A KTP project collaboration between Queen's and Almac has been shortlisted for Innovate UK’s Technical Excellence award at the KTP Awards 2023.
L-R are Dr Haresh Manyar, senior lecturer in chemical engineering at Queen's; Dr Megan Smyth, SC CR team leader at Almac Sciences & UKRI Future Leaders Fellow; Gary Morrison, KTP associate; and Dr Scott Wharry, custom and flow chemistry manager at Almac Sciences.
The KTP Awards are an annual celebration of the people and partnerships behind the UK’s most inspiring and successful KTP projects.
The ‘Technical Excellence’ award specifically acknowledges exceptional collaborations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics application.
The 36-month project is a collaboration with the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s and Almac Sciences, a member of the Almac Group.
Success of continuous flow platforms
The KTP, led by associate Gary Morrison, with support from KTN knowledge transfer adviser Stephen McComb, demonstrated the success of continuous flow platforms as a key enabling technology for faster, safer and more sustainable manufacture of pharmaceutical chemicals and has resulted in the adoption and rapid growth of flow technology within the company.
Expanding Almac Sciences’ toolbox to offer flow chemistry has delivered additional production capacity, new products, and processes and generated new commercial opportunities.
Upon completion, the Innovate UK grading panel awarded the KTP the top grade of 'Outstanding', for meeting all of its objectives.
Academic supervisor Dr Haresh Manyar, senior lecturer in chemical engineering at Queen’s, said: “The university has seen remarkable gains through this KTP which has resulted in the acquisition of new research grants exceeding £1m. Additionally, we've shared our KTP insights with the scientific community through three published papers, extending the reach of our impactful work."
Evolution of flow chemistry expertise
Gary Morrison, KTP associate said: “It is an honour to be shortlisted. Contributing to the evolution of flow chemistry expertise at Almac throughout the three-year project has been hugely beneficial and I am delighted that has been recognised. I look forward to the awards ceremony in October.”
More than 800 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships projects between universities and business are active across the UK, with less than 40 shortlisted for the awards.
Lorraine Marks, head of KTP at Queen's, added: “We are thrilled that our partners have been selected as one of three finalists in a highly contended category.
"It is a celebration of the unwavering dedication and expertise demonstrated by the entire project team who are operating at the cutting-edge of flow chemistry.
"This recognition also underscores the exceptional support provided by the experienced Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Queen’s team whose end-to-end support has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in driving the success of this project. We wish the entire project team the best of luck at the awards."
The KTP Awards will take place in Cardiff on October 18, 2023.