Networked minds - Isis Innovation

IntroductionThe latest developments in Oxford and the world of technology transferWelcome to this new look Isis News.This edition reports on lectures givenby Professor Stephen Pulman of theUniversity’s Computing Laboratory andDr Allyson Reed of the government’sTechnology Strategy Board atDecember’s Oxford Innovation SocietyMeeting, and describes Isis’ growing business activities.The opportunities for business to capitalise on universitytechnologies have never been greater: universities are betterresourced and better able to present commercialisabletechnologies to industry; industry is increasinglyopen-minded to the opportunities from adopting anopen-innovation model; and now there is a third factor:the global economic downturn. The perfect ‘InnovationStorm’ is developing.Dr Reed comments that “businesses which hold theirnerve and continue to invest” will come out of therecession strongest. University technology transfer has avital role to play in creating oportunities for existing andnew businesses and providing expert advice to exploreand understand the challenges businesses face.We are pleased to welcome Saudi Aramco and LaytonsSolicitors as new members of the Oxford InnovationSociety. If your business has an interest in innovation andyou have not yet spoken to us, please get in touch.YoursIn Isis, we continue to commercialise new technologiesas described further on; Oxford University Consultingis sourcing academic expertise to help companies facenew challenges; and Isis Enterprise is engaging with newclients around the world as our expertise in technologyand innovation management is promoted to industry andgovernment.Tom Hockaday, Managing DirectorNewsSpin-out successIsis ended 2008 on a high note with the successful spinning outof OrganOx and Intelligent Sustainable Energy, raising £2.4m offirst round investment finance between them.OrganOx is developing a device for sustaining organs outsidethe body using blood at normal body temperatures. In the firstinstance, the technology will be used for improved preservationand repair of livers prior to transplantation, and is expectedto result in a significant increase in the number and quality oftransplantable organs. Academic Founders: Professor PeterFriend and Dr Constantin Coussios.ISE has revolutionary technologies aimed at helping peoplereduce and manage their energy consumption, by givingfully itemised energy bills. Academic Founders: Dr MalcolmMcCulloch and Jim Donaldson. More details on both of thesenew companies can be found on pages 10 and 11.Lord Drayson visits IsisLord Paul Drayson visited Isis Innovation in January; asScience Minister he attends Cabinet and chairs the Scienceand Innovation Committee. He was the founding MD of Oxfordspin-out PowderJect in the 1990s and a frequent visitor toIsis from 2000-2003 as a member of the Oxford UniversityChallenge Seed Fund Board.Lord Drayson said: “I’ve followed Isis’ success closelythroughout the years. Having my own experience of developingscience spin-outs at Oxford, I know how important technologytransfer companies like Isis are in bringing together the worldsof university research, business and finance. I look forward toseeing their development in the future”.3

Oxford Innovation Society meetingCapturing hearts and minds with computingProfessor Stephen Pulman of the Oxford University Computing Laboratory gave this talk at the December2008 Oxford Innovation Society meeting.Computer science isn’t a science in the same sense that, say,biology, chemistry or physics are. Pure computer science is thetheoretical study of techniques for the construction of hardwareand software which operates correctly and efficiently.However, computers are a pervasive aspect of our everydaysocial and professional lives, and these days much of theactivity in computer science departments consists of theapplication of computing technology to problems in the othersciences. In this article, I’ll describe some ‘pure’ computerscience research in Comlab, as well as some more applicationoriented work.There are many infamous examples of systems that have failedbecause of software problems. For example, 1999 was a verybad year for NASA, which lost both the Mars Climate Orbiterand the Mars Polar Lander as a result of software errors. InMay 2005, Toyota recalled about 75,000 of its novel Prius cars,after some Prius drivers reported sudden stalling or stoppingat highway speeds. This also turned out to be a software error.Less serious, unless you happen to be the parent of teenagechildren, was the sudden failure of Microsoft’s Zune MP3 playeron New Year’s Eve 2008, caused by its software’s failure torealise that a leap year has 366, not 365 days.The traditional method of debugging software is to run lotsof tests, perhaps in simulation, to detect and then correcterrors. However, most modern systems are so complex thatit is impossible to do this exhaustively. What we can do formany complex systems, however, is to derive a formal modelof the software – either directly from the code, or from a formalspecification – and use modern ‘model checking’ techniquesto verify in the model that the system will never get into a‘danger’ state.In Professor Marta Kwiatkowska’s group’s work, we havemanaged to scale these techniques up to handle models withmany millions of possible states. A key feature of this work isthat it also enables us to model systems with a probabilisticelement. Of course, probability comes into the description ofproperties of systems in many different ways: e.g. how likelyis it that a particular outcome will be obtained, what is theprobability of failure under such and such circumstances etc.But some systems that we might want to check contain aninherent amount of randomness: an example of this is theBluetooth communication protocol for local area wirelessdevices like ad-hoc mobile phone networks. In attemptingto locate and communicate with other similar devices, theprotocol sends a message, and then, if that frequency is beingused, waits a random (but short) amount of time before tryingagain. Kwiatkowska was able to show that this protocol hasunexpectedly bad worst case behaviour, leading to waitingtimes of two seconds for two devices and even longer for morethan two. This behaviour happens in practice sufficiently oftento be annoying, if not fatal. Furthermore, the probabilistic modelchecking technique was able to pinpoint the circumstancesunder which this behaviour arises. If the developers of thisprotocol had been able to use this technique the originalprotocol might well have been more robust.Much of our activity consists of the application of computingtechnology to problems in the other sciences4

Computational Linguistics is the art of writing computerprogrammes that process natural languages like Englishas if they had some understanding of them. To do this theprogrammes need to have some idea of the grammaticalstructure of sentences (what their subjects, objects, mainverbs etc. are) and this information is used to ‘translate’ thecontent of the sentence into some computationally tractablemeaning representation – typically some kind of formal logic.This step may also need to refer to aspects of the linguistic orthe non-linguistic context: for example, a sentence like: “No,they didn’t!” will mean very different things depending on whatthe previous sentence was (“The government foresaw thedownturn” vs. “John and Mary liked each other”).Computational modelling is applied to the human heartWithin Comlab, a particular focus is on models of the humanheart: research using computational techniques carried out byDavid Gavaghan, Blanca Rodriguez, and Nic Smith. Smith’seventual aim is to develop a real-time simulation of the heartwhich will be capable of predicting the outcome of treatment forindividual patients, and will therefore guide that treatment.Although heart disease is a major health issue, basic metricsoften direct rather expensive procedures, and the metricsfor predicting the outcome can be limited. A model of thewhole organ would involve properties at many different levels,from the cellular level, through to tissue properties, and finallyanatomic and functional. Modelling such properties will requirevast amounts of input data, and running them will requireenormous computational power. However, the result could bemodels that could be personalised for the individual patient,leading to better-targeted and more effective treatment.With the establishment of a new Information Systems group(Ian Horrocks, Georg Gottlob, and Stephen Pulman) severalnew areas of research for Comlab have opened up: ontologiesand reasoning for the World Wide Web (Horrocks), databasesand web information processing (Gottlob) and ComputationalLinguistics (Pulman).One particularly striking technique is known as ‘sentimentanalysis’. Many commercial and even governmental agenciesare very concerned about their public reputation, or thereception that their products and services are receiving in themarket place.One way of monitoring this kind of information is to use aprogramme like the one under development by DPhil studentKaro Moilanen, which processes online texts (reviews, articles,blogs) and produces a ‘sentiment profile’ for the document as awhole and for the various entities mentioned in it. In the simplestcase, this can be just a matter of recognising which wordshave positive or negative connotations (“doctor” vs. “terrorist”).But in most cases it is also necessary to take account of thegrammatical context in which these words occur: “this filmis really exciting” is positive, whereas “this film fails to exciteany interest or sympathy” is negative despite the presence ofthree highly positive words. In a sentence like: “The oppositioncharged the government with trying to cash in on the successof British athletes” then “the government” is perceived in anegative light, whereas “British athletes” are positively regarded.Moilanen’s system takes all these factors into account.Oxford University Computing Laboratory has grown by almost40 per cent in the last few years, and much of this growth hasbeen in interdisciplinary areas such as those just described.CONTACT Stephen Pulman, FBA Professor of Computational Linguistics Director, Oxford University Computing LaboratoryT +44 (0)1865 610800 W web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/people/Stephen.Pulman/5

