This Week's Poll

At the recent BioPartner Forum it was stated the internal market is insufficient for a UK Life Science company to develop a technology, product or service at a rate that will return investor value. Do you
Supported by Medilink UK

Case Studies

Here are the latest case studies from the Medilinks:

• Trabasack is a unique lap-tray travel bag that provides an ideal stable flat surface for people to achieve the comfort and convenience of home or office while on the move. Created using ‘Design for All’ principles it has been championed in the healthcare sector and is currently being introduced into the NHS. Since its launch in April 2009, £40,000 of orders have been received for the design award winning Trabasack range, including exports to the USA and Germany. With Medilink’s help, Equip-able is receiving design consultancy from Leicester De Montfort University to launch their next innovative and inclusive product. (East Midlands)

• Hereford-based Dyecor specialises in innovative packaging solutions. Its latest development Thermacool was designed for transporting drugs, diagnostic samples and possibly blood products. Dyecor applied to the Advantage Proof of Concept (APOC) fund, the judging panel of which included Medilink’s Chris Dyke and Chris Ramsden. Both realised the potential of Thermacool, and helped its team establish links with Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham – Europe’s largest liver transplant centre – its transplant surgeons and other NHS transplant specialists. Dyecor’s work on Thermacool won it the Queen’s Award for Innovation during the course of the product’s development. (West Midlands)

• Principle Healthcare International Ltd’s export division are suppliers of vitamins, minerals and food supplements; selling branded and own label innovative products to pharmacy and grocery accounts across the globe. In the past year Principle have accessed ten new markets through formal agreements. They are; Albania, Cyprus, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordon, Ghana, Malta, Kenya and Yemen. Principle has worked with Medilink and UKTI on OMIS reports and PR support for the Middle East with particular reference to entering the grocery sector.

Their success has allowed the company to expand from a staff of one in 2008 to a staff of five. They have also achieved export growth of 80% year on year for the past two years; 90% of which was achieved in new markets. (Yorkshire and the Humber)

• Allmi-Care Limited has signed an agreement to supply its cooling hydrogel patches to Babystart Ltd, a leading pre-conception fertility products supplier; this innovative product is another first both for the company and the fertility market. With the help of Medilink, Allmi-Care has begun working with two leading East Midlands universities to look at how applied nanotechnology will enhance the hydrogel ingredients to give the patches more features and extra benefits for users. This will enable them to break into the global healthcare nanotech market which is in the region of US $7.0 billion. (East Midlands)

• A small start-up with expertise in nanoshpere technology was introduced to Medilink to assist with its profile raising. While supporting the SME, Medilink was able to identify and helped secure appropriate funding to advance the product’s R&D, and continues to guide the company as it brings its hand-held diagnostic device for C.Diff and MRSA to market. (Northwest)

• 365 Healthcare Limited specialises in disposable medical equipment, supplies, surgical equipment and products and was keen to increase its sales and add to its range. Medilink introduced 365 Healthcare to the Healthcare Purchasing Consortium, which recommended inclusion on the Supplier’s Registration Portal. Medilink was able to assist 365 Healthcare with securing a listing. Simultaneously, a renal consultant from Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust approached Medilink with an idea for a new and innovative neck drape for complicated surgical procedures. Medilink identified a synergy with 365 Healthcare and facilitated an introduction, which led to a collaboration agreement to produce and test the new drape. After various prototypes and trial work, the successful partnership is now ready to bring the drape to market. (West Midlands)

• Medilink support for a collaborative research project between Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University, which has the potential to significantly improve the performance of both disabled and able bodied athletes, has resulted in £300,000 investment from the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. (East Midlands)

• GE Healthcare approached the West Midlands RDA for information about the region’s strength, experience and capabilities in the medical and healthcare sector, with a view to investing. As a valued partner with specialist market knowledge, AWM called on Medilink to research and deliver a capabilities statement. This directly resulted in GE Healthcare choosing to actively participate in regional Life Science activity. (West Midlands)

• Launched in 2004, P&S Healthcare, who designs and manufactures innovative incontinence products, is on target to reach its first £1 million turnover thanks to the vision of its directors and the support of Medilink. Through the specialist advice of Medilink, P&S was able to develop its marketing and e-commerce capabilities, enabling the company to significantly increase both its local and international sales. (East Midlands)

• For many years Quadralene was a leading name in the manufacture of high quality specialised cleaning detergents for the motor industry. When the company decided to diversify into the healthcare sector it asked Medilink to help facilitate the transition. The specialist support the company received from Medilink has helped secure Quadralene’s long term future by significantly increasing its healthcare sales, which are on target to reach 30% of its total sales by the end of 2011. (East Midlands)

• BioCote, manufacturers of anti-microbial coatings for medical and healthcare products, needed to trial its range of products in real-life environments. Medilink introduced BioCote directly to the CEO and Head of R&D at the Heart of England NHS Trust, who were interested in trialling new technologies in the area of infection control. As a result, both partners invested in a BioCote-protected lab in the R&D Centre and gathered valuable clinical trial data, which demonstrated a real benefit to the NHS and enabled the company to secure additional sales. (West Midlands)

• A global conglomerate of pathologists approached AWM for details of any specialist leukaemia research being conducted in the region, and the success of private companies collaborating with these types of organisations. Medilink provided the statistical and anecdotal details required for the RDA to respond to the USA-based inward investment enquiry. AWM were so impressed with the report, Medilink was asked to present to the company during their UK tour. The decision of the company is still pending. (West Midlands)

• UKTI brought a group of 20 buyers from Saudi Arabia to the UK in search of mobility and assisted living products. In addition to attending the Naidex exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC, Medilink hosted a Meet the Buyers event, bringing 17 companies and the 20 buyers face to face. As a result, two companies secured distributors. (West Midlands)

• Medilink is helping develop the cutting edge of regenerative medicine through its involvement in the governance of a series of projects involving Loughborough, Nottingham and Keele Universities. Remedi, an £8 million EPRSC Grand Challenge completed in 2009, has laid the foundations for a viable regenerative medicine industry. A doctoral training school is producing the suitably qualified staff of tomorrow to lead this industry. Whilst the latest initiative, the £5 million EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine, promises to provide the new manufacturing processes required to take the science from bench to market. (East Midlands)



 
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