Name:Shaun Nelson Robertson Present occupation:Knowledge Transfer Associate at NovaBiotics Limited and the University of Aberdeen A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way project between a graduate, a business and a university/research organization. The projects are paid and generally last 1-2 years Education:BSc Biomedical Science with Physiology (University of Aberdeen) |
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Q:Can you give some background to your project?Candida infections have a mortality rate of 32% in immunocompromised patients. Resistance to current antifungals is clinically significant. Candida albicans used to be the most common Candida species to cause infection but there has now been a rise in infection from different species of Candida. There is a need for more, and improved, antifungal therapeutics to combat this growing challenge. The body produces antimicrobial peptides to protect us from the microbes we are in constant contact with. These peptides are even effective against microbes that have resistance to more traditional drug treatments, such as antifungals, and because of this they are ideal templates for developing new treatments. Q:What’s your project about?My project is focused on Novamycin®, NovaBiotics’ new antifungal peptide for the treatment of Candida spp. infections. Determining how it works against Candida spp., forms one key part of my project and is my current focus. Later in the project, understanding more about its interaction with complex biological systems in vivo (within the body) will become the main focus e.g. how synthetic antifungal peptides interact with natural antimicrobial peptides secreted by the body. Data I have recently generated as part of the KTP project also points, for the first time, to Novamycin® having potential as a therapy for oral fungal infection. |
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Q: How did you hear about KTP’s and what made you want to do one?I was contacted by my former masters project supervisor at the University who had compiled an outline for a KTP project with NovaBiotics. I read through and discussed the project, and at the same time investigated KTP via their website. The chance to develop new skills that would be needed as part of the project, and the opportunity to work between academic and industrial workplaces was very attractive. Q:Can you describe a typical day in your job?My mornings are usually spent in the lab on ongoing experiments; mainly at NovaBiotics or at the University when access to specific equipment or expertise is required. I’ll work through until the afternoon, then prepare for the next day's practical work and also ensure lab books and other paperwork (any posters, company reports or presentations) are up to date. My plans can change at short notice if a specific piece of work becomes a priority for the company, or if the commercial partner requests particular experiments. This sometimes means that out of hours and weekend working is required, not only to carry out experiments but to process a lot of data at times - but that’s all part of the challenge of commercial research. Q: How is your time split between the business and science aspects of the KTP?Both parts are very much interlinked. The science provides the platform for the business, but the commercial requirements of the business set the scientific milestones I need to reach with my project. Adaptability and planning are crucial for this and for success in commercial research, drug discovery and development overall. |