Technology Strategy BoardInnovation in challenging timesAllyson Reed, Director of Strategy and Communication, Technology Strategy BoardThe Technology Strategy Board argues that it is more vital than With core funding from the Department for Innovation,ever to focus on investment in innovation, and that it sees the Universities and Skills (DIUS) and contributions from partnerschallenges society faces as providing opportunities for UK such as the Regional Development Agencies, Devolvedbusiness.Administrations and Research Councils, the TechnologyStrategy Board has £1 billion to invest between 2008 andConfronted by recession, it may be tempting to batten down the 2011. With our track record of aligning both public and privatehatches and put any investment in technology and innovation sector funds, we are confident that the total scale of our workon hold. This would be a costly long-term mistake – costly for will be investment of well over £2 billion for this period, drivingUK business, and costly for society.technology-enabled innovation in the UK.We are faced with many challenges in coming years. Somefacts are salutary: there are 6 million more vehicles on ourroads than there were in 1998. Since 1900 our use of energyhas increased 16-fold. Buildings produce 45% of all carbonemissions in the UK.Businesses face other challenges, such as rising raw materialcosts, growing competition and the search for talent andskills. But where there are challenges, there are also marketopportunities, both domestic and global. These challengescan be addressed – and business generated – by embracinginnovation.To emerge strongly from this downturn, it will be the businesseswhich held their nerve and continued to invest that will be in thevanguard. Innovation does not happen overnight – it’s a longgame. As previous recessions have shown, such businessesemerge stronger and better equipped to face the challengesof the future. Whatever happens, the business environment ischanging, and those which are agile and innovative now will bebest placed to thrive.The vision of the Technology Strategy Board is to make theUK a global leader in innovation and a magnet for innovativebusinesses, where technology is applied rapidly, effectively andsustainably to create wealth and enhance quality of life.Government-funded but business-led, the Technology StrategyBoard was initially established, in 2004, as an advisory body.But in July 2007 it was expanded and given executive powers.We continue to advise the government on innovation policy andon removing barriers to the development and exploitation ofnew technologies, but we have taken a leading role promoting,and investing in, business-related science and technologyresearch and development.On behalf of government, we invest in innovation and supportinnovation enabled by technology, for the benefit of business.We provide leadership to invest in the application of new ideas.We connect people with different skills to build networks andspark innovation. And we act as a catalyst, stimulating newareas of innovation for business and providing a longer-term,post-recession, view of future technology and innovation needs.How do we do this? We bring together teams, individuals andcompanies, often in new partnerships.To meet some of the major challenges facing our societywe have developed innovation platforms. These are a newapproach to innovation, which identify a societal challenge andwhere a government department is intimately involved. Wehelp to combine the business, technology and government, toprovide practical solutions to issues such as our over-burdenedtransport systems, a growing ageing population that needs helpto maintain good quality of life, and the need to dramatically cutcarbon emissions to address climate change. For example,we are currently running competitions to co-fund projects toprotect our IT network infrastructures and to develop ultralow carbon vehicles. For other current competitions see the‘Competitions’ link on the Technology Strategy Board website,www.innovateuk.orgGovernment procurement is a powerful force which can beused to drive innovation and find better solutions to pressingproblems; another way in which we are addressing this isthrough the reformed Small Business Research Initiative,which helps business offer technology solutions to governmentdepartments.One of the key drivers of innovation is knowledge exchange.Our Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) bring together6

Investment criteriaThe Technology Strategy Board has to make choices as towhere to invest. It uses the following criteria:• Does the UK have the capability?• Is there a large market opportunity?• Is the idea ready?• Can the Technology Strategy Board make a difference?people from diverse organisations and promote the exchangeof knowledge and stimulate innovation – not only within thesecommunities but also through connections between them. TheKTNs cover all the major sectors in the UK and have a totalmembership of around 40,000 spanning business and theresearch base.And our very successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships(KTPs) programme supports highly qualified people to workwith a business and research team. There are around 1,000partnerships running at any one time. Analysis shows thaton average each project produces a one-off increase in profitbefore tax of around £69,000 and a recurring annual increasein profit of around £220,000. About 4 new jobs are created andaround 12 staff are trained as a result of each project. Furtherinformation is available at www.ktponline.org.ukBut to accelerate innovation in the UK, it is also essential tobuild confidence and raise aspirations. We need to build anenthusiasm for science and innovation, and a culture thatenables, celebrates and rewards talent and innovation. Weneed to foster a national confidence in the power of innovation.Through our investments and activities, our strategic leadershipand our public engagement activity, the Technology StrategyBoard is committed to making this happen.The challenges facing society will not recede. They have tobe faced, and we cannot wait for the economic situation toimprove. While recognising the threats, we should also seethese challenges as providing enormous opportunities toprovide innovative solutions. The UK is well placed to takeadvantage. By investing in innovation enabled by technology,the Technology Strategy Board can help UK companies tograsp these opportunities.I like to quote words, arguably attributed to Goethe, that stillstrike a chord today: “until one is committed, there is hesitancy,the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness… Whateveryou can do, or dream you can do, do it. Boldness has genius,power and magic in it. Begin it now.”CONTACT Allyson Reed Director of Strategy and Communication T +44 (0)1793 442700 W www.innovateuk.orgTechnology Strategy Board North Star House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1JF7

Oxford Innovation Society memberBlake LapthornLaw firm and Oxford Innovation Society member, Blake Lapthorn, has a dedicated climate change teamheaded by Oxford lawyer, Nicola McConville. Nicola explains why climate change is a great opportunity fortechnology companies.There are regular announcements around the world by politicians renewables, energy efficiency and management, greenhouseand business leaders on ‘green’ policies and targets. New gas measurement, green transport, waste, biogas production,funding is being made available for ‘green’ initiatives. There is and ecological impact assessment. We advise on, inter alia,ever-increasing legislation and regulation designed to make us protection and licensing of intellectual property, investmentall address the impact of our behaviour, in all aspects of our rounds, joint ventures and commercial contracts.lives, on the environment. Bearing all of this in mind, it is evidentthat the ‘climate crunch’ is firmly on the agenda for businesses, Recently we provided advice to Isis spin-out Intelligentpoliticians and consumers.Sustainable Energy Limited, which has developed an innovativesmart meter, on its first investment round and other commercialHowever, in order to achieve the headline-grabbing targets matters including intellectual property advice. For furtherthat attract so much media coverage, there is a fundamental examples see: www.bllaw.co.uk/climatechange/recentdealsneed to be addressed: technology. Technology is neededto accurately measure our greenhouse gas emissions and Our team comprises lawyers from a range of legal disciplines.reductions, to enable ‘smart grids’ to become part of our This enables us to assist our technology clients by giving themeveryday infrastructure, to produce reliable renewable energy, to exposure to people who may be able to help their product orreduce waste and to create new ways to better utilise the waste process become a success – including in construction (anthat remains, to enable not only ‘zero carbon’ buildings to be industry where technology has a fundamental role to play) andconstructed, but also to address how to make existing buildings agriculture (if a new means of energy requires crops then youless harmful to the environment, to reduce our transport need to know where to find a farmer! Let alone if you developrequirements and to make the transport we do need more a means of helping the agriculture industry reduce its ownefficient and less polluting. The requirements go on and on. greenhouse gas emissions!)Oxford has a unique combination of academic institutions, serialeco-entrepreneurs, a Carbon Trust Incubator and a rich historyin creating market-leading companies in the climate changeindustry. We believe this combination puts Oxford in a primeposition to lead the way in developing and commercialising thetechnologies of the future.One common need of these technology companies issound legal advice from professionals who have a genuineunderstanding of the bespoke issues.Blake Lapthorn’s specialist climate change team advises cleanand green technology companies of all sizes at all stagesof development, over a range of ‘green’ sectors includingFor full details of our climate change offering see:www.bllaw.co.uk/climatechange/Furthermore, the firm’s interest in this area goes beyond thestrict parameters of legal advice. We see part of our role tofacilitate discussion on this issue. One way we have done thisis through a series of green breakfasts run in Autumn 2008,supported by the Environmental Change Institute, whichbrought together academics, professionals and businessesto discuss a range of climate change topics. Buoyed by thesuccess of the first series, a second starts shortly togetherwith more dedicated workshops. If you’d like to register,contact Kelly Benfield at kelly.benfield@bllaw.co.uk or on01865 253268.CONTACT Nicola McConville Partner T +44 (0)1865 254221 E nicola.mcconville@bllaw.co.uk W www.bllaw.co.uk8

