosen to be part of the Medical Research Council's (MRC) first UK translational research centre for the study of disabling, muscle-wasting neuromuscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy and peripheral neuropathies. The MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases is a joint initiative between the University, the Institute of Neurology at University College London (UCL) and the Institute of Child Health which aims to turn basic science findings into clinical trials and new treatments for neuromuscular diseases.

February 2007

20 February 2007 - "Angel announces stem cell contract with CellGenea"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, today announced the signing of a contract with the biotechnology company CellGenea. The contract is in the area of stem cell manufacturing, an area of particular expertise for Angel, and is expected to take approximately 12 months.

12 February 2007 - "Spin out company bought for 150m dollars"
- A biotechnology company set up by researchers at Newcastle University in collaboration with three other universities, has been bought for 150 million dollars by the pharmaceuticals giant, AstraZeneca. Arrow Therapeutics Ltd, which specialises in the discovery and development of anti-viral therapies, was established in 1998, as a 'spin out' company by Newcastle, Cambridge and Oxford Universities and University College London.

1 February 2007 - "Eye on the future of medical technology"
- A Northumberland-based medical device manufacturer has visions of capturing the pupilometry market thanks to a £590,000 investment from North Star Equity Investors (NSEI). Applied Neurodiagnostics Ltd (ANL), which has premises in Cramlington, will use the funding to develop and manufacture an innovative range of eye-tracking products. Among other uses, they will be used for early stage diagnosis of neurological disorders.

1 February 2007 - "Newcastle scientists advise Sir Richard Branson on cord blood bank"
- Newcastle University scientists have been advising businessman Sir Richard Branson on his plans to establish a pioneering cord blood stem cell bank, which would allow parents to invest in their children's health by saving cells taken from the umbilical cord at birth. The Virgin Health Bank will enable parents to store the cord blood stem cells at low temperatures for possible use in the treatment of certain blood disorders later in their children's lives and also for possible donation to other people needing treatment.

January 2007

31 January 2007 - "Visit sows the seeds of research collaboration"
- Scientists from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU, formerly the University of Port Elizabeth) in South Africa have paid a flying visit to Newcastle University to discuss the establishment of a research partnership which will look to developing treatments for diabetes using traditional medicines. Professor Andrew Leitch, Dean of Science at NMMU (pictured right, with Dr Okello), and Dr Maryna Van de Venter, a lecturer and member of the Medicinal Plant Research Team, spent two days with Dr Ed Okello, Executive Director of Newcastle University's Medicinal Plant Research Group (MPRG), and Dr Kirsten Brandt, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, looking at the work of the MPRC, and touring the University's facilities.

30 January 2007 - "Science policymakers to attend summit"
- Dozens of the UK’s leading scientists and scientific policymakers will gather in North East England on 1 and 2 February at the third Science Cities Summit, in which Newcastle University is playing a major role. Entitled ‘The Triple Helix in Action: Opportunities and Obstacles,’ the conference aims to chart progress made across the UK in building ‘Triple Helix’ partnerships of business, universities and government through the unique focus and impetus of Science Cities.

24 January 2007 - "Robot nurses on wards in three years"
- Swarms of intelligent robots that can clean, tidy and even attend to patients remotely could revolutionise the provision of healthcare in hospitals. The European team of scientists behind the development hope the robotic nurses could be put to work in hospitals within three years, helping to patrol and monitor wards, dealing with problems and easing the burden on hospital staff.

23 January 2007 - "Biological link to heart failure revealed"
- Researchers at the Institute for Ageing and Health have identified a method to help predict which elderly people are more likely to develop heart failure. In a study published in the European Heart Journal, a team of researchers, led by Professor Bernard Keavney, found a strong link between telomere length – a biological marker of ageing – and the function of the heart in a group of 85-year olds taking part in the Newcastle 85+ study.

16 January 2007 - "A cure for MRSA?"
- Scientists in the North-East last night claimed to have found a cure for the deadly hospital superbug MRSA. A new medical research firm in Newcastle said it had identified three drugs that kill the bug - which is blamed for thousands of hospital deaths every year.

12 January 2007 - "Scientists map genetic code of parasite"
- Newcastle University has helped map the DNA of an organism that causes sexually transmitted infections in millions of people, helping to pave the way for new types of treatment. Dr Robert Hirt, from the School of Biology & Psychology and the Institute for Research on Environment and Sustainability (IRES), is one of an international team of researchers which has successfully mapped the genome of Trichomonas vaginalis, a eukaryotic parasite responsible for the sexually-transmitted infection Trichomonas ('trich' for short), which affects an estimated 170 million men and women worldwide every year.

