Tatton Consulting

innovation

Farming Innovation Programme winner Antler Bio pioneering research on cattle epigenetics

By

Antler Bio

Unlocking the potential | Improving performance | Increasing well-being | Improving sustainability |
Through epigenetics.

Our technology.

Genes are the recipes for proteins, which in turn are the key building blocks in the body. Conventional genetic testing will only look at whether a certain gene is present but not determine if this gene is active or silent. If a gene is silent, the protein that this gene encodes for will not be produced.

What if an important gene is switched off?

DNA testing does not detect this.

DNA doesn’t give the full story. We are delivering the missing data.

Performance and well-being is not about genetics alone, it’s also about the environmental factors and how the animal reacts to and can cope with its surroundings.
Our technology allows us to not only detect which genes are present but also which ones are active and their level of expression.
It allows us to also identify which environmental factors trigger changes in this gene expression allowing game-changing decisions to be made based on the data.

This is epigenetics.

From a single sample we can:

  • Analyse heritability and assess potential
  • Determine which changes in habitat will increase performance
  • Detect developing diseases before symptoms occur

FAQs

  • What is Epigenetics?
  • Why the cattle industry?

We are unlocking this big data through complex bioinformatics, machine-learning and artificial intelligence.

Complex traits require complex analysis.The performance of any given animal is a complex equation, impossible to explain by only looking at single changes in the DNA. The epigenetics data brings us closer to understanding the molecular blueprint of the best and healthiest individuals, but the biggest reason why this data has been inaccessible to breeders so far is the sheer magnitude of it.

Contact us.

Our technology is scalable to any living species and we are expanding. We are especially interested in connecting with stakeholders from different livestock and agricultural industries as well as funds that invest into disruptive seed-stage companies.

info(at)antlerbio.com

Two of Tatton’s Medtech clients featured in an industry ‘ones to watch’ list.

By

Big AI projects in medicine to watch in 2020

Significant, transformational grants won for both this year – 2021 should see them rocket in growth 🚀 #grants #innovateuk #disrupt #tattonconsulting #startups #innovation #venturecapital

Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to touch medicine in many different ways, from making diagnoses to triaging patients. Many AI enterprises will make headlines in 2020:

GlobalData’s medical devices writer Chloe Kent singles out three big projects to watch this year.

Abtrace battles against antimicrobial resistance

Kent says:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest ongoing threats to global health, estimated to cause 25,000 deaths and 2.5 million extra hospital stays per year in Europe alone.

Leading the fight against antimicrobial resistance in the tech world is Abtrace, an AI platform designed to help clinicians prescribe the most appropriate antibiotic for each individual patient they see in their practice. When around 30% of antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate, this couldn’t come at a more vital time.

The platform makes its recommendations through a process known as natural language processing (NLP), where a patient’s healthcare notes are processed through Abtrace’s augmented decision-making tool. In seconds, it presents a recommendation for whether or not an antibiotic should be prescribed, and which antibiotic would be appropriate if so.

Abtrace is a European Institute of Technology Health (EIT Health) Wild Card Project, and will receive up to €2m from the organization to help commercialize the product.”

Pexxi genetic testing aims to decode contraception

Kent says:

Many women who choose to use hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill, implant or ring, have to navigate several different options through trial-and-error until they are able to find a medication that works for them.

The side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives, such as acne, weight gain, anxiety and depression, can have a huge effect on a person’s life, and it can take months or even years before a woman is able to settle on one with no or only minimal adverse effects.

Healthtech start-up Pexxi is aiming to end the contraceptive roulette wheel through AI-powered genetic testing. Users give Pexxi a spit sample, which contains enough information about where their progesterone and estrogen levels naturally sit, as well as whether they have any genetic predispositions to the potential side-effects of one type of pill over another. Pexxi then provides a list of the contraceptive pills the person is most likely to tolerate, with plans to eventually expand to include the implant and ring as well. Pexxi is currently in beta-testing stages, with a plan to eventually reach customers through a 23andMe-style model where they’ll pay a fee to use its services.”

Source:

GlobalData

Tatton appointed the official Grants Partner of KQ Labs @ The Francis Crick Institute

By

Run once a year by the Crick and supported by LifeArc, ten start-ups with the potential to make an impact on global health outcomes have access to unrivalled support and resources.

KQ Labs helps early-stage data-driven health startup founders to validate their ideas and put their startups on a path to receive investment from business angel investors, venture capital and other sources including non-dilutive funding in the form of grants.

The accelerator is called KQ Labs to represent the ‘Knowledge Quarter’ area around the King’s Cross, Euston and Bloomsbury regions of the city. The KQ Labs accelerator represents a unique opportunity to foster a vibrant ecosystem for data-driven health.

