A ground-breaking “temporary isolation unit” to help stop the spread of MRSA and C-difficile in the region’s hospitals has scooped a prestigious award sponsored by NHS East Midlands.
The Partnership with the NHS Award – part of the Medilink East Midlands Innovation Awards– went to Leicester-based Renfrew Group International (RGi) for its pioneering Temporary Isolation Unit (TIU).
The TIU - initiated to reduce the incidence of cross infection in hospitals - is a structural isolation ‘tent’ encompassing a single bed space and incorporating hand-washing, toileting, gown and gloving and air filtration systems. The unit can be quickly erected within a busy ward to provide an effective barrier against infection spread from patient to patient, and to visitors and staff.
NHS Innovation East Midlands representative Carl Edwards commented:“Renfrew were finalists last year and just missed out on winning because the judges felt the project was still in its early stages. Since then there has been considerable activity, including clinical trials, patient perception studies, ergonomic studies and a programme of national road shows. RGi are now poised to add real value in the fight against infection.”
Five other companies who had also turned innovative ideas into commercial reality were also recognised at the Innovation Day ceremony at Pride Park Stadium in Derby on Thursday 15 April.
Chief Executive of Medilink East Midlands Dr Darren Clark said: “When the global healthcare industry catches a cold, past experience shows us that the antidote is innovation. Out of that innovation comes solid market research and products which we come to know and trust. Each year, Innovation Day brings the leading lights of the sector to learn, debate and celebrate together. I challenge every delegate to come away with at least one new, potentially great idea.”
“Our winning companies have undertaken years of research and development, investment in product trials and team building to get to this point. They have used support and advice available, made the most of what the region has to offer and should be an encouragement to everyone in the healthcare and bioscience arena.”
Other winners were:
Best Start Up Award - Co-Formulate (Nottingham)
Co-Formulate provides a range of formulation and early stage analytical development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. It specialises in helping research-based organisations and academic groups to translate concepts into suitable prototypes for functional testing and proof-of-concept development.
Dr Ian Barr – director of sponsor Healthcare and Bioscience iNet - said: “We particularly liked the way in which Co-Formulate exploits a niche opened up partly by the recent recession. They provide services to businesses unable to host their own formulation and analytical capability, and larger pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are reluctant to retain their “in house” capacity. The strategy has generated growth in turnover and laboratory facilities over the last two and a half years and the company looks to have a very promising future.”
Export Achievement Award - Pluswipes (Corby)
Pluswipes - a wet wipe and pump spray manufacturer - has a customer base which includes well known brands and retailers.
Peter Hogarth, for sponsor UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), said: “Pluswipes not only demonstrated a five-fold increase in export sales over the last three years, but have diversified their markets to include Eastern Europe, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East. Combined with their investments in patents and facilities for the future, they are set to continue to make significant in-roads into the infection prevention market.”
Innovation Award - Advancis Medical (Newark)
Advancis Medical designs advanced wound care products and came up with the Eclypse Boot, a super-absorbent dressing to cover the whole leg.
Helen Johnstone, for sponsor Potter Clarkson LLP, said: “Advancis have implemented their ideas across a range of products and we have good reason to expect further product extensions of this technology. Ideas, products and commercialisation equal innovation in action”.
Outstanding Achievement Award: Peakdale (Chapel-en-le-Frith) and Quadralene (Derby)
Peakdale Molecular offers a flexible, creative and confidential class-leading range of chemistry products and services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to accelerate drug discovery initiatives. Peakdale is world-renowned for completing difficult synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry projects.
Peter Ford, Principal Consultant for sponsor The Design Unit, De Montfort University, said: “Earlier this year, Peakdale Molecular secured a ground-breaking agreement with global pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, to provide custom synthetic chemistry services on-site at Pfizer’s laboratories. This is testament not only to Peakdale’s competence but also to its ability to compete on the world stage in a knowledge-based industry in a difficult economic climate”.
Quadralene produces high-quality, specialised, cleaning detergents and disinfectants for the healthcare, dental, food, automotive and micro-electronics markets. Quadralene’s vision is to be acknowledged as a leader in cleaning and infection control products.
Peter Ford commented: “Competing in low margin declining markets, Quadralene refocused its business on healthcare, a sector in which it had no experience. It developed a range of innovative products that have turned the business around by successfully penetrating healthcare with higher margin products. This part of the business is growing significantly and already accounts for a fifth of sales”.
The winners are now automatically entered into the Medilink UK awards in early 2011.
Innovation Day is a major contributor to the annual iFestival designed to promote and celebrate innovation in the public and private sectors. Co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) and East Midlands Innovation (the regional Science and Industry Council), the Festival runs until 23 April.