5 January 2007 - "Durham University receives £1.5m grant for new science institute"
- Durham University has received a major £1.5m investment from the Wolfson Foundation, a charitable organisation supporting scientific research, to put towards the development of a new Biophysical Sciences Institute. Research at the BSI will capture the current international momentum to develop inter-disciplinary approaches to complex biological problems in a number of wide ranging fields such as memory, evolution and cell transport processes.

December 2006

20 December 2006 - "Middlesbrough Researcher Receives Over £84k to Fight Heart Disease"
- National charity Heart Research UK has awarded more than £84,000 to an exciting new medical research project at Durham University which could impact on the treatment of sufferers of coronary artery disease across the UK. Mr Andrew Owens, who is also a heart surgeon at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and is leading the research, has been awarded £84,040 to carry out research to see if arteries can be grown outside the body using human skin cells.

13 December 2006 - "Newcastle named as centre for excellence in biomedicine"
- Newcastle has been named as one of 11 Biomedical Research Centres of excellence - described as 'among the most outstanding centres of medical research in the world' - and will share £450m over the next five years to conduct research into major diseases. The Newcastle Centre will specialise in the diseases and disorders of ageing and will be a partnership between Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

8 December 2006 - "Businesswoman appointed as Newcastle Science City director"
- A highly-experienced businesswoman and marketing expert has been appointed to lead the next stage of development for Newcastle Science City, in which Newcastle University is a partner. Sarah Stewart is now taking on responsibility for the strategic direction of the project, which aims to establish North East England as one of the world’s premier locations for the integration of science, business and economic development.

November 2006

30 November 2006 - "£6.7m initiative to aid muscle disease patients"
- Newcastle University is leading a multi-million pound international network aimed at improving treatment and finding cures for thousands of patients with debilitating neuromuscular diseases. Some of the world’s leading doctors and scientists are part of the £6.7m (10m euros) ‘network of excellence’, the first of its kind, which has been funded by the European Union following extensive lobbying from the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM) and other patient groups and clinicians.

7 November 2006 - "Durham University in £6 million venture to develop world-leading science in North of England"
- Durham University is part of a new £6 million project that aims to transform the North into a world class research centre set to rival the “golden triangle” of Cambridge, Oxford and London and the ‘Ivy league’ universities of the United States. The N8 project is funded by Northern Way, a partnership between regional development agencies including One NorthEast, and will allow scientists from Durham University to collaborate with other pioneering research centres in a virtual network of research-intensive universities in the North including Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester, York, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle.

6 November 2006 - "Researchers seek permission for stem cell work using animal eggs"
- Stem cell scientists are seeking permission to use animal eggs in research which aims to lead to the development of new therapies for debilitating human conditions such as Parkinson’s Diseasea and strokes. Dr Lyle Armstrong , who is based at the North East England Stem Cell Institute* (NESCI ) at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle, today submitted an application for a three-year licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for the work.

1 November 2006 - "Medicines from the rain forests"
- A Newcastle University company which has developed the world's fastest drug profiling system has joined forces with a Brazilian company to seek new medicines from the South American rain forests. At a time when the number of new drugs in the world's development pipeline has dwindled, the University's drug discovery company e-Therapeutics has formed a partnership with Brazilian company Grupo TCI to establish a joint research facility close to the Amazonian and Atlantic rain forests, to start testing substances from the millions of plants in the most diverse ecosystem on the planet.

October 2006

30 October 2006 - "CELS launches Healthcare Network to support North East England’s healthcare economy"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving the growth of North East England’s healthcare economy, today announced the launch of the CELS Healthcare Network. The CELS Healthcare Network is a unique membership organisation open to all healthcare companies in North East England.

27 October 2006 - "Scientists help Stroke Victims look into the Dark"
- In the UK around 120,000 people a year will suffer from a stroke, and it is the third most common cause of death and the single most common cause of severe disability. Typically, we associate strokes with limb paralysis and impaired speech, but 20% of those who suffer from a stroke will end up with a visual defect called Hemianopia, a partial blindness caused by damage to part of the brain called the primary visual cortex.

27 October 2006 - "New research centre to tackle world’s major health issues"
- A new multi-million pound research centre which will tackle many of the major health issues facing our global society is launched today, Friday October 27 2006. Newcastle University’s new Institute of Health and Society (IHS) will be officially opened by the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, who will also be speaking at a launch event on campus.