Innovation at HSBCInnovation is described as ‘the implementation of a creative idea’ – not something that immediately springsto mind when thinking of the normally staid world of the banking industry. But HSBC is committed toinnovation and sees it as a differentiator in the current climate.The HSBC Technology Innovation team is a small, multidisciplinaryeducational programmes throughout the bank and has alsoteam recruited from across the global IT group. featured in Investor Day material to demonstrate to potentialWe have a broad technology and skills base, and a deep investors the credentials of the HSBC IT organisation.understanding of where and how new technology might beadopted, adapted and used to generate business and improve As a global organisation, a key strategy for the bank is tothe customer experience. Each team member works with key create and deploy products and systems with minimal, regionalplayers in the bank’s IT Relationship Management area, feeding customisation. The OneHSBC programme aims to achievesuggestions in and receiving feedback that is put back into the economies of scale through deploying standard processinginnovation process, ensuring that all activity has a business platforms across the Group. The Innovation team work withfocus.the OneHSBC teams to industrialise proof of concept andprototype ideas through the OneHSBC programme. WeWe support, fund and facilitate innovative projects – our role collaborate extensively with our colleagues in the US and Asiais not simply to innovate, but to identify, collect and manage Pacific regions to make sure that we exploit the technologicalthe ideas from wherever they come, taking them through the benefits world-wide. We also act as an information hub toprototyping, pilot and proof of concept, right up to creating a ensure that innovation activity is visible across the bank.business case for implementation. We also deal with competitoranalysis, market trends and have links with various academic This global view extends to vendor relationships and the teaminstitutions. If any of the ideas have patent opportunities, we maintains close R&D links with many of the key vendors in thewill co-ordinate that work with the bank’s legal teams.technology marketplace.Oxford Innovation Society memberOur job is also to promote technology awareness and marketour activity through on-line communities and also in the HSBCTechnology Showcase. The latter is a permanent facility inthe head office in Canary Wharf where technology solutionsare demonstrated in financial services scenarios. As well asbeing open to all staff, the facility is used by leadership andThe world’s local bank is not just a tag line. It’s a promise ofconsistent, good service, wherever our customers touch us.And that is currently done well with reliable technology, but willbe improved with innovation.As a global organisation, a key strategy for the bank is tocreate and deploy products and systems with minimal, regionalcustomisationCONTACT Darren Armitage HSBC Bank plc 12th Floor 8 Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5HQ W www.hsbc.co.uk9

Spin-out companiesSpin-out technology empowers consumersNew Oxford spin-out makes smart metering smarterA new spin-out company has been formed based on supersmartelectricity metering technology developed at theUniversity. Intelligent Sustainable Energy (ISE) has receivedfunding from Navetas Energy Management to further developand commercialise a smart metering technology that willdeliver far greater detail about how electricity is used byconsumers.The smart meter will allow households to monitor whichindividual appliances are consuming electricity in real-time andover time, and at what rate, delivering the data in a form mostsuited to the individual consumer such as via a PC, mobile, or,for the first time, via itemised electricity bills.The technology was developed by the academic founders,Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Jim Donaldson, in Oxford’sDepartment of Engineering Science. Dr McCulloch explainedthat it is designed to identify both short and long-term energysavings, by providing information about specific appliances in abuilding: “For instance, if the amount of electricity your washingmachine uses increases considerably, this might indicate thatit will be more cost-effective and carbon-efficient to replace it.If there’s a spike in the amount used by the fridge, maybe thedoor has been left open.”The funding for ISE was provided by energy managementcompany Navetas. Isis Innovation identified Navetas as beinga key investor in order to successfully industrialise andcommercialise the technology. Navetas Energy ManagementLtd is a global energy management company with significantexperience in the field. Navetas aims to apply its knowledge innew and innovative ways to help businesses and consumersmeet their energy management needs for the future.Chris Shelley, Director of Navetas Energy Management said:“Navetas has a long standing interest in the development oftechnology which provides consumers with more informationabout their energy use and helps them to manage it withgreater efficiency. Consumers need a device that providesinformation which they can actually act upon to reduce theirenergy consumption, and a smart meter that is clever enoughto provide this level of useful detail.“Technology to watch in 2009”Richard Wilson, Editor of Electronics Weekly“The technology is able to measure energy consumptionof appliances in a household from a single point from thepremises’ incoming mains supply.Jim Donaldson, CTO and co-founder of ISE, said; “Our aim isto give people the ability to gain control of their energy use, bymeasuring how changes in the way they use appliances canreduce their energy consumption on a day-to-day basis.“The ISE smart meter is smarter than your average smart meterin that it can identify different appliances – including hardwiredappliances like cookers or hot water heaters – from theirelectricity use profiles, and feed that information back to theconsumer.”“Navetas will play a role of more than just investors in thistechnology. We will also be providing commercial expertise inthe field of energy management and smart metering.”A prototype ISE smart meter has been successfully tested anddemonstrated at Oxford. The company plans to undertakefurther trials and refine the design to industrialise smart meteringproducts and to offer licenses where appropriate to commercialpartners in key territories. It anticipates that ISE’s intelligentsmart meter technology will be on the market by 2010.“…look at Intelligent Sustainable Energy, who have developedsmart meter technology that will enable households to see exactlyhow much energy each of their electrical appliances is using”George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor, citing ISE as a good example of the type of technology company needed to help tackle climate change,during his speech at UCL on the launching of Green ISAsCONTACT David Churchman Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280857 E david.churchman@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.comNick Wellington Navetas Energy Management T +44 (0)1394 388500 E nick.wellington@navetas.com W www.navetas.com and www.ise-oxford.com10