The 16-week programme includes funding (£40k) in the form of a convertible loan, weekly workshops with experts tailored to digital health, training in transferable skills, mentoring by a hand-picked network of experts, and discussions with investors and corporates. In addition, the KQ Labs network facilitates access to data (eg from Health Data Research UK or Genomics England) for start-ups that need to validate their technology further. The programme culminates in a Demo Day, when the startups pitch their propositions to potential investors and partners. All selected startup teams have access to a powerful network of global experts in entrepreneurship, health sector expertise, data science and investment strategies.                                                                           

KQ Labs logo

The KQ Labs accelerator programme

  • Specialised investor introductions
  • Introductions to major corporates, especially pharma
  • Mentoring opportunities with a hand-picked network of experts
  • Tailored and customised weekly workshops covering:
    • Data accessibility and ethics
    • Finance and fundraising
    • Customer and market focus
    • Leadership and team building
    • Communications and pitching practice
    • Regulatory requirements
    • Protecting Intellectual Property
    • Corporate legal aspects
    • Market access (UK and international)
    • Scaling
    • Grant funding and writing

Alumni

Find out more about the previous cohorts of KQ Labs start-ups on our alumni page.

£350k grant for Byotrol and Liverpool University to explore the anti-viral properties of seaweed

By

Researchers at Byotrol plc and the University of Liverpool are set to investigate the anti-viral properties of seaweed.

The new project is a collaboration with industrial partner Byotrol plc and will focus on the potential use of anti-viral seaweed compounds in sanitising products, such as hand gels and household cleaners.

The team has been awarded £350K of funding by Innovate UK to carry out the work over the next 16 months.

Easily spread and immune to antibiotics, viruses are very difficult to eradicate and even more expensive to treat, with a limited number of anti-viral solutions. Despite rapid advances in medical and cleaning technology, viruses such as norovirus, influenza and coronavirus continue to pose a major threat to human health and cost the UK billions each year.

AIM-listed hygiene group Byotrol has, for some time, been investigating sustainably sourced anti-virals and has found certain forms of seaweed to have particularly good potential.

The University’s Molecular Virology Research Group will use their expertise to characterise the anti-viral component of the seaweed, evaluate the efficacy of a much broader range of seaweed species and determine its anti-viral mode of action.

Professor James Stewart, who is leading the project at the University of Liverpool, said: “The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop new anti-viral countermeasures, especially ones that are environmentally sustainable. We are excited to be working with Byotrol on the development of these compounds.”

Dr Trevor Francis, Chief Technology Officer of Byotrol plc, said: “We are delighted that Innovate UK is supporting our research into the anti-viral properties of seaweeds and we are very pleased to be working on this project with Professor James Stewart’s excellent team at the University of Liverpool. It is a very exciting area of development for Byotrol.”/Public Release. The material in this public release comes from the originating organization and may be of a point-in-time nature, edited for clarity, style and length. View in full here.

18 new R&D grants for summer to help you keep innovating!

By

Innovation - lighting up the bulb

The sunshine has been showing its face recently, which means summer is finally on its way!

To celebrate we’ve handpicked 18 of the latest R&D grants for you. 

Using digital technology to support psychological therapies (SBRI competition)

Funding is available for eligible projects that provide psychological support for children and young people by developing new solutions using digital technology.

Catalysing Green Innovation: strand 2: Securing the future of ZEV

Driving Electric Revolution and the Office of Low Emission Vehicles are coming together to invest up to £15 million in innovation projects that look to support the UK’s push towards net zero.

EUREKA GlobalStars Singapore CRD – Round 2

An opportunity is now open aiming to support innovative proposals developed between the UK, Singapore and other EUREKA participating members. UK applicants can apply for a total grant of up to £350,000 for each project.

Energy Catalyst round 8: clean energy access, feasibility projects

Applications are now being taken for organisations championing projects that develop innovative solutions for clean, affordable and secure energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or South East Asia.

Energy Catalyst round 8: clean energy – experimental development

With the aim of supporting highly innovative, market focused energy solutions in any technology or sector, eligible projects in this competition must encourage the development of products and services that help countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or South East Asia.

Catalysing Green Innovation: strand 1, advancing PEMD supply chain

There is a share of up to £5million for UK registered businesses working collaboratively to develop supply chain capability for power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD)

Young Innovators Awards 2020/21

Calling all young innovators! Applications are now open for young people to make their business idea a reality. The award consists of a £5,000 grant, tailored business support and a living allowance.

UK Canada Quantum Technology Programme CR&D competition

UK businesses, in collaboration with a Canadian partner, are welcome to apply for up to £300,000 for projects that look to advance the development and application of quantum technologies.

EUREKA GlobalStars Japan

The competition is looking to invest £1million to fund UK businesses, in collaboration with a partner from Japan, leading collaborative research and development (R&D) projects that result in a new product, industrial process or service.

Designing sustainable plastic solutions

Investment of up to £800,000 is available to fund early-stage, human-centred design projects to reduce the harm that plastics have on our environment.

APC16: developing the UK’s low carbon automotive capability

This competition is seeking proposals for collaborative R&D projects, demonstrating the development of on-vehicle technologies for on or off-road vehicles. Projects must either accelerate the development of technologies capable of low and zero emissions or demonstrate a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Future flight challenge phase 2: strand 1, fast track development

There is up to £30million ready to invest in projects that develop integrated aviation systems and vehicle technologies, enabling a new class of electric or autonomous air vehicles.