20 October 2006 - "Research could lead to cost effective cancer drug"
- Scientists at the University of Sunderland have joined forces with a US university in a new project that aims to make a miracle cancer drug affordable. The university is jointly funding the research of PhD student Giso Abadi from Valdosta State University in Georgia, who is working with Sunderland scientists Dr Lyn Noble and Professor Paul Groundwater on the anti-cancer agent bryostatin.

12 October 2006 - "Sales and marketing agreement for North America"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, is pleased to announce a Sales and Marketing agreement for North America with Nigel Gaymond, President of Gaymond International. Nigel Gaymond has worked in the life sciences industry for 20 years and under the terms of the agreement, he will use his extensive experience and influence to promote and represent Angel’s cGMP contract biomanufacturing services in North America.

10 October 2006 - "New research centre to tackle world’s major health issues"
- A Newcastle University professor will play a leading role in a £35m network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMC), which is being set up to co-ordinate the efforts of the UK's top research centres and bring benefits to patients as quickly as possible. Herbie Newell (pictured), Professor of Cancer Therapeutics, will oversee the running of the network, which is being funded by Cancer Research UK, the leading cancer charity, and the Departments of Health in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

September 2006

26 September 2006 - "First female Chair of Chemistry appointed at Durham University"
- Professor Judith Howard, CBE FRS, has been appointed as the new Chair of Chemistry at Durham University, making her the first woman Chair of a Five Star Research Rated Chemistry Department at a UK university. Professor Howard is a leading international scientist in her field of crystallography and well known amongst the global scientific community for her dedication to interdisciplinary science.

21 September 2006 - "National Forensic Science Experts Gather for North East Conference"
- The region’s Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS) has joined forces with its partner networking forum BioNEt, to host a forensic science event at Durham University tomorrow (22nd September 2006). The conference – ‘The Application of Biological and Analytical Techniques to Forensic Science’, has attracted speakers, delegates and forensic experts from across the UK to give lectures on different aspects of forensic science.

1 September 2006 - "Durham receives new round of research investment from the British Heart Foundation"
- Scientists at Durham University have been awarded a major research grant by The British Heart Foundation (BHF). Durham University’s Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, part of the North-east England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), won the grant, worth over £132,000, to help clarify the existence of stem cells in the heart so that their role and potential use in treating heart disease can be better understood.

August 2006

24 August 2006 - "North East scientists to lead €5.5m development of handheld DVT detection device"
- The European Commission Information Society & Media Directorate General has awarded €3.3 million to a consortium of eleven leading European research and high-tech firms to innovate a digital, handheld, highly accurate medical device for diagnosing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism. This adds to the consortium’s contribution of €2.2 milion, bringing the total R&D investment to €5.5 million.

10 August 2006 - "Stem cell scientists to speak at Vatican"
- Two University scientists have been invited to the Vatican to speak about their research using stem cells from babies’ umbilical cords. Prof Colin McGuckin and Dr Nico Forraz were the first in the world to produce embryonic-like stem cells from umbilical cord blood and are making further advances in this field of research.

8 August 2006 - "Angel announces extension of GMP Stem cell contract"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, is pleased to announce an extension to its GMP contract with ReNeuron Group plc, a leading player in the field of stem cell therapies. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

4 August 2006 - "Research and treatment centre for elderly gets green light"
- Plans for a £7.75m centre in Newcastle to develop new treatments for the diseases of old age have been approved in principle, after being selected as one of the country's high priority projects. The Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU) will be built, subject to final approval, on the Campus for Ageing and Vitality at the back of Newcastle General Hospital, in a joint venture by Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

1 August 2006 - "Study provides new insights into brain organisation"
- Scientists have provided new insights into how the brain is organised - knowledge which could eventually inform diagnosis of and treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and autism. A study by Newcastle University and the International University Bremen, Germany, debunked a prevailing theory that the nervous system should have mainly very short nerve fibre connections between nerve cells, or neurons, to function at its most effective.

July 2006

27 July 2006 - "Egg sharing go-ahead for stem cell researchers"
- Stem cell researchers have been given permission to recruit human egg donors for stem cell research using an existing clinical practice known as egg sharing. Under the egg sharing scheme, the research team would contribute to the cost of a patient’s IVF treatment in return for the donation of some of her eggs.

