- Professor Andrew Devitt and Dr James Gavin chat with Luke Southan on how they set up EVolution Therapeutics (EVo)
- EVo was one of the very first cohort of companies accepted onto the SPARK The Midlands healthcare accelerator programme
- The next step for EVo will be moving into human clinical trials for their non-healing wound treatment.
Professor Andrew Devitt and Dr James Gavin from Aston University spin-out EVolution Therapeutics (EVo) are the special guests on the new episode of Aston Originals podcast SPARKing up the Midlands.
EVo is developing unique treatments for non-healing wounds, caused by chronic inflammation, including diabetic foot ulcers. The treatments are based on extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are small, membrane-enclosed fragments which are released by dying cells to trigger the body’s natural repair systems. They can encase healing enzymes in such vesicles, which can be applied to wounds as an active treatment. This is a perfect example of un ‘unmet clinical need’ as such wounds are generally just dressed.
The podcast series aims to show how the SPARK The Midlands programme, hosted at Aston University, is working with health tech researchers to bridge the gap between lab and patient for unmet clinical needs, by providing mentorship and forging networks between researchers, those with technical and specialist knowledge and potential sources of funding.
Dr Gavin is the chief executive officer of EVo, while Professor Devitt is the chief technical officer. The two co-founders spoke to podcast host Luke Southan, director of SPARK The Midlands and technology transfer lead at Aston University.
As well as explaining the biology behind EVo’s unique therapy, Dr Gavin and Professor Devitt discussed their personal research stories and the founding of EVo. EVo has benefitted from the support of Aston University as a whole, and from various start-up and development grants, including from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK.
The support of programmes like SPARK, which focus on the translational element of science, have been instrumental in developing a business sense and the kind of language and skills needed to communicate effectively with investors. SPARK has also provided a group support network, with companies in the accelerator programme helping each other and sharing their own experiences and expertise in different areas.
Dr Gavin said:
“We're looking to develop a delivery system for our therapy using pluronic hydrogels for topical delivery in non-healing wounds and specifically for things like diabetic foot ulcers.
“We'll need another tranche of money because it's very expensive then to start to move towards [good manufacturing practice] GMP and manufacturing that way, but hopefully transitioning towards the first human clinical trials and eventually having a positive impact for people with unmet clinical needs. That's the main goal of, I think, everybody around this table and why people get involved, because they want to make a difference to patients’ lives.”
Listen to the full podcast on our YouTube channel.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming the Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Helen Tunnicliffe, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7827 090240 or email: h.tunnicliffe@aston.ac.uk.
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