A research team from the University of Aberdeen is waging war against the common midge. The team has been awarded almost £150,000 from Scottish Enterprise's Proof of Concept (PoC) Fund, a fund aimed at assisting in the successful commercialisation of research.
The team hope to explore why midges bite some individuals and not others, and then to use the information to develop more effective midge repellents using masking chemicals of human origin.
The researchers believe that natural insect repellent substances from humans can be identified, characterised and synthesised to create a new class of safe, natural defences against the midge.
Dr Jennifer Mordue, Director of Postgraduate Studies, School of Biological Sciences, is a leading expert in the research into chemicals that modify the behaviour of insects that bite humans. She said: "We are one of the elite groups in the world working on midge chemical ecology and are the only team world-wide with the capability of making humans invisible to midges. Our team's unique attributes relate to linking insect behaviour with chemistry and we are at the cutting edge of science using the most advanced equipment."
Using the knowledge and expertise of scientists at the University, along with their collaborators, led by Professor John Pickett FRS Rothamsted Research, Herpenden Herts, the researchers hope to identify the compounds which can be formulated into marketable, insect-repellent products.
The proposal will help address the problems being experienced by some Scottish industries, for example, forestry (through loss of days at work), and the effect of the midge population in tourism.
Scotland is uniquely placed to provide innovative technologies and solutions for its own national midge problem that can also have added benefits on a world-wide basis to protect man and his domestic animals from the bites of other midges. The repellents and their different formulations will be commercialised and manufactured in Scotland bringing the potential of high revenue in industries of huge value to Scotland.
Aberdeen's PoC awards cover the tourism and biotechnology areas and the two successful projects are: Human derived repellents against midges - Principal Investigator: Dr Jennifer Mordue Developing a novel therapeutic drug target high throughput screen for the treatment of liver fibrosis - Principal Investigator: Matthew Wright (which has also been awarded over £175,000)
Professor Dominic Houlihan, Professor and Vice-Principal, Research and Commercialisation, welcomed the announcement that the two bids had been supported in the latest round of the Proof of Concept funding.
"The University of Aberdeen is delighted that its' ground-breaking researchers are converting their research into the commercialisation environment. We expect that the midge PoC funding could lead to marketable products. The University is at the forefront of commercialising its' basic research ideas into spin-out companies. We are particularly delighted that the midge PoC funding is the only award in the tourism section," said Professor Houlihan.
Dr Liz Rattray, Company Development Manager within the University's Research and Innovation Department, said: "It is tremendous that the University of Aberdeen is continuing to build on its previous success in the Proof of Concept scheme. This will greatly facilitate our endeavours in assisting the knowledge base economy through the commercialisation of our research.
"I am also delighted that Aberdeen City as a whole has continued to be successful in this round of funding."
Members of the media interested in interviews / filming / and or photograph opportunities which can be arranged today (Friday, February 28), with Dr Jennifer Mordue, at the Zoology Museum, should contact Angela Begg, Acting Director of Public Relations, University of Aberdeen, on: (01224) 272960 or 07773358962. 'Live' midges, along with other midge-related material will be on show.
A case study on the 'Human derived repellents against midges' will be included in press packs and is available to interested members of the media. Midge-related images can also be sent electronically, if required.