Colour-changing 'smart' labels win innovation prize
Smart stickers which could prevent millions of pounds of vaccine waste have won a prestigious research award.
Dr Izabela Jurewicz from the University of Surrey, who is also Chief Scientific Officer at Guildford-based Advanced Material Development Ltd (AMD), won the Research and Innovation prize at UKRI's Future Leaders Fellowships Awards.
The prize recognised Dr Jurewicz's work developing vaccine vial monitors. These are stickers made of opal-like crystals which attach to the side of a vaccine vial and change colour when it gets too warm. Too much heat can make a vaccine inactive or even toxic.
Izabela's innovation is driven by a clear market demand at a time when key healthcare players such as the World Health Organisation are actively looking for new solutions to improve vaccine supply chains.Dr Thomas Walters, Research Fellow, School of Mathematics and Physics
The development of these smart labels not only focuses on sustainability but also ensures that global populations are protected against inactive vaccines.
We are delighted that Izabela's research is getting the recognition it deserves and we are excited about the opportunities to scale up this invention for the next stage with our leading packaging customer.John Lee, AMD CEO
Most importantly, an award of this nature supports AMD's stated purpose of solving real-world problems with nanoscale solutions
Dr Jurewicz's work with AMD at Surrey promotes UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure).
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