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A METRC supported project between a Whitby-based business and the University of Bradford has been nominated for a prestigious innovation award after a major scientific breakthrough.

Nature’s Laboratory and the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation at Bradford have been nominated for a “Partners in Innovation” award at the Yorkshire Forward Innovator/10 Awards Ceremony.

Nature’s Laboratory has developed an innovative water soluble propolis, a resin collected by bees and used by them as an immune defence mechanism.  This has numerous therapeutic effects, including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti cancer and has the potential to greatly improve human health.  One of the barriers to the commercial success of this product however was its strong, pungent odour.

In the project funded by METRC, researchers at the IPI worked with Nature’s Laboratory scientists to create a process to deodorise the product.  Company founder James Fearnley, who set up the state-of-the-art laboratory, said it was a big breakthrough.  “We have been involved in this research for 20 years and have just released a paper about how propolis can be used to help fight MRSA,” he said.

“This award is very exciting as propolis is very pungent smelling and what we have been doing is removing that smell without reducing its effects.  Our product will now be sent to a customer in Korea to be used over there and the implications are massive.”

Simon Butler, METRC Centre Manager, was not surprised that this METRC funded collaboration has generated such prestigious recognition.  “METRC only supports projects that offer the most exciting technological and commercial benefits to the UK”, he said, “and this project certainly met that requirement.  We wish Nature’s Laboratory and IPI the best of luck at the Yorkshire Forward Innovator/10 Awards evening.”

The award, which carries a £3,000 cash prize, is aimed at recognising those companies and individuals in Yorkshire and Humber which have embraced innovation and developed, alone or in partnership, new ideas, products, technologies or ways of working in order to improve their business. A panel of expert judges will visit and assess each business nominated between 1 and 12 February before the winners are unveiled on 3 March, at a prestigious black tie event at Leeds City Museum with guest speaker Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project.

Yorkshire Forward Innovator/10 Awards: www.innovator10.com

Nature’s Laboratory: www.beevitalpropolis.com

Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation: www.ipi.ac.uk

This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 10:23 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.