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Collaborative Innovation: Mastering
University/Industry Partnerships in the Framework
of EU Projects
Dr. Nihal Engin Vrana
Protip SAS
Director of Fundamental Research
INSERM UMR 1121
Innovation based on Industry/University
Partnership
• Product Development
• New venues- European Projects
• Establishment of Long-Term links
• Advantages of Excellent Science for High-Tech Industry
A Short History of Protip
1993- 1995
Material Design
Design and Development of a Special Microbead-based Porous Titanium Structures
1995- 2005
Animal Test
Biocompatibility Tests with rats and Sheep
2005
First Clinical Tests
•
Mandibular Reconstruction
•
Thyroplasty
2011
First implantation in Human (Artificial Larynx)
A Multicenter Clinical trial is in Progress
Aims of Our Fundamental Research Unit
• To develop a better understanding of the underlying scientific principles for
better implant design and biomaterial choices.
• To develop a network of Universities, Research Institutes and SMEs with a wide
range of capacities to respond to our immediate needs and future products
• To capitalize on our ORL biomaterial experience in order to develop
breakthrough biomaterials-based products (Smart Implants, Batch Processing
Methods for Implants, Fundamental Solutions to the Implant Related
Problems (Adverse Immune Responses))
0.5 mm
Current Capacity
• 3 Full-Time Researchers hired by Protip SAS directly.
• 2 Post-Docs, 1 Technician,1 PhD, 1 M.Sc. Student and 1 intern in University
of Strasbourg working Full-Time on Protip-related Research Projects
• Access to high quality research equipment and animal facilities via INSERM
and University of Strasbourg.
• Involved in 3 EU-funded international Projects with a total budget of 10
million Euros (Scientific Coordinator in 2 of them).
• More than 40 Scientists directly involved in Protip-Related projects in our
Partner Universities ( in Germany, Hungary, UK, France and USA) and SMEs
(Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Estonia, UK, Germany). (Some in
BWH).
• Our network includes Harvard Medical School, Heidelberg University,
University of Dresden, University of Nottingham.
Experience and Current Products of Protip
Medical
• We are a biomedical company located in Strasbourg, France
• We have 10 years of experience on Titanium implants and in ORL
field
• We have two CE-marked products
NewBreez: An Intralaryngeal Implant: It has been implanted in
France, Germany, Belgium, Jordan and Turkey
ENTegral: An artificial Larynx which is at clinical trial stage
(5 implantations in humans in France)
New Breez
• Protip Products
 For Swallowing Disorders
 Easy Implantation with an Introducer
 Removable
Alternative to Laryngectomy: Artificial larynx
• Resection of larynx due to late-stage cancer
• 1800 Laryngectomies per year
• Definitive separation of the respiratory and digestive tracts
• Loss of quality of life, problems with self-image
• A possible solution: Artificial Larynx
Image: InHealth Technologies,
California
8
Second Step
First Step
Product Development- Contribution of
INSERM UMR 1121
• Expertise in Surface coating systems
• Biological testing of the developed systems- Proof of Concept studies
• Animal tests and pre-clinical validation of the products
• Constant feed-back from Surgeons who are part of the INSERM unit
Outcome:
Commercially Exploitable products which will hit the market soon.
A long history of scientific publications which lend credibility to our
products
Common, exploitable patents- Many students and Post-Docs still
affliated within the common projects.
EU FP7 Project
IMMODGEL
www.immodgel.org
INSPIRING LARYNGOLOGY
The Consortium including Harvard Medical School (BWH),
University of Heidelberg.
Project Budget: 7.8 Million € (4 Years)
What did we propose?
• Local immunomodulation around implants by innovative
auxiliary hydrogel-based systems (AIM 2) encapsulating
autologous and phenotype controlled macrophages (AIM
1).
Multinational EU projects
• Ability to expand our collaboration to bigger consortia
• Access to more research equipment and presence in other fields
(such as Immunology)
• Physical proximity and long term collaboration makes Protip and
INSERM ideal partners in such projects
Outcome:
2 common EU projects with a total budget of 9 million with 2
more applications for a budget of nearly 10 million.
Several co-publications, creation of job opportunities in both
Protip and INSERM, potential products in the pipeline
BiMot
Advanced biomaterial testing by continuous monitoring of tissue/implant
interaction using microsensor device
Coordinator : Protip SAS
Partners :
.Protip SAS (67)
INSERM UMR 1121 (67)
NMI (Tubingen, Germany)
Cellendes (Tubingen, Germany)
NMI TT (Tubingen, Germany)
BiMot (EuroTransBio Project)
Continuously Monitoring Tissue Response
• Problem: We don’t know what happens to the implant after we
implant it without invasive procedures
• This can cause many problems (infection, restenosis, bad
integration)
• If we have a wireless system that can give us information about the
events around the implant, we will have more control over
implant’s life
Project Scheme
s
he
c
s
i
etr ut
m
o
e
l
Te Read
Haut
Gewebe
Biomaterial
Sensorchip
Fremdkörperreaktion
Optimal
Bead Size
Cellendes Products
150
300
500
In vivo Monitoring in 2015
• We will monitor real-time the integration of implants in rats
23/03/2015
Establishment of Long-Term Links
• As we are able to meet the needs of our partners in the projects, our
partners want to work with us in new projects. Second project
applications with 5 partners (Harvard, University of Nottingham,
University of Tubingen, University of Heidelberg)
• Access to new techniques and new areas- New commercial
opportunities for the company, a wider network of collaborators
• Improved visibility, Improved capacities. Ready access to many
methods directly via collaborations
Advantages of Excellent Science to High-Tech
Industry
• Direct Access to the trends and new opportunities in the Scientific
Community
• Less pitfalls down the product development due to Technical
problems
• Establishment of a Scientific Credibility for the company and
Development of its stature
• Awareness of new technologies and faster incorporation of these
technologies to the company products.
Conclusion
• The next generation of the implants will be responsive and
controllable. It is important the develop the tools for
obtaining these functionalities. This is only possible with
State of the Art Scientific Endeavor.
• For a Technology based SME, it is crucial to have a long-term
Scientific partner to have strong scientific foundations for
their products.
• Most of the implants face different parts of a host and each
interface has specific requirements that can be met by
specific biomaterial designs. This necessitates access to
many expertises which is only possible via multi-partner
collaborations.
Acknowledgements
Collaborators:
France
Dr. Andre Walder , Dr. Philippe Lavalle, Dr. Dominique Vautier, Asst. Prof. Agnes
Dupret Bories, Prof. Marie-Helene Metz Boutique, Charlotte Bach, Dr.
Christophe Chaubaroux, Dr. Christelle Coraux , Prof. Pierre Schaaf, Dr. Hayriye
Ozcelik, Julien Barthes, Dr. Philippe Schultz, Prof. Christian Debry, Elisabeth
Rieger , Dr. Gregory Francius
Germany:
Prof. Martin Stelzle, Dr. Massimo Kubon, Dr. Brigitte Ingres, Prof. Julia
Khyshkowska, Alexandru Gudima, Dr. Martin Cihova
USA:
Prof. Ali Khademhosseini, Dr. Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci, Asst. Prof. Pinar
Zorlutuna, Marat Sattarov, Rahul Anaadi Kurl, Aslihan Ekim, Dr. Luis
Bertassoni
Funding Sources:
Local: Région Alsace and PMNA (Pôle Matériaux et Nanosciences d'Alsace),
Protip,
International: EU FP7 IMMODGEL, EuroTransBio BiMot, EU FP7 NanoTi.
INSPIRING LARYNGOLOGY