19 July 2006 - "CELS Strengthens team as Healthcare Network gains momentum"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the healthcare economy in North East England, has appointed Dion Griffith and Lesley-Ann Gallagher as sector support manager and sector skills manager, respectively. Both will be involved in growing the Healthcare Network, a major new regional network helping to support and grow the healthcare companies in North East England.

10 July 2006 - "World-first stem cell research could aid male infertility"
- Scientists have shown for the first time that sperm grown from embryonic stem cells can be used to produce offspring. The experiment was carried out using mice and produced seven babies, six of which lived to adulthood.

June 2006

22 June 2006 - "CELS announces £1.25 million cash injection for region’s healthcare sector"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the region’s healthcare economy, has formed a unique collaboration with Northumbria University. The Integrated Services Training and Products or ‘InSTeP’ initiative will see £1.25 million invested in the region’s healthcare sector over the next two years, offering an integrated design service to small to medium-sized businesses involved in the development of products and services for the healthcare sector.

22 June 2006 - "NE attracts another top stem cell scientist"
- A North East University has lured another top international stem cell scientist to the region. Karim Nayernia (pictured), who is relocating from Germany to take up the post of Professor of Stem Cell Biology at Newcastle University, is carrying out pioneering work that has the potential to lead to future therapies for a range of medical conditions such as heart disease, Parkinson’s Disease and male infertility.

21 June 2006 - "Plants could aid drug development"
- University researchers have travelled to South Africa to explore potential collaboration on drug development using medicinal plants. A scientific delegation was led by Dr Ed Okello (pictured), of the Medicinal Plant Research Centre, and included members of staff from Newcastle and Northumbria universities.

16 June 2006 - "Experts arrive in Newcastle for stem cell conference"
- Scientists, academics and key industry figures from across the UK are gathered in Newcastle today for a conference on developing the region’s stem cell economy. The event was organised by the Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation created by regional development agency One NorthEast to drive growth of the healthcare economy, and BioNEt, the region’s leading network for research scientists.

6 June 2006 - "RDA Chairman opens pioneering new labs"
- The North East is to be the focus of the most detailed study ever undertaken to try to identify the biological, social and medical factors that enable people to stay healthy in their old age. The Newcastle 85+ Study is being conducted by a team at Newcastle University's Institute for Ageing and Health, led by expert on ageing, Professor Tom Kirkwood and Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Joanna Collerton, with funding from the Medical Research Council.

5 June 2006 - "RDA Chairman opens pioneering new labs"
- A suite of labs that will help establish North East England at the forefront of medical research will be officially opened this week. One NorthEast Chairman Margaret Fay will open two new sets of labs at Life Knowledge Park (LKP) at the Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre for Life on June 7.

May 2006

31 May 2006 - "Scientists celebrate stem cell business success"
- Newcastle University scientists are embarking on an international stem cell business collaboration, which will bring them another step closer to developing new patient therapies. A team of stem cell researchers has formed a partnership with a major American stem cell company which is going to invest £160,000 in their work.

23 May 2006 - "Successful completion of Chr. Hansen A/S contract"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a project for Chr. Hansen A/S, a company providing innovative ingredient solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, nutritional and agricultural industries. Using its proprietary High Throughput Screening system, Angel was able to double the yield of a key protein produced by one of Chr. Hansen's industrial production strains, significantly exceeding the target increase.

22 May 2006 - "UK Haptics - A UKTI success story"
- A company that has developed what it claims is a unique medical training tool has targeted sales of £4m in the next four years after raising £480,000 for further development of the virtual technology. Husband and wife team Gary and Sue Todd set up UK Haptics, based in Rothbury, Northumberland, in 2002 and have spent the past four years developing an application for the technology in venepuncture - puncturing veins with needles for the drawing of blood or administration of medicine.

18 May 2006 - "Young North East stem cell scientist commended at House of Commons"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the region’s healthcare economy, and ReInnervate, a CELS funded spin-out from the School of Biological Science at Durham University, this week celebrate the success of a sponsored PhD student at a prestigious awards event held at the Houses of Parliament. Through CELS’ BioNEt Industrial Studentship scheme, PhD student Victoria Christie, 26, has been carrying out stem cell research at Durham University to understand the bio-molecules involved in neural cell formation.