Oxford University ConsultingOUC helps Oxford philosopher in Obama storyIt is not every weekend that Oxford University Consulting gets mentioned in the Sunday Times but on2 November 2008, Oxford philosopher Peter Millican described OUC’s role in an extraordinary storyinvolving US Republican claims concerning Barack Obama.Dr Millican, of Hertford College, combines being a philosopherand 18th-century scholar with writing computer programs. Heis passionate about their use in modelling complex phenomena,whether physical, biological, social, or textual. Millican hasdeveloped and made available on the web a number of softwaretools that teach computing skills, and facilitate analysis thatwould otherwise be impossible for most researchers.Photography by Keiko IkeuchiOne of his programs, Signature, performs stylometric analysisfor literary detection: by analysing different texts one cantry to identify the distinctive authorial ‘fingerprint’ or stylistic‘signature’ of each writer, and thus decide questions ofdisputed authorship.Dr Millican was approached by the brother-in-law of a RepublicanCongressman to advise on a damaging theory, put forward byAmerican author Jack Cashill, that Barack Obama’s memoir,Dreams from my Father, was largely ghost-written by Vietnam-eradomestic terrorist Bill Ayers. Four American academic ‘teams’ –two of them using Signature – had already endorsed the theory,and a Washington press conference was being organised for theTuesday before the US election, aiming to grab public attentionand spread suspicion about Obama’s past.Millican quickly identified serious weaknesses in the Americananalyses (carried out by technical specialists rather than textualscholars), and persuaded the Republicans to postpone thepress conference. He then started work on a more in-depthanalysis, meanwhile asking OUC to negotiate a consultancyagreement to cover the engagement. As his Sunday Timesarticle recounts, “Oxford University Consulting, on my behalf,insisted quite properly that any such arrangement would haveto be agreed before the results were known: there could beno question of carrying out an analysis that would be paid foronly if the results came out in their favour. And I insisted thatthe analysis, once produced, would have to be in the publicdomain and thus made available to the Democrats also.”Both OUC and Dr Millican feltthat Oxford’s reputation forindependent, objective opinionhad been upheldOxford’s reputation for independent, objective opinion had beenupheld. And it was satisfying to know that we had preventedwhat might have been a significant disruption to the electionthrough contentious (and plausibly presented) misinformation.OUC continued to negotiate, but with the clock ticking downto election day, the client seemed to get cold feet about beingpublicly associated with the work, and the opportunity eventuallyevaporated. Throughout it all, both OUC and Dr Millican felt thatPeter Millican’s website provides a full account of his analysis,at www.philocomp.net, together with links to the two SundayTimes articles.CONTACT Dr Peter Millican Hertford College Oxford OX1 3BW E peter.millican@philosophy.ox.ac.uk W www.philocomp.net12

Integrating quality measures into healthcareOxford Hip and Knee Health Scores improve patient outcomes at Nuffield Health hospitals.Patient Reported Outcome MeasuresNuffield Health is the UK’s largest healthcare charity, offering awide range of services in partnership with leading specialists. Ithas been running hospitals for over 50 years.Dr Andrew Jones, Group Medical Director said, “As a registeredcharity without shareholders, we invest everything into servicesthat achieve our sole purpose which is to improve people’shealth.”Nuffield Health has successfully piloted the collection of PatientReported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and is on track toroll this out to all of its 30 hospitals by March this year. Twoof the PROMs to be used, the Oxford Hip and Knees scores,were written and developed by Professor Ray Fitzpatrick andDr Jill Dawson of the Department of Public Heath, at OxfordUniversity, with long term collaboration and involvement fromAndy Carr and David Murray, surgical colleagues at the NuffieldOrthopaedic Centre, Oxford.This quality project is part of a pathway approach and preassessmentproject to improve the patient journey. Outcomeswill be used to inform patient feedback to ensure thathospitals are truly focused on patient care; as an early warninggovernance tool to assist clinical team follow-up; to providevariance data to the pathway of care; and to add data to clinicalperformance for the purposes of appraisal.Nuffield Health has worked closely with Isis Innovation on theimplementation of outcome measures and on its response tothe key lessons learned. These are:• Systematise collection by design. Nuffield Health introducedPROMs through the pre-assessment of patients, by postinga questionnaire with the admission documentation and,on admission, entering in the care records whether acompleted questionnaire had been received. The outcomemeasure has become integral to the care pathway• Support local implementation. Matrons lead the changethrough project groups. A ‘must do’ document showsprogress on key tasks and weekly conference calls offercentral support. Consultants were involved in the projectearly on since Nuffield Health was keen to see PROMsimplemented in partnership with them. Clinical leadership iscrucial to ensure local buy-in• Reduce the burden on frontline staff and patients wherepossible. Nuffield Health uses unique patient ID on forms.This avoids the need for patients to handwrite their personaldetails and assists with the centralised follow-up andanalysis of PROMs dataThe recent Darzi review highlighted the importance of qualitymeasures in healthcare. Many insurers have asked for outcomesmeasures as evidence of clinical quality and positive customerexperience. This year will see the NHS introduce PROMs in hipand knee surgery, hernia care and varicose vein surgery.Oxford Hip and Knees Scores will be at the forefront oforthopaedic care in Nuffield Health and the resulting informationwill ensure that Nuffield Health develops care pathways thatachieve the best possible results for the patients.CONTACT Dr Andrew Jones MRCS, MRCGP, DRCOG Group Medical Director of Nuffield Health T +44 (0)20 8339 7549 W www.nuffieldhealth.com13

Isis Project Number 3776Novel method for enhancing protein yieldsA new method has been developed for increasing protein production. The technology has been validatedfor mammalian systems but is expected to be more generally applicable. EPO yields have been increased1000% and this finding has been confirmed in two cell lines.The Oxford inventionOxford researchers have discovered DNA sequences, whichplay an important role in protein production. Inclusion ofthese sequences into a range of expression systems leadsto increased levels of both mRNA and protein. An earlyexample shows that expression of the commercially valuableerythropoietin (EPO) protein can be increased by at least anorder of magnitude. This finding has been confirmed in twomammalian cell systems. This technology has the potentialto be a valuable tool for individuals or companies that seek toenhance the yield of their chosen protein. Advantages of theOxford technology include:• Its implementation is simple and only requires them to becloned beyond the gene of interest• Once cloned, there is no extra cost beyond that normallyrequired for standard protein expression• No alteration of the coding sequence is made, thus proteinintegrity is assured and unchanged• Early data suggest the magnitude of the effect can be verylarge – 1000%Marketing opportunityPromoters are required for protein expression and their‘strength’ usually correlates with the level of protein obtained.Other RNA processing signals within the gene (such assplice sites and polyadenylation sequences) have also beenmanipulated to enhance expression. Sequences beyond thegene have not been investigated for properties that enhanceprotein expression and their potential is untapped.The technology is broadly applicable to any application whereprotein is produced, either in the laboratory or at an industrialscale. The technology is being developed for eukaryoticsystems, but may be more widely applicable. Monoclonalantibodies and therapeutic proteins appear as good initialapplications.Patent statusThe Oxford invention is the subject of a patent application.Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developingthe commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis ProjectManager.P Ex3 48 9 10 A B CThe polymerase moves along the DNA strand coding the mRNA transcript. The mRNA and the polymerase leave the DNA, and the mRNA is cut from thepolymerase and goes on to make proteinCONTACT Dr John Wilson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280844 E john.wilson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com14

Electric motors get green lightA lightweight electric motor design has been developed that offers increased efficiency for a variety of hightorque to weight ratio applications including hybrid vehicles and renewable energy.Isis Project Number 3056The Oxford inventionA new topology of motor featuring a segmented armature andthe novel use of materials has been designed and developed bythe Electronic Power Group within the Engineering Departmentat the University of Oxford. The key features of this designapplicable to motor and generator applications are:• Greatly reduced weight – the use of iron and copper isreduced• High efficiency (up to 97%) through the intelligent use ofnew materials• Excellent manufacturing possibilities• The design allows for the use of novel combinations ofmaterials even for large machines• Reduced torque ripple due to multi phase winding• Improved cooling characteristics due to segmented design• Scalable for large generators such as those used in renewableenergy (e.g. low speed wind and tidal) applicationsThese features combine to give a motor that is both lightweightand delivers extremely good power to weight performance. AnOxford motor for automotive application weighed just 13kg butdelivers a peak torque of 130Nm (10Nm/kg) and peak powerof about 50kW.Simulations show that the same motor is capable of achievinga peak torque of over 200Nm and a peak power of over 150kW.Suitable for high torque applications the technology could beapplied to regenerative braking systems within hybrid vehicles,for example, or wind turbines without the requirement fordirect drive gearboxes. A prototype has been built which hasmatched its modelled characteristics.Marketing opportunityLightweight motors that deliver high torque density are indemand in many new applications including hybrid vehicles,aerospace and renewable energy, driven by a desire toconserve energy and yet deliver high performance.StatusIsis would like to talk to companies interested in developingthe commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis ProjectManager.A motor that is both lightweight anddelivers extremely good powerto weight performanceCONTACT Dr Stuart Wilkinson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280907 E stuart.wilkinson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com15

