Making scientific discoveries in the lab is one thing, but turning that into usable technology that solves industry problems is often the real challenge. For Professor Dan Mulvihill, the journey from first discovering a way to simplify recombinant protein production, to making the technology available for industry application through new spin-out company, Sirius Proteins, has been a long but rewarding one. Here, he shares his experience of what it takes to go from initial discovery to commercial venture.
Proteins made simple
Meet the research team
Professor Dan Mulvihill
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer with over 30 years experience in molecular cell biology research and protein science.
Dr Tara Eastwood
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer with over 21 years experience in academia and Company Management.
Dr Karen Baker
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer with over 13 years experience in protein production, academia and bioindustries.
Dan, congratulations on launching Sirius Proteins. How does it feel to see years of laboratory research become a commercial company?
It is hugely rewarding. Sirius Proteins has grown out of many years of research, so seeing something that began as an unexpected observation in the laboratory develop to the point where it can be used outside academia is very exciting. At the same time, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of the research journey.
I have been fortunate to work in a research-active environment at Kent that supports innovation and recognises the value of commercial opportunities arising from fundamental research. There is a long tradition of this within Biosciences, stretching back to the early biotechnology work of Alan Bull and colleagues and continuing today through researchers such as Mark Smales and many others who have developed strong links between academic research and industry. I feel very fortunate to be part of that continuing tradition.
What's been key to reaching this milestone?
None of this journey has happened in isolation. Most importantly, I have been fortunate to work with a talented and enthusiastic research team who have brought their own ideas, expertise and energy to the project. Their contribution has been fundamental to developing the technology and has made the whole journey much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Collaboration more broadly has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of developing the technology. We have worked with leading academic researchers in the UK and internationally, industry partners and specialist facilities, including our long-standing collaboration with scientists at the Central Laser Facility's Octopus imaging facility. Each has brought different expertise and perspectives, helping us solve problems and take the technology in directions we could not have pursued alone.
When you first observed this biological phenomenon in the lab, did you ever imagine it would one day become the foundation of a spin-out company?
Not at all. My research has always been driven by fundamental questions in cell biology. I have never set out simply to develop technologies or commercial products; technologies have emerged from attempts to solve biological problems and understand how biology works.
When a discovery turns out to have much broader potential, however, I think we should be prepared to develop it further. Sometimes publication and sharing with other researchers is the right route; sometimes commercial development provides the best opportunity for a discovery to have wider impact.
Commercialisation isn't the reason for doing the research. It is one possible destination for discoveries that turn out to be particularly useful.
Are there any particular applications of VNp technology you’re particularly excited about?
One of the most exciting things about VNp is that it isn't tied to a single application. We are already exploring its use for producing recombinant proteins, rapidly testing and improving proteins, screening potential drugs, producing antibodies and creating vesicles with defined contents and properties.
These capabilities could ultimately be useful across research, diagnostics, medicines and other areas of biotechnology. It is still too early to know where the greatest impact will be, and I find that exciting. One of the most enjoyable aspects at the moment is having conversations with new companies almost every week. They bring different problems, applications and perspectives, often making us think about the technology in ways we hadn't considered. Increasingly, the question becomes: could VNp help solve this?
Looking ahead five years, what would success look like for Sirius Proteins?
For me, success would be quite simple: people using the technology because it solves problems for them.
I'd like to see VNp being used by academic and industrial partners in areas where it offers a genuine advantage over existing approaches, and to see useful products or processes emerging from those collaborations. There will undoubtedly also be applications that we haven't thought of yet. Enabling technologies become particularly interesting when other people start finding new things to do with them.
Do you have any advice for other researchers considering going down the commercialisation path?
I would say don't start with the company. Start with the research and the problem you are trying to solve. If your research produces something that might have broader application, talk to your Technology Transfer team early on. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and can help you recognise opportunities, protect intellectual property and work out what the next steps might be.
Commercialisation requires different skills from research, so be prepared to work with people who understand business, intellectual property and industry. You don't have to become an expert in everything yourself.
And perhaps most importantly, don't feel that pursuing commercial opportunities means abandoning fundamental or curiosity-driven research. The two can reinforce each other. That is very much what I am doing now: continuing UKRI-funded fundamental research alongside working with members of my research team and commercial partners to develop the commercial potential of technologies that emerge from it.
