Kingston University researchers selected for Innovate UK programme to help commercialise their research

Two researchers from Kingston University have been selected for a prestigious Innovate UK programme to help commercialise their research. 

Pharmaceutical researcher Dr Maria Saeed and senior lecturer in Civil Engineering Dr Silvia Padula are participating in Innovate UK’s ICURe programme which supports researchers to turn ground-breaking research into investment-ready spin-out companies and licence agreements.  

Both Dr Saeed and Dr Padula are set to start stage three of the programme ICURe Explore in January, after being selected by an expert panel.   

Having previously demonstrated the market potential of their discoveries, they will now receive three-months of expert support to validate and identify potential customers around the world.  

Dr Saeed will market test a potentially ground-breaking new approach to treating diabetes. She has worked as part of Dr Amr Elshaer's group at Kingston to develop a next generation drug delivery platform which uses two glucose-responsive prototypes and pain-free microneedles to deliver insulin only when the body needs it. These were developed by Caroline Soliman as part of her PhD, while dose-flexible injectable nanoparticles were developed by Dr Saeed.

“We’ve created a self-regulated insulin delivery platform using nanotechnology invisible to the human eye,” said Dr Saeed. “This technology can detect when glucose levels are high to deliver insulin in a controlled way without the need for additional injections.  

“The platform acts like a storage depot and only releases insulin when needed, mimicking the body’s natural insulin response enabling precise, on-demand dosing. It has the potential to transform how millions of people manage their diabetes by minimising the need for finger prick tests to measure glucose as well as insulin injections.  

“Our glucose-responsive microneedles provide a discreet, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative that does not interfere with the daily activities of children or adolescents, thereby overcoming many of the current challenges associated with insulin pumps.” 

Dr Padula will market test new software called WaterWISH designed to model the impact of policy decisions relating to the allocation of scarce water resources across different sectors.  

“Water is becoming increasingly scarce while demand continues to rise due to the effects of climate change and population growth,” said Dr Padula. “In some regions, water shortages have escalated into security threats. In others, the rapid expansion of AI data centres is set to drive demand even higher. At the same time, new environmental targets require leaving more water in rivers and aquifers to protect ecosystems.  

“We must understand what these challenges mean for all sectors: agriculture, energy, industry, and public water supply. WaterWISH offers a distinct advantage. Traditional centralised models suggest water allocation strategies that are ‘best’ for the entire region under analysis, without considering individual stakeholder needs.  

“In contrast, WaterWISH allows for the identification of synergies across sectors, while optimising trade-offs between societal, environmental, and economic goals. It applies advanced mathematical techniques and game theory principles inspired by Nobel laureate John Nash to create a framework that captures stakeholder interests, hence identifying opportunities for collaboration and supporting the resolution of potential conflicts.  

“By promoting spatial equity in benefit distribution, WaterWISH allows for the identification of more sustainable infrastructure planning pathways. This software has the potential to transform the way we manage water at different scales, from local catchment areas to regional and national levels.” 

The ICURe programme has helped both researchers to fully appreciate the commercial value of their discoveries.  

“I’ve completed the second stage of Innovate UK’s ICURe programme,” said Dr Saeed. “It’s been fulfilling and illuminating. It has helped me clearly understand how our glucose-sensitive nanoparticle and microneedle patch technology can address unmet needs in diabetes care, where it fits within the market, and the different pathways to bring it to patients quickly.” 

Dr Padula said the programme is helping her to better understand how to commercialise research. “As an academic, my focus has generally been on publishing research papers. This programme has opened my eyes to a whole different world. It has taught me to think about my value proposition, elevator pitch and market potential. I’m very much looking forward to building on this knowledge in January and taking the next step towards bringing my discovery to market.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Dr Martin Davies said he was pleased the commercial potential of Kingston’s research has been recognised and supported by the ICure programme. "Our business engagement team have worked closely with the academics and Innovate UK to develop these project proposals and it’s brilliant to see them now set on the path to commercialisation. We hope to see more of Kingston’s research supported through ICURE in the future, as we continue to strengthen the commercial focus of our work through our Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes.”

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