Isis Project Number 3113Ultrasound improves cancer diagnosisAn ultrasound imaging technique has been developed that quantifies the stiffness and slip of suspectcancerous masses to aid diagnosis.The Oxford inventionMarketing opportunityThe Biomedical Image Analysis group has developed quantitativeassessment of the stiffness and slip of suspected cancerousmasses. This quantification of the image data supplementsthe assessment achieved in palpation, aiding diagnosis andhelping to reduce the number of interventions. The technologyhas already been validated in a 70 patient study in collaborationwith Oxford Breast Care Unit, and is the subject of ongoingtrials.The images below demonstrate the effectiveness of combiningand quantifying the different properties of the suspect masses.The first image of each series show standard ultrasoundscans. The second images show additional elasticity (stiffness)data, where red signifies a stiff material, and suggests ahigh probability of being cancerous. The third images showadditional slip (mobility) data, where red signifies a mobile mass,and suggests a low probability of being cancerous.The growth in the availability of imaging techniques in medicinehas resulted in higher image quality and there are nowdiminishing returns from further improvements in quality. Inaddition the volume of image data available means thatinformation overload is an increasing issue for practitioners. Asa result there is a need for the quantification of image data toaid interpretation and ultimately diagnosis.Patent statusThis work is the subject of a patent application, and Isiswould like to talk to companies interested in developingthis commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis ProjectManager to discuss this further.Scan series AHigh riskScan series BLow riskUltrasound Elasticity SlipCONTACT Dr Stuart Wilkinson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280907 E stuart.wilkinson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com16

Low cost sensor electronicsEasy to use, compact and low cost electronics bring complex analytical procedures into everyday use forsensing a variety of materials.The Oxford inventionIsis Project Number 3675Electrochemical sensing relies upon chemicals respondingdifferently when electrical potentials are applied, with thedeveloped electrical currents being proportional to the amountof target material present. Electrochemical sensing involves acombination of a responsive electrode material, electronics tointerrogate the electrode and the know-how to make these worktogether. Several exciting electrochemical sensing opportunitieshave been created by Professor Richard Compton andco-workers within Oxford’s Physical and Theoretical ChemistryLaboratory. These sensors may be used to determine pH,the presence and concentrations of certain gases and heavymetals and even the heat of curries.Several Oxford sensors have already been transferred todevelopment partners for use in complex industrial applications.However, their use in applications that require a lower pricepoint has, until now, been precluded by the cost andcomplexity of the electronic systems necessary. We believethat simpler and cheaper electronics, such as those proposed,will broaden the market penetration of electrochemical sensorsinto everyday use.Marketing opportunityElectrochemical sensors are widely employed with simplicity,reliability and low cost being seen as their major benefits.Indeed, according to Frost and Sullivan (F868-32) the size ofthe world electrochemical gas sensors market in 2005 wasUS$10.6 million and was growing at a rate of 4.8% CAGR.The Oxford electronics have been developed to work with arange of amperometric gas and chemical sensors, that is thosethat operate by ramping the voltage and reading the currentresponse. These electronics offer the following benefits:• Simplified operation – measurement may be set up toallow simple sampling and reading of the result in thedesired units on an LCD panel (please see picture). In thecase of capsaicin (the ‘hot’ compound in chilli peppers)determination, the display was enabled to provide Scovilleunits, the accepted standard in the food industry, as well asthe molar concentration value• Low manufacturing cost – the electronics have beensimplified for amperometric sensing only. Readily availablecomponents and integrated circuits have been usedthroughout• Factory programmability – the voltage range may be presetduring manufacture to suit the application• Customisable and user friendly – programming could allowthe LCD panel to show a symbol indicating that a hazardousconcentration of a toxic gas has been reached• Compact battery operated design – makes it straightforwardto produce a product suited to field useThe Oxford electronics systems may be programmed to operatewith a range of sensors with results indicating suitability forapplications where product cost will be a key driver.Commercialisation statusIsis would like to talk to companies interested in developingthe commercial opportunity presented by the design of theseelectronics and the know-how to enable them to be used witha range of electrochemical sensors. To discuss this furtherplease contact the Isis Project Manager.Simpler and cheaper electronics willbroaden the market penetration ofelectrochemical sensorsCONTACT Dr Jamie Ferguson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280851 E jamie.ferguson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com17

Isis Project Number 3135Sound cancelling intercom for MRIPredictive noise reduction to enable easier conversations between radiologists and patients undergoingMRI, leading to improved patient comfort and examination efficacy.The Oxford inventionIn spite of the increasing use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), due to its particular ability to image soft tissues, there aremany patients who are uncomfortable in the narrow, enclosedtube that is the MRI machine. When patients are being scanned,the MRI machine generates a lot of acoustic noise, enough sothat patients need to wear earplugs and/or ear protectorsmaking conversations between the radiologist and patient verydifficult. Such difficulties in communicating with the patient, aswell as hindering the practicalities of image acquisition, canhave a negative psychological impact on the patient. Severalsolutions have been proposed which use multiple microphonesand subtraction of background noise from patient speech, buttheir inability to differentiate speech from non-speech in a noisyenvironment has resulted in their limited success in improvingthe MRI examination experience.The Oxford invention is a method for reducing noise producedby an MRI machine that was developed by a collaborationbetween the Department of Phonetics and colleagues in theclinical environment. The invention can be applied both in theintercom, and in patient headsets. In the intercom, it allows theoperators/radiologists to hear the patient better; in the patientheadsets, it effectively silences the MRI machine so that it is lessdisturbing. The new Oxford system for digital noise subtractionuses the MRI machine’s gradient coil current and the RF powerproduced as the major noise predictors. Software to carry outthe real time digital noise subtraction via linear regularisation, toproduce a near optimal filtration, would run on a PC in the MRIsuite and may be applied to two-way communication betweenthe patient and radiologist, improving patient comfort and alsothe efficacy of the examination.Marketing opportunityIt is known that about 5% of patients find the claustrophobiaand the lack of reassuring communication too much, andhence are unable to undergo MRI examinations. In terms ofreal numbers, Frost and Sullivan (N194-50) state that in 2008there were 31 million MRI examinations in North Americaalone, hence we should be considering that over 1.5 millionpatients could be affected annually. It would be envisaged thata solution based on this invention could be supplied with newMRI scanners or as a retrofitable improvement.Patent statusThis invention is the subject of a UK patent application. Isiswould like to hear from companies interested in developingthe commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis ProjectManager.CONTACT Dr Jamie Ferguson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280851 E jamie.ferguson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com18