9 May 2006 - "Angel contracted by Phico Therapeutics"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer and Phico Therapeutics Ltd, an early stage biotech company developing a novel anti-bacterial platform technology, are pleased to announce the details of process scale-up and good manufacturing practice (GMP) contracts. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

3 May 2006 - "New centre for the study of poisons launched"
- A new centre for the study of poisons, a joint venture between Newcastle University and the Health Protection Agency, opened on Tuesday May 2. The new, multi-million pound Medical Toxicology/ Bio-monitoring Research Centre will build on an existing collaboration between the University and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

1 May 2006 - "3-D imaging stars in new e-Science production"
- Government Chief Scientist Sir David King enters a new dimension this week when he meets Durham University scientists for an update on their exciting work in e Science. The purpose-built e-Science Research Institute, which he will officially open during his visit, uses massive computer power to process huge amounts of data and includes a spectacular 3-D large-screen facility for visualising scientific features in tremendous detail.

April 2006

28 April 2006 - "Angel strengthens business development team"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Business Development Managers, Ian Hallet and Gary Oliff.

24 April 2006 - "CELS boosts region’s leading sensor technologists"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the region’s healthcare economy, announces the completion of a £220,000 investment in Electrochemical Sensor Technology Ltd, (‘EST’) a North East technology company. EST will use the CELS’ investment to implement a targeted sales and marketing campaign primarily focusing on applying its revolutionary sensor technology to the detection and measurement of ammonia.

20 April 2006 - "Hoefer, Inc. signs agreement with Nonlinear Dynamics to distribute the TotalLab range of image analysis solutions"
- Nonlinear Dynamics Ltd, a leading provider of image analysis and bioinformatics solutions, and Hoefer, Inc. (Hoefer), a subsidiary of Harvard Bioscience (HBIO) and world-renowned supplier of gel electrophoresis equipment, today announced a worldwide distribution agreement. Under the new agreement, Nonlinear's TotalLab 1D image analysis range will be supplied with the ULTima range of imaging systems from Hoefer.

19 April 2006 - "Leading scientist to speak at Centre for Life"
- Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward in conversation at Centre for Life. Science fans from around the region are invited to an audience with author and presenter, Professor Richard Dawkins and actress Lalla Ward at Newcastle’s Centre for Life.

8 April 2006 - "Scientists look at drug tests option"
- A team of North-East stem cell scientists are working on a project which could make experimental drug trials safer for humans. Concerns about the risks undertaken by human guinea pigs during so-called phase one drug trials came to the fore recently when volunteers became dangerously ill.

5 April 2006 - "Derwentside is home to unique biotechnology"
- A fledgling biotech company, established in Consett's new Innovation Centre, is developing unique technologies and products for the life science and biomanufacturing sectors that will provide massive potential for success in a global market. Dr Chad Zhang, founder of BioToolomics Ltd, is working at the cutting edge of technology in the key area of bioseparation, vital in the development of biomolecule based drugs.

4 April 2006 - "MRSA test scoops award"
- A test which speeds up the diagnosis of MRSA has won the NHS Bright Ideas in Health Awards. Operational services manager at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, Dr Michael Ford received the award in the innovative device or technology category at The Sage Gateshead, for his HDA Medium Test which identifies antibiotic resistant strains of MRSA within 24 hours, cutting the previous diagnosis time by half.

3 April 2006 - "CELS appoints international CEO to lead regional economic growth"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the healthcare economy in North East England, has appointed international businessman Mike Asher as chief executive starting April 3rd, 2006. Toronto-born Asher, 44, joins CELS with over 20 years experience in business, of which 14 have been running international science and healthcare-related businesses.

March 2006

31 March 2006 - "Insight Newsletter from Cenamps"

28 March 2006 - "Biosystems Informatics Institute (Bii) expands management team with CFO appointment"
- Biosystems Informatics Institute (Bii) and its commercial trading arm, Turbinia Ltd, announced today the further expansion of its senior management team with the appointment of Colin Proudfoot as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Since qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1985, Colin has gained extensive experience in many aspects of financial control and strategy, including M&A, cross-border tax issues, currency hedging, capital investment in numerous countries, business modelling, strategy development & implementation, capital raising, commercial negotiations and compliance.

23 March 2006 - "Healthy outlook for North East stem cell company"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the healthcare economy of North East England, has secured £450,000 of funding for the biotechnology company ‘ReInnervate’, a spin-out from the highly-acclaimed School of Biological Science at Durham University. Founded in 2002 by Durham University’s Dr Stefan Przyborski, ReInnervate has a growing reputation in the field of biotechnology and is set to play an important role in developing stem cell technology as an emerging sector in the North East’s economy.

