University of Liverpool sees business potential of dental care breakthrough
The University of Liverpool is bidding to commercialise a breakthrough in dental treatment, after winning a top medical award.
A university team has spent a decade developing iDENTifi, which can show early tooth decay and plaque before it is visible to the human eye.
A digital camera uses special light and filters to photograph a patient’s mouth. The images can then be transferred using wireless technology to a computer, laptop, iPad or smart phone for immediate assessment and evaluation by a dental care professional.
The tool, which could change patients’ dental care and dietary behaviour, has now won a Medical Futures Innovation Award which recognises groundbreaking ideas and products in the healthcare and business world that have the potential to transform people’s lives.
The awards can enhance the business potential of a project, and past winners have secured more than £100m in funding on their way to becoming successful ventures.
Prof Sue Higham, from the university’s Department of Health Services Research and School of Dentistry, said: “Winning a prestigious Medical Futures Award is a great honour, and proves that iDENTifi is not only highly innovative but, importantly, has real commercial and market potential.
“Winning this award will give us access to business expertise and networks which will help iDENTifi secure the recognition and investment needed to become a viable dental healthcare product.”
iDENTifi will undergo clinical trials and could be launched next summer.
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