Separation method for carbon nanotubesA process to efficiently disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a high degree of diameterand chiral selectivity. High selectivity makes this process very attractive for bulk purification.The Oxford inventionIsis Project Number 3122Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with ananostructure that can have a length-to-diameter ratio fromaround 10 million to 40 million. These cylindrical moleculeshave novel properties that make them potentially useful inapplications such as nanotechnology, electronics, optics andother fields of materials science, as well as potential uses inarchitectural fields. CNTs exhibit extraordinary strength, uniqueelectrical properties and are also efficient conductors of heat.Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are a fascinatingclass of synthetic molecules formed by the action of a metalcatalyst on carbon vapour at high temperatures. The wrappingof the sheet of carbon molecules (called graphene) leads tomany distinct possible structures, each characterized by itsdiameter and the angle of its graphene lattice to the nanotube’saxis. The physical and electronic properties of SWNTs arestrongly affected by their diameter and chirality – related tothe way in which a graphene sheet is wrapped to form the‘tube’ as shown opposite. Indeed, the values of these chiralindices determine whether a given SWNT has metallic orsemiconducting electronic properties.Academics in the Department of Physics at Oxford havedeveloped a technique using organic polymers to efficientlydisperse certain SWNTs with a high degree of diameter andchiral selectivity. The selectivity is sensitive to the dispersingpolymer and also the solvent used to prepare the solution;hence it is possible to tune the process to separate specificSWNTs. The effectiveness of the technique has been proven byphotoluminescence emission (PLE) spectroscopy, a powerfulSWNT characterisation method. In the figures below, darkershading represents higher PLE intensity. Results obtainedby Oxford researchers using Polymer A show a much higherdegree of selectivity than found with another commonly useddispersant.Image courtesy of Arnero via WikipediaMarketing opportunitySWNTs are expensive to produce, and all known growthmethods produce ensemble samples of SWNTs with adistribution of chiral indices centred on a mean diameter. TheOxford purification method has been shown to be able toseparate a given SWNT ensemble into its distinct species. Theunprecedented degree of selective solubilisation, under verymild conditions, makes the Oxford technology an attractivebasis for a bulk purification route for SWNTs. It is believed thatdistinct species of SWNT offer an exciting opportunity to notonly nanotube suppliers, but also companies in electronics,displays, sensors and photovoltaics.Patent statusThis work is the subject of an international patent application,and Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developingthis process. Please contact the Isis Project Manager todiscuss this further.This invention featured in Nature – Vol 2, October 2007.CONTACT Dr Jamie Ferguson Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280851 E jamie.ferguson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com19

Isis Project Number 3252Personalised colorectal cancer treatmentA new set of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers for use as biomarkers for assessmentof colorectal cancer risk and potential response to therapy, which would enable clinicians to makebespoke treatment decisions.The Oxford inventionOxford researchers in the Department of Clinical Pharmacologyhave identified a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)in the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, also known as prostaglandinendoperoxidesynthase 2, PTGS2) region of the genome,the presence or absence of which could give an indicationof a colorectal cancer patient’s prognosis and/or predictedresponse to therapy.Marketing opportunityAccording to 2005 worldwide estimates, there are currentlymore than one million new diagnoses of colorectal cancer eachyear and over 500,000 deaths annually. The high cost of newcancer therapies, and patients’ highly variable responses tocancer therapies have led to a drive towards the developmentof tools and biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposesto enable a more personalised approach to treatment.These SNPs were identified by statistical analysis of genotypicinformation from over 700 colorectal cancer patients, and canidentify 100% of the haplotypic diversity of the population inthis gene region.One such tool is the use of gene-based in vitro diagnostics tolook for variations in a person’s genetic make-up or variations inthe cancer cells themselves. There has been a significant growthin this market in recent years which is set to continue as:By combining these biomarkers with other risk factors,clinicians can assess a colorectal cancer patient’s risk profileand make an informed decision regarding treatment regimen.Pre-screening has the advantages of:• Preventing under-treatment of a patient with high risk ofdeveloping aggressive disease• Preventing over-treatment of a patient with low riskof developing aggressive disease and exposing themunnecessarily to the side effects of some treatments• Choosing treatments to which a patient is geneticallypredisposed to respondThe Oxford invention can potentially be used as a stand-alonein vitro diagnostic test or in combination with other biomarkersin existing gene-based tests.• Technological advances make the screening technologycheaper and more accessible• There is better understanding of the genetic variations thatare linked with susceptibility to disease and susceptibility totreatment• Expensive new cancer treatments coming through thepipeline are increasingly more acceptable if accompanied byscreening tests to ensure only patients with a good chanceof responding are given these expensive therapiesPatent statusThe Oxford invention is the subject of an international patentapplication, and Isis would like to talk to companies interestedin developing this commercial opportunity. Please contact theIsis Project Manager to discuss this further.p31.1 q12 q32 q41 q43 q44Chromosome 1PTGS2 EXONS10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Structure and location of PTGS2 gene on chromosome 1CONTACT Dr Weng Sie Wong Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280842 E weng.wong@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com20

Signal design for future telecommunicationA new code sequence family – orthogonal polyphase spreading sequence – eliminates Multi-userInterference and provides excellent resilience to Doppler frequency shift for spread spectrumcommunications systems and radar systems.Isis Project Number 3707The Oxford inventionSpreading sequences are used to spread signal energy over alarger bandwidth in the frequency domain. The performanceof spreading sequences is measured by their ability toreduce Multi-user Interference through orthogonality and theirDoppler resilience. Currently, orthogonal pseudo randomcodes such as Walsh-Hadamard Spreading Sequence (WHSS),lose orthogonality when two spread signals experience a timedelay due to varying or unexpected signal paths, or are Dopplershifted between transmission and reception.The Oxford invention is a new family of polyphase spreadingcodes with enhanced orthogonality properties. The sequenceshave perfect ‘zero’ periodic cross-correlation under any non-zerotime delay shifts. The invention has several advantages:• Elimination of Multi-user Interference• Excellent Doppler shift resilience• Transmission power saving during uplink or downlinktransmissionsFigure 1 compares the periodic cross-correlation of OxfordSequence to the conventional WHSS sequence. Over timedelay shift τ, the Oxford sequence shows a flat zero-valueresponse in comparison to WHSS, where significant side lobesare attributed to the origin of undesired interference betweensignals in the communications system.Marketing opportunityThe Oxford invention has applications preferably, but notexclusively, in commmunication systems for military, avionicsand civil uses. Applications include:• Mobile terminals• Wireless Local Area Networks• High resolution Ranging such as Global Positioning System(GPS)• Radar systemsFigure 1 The Oxford sequence (top) shows excellent cross correlationproperties in comparison to WHSS (bottom)The Oxford invention aims to cater for the strong growth ofmultimedia services in communication devices that will requirenetworks with higher data transmission rates and greatercapacity, driving the demand for Evolved High Speed PacketAccess (HSPA+), Long-term evolution (LTE), Fourth Generationand Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimaxand Wimax II) technologies.Patent statusThis work is the subject of a UK patent application, and Isiswould like to talk to companies interested in commercialisingthis opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager todiscuss this further.CONTACT Dr Rakesh Roshan or Marouane Sefiani T +44 (0)1865 280853 E rakesh.roshan@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com21

Isis Project Number 3389Medical imaging system rivals MRIA three-dimensional high quality imaging system that is non-ionising and achieves resolution and contrastsimilar to that of an MRI but at the price of an Ultrasound.The Oxford inventionMany medical imaging systems are being used as diagnostictools to assist clinicians in their decision-making. However,established and widely used conventional imaging modalitiespresent different advantages and limitations. An MRI systemis extremely expensive; CT scans are ionising in nature;Ultrawideband Electromagnetic images are low in resolution;and Ultrasound images are relatively noisy.The Oxford new imaging methodology involves integratingultrasound and electromagnetic waves in a manner thatprovides a resultant MRI quality image, but at significantlyreduced cost, as it does not require expensive superconductingmagnets. The Oxford imaging system has several advantagesincluding:• Reduced hardware complexity and scan time• Improved imaging efficiency and patient comfort• A non-ionising environmentA demonstrator for the proposed imaging system has beenbuilt, and a simple proof of concept has been obtained usingthis technique. A scanning prototype is being built.Figure 1 shows the experimental data for a target samplewhere sidebands (Doppler components) along with the centralcomponent are observed when illuminated with the combinedultrasonic and electromagnetic waves. The phase andamplitude for these Doppler components are the signaturesof the target under investigation, and this information can bedigitally processed to build a high quality image.Figure 2 shows the preliminary scanned cross sectional imageof a cylindrical test sample using the Oxford imaging system.In this instance the amplitude of the side bands was used tobuild this image.Marketing opportunityThe Oxford invention can be applied to investigate lesions inhuman tissues and organs, and potentially has non-medicalapplications. According to a recent BCC Research report, theglobal market for medical imaging equipment is growing rapidlyand in the US alone it will be worth $11.4 billion by 2012.An MRI machine. Image courtesy of Kasuga Huang (GNU Free DocumentationLicence via Wikipedia)scan directiontest sampleOxford imaging system504540353025201510500 20 40 60 80 100 140 160 180scanning imageFigure 1: The experimental data showing sidebands (Doppler components)along with the central component which carry useful information for the targetunder investigation00.0-10.0-20.0-30.0-40.0-50.0-60.0-70.0-1.0E+9 -500.0E+6 0.0E+0 500.0E+6 1.0E+9Figure 2: Preliminary scanned image for a test sample where the amplitude ofthe side bands was used to build a 2D imagePatent statusThis work is the subject of a UK patent application, and Isiswould like to talk to companies interested in commercialisingthis opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager todiscuss this further.CONTACT Dr Rakesh Roshan Project Manager T +44 (0)1865 280853 E rakesh.roshan@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com22