17 March 2006 - "Forty year old drug offers hope for eczema sufferers"
- Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a new and safe way to use a 40-year-old drug which has been found to be effective in the treatment of the commonest form of eczema. A randomised clinical trial involving 63 adult patients with atopic eczema, and published in the current edition of the Lancet (published 11 March) found that the drug, azathioprine, developed in the 1960s for kidney transplant patients, worked in a significant number of cases when compared to a placebo.

6 March 2006 - "£5m ‘super-scanner’ centre opens to probe health conditions"
- North East England’s first-ever magnetic resonance research centre opens its doors today, Monday March 6, paving the way for new treatments for illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The key feature of the £5m Newcastle University Centre for Magnetic Resonance Studies is the region’s first £1.8m ‘super-strength’ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, which is twice as strong as those normally used in hospitals.

6 March 2006 - "Plant cell breakthrough holds promise for healthcare market"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), the organisation driving growth of the healthcare economy of the North East, has secured £200,000 funding to help scientists in the region pioneer a revolutionary new technology that could lead to exciting new healthcare applications. ‘Creative Gene Technology’ (CGT), a spin out company from Durham University, was founded in 2000 by Professors Toni Slabas and Keith Lindsey of the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

3 March 2006 - "Joint biological scale up development contract"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, and Industrial Biotechnology Corporation ("IBC") (OTC: IBTY) jointly announce a biological scale up development contract. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

February 2006

15 February 2006 - "Angel announces extension to contract with Chr. Hansen A/S"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, that was recently admitted to trading on AIM, and Chr. Hansen A/S, a company providing innovative ingredient solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, nutritional and agricultural industries, are pleased to announce an extension to the contract signed in 2005. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

11 February 2006 - "Major investment in stem cell research at Centre for Life"
- Work starts today (Saturday, 11 February) on a £3.8m upgrade of fertility services and stem cell research facilities at the Centre for Life in Newcastle. The £3.8m investment, under the banner of Science City, will enable new facilities to be built, including clean room laboratories, purpose-designed for stem cell research, which will provide a contamination-free environment where 'clinical grade' cells can be produced, bringing the treatment of patients a step closer.

7 February 2006 - "Angel and ReNeuron announce GMP Stem Cell contract"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, that was recently admitted to AIM, and ReNeuron Group plc, a leading player in the field of stem cell theraputics, are pleased to announce details of a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing contract. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

January 2006

24 January 2006 - "Angel and BioEos announce extension of contract"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, that was recently admitted to AIM, and BioEos Ltd are pleased to announce an extension to the contract signed in 2005. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

23 January 2006 - "Infections could contribute to adult brain tumours"
- Infections could play a key role in triggering certain types of adult brain cancer, according to results from a new statistical analysis of the disease. The international study, led by Dr Richard McNally at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, was funded by Cancer Research UK, the Dutch Cancer Society, and the Christie Hospital Research Endowment Fund.

19 January 2006 - "Angel announces GMP manufacturing contract for autologous cell therapy"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, that was recently admitted to AIM, is pleased to announce a GMP manufacturing deal with a US-based company. Under the contract, valued at US $0.8 million, Angel will manufacture and supply GMP materials for use in an autologous cell therapy in UK-based clinical trials.

13 January 2006 - "Ageing research is food for thought"
- A world-leading new £6.4 million research centre at Newcastle University is beginning an ambitious programme of study into the impact of diet on ageing. The Centre for Integrated Systems Biology of Ageing and Nutrition (CISBAN) is a government-funded flagship project for the study a new field of research known as systems biology.

11 January 2006 - "Angel signs contract with Millipore Bioprocessing Ltd"
- Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, that was recently admitted to AIM, is pleased to announce a contract with Millipore Bioprocessing Ltd (Millipore) for the provision of services through 2006. The agreement continues the long-term working relationship between Angel and Millipore which was established in 2003.

11 January 2006 - "Business beckons for stem cell scientist"
- A scientist with a novel idea for using stem cells to test new drugs is getting a rare chance to develop it for the business world. Dr Nico Forraz, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, is one of only four scientists being given the opportunity to take part in a major national programme aimed at helping turn real ideas into businesses.

11 January 2006 - "North East ‘BIONETWORK’ gears up for 2006"
- The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS) and its partner forum BioNEt, have set the pace for a busy year of networking in the North East by organising a series of events for the region’s bioscience experts. Leading scientists, top academics and key industry figures from across the region’s life sciences community have a whole host of events to look forward to in 2006, the first two of which are set to take place in January.

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