Specialist funds launched to support novel regenerative therapies in UK

Exclusive funding for regenerative medicine projects with academic and industry collaborators were launched at an event at the UK’s University of York last week (Wednesday 20 June).

The event, organized by Regener8 and the Medical Technologies Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC), launched a call for five proof-of-concept (PoC) awards of up to £100,000 ($155,590) to fund projects that align with the therapeutic priorities identified in the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Regenerative Medicine Strategy.

The funding is being provided by the Medical Technologies IKC, which is funded by the UK Research Councils, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board to accelerate and enhance innovation between academic and industry collaborators in key projects that meet clear selection criteria and demonstrate significant commercial potential and to expand this successful scheme beyond Leeds to the other N8 universities. The launch aimed to encourage Expressions of Interest (EoI) in hard and soft tissue applications particularly in the specialist fields of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal medicine.