Antenna selection for high-speed telecomsA novel algorithm for selection of joint transmit-receive antenna for MIMO systems offers reduction both incost and hardware complexity.The Oxford inventionIsis Project Number 3241Oxford University inventors have developed an antenna selectioncontrol system that reduces the cost and hardware complexityof current multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wirelesscommunication systems while maintaining their performanceadvantages. The algorithm within the controller can be usedfor both ends of the wireless link and is based on an advancedsignal processing technique: the cross optimization method.The invention can be applied to most MIMO wireless systems,and performance is within 99% of the optimum capacity of aconventional system.Figure 2 demonstrates the robustness of the antenna selectionalgorithm, by comparing the performance of the algorithm infour different selection criterions and strategies: concurrentcapacity based (CCB), concurrent norm based (CNB),sequential capacity based (SCB) and sequential norm based(SNB) antenna selection algorithms. Our algorithm obtains nearoptimal results in the case of CCB and SCB. Moreover, wecan find that the CCB and SCB selection algorithms are alsoimmune to the selected antenna array size.Marketing opportunityAccording to WTRS, the market for smart antenna chipsets isexpected to grow from $985 million of sales in 2008 to over$2 billion in 2010. The primary factors driving MIMO adoptionin the Wi-Fi market place include reduction in radio systemcomplexity and cost reductions.Patent statusThis work is the subject of a UK patent application, and Isiswould like to talk to companies interested in commercialisingthis opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager todiscuss this further.Figure 1: A MIMO base station3025201510500 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20SNR (DB)Figure 2: 10% outage capacity versus Signal to Noise ratio (SNR)Optimal selectionCCB selectionSCB selectionSNB & CNB selectionsRandom selectionThe invention can be applied to most MIMO wireless systemsCONTACT Dr Rakesh Roshan or Marouane Sefiani T +44 (0)1865 280853 E rakesh.roshan@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com23

Oxford Spin-out Equity ManagementPortfolio newsOxford Spin-out Equity ManagementNew CEO at OxitecOxitec Ltd, a company dedicated to combating global diseasesspread by insects, such as dengue fever and malaria, recentlyannounced the appointment of Hadyn Parry as CEO.Mr Parry has an extensive background in the Life Sciencesector. During his fifteen year career at Zeneca/Syngenta heheld various positions, including General Manager of ZenecaPlant Sciences and European Director and Global Head of R&Dfor Advanta, one of the world’s largest seed companies. Morerecently he was CEO of MNL Pharmaceuticals, a company thatwas focused on pioneering a novel approach in immunology.He is also Chairman of Help For Heroes, a charity founded in2007 to support wounded British soldiers.“Oxitec is a company that could have a dramatic impact onworld health, and I am pleased to be joining at a critical pointin its development,” said Mr Parry. “The technology has beenshown to be both safe and environmentally friendly, and is nowready to be taken to market. The Company has developedmale-sterile Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the main insect carrierfor dengue fever, with the aim of effectively controlling thedisease in many countries. I believe Oxitec has a real chanceto produce a breakthrough in reducing the incidence of thisdamaging disease.” Dengue fever is an emerging disease thataffects one hundred million people each year across the worldand which is increasing in severity, with over 55 per cent of theworld’s population at risk.Dr David Brooks has been Chairman and CEO of Oxitec since2002, and will continue as Chairman.www.oxitec.comOxford Nanopore receives $18m investment from IlluminaIn January 2009 Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) and OxfordNanopore Technologies announced a strategic allianceincluding a commercialization agreement and equity investment.Under the terms of the commercialization agreement, Illuminawill exclusively market, sell, distribute, and service BASETechnology products developed by Oxford Nanopore for DNAsequencing into the research and diagnostic markets on aworldwide basis.As part of the agreement, Illumina made an equity investmentof $18.0 million (£11.8 million), which will be used to acceleratethe development of BASE Technology. Illumina has alsoagreed to make an additional equity investment upon theachievement of a specific technical milestone.“Oxford Nanopore’s technology holds tremendous promiseto achieve the sub-$1,000 human genome,” said Jay Flatley,President and CEO of Illumina. “Making electrical measurementsof unmodified DNA removes the need for complex samplepreparation and the high-performance optics found in today’ssequencing systems. We look forward to a long and productivepartnership with Oxford Nanopore.”Oxford Nanopore was founded in 2005 to develop the scienceof Professor Hagan Bayley of the University of Oxford. BASE(Bayley Sequencing) technology uses an adapted proteinnanopore coupled with a processive exonuclease enzyme tosequence DNA. The enzyme cleaves individual bases from astrand of DNA, and sequentially introduces the bases into theaperture of the nanopore. An ionic current is continually flowingthrough the nanopore, and as individual bases travel throughthe nanopore, each one creates a characteristic disruptionin this current. This signal is recorded electronically andinterpreted to identify the DNA base. Recordings from multiplechannels in parallel allow high-throughput sequencing of DNA.www.nanoporetech.comThe OSEM web site is now live www.osem.ox.ac.ukCONTACT James Mallinson T +44 (0)1865 280903 E james.mallinson@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com24

Making the most of invisible assetsInsights for restructuring professionals looking to make the most of intellectual propertyIsis EnterpriseMAP MANAGE MARKET MONETISEIP auditProduct reviewContract reviewInventor studyTriage reportTimetableEvaluateRationaliseMaintainData archivePromotePubliciseMeetProgressNegotiatePartnerTrade saleSpin-outJoint ventureHybridFast-track process for identifying and exploiting intangible IP assetsMaking the most of invisible assetsWith the current economic turmoil there is a real risk that usefultechnologies will disappear forever through a combination ofbad luck, poor timing or careless management. Strugglingbusinesses could be forced to shelve non-core projects,lay-off key staff or, in the worst case scenario, cease tradingaltogether. All however may not be lost, provided that steps aretaken to recognise and maintain the invisible assets, and effortsare made to sell the technology to a business with a strongerfinancial basis.Administrators and liquidators tell us that they tend to focuson the visible assets – such as buildings, machinery and stock– when they first look at a company’s value. For Woolworthsthis is a legitimate approach, because a large portion of thecompany’s value is in inventory and property. What abouttechnology companies? In the case of these businesses over90 per cent of the value of a business may be in intangibles:patents, software, trademarks, or even trade secrets lockedup in people’s heads. Missing these can mean a substantialdifference to the outcome for creditors. How do you make sureyou preserve the value?What does invisible value look like?The start of the process of managing intellectual property assetsis an audit – although this is often not as straightforward as anaudit of tangible assets. Patents are unlikely to appear on thecompany’s statutory accounts or balance sheet. The processcan be particularly challenging if a company has downsized,and the employees who made the inventions or managedthe patents have left. The first thing to do is a full inventoryof intangible assets using a range of public and proprietarydatabases, and to identify and track down key individuals suchas inventors.Patent agents and trademark attorneys can be contracted todo searches, but an additional level of expertise is needed toassess very quickly which of the assets have value and areworth re-selling. Therefore, it is essential to bring commercialknowledge of the marketplace to bear for sorting out the wheatfrom the chaff.Speed is of the essenceMaintaining intellectual property, which can cost money, whilstat the same time looking for a customer, can be a jugglingact. The key to success is global network contacts across allindustries, amongst multinationals and investors, who can givequick feedback on their interest in the asset.The successful sale of intellectual property can give a valuableasset a second chance. It can unlock a significant store ofvalue, and also allow new technology to reach the market.In the case of a drug or medical device, this can have a realbenefit to society.At Isis Enterprise we are adept at identifying, valuing andmonetising intangible assets. We would be delighted to talk tocompany managers, investors, bankers or inventors looking torealise the value in intangibles.CONTACT Dr David Baghurst Head of Isis Enterprise T +44 (0)1865 280858 E david.baghurst@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com25