Future flight challenge phase 2: strand 2, development

Phase 2 of the competition encourages applications from larger consortia who wish to undertake significant or ambitious projects that strive to integrate technologies and systems.

EUREKA: healthy ageing

There is investment of up to £2million to UK registered businesses to develop digital health technologies in partnership with organisations from EUREKA countries.

EUREKA collaborative R&D: UK Sweden aerospace 2020

The ATI programme is now taking applications for UK businesses working on collaborative research and development projects focused on industrial research. Projects must demonstrate alignment to the aerospace R&D strategies in your nation.

EUREKA collaborative R&D: advanced materials

Investment of up to £1million is available to collaborative projects focused on business led research and development. Projects must result in new products, industrial processes or services and must be innovative and involve a technological risk.
 

Innovative Scholars secondments: biomedical sciences, strand 3

UKRI invites applications for individuals from any discipline who wish to spend up to 36 months on secondment in the biomedical sciences sector.
 

Innovation Scholars secondments: biomedical sciences, strand 2

As above, this competition is strand 2 of secondment in the biomedical sciences sector. This strand closes on July 1st 2020.

For more information on any of these funding opportunities, or if you have any questions about planning an application, come and talk to the team at Tatton Consulting.

Innovate UK SMART & COVID funding

As you may have seen, the next SMART round has been postponed until August now, with a likely closing date in October/ November. Whilst this is disappointing, Innovate UK have agreed to put more funding into the last SMART round and have announced that some new COVID specific funding will be launched soon.

We will be sending round details of this as soon as we have it.

Welcome to the latest funding opportunities this spring!

By

After a very wet and windy winter, the Tatton Consulting team are looking forward to a bright and exciting spring. And what better way to get the new season started than to take a look at some of the great new funding opportunities open at the moment.

March 2020 expression of interest: Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programmeThe Aerospace Technology Institute Programme is at the Expression of Interest stage of a 3 stage competition, looking to invest in projects that maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace, and meet the Aerospace Technology Strategy, “raising Ambition’.

Competition opens 2nd March and closes 18th March at 12pm.
Award – total fund available £3.9billion

SBRI: monitor and visualise domestic pollution to safeguard health
Innovate UK are looking to fund organisations of any size who can develop and demonstrate new products and/or services that enable households to measure, visualise and respond to air pollution and safeguard health.

Phase 1 competition opens 19th Feb and closes 15th April 12pm.
Award – phase 1 – up to £20K, phase 2 up to £300K.

Demonstrators addressing cyber security challenges in the Internet of Things: round 2  
This competition, funded by Innovate UK, is looking for projects that aim to solve industry-focused cyber security related challenges. A preference will be given to projects that include a plan to test near-to-market interventions and experiments in real environments.

Competition opens 27th January and closes 15th April at 12pm.
Award – Maximum of £2m per project.

Seafood Innovation Fund
A £10M UK Seafood Innovation fund is looking to support the UK’s fishing, aquaculture and seafood industries, by inviting projects that deliver cutting edge technology and innovation in the productivity and sustainability of UK Seafood into the future.

Competition opens 7th February and closes 20th April.
Award – Feasibility studies up to £50K. Full R&D projects up to £250K.

UK-Canada: enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability
In line with the aims of the transforming food production challenge, innovative research and development projects – involving UK businesses working with partners in Canada – are being invited to apply for funding. The aim s to bring new businesses and technologies into both the UK and Canadian agriculture sectors, taking into account the needs of farmers and growers.

Competition opens 27th January and closes 20th May at 5pm.
Award – A combined total funding for UK partners of £400K per application.

ISCF smart sustainable plastic packaging: feasibility studies and industrial research
Innovate UK are looking to invest up to £1M from the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Programme for early stage projects in smart and sustainable plastic packaging. Projects must contribute to one of more of the UK Plastics Pact targets.

Competition opens 13th January and closes 1st April at 12pm.
Award – £1M available for eligible projects.

Funding for SMEs in the manufacturing sector
Calling all SMEs working in the manufacturing sector. In particular, projects that integrate key enabling technologies to solve clean production challenges. Key enabling technologies include micro and nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics and advanced manufacturing technologies.


For more information on any of these funding opportunities, or if you have any questions about planning an application, come and talk to the team at Tatton Consulting.

Funding Milestone – £40m in grants won!

After 5 years hard work, we are very pleased to announce that we now successfully secured over £40 million in repayment-free, interest-free, equity-free grant funding to help our clients innovate and grow. 

Recent success include;

  • £4,000,000 for a national food traceability project,
  • £15,100,000 for Clean energy project in Africa;
  • £1,150,000 for the big data project across the insurance, legal and accountancy industry. 

 Not bad for a small team in the North West! 

New Offices

I am pleased to advise that we have moved offices and are now delighted to be part of the exciting cluster of technology companies at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Please come and say hello if your on-site! 

Tatton Consulting Ltd.                   
The Innovation Centre,
Sci-Tech Daresbury,
Keckwick Lane,
Daresbury
WA4 4FS