Vertebrate Antibodies KTP 1

Case Study

Vertebrate Antibodies KTP 1 + University of Aberdeen

Antibodies to Impact: VAL’s leap into cancer diagnostics

Learn how VAL's KTP journey began by transforming their antibody tech for cancer diagnostics.

Awards and Achievements

KTP Final Grade: A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The project was awarded the highest grade of "Outstanding" by the KTP Grading Panel for its achievement in meeting KTP objectives.

📖 The expression of brown fat-associated proteins in colorectal cancer and the relationship of uncoupling protein 1 with prognosis

Some types of cancer cells are known to express proteins usually limited to brown fat cells. These proteins, including one called UCP1, appear to enhance tumor growth. In this study, using a range of bioinformatics tools, the authors found that UCP1 expression is strongly and independently associated with survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). These results suggest that tumor UCP1 levels may provide a valuable prognostic biomarker in CRC, and may also enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in its progression.
Find out more about 📖 The expression of brown fat-associated proteins in colorectal cancer and the relationship of uncoupling protein 1 with prognosis

Vertebrate Antibodies Ltd (VAL) is a biotech company that is focused on the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) towards novel biomarker targets for research and clinical applications. The company was established in 2011 in response to demand for high quality antibodies, especially for difficult human targets and non-human species and operated mainly in the reagent tools for research use.

University of Aberdeen

The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and nutrition has a world-class environment to create opportunities to develop knowledge that will promote good health and better treatment of disease.

The Rowett Institute, works on some of the big human health issues of our time, including food inequalities, food security and obesity.

What was the need?

The Challenge

This KTP aimed to create detection probes and therapeutic agents (mAbs) for tumour markers (substances associated with malignancy found in blood/urine/ body tissues) with an initial focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) thus expanding the company’s capability in the diagnostic and therapeutic sectors.

What did we do?

The Solution

The KTP introduced and developed a new product range (i.e. recombinants) for the validation of antibodies and developed a novel AI software. As a result of the KTP, the company now also offers new services such as the validation and biomarker discovery service further diversifying the company’s profile.

What changed?

The Impacts and Benefits

The KTP produced and validated a new product range (i.e. antibodies, recombinant proteins) for the validation of antibodies and made significant contributions to advancing cancer research through the identification of novel pathways in colorectal cancer and the discovery of biomarker signatures of clinical relevance to the medical practice published in the International Journal of Cancer. The project also developed of a novel AI software which was used to set up a new company, AiBIOLOGICS, which VAL has a stake in.

Commercial Growth 📈

The KTP introduced into the company, a diverse range of bio-products (recombinant proteins), technologies, new services (such as the validation and biomarker discovery service), and an AI division. All these additional sources of income have opened doors for new research collaborations and industrial alliances resulting in additional research funding of about £190K for the company.

Research 🔍

This project made significant contributions to advancing cancer research through the identification of novel pathways in colorectal cancer and in the discovery of biomarker signatures of clinical relevance to the medical practice. Part of the results from this research are published in the International Journal of Cancer

Innovation 💡

he KTP developed a novel AI software which identifies novel physico-chemical parameters that determine antigenicity, thereby improving the success rate of antibody production. The software also provides a new service for customers, commercial licensing, applications in research projects and led to new collaborations and additional income for the company.

Associate Development 🎓

Dr Abdo Alnabulsi bridged science and industry: leading assay development, coordinating NHS Grampian validations, contributing to publications and grant bids, mentoring students and accelerating product optimisation. His progression into senior leadership (co-founder/CEO roles of AiBiologics and EpitogenX) and supervision of subsequent KTP Associates evidence tangible career and leadership development.

The People

Meet the Team

Professor Graeme Murray

Emeritus Professor | School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

The project was led by Professor Graeme Murray, a lead clinical specialty academic, lead consultant gastro-intestinal pathologist at NHS Grampian with specific interests in gastro-intestinal pathology and cancer biomarker discovery.

Dr Abdo Alnabulsi

KTP Associate

Dr Abdo Alnabulsi was a KTP Associate for the “Creation of detection probes and therapeutic agents (mAbs) for tumour markers” project between University of Aberdeen and Vertebrate Antibodies Limited.

He has a PhD in Medicine-Molecular Pathology with a research background covering diverse topics including molecular and translational medicine, biomarker discovery, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. Abdo is now the Co-founder & CEO at EpitogenX Ltd, an innovative biotech company in Aberdeen, UK.

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