Isis Project Number 72001Managing osteoporosisA new medical device, the magnetic levitation vibration system, for treating osteoporosis and relatedmusculoskeletal conditions. (Technology Source: Chinese University of Hong Kong)Marketing opportunityIt is estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men over the ageof 50 worldwide have osteoporosis. It is responsible for millionsof fractures annually, mostly involving the lumbar vertebrae, hip,and wrist.Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause,when it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but may alsodevelop in men, and may occur in anyone in the presence ofparticular hormonal disorders and other chronic diseases or asa result of medications, specifically glucocorticoids.Given its influence on the risk of fragility fracture, osteoporosismay significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life.Many diseases and disorders have been associated withosteoporosis including endocrine disorders, rheumatoiddisorders, haematological disorders and inherited disorders.The inventionThis patent describes a new method for ameliorating theonset of osteoporosis and other conditions involving loss ofmusculoskeletal integrity and function.Whole Body Vibration Mechanical Stimuli (WBV) is effectivein retarding Bone Mass Density (BMD) loss and improvingbalancing ability and muscle power in post-menopausalwomen. The technology delivers these benefits through thestimulation of the musculoskeletal system by high frequencylow magnitude whole body vibration.Clinical studies 1 have shown the following benefits inpost-menopausal women:• Significant reduction on BMD in spine and tibia• Enhancement of balancing ability• Improved muscle powerThe technology has demonstrated great potential in minimisingthe deleterious effects of ageing on bone and muscles, and hasthe added benefit of increased portability while the magneticdrive allows a low profile system, reduces wear and increasesreliability. Additionally the device is able to maintain the frequencyand magnitude of vibration regardless of patient weight.Patent statusChinese University of Hong Kong owns a family of patentapplications protecting this technology and has rights to grantlicences. Isis Innovation is working with Chinese University ofHong Kong to identify partners/licensees.1 Prevention of Bone Loss by Whole Body Vibration Therapy, PC Sze et al, 16thIAA Humans in Space Symposium, May 21-24 2007, Beijing, China.CONTACT Dr David Baghurst Head of Isis Enterprise T +44 (0)1865 280858 E david.baghurst@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com26

The value of technology transferWhat returns can a university expect from supporting and investing in a Technology Transfer Office (TTO)?By Tom Hockaday, Managing Director, Isis Innovation LtdTom HockadayA successful TTO brings many and varied returns to theuniversity and to wider society in economic, social and policyterms.Returns to the universityThe returns to the university can be divided into financial andnon-financial returns. The financial returns can be cash returnsor accumulated asset value.Financial returns – cashRoyalty income: the TTO licenses out technologies andreceives royalty payments in return. These royalties are thendistributed to: the researcher inventors, the host department(s),the university central reserves, and the TTO.Research funding from spin-outs: the TTO establishesnew spin-out companies which raise investment financefrom business angels, seed and venture capitalists. Often thecompany spends this capital on developing the early-stagetechnology by funding research back in the university.Research funding from Translation Awards: the TTO helpsthe university win later-stage research funding in three ways:managing the patents on which the on-going research is based,providing input to commercialisation plans, and supportingresearchers’ translational activities.Government funding: the UK government provides fundingto universities to support their third stream activities (thethird stream is identified as additional to the main universitypurposes of teaching and research). The TTO is at the coreof the university’s third stream programmes, managing anddelivering activities with government funding.Sale of spin-out shares: the TTO will help establish newspin-out companies in which the university holds shares. Asthe companies in the portfolio grow, the university will receivecash from the share sale upon exit/flotation and from dividendpayments.Financial returns – assetsSpin-out shareholdings: over time the university will buildup a portfolio of shareholdings in its spin-out companies, andthese shareholdings have an asset value to the university.New patents: the TTO will file new patent applicationsand over time build a considerable portfolio of these patentapplications and granted patents, which have an asset valueto the university.Non-financial returnsIn addition to the financial returns, there are non-financialbenefits to the university from having a successful TTO. TheTTO’s activities help promote the university within the widerbusiness, industrial and professional communities, and helpsthe university demonstrate to research funders its commitmentto transferring technology from its research activities. Researchfunders put increasingly high emphasis on this.University researchers expect the university they work for, orare thinking of moving to, of having a competent TTO, withskilled staff, sufficient patent budget resources, access to proofof concept funds, and attractive revenue sharing arrangements.In this way, the TTO can help with university research staffrecruitment and retention.Returns to wider societyThe returns to wider society are of greater importance andsubstance than the returns to the university. The purpose ofuniversity technology transfer is to use commercial routes totransfer technologies out from the university for benefit of thehealth and wealth of society.Technology lies behind almost every aspect of human activity;indeed it is difficult to think of any area of modern life whereone can find complete sanctuary from the impact of technology.Technology transfer is an important mechanism by whichbusinesses acquire new technologies in which they can investand grow into new products and services for consumers,including medicines for patients.Businesses commercialising new technologies from universitieswill create new and improved products and services, creatingeconomic growth at local, regional, and national levels. Theseproducts and services are capable of having an impact inaddressing the major global challenges of the day: climatechange, energy consumption and ageing populations.CONTACT Tom Hockaday Managing Director T +44 (0)1865 280830 E tom.hockaday@isis.ox.ac.uk W www.isis-innovation.com27

an intelligent partnershipProviders of innovative banking, legal, accountancyand business advisory solutions for technologybased businesses in Oxford and beyond.For further information on how our services can help you, contact:Andrew DaviesCorporate Technology ManagerBarclays BankT: 07775 548803E: andrew.j.davies@barclayscorporate.comSimon SmithPartner – Biotechnology teamBlake LapthornT: 01865 253284E: simon.smith@bllaw.co.ukSue StauntonPartner – Technology groupJames CowperT: 01865 200500E: sstaunton@jamescowper.co.ukOxford Innovation SocietyForthcoming meetings of the Oxford Innovation Society will be held on the following dates:• Thursday 26 March 2009 • Thursday 24 September 2009 • Thursday 10 December 2009Meetings are held in Oxford for OIS Members and invited guests, and are followed by a formal receptionand dinner in an Oxford college hall. For information about the OIS contact Renate Krelle,Business Relationship Manager on: T +44 (0)1865 280850 E renate.krelle@isis.ox.ac.ukPublished by Isis Innovation LtdThe Technology Transfer Company of the University of OxfordIsis Innovation Limited, Ewert House, Ewert Place, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7SGT +44 (0)1865 280830 F +44 (0)1865 280831 E innovation@isis.ox.ac.uk www.isis-innovation.comDesign: Franks and FranksPaper: 70% FSC certified recycled fibre from sources with sustainableforest development policies