The Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) has published an impact case study on a new research tool developed at the University of Sussex with funding from its Sparking Impact programme. The Amyloid Beta peptide designed by Professor Louise Serpell and her colleagues in the School of Life Sciences is set to help researchers in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

The peptide, which is designed to be used as a control in experiments, is currently being commercialised by the leading Swiss manufacturer Bachem, following introductions made by the Sussex Innovation Centre. The company plans to launch the new peptide to researchers later this summer.

Alzheimer’s disease affects one in six people over the age of 80, and one in fourteen over-65s in the UK. It is hoped that Prof Serpell’s research will be used by scientists to better understand how amyloid beta peptides kill and cause dysfunction in cells, and the role this plays in the onset of the disease.

Read the full case study here.