The Northumbria-Sunderland-Freeman-bioMérieux collaboration

Winner: 2022 Analytical Division Horizon Prize: Robert Boyle Prize for Analytical Science

For the design and development of chromogenic reagents for the rapid detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria.

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A multidisciplinary team from Northumbria University, Sunderland University and Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Trust, supported by multinational biotechnology company bioMérieux, have been recognised for the design and development of chromogenic reagents for the rapid detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria.

The Northumbria–Sunderland–Freeman–bioMérieux collaboration made the discovery in a bid to improve global healthcare and the fight against multidrug resistant organisms through the design of products that allow the rapid detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria, so that effective and responsible treatments may be administered.

The team has been instrumental in the design, development, and testing of commercial media and methods for microbial diagnostics. By targeting specific enzymes characteristic of pathogenic and food-borne bacteria, the team have designed probes that generate a specific, quantitative coloured or fluorescent response, or result in the release of volatile organic compounds to aid detection.

Over the course of this collaboration, the team have developed reagents for rapid infection diagnosis, multidrug resistant bacteria detection and microbiology control. These solutions are incorporated into commercial systems sold in over 100 countries world-wide by bioMérieux, including the VITEK®, CHROMID® and TEMPO® systems.

The developed diagnostic methods have helped improve patient outcomes, reduce costs for users and are now being applied to the monitoring and prevention of antimicrobial resistance.

Our successes have evolved by our mutual understanding of how different scientists can effectively communicate with each other, against a shared joint aim of innovation in microbial diagnostics.

The team

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Anna Adam, PhD student, Sunderland University
Rosaleen J. Anderson, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sunderland University
Lyle Armstrong, Senior research assistant at Northumbria University (and now Professor of Cellular Reprogramming), Newcastle University
Najat Bahroun, PhD student, Northumbria University
Alexandre Bedernjak, PhD student, Sunderland University
Marie Cellier-Rastit, Associate Scientist, bioMérieux
Valérie Chalansonnet, Clinical Scientist, bioMérieux
Callum Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Sunderland University
John R. Dean, Professor of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University
Olivier Fabrega, PhD student, Northumbria University
Mark Gray, Senior Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry, Sunderland University
Paul W. Groundwater, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Sunderland University (now University of Sydney, Australia)
Andrew J. Hall, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Sunderland University (now University of Kent), Medway School of Pharmacy
Arthur L. James, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Northumbria University
Annette Johnston, PhD student / senior research assistant, Northumbria University
Amanda Jones, Associate Professor in Microbiology, Northumbria University
Alex King, PhD student, Sunderland University
Laszlo A. Kondacs, PhD student, Sunderland University
Fraser Lough, PhD student, Northumbria University
Jonathan Lowe, PhD student, Northumbria University
Emma C. L. Marrs, Biomedical Scientist, Freeman Hospital (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
Charlotte Marsh, PhD student, Northumbria University
Claire Mercier-Surowiec, Microbiology unit Manager at TB-BIO, bioMérieux
Daniel Monget, R&D Biosciences Director, bioMérieux
Stephanie Myers, Senior Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry, Sunderland University
Elizabeth Nelson, PhD student, Northumbria University
Keng Tiong (Kelvin) Ng, PhD student, Sunderland University
Sylvain Orenga, Research Fellow, bioMérieux
Audrey Perry, Senior Biomedical Scientist, Freeman Hospital (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
John D. Perry, Clinical Scientist / Visiting Professor at Northumbria University, Freeman Hospital (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
Clair Preece, PhD student / senior research assistant, Northumbria University
Shaun Robinson, PhD student, Northumbria University
Celine Roger-Dalbert, Scientist, bioMérieux
Vindhya L. Salwatura, PhD student, Northumbria University
Stephen P. Stanforth, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Northumbria University
Dominic Stephenson, PhD student, Northumbria University
Hannah E. Sykes, PhD student, Northumbria University
Ari Rasul, PhD student, Northumbria University
Emma Reed, PhD student, Northumbria University
Stephen Reed, PhD student, Northumbria University
Alice Rowan, PhD student, Sunderland University
Ryan Thompson, PhD student, Northumbria University
Thang Viet Truong, PhD student / senior research assistant, Northumbria University
Graeme Turnbull, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Northumbria University
Alex Twist, PhD student, Northumbria University
Linda Váradi, PhD student, Sunderland University
Andrey V. Zaytsev, PhD student, Sunderland University

Q+A

What inspires or motivates your team?

John Perry: "From the viewpoint of the clinical laboratory, we have seen several times how a novel enzyme substrate synthesized, for example, at Northumbria University can be exploited to develop a novel diagnostic method. When such products are ultimately sold around the world and become utilized in numerous published scientific studies, this provides a great deal of satisfaction and motivation for current and future projects. This is only possible through the unique long-term collaboration we have managed to establish and sustain."

Sylvain Orenga: "By actively collaborating with the University of Northumbria, the University of Sunderland, and the Freeman Hospital, bioMérieux stays at the forefront of new metabolic substrate innovation. Such molecules may be incorporated in some of our in vitro diagnostic solution especially for the screening and diagnosis of multi-drug resistance infections. This long-term partnership strongly instils a mind-set of Open Innovation, fuelled by creative and dynamic interactions between all members, enhancing our comprehension of a wide range of areas, from chemistry to the needs and expectations of clinical customers."

What is the importance of collaboration in the chemical sciences?

John Dean: This significant collaboration has involved many types of scientists from a broad base of conventional sub-disciplines including biomedical science, chemistry and microbiology from both universities, an NHS Foundation Trust and a global healthcare multinational. Our successes have evolved by our mutual understanding of how different scientists can effectively communicate with each other, against a shared joint aim of innovation in microbial diagnostics.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

John Dean: "If you want a diverse career pathway, consider chemistry, it is everywhere. Sometimes it just requires a bit of time to find how you can influence society and improve healthcare."