Birmingham Platelet Group recognised in 2023 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards

Researchers led by NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) members Professor Steve Watson and Dr Eleyna Martin have been named as winners in the 2023 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards.

The Birmingham Platelet Group have been recognised in the annual awards in the category of Innovation, for their work on nanobodies.

The Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards celebrate innovation in the pharmaceutical technology industry, highlighting those driving change in a variety of business and research areas. The Birmingham Platelet Group are one of 11 winners celebrated in the haematology sector for 2023.

The team are being celebrated for recently delivering a breakthrough in thrombosis research, when they produced the first stimuli (ligands) of defined composition to four receptors that make platelets (small cells in the blood) clump together to prevent excessive bleeding. The research team developed antibody fragments called nanobodies and crosslinked these to make the ligands. The nanobodies have the potential to help scientists understand more about bleeding and clotting (thrombosis) disorders.

We are delighted that the development of the nanobodies has been recognised.

Professor Steve Watson, Head of the Birmingham Platelet Group

Professor Steve Watson, Head of the Birmingham Platelet Group at the University of Birmingham and co-lead of the BRC Thrombo-inflammation research theme, said: “On behalf of the Birmingham Platelet Group, we are delighted that the development of the nanobodies has been recognised. These are the first ligands of known composition for four platelet surface receptors and have application in understanding mechanisms of receptor activation and in development of diagnostics. The technology can be rolled out to additional receptors in platelets and other cells. We would like to acknowledge the support of VIB Nanobody Core in supporting the development of the nanobodies.”

The Birmingham Platelet Group investigates haemostatic and non-haemostatic functions of platelets in health and disease. This ranges from cell biology, signal transduction and functional studies through to the use of mouse models and studies on patients.