It’s a success story you could not ‘make up’ – former coal miner Brian McCormack went from the mines to inventing a range of innovative products that have transformed the medical and cosmetics industry.
Brian’s inventions impressed many people across the globe, including the biggest name in wound care and none-other-than supermodel Elle Macpherson, a Conserving Beauty board member.
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But his inspirational journey would not have been possible without the expertise and support from the University of Dundee.
How did a miner invent a novel product – and launch it?
It all started with an innovative stool collector. Inspired by difficulties people face during bowel screening, Brian designed, developed and patented a dissolving stool collector. Then he investigated other uses of dissolving materials.
Brian’s next product was inspired by touching television documentary, The Butterfly Boy. The father-of-three felt he had to do something, so, he did. He invented a soluble bandage and made a prototype in his kitchen.
He explained: “There were many ideas in my mind but I honed in on one. I wondered ‘is it possible to develop a wet wipe that could completely dissolve after use?’ and using similar technology, I developed a wound dressing that was easier to remove from a patient.”
Of course, getting any invention off the ground is a huge challenge – especially if you have aspirations of launching a product you know nothing about, in an industry you know nothing about.
But, fortunately for Brian, he was made aware of an incentive available through the University of Dundee called an Innovation Voucher. Provided by the Scottish Funding Council, an Innovation Voucher helps businesses by providing up to £5,000 in expertise to explore, develop and test innovative ideas. The grandfather-of-seven met with Jamie Henderson from the university’s Research and Innovations Services, and important discussions began.
If you run a small to medium business, or are a sole trader in any sector or industry, and you have a novel business idea, email the university’s innovation team to find out more: innovate@dundee.ac.uk
Brian, who now runs McCormack Innovation, explained: “Jamie from the university saw the potential and explained that there was funding available. He then introduced me to Professor Robert Keatch from the School of Science and Engineering. Professor Keatch looked at my prototype and told me straight away that he thought it had potential.
We then applied for an Innovation Voucher which funded the project. The resulting report, prepared by Robert Keatch’s team, into my soluble wound dressing concluded that this type of dressing would reduce pain for the patient when it came to removal of the bandage. For me, that was key – you can’t ask for any better validation than that.
“Professor Keatch had a vision for my invention too and could see ahead. He set up a meeting for me at Ninewells Hospital to show the prototypes to a team of clinicians – who gave me feedback, and now I have four patented dressings.”
Since the university’s involvement, six years ago, Brian has gone on to achieve many things, including:
- Winning the Hero of Fife Award
- Finalist in Scottish Edge Awards
- Finalist in Scottish Environmental Business Awards
- Gained ‘CE’ medical certification
- Launched a flushable face wipe, which caught the attention of Elle Macpherson’s company, Conserving Beauty
- Awarded Water UK’s ‘Fine to Flush’ standard
- Salts Healthcare becoming the main supplier of Brian’s products in the medical industry
- Launched a company, Pellis Innovation, to take these new wound dressings to market. The special advisor will be Professor Keith Harding, a British physician who was awarded the CBE for services to Medicine and Healthcare.
What is an Innovation Voucher? And how did it help Brian?
Brian’s success with his company McCormack Innovation is a huge credit to the University of Dundee’s Research and Innovation Services. The team there worked closely with Brian throughout the project, assigning him an academic expert (Professor Robert Keatch); conducting research; and developing a prototype of Brian’s new flushable products.
Brian added: “I could see that the help, the expertise and the facilities were there at the university, and they could offer me everything I needed.
“These trials would not be going on if it had not been for the assistance given to me from a team of academics from the University Of Dundee.
“I would advise other inventors or business people to talk to the University of Dundee about applying for an Innovation Voucher which can really help to take your ideas further. The university has experts in a whole range of different disciplines covering most industry sectors and if they don’t have an expert in your field, they will find someone who can help you.
“They will also let you know if it’s worth taking it forward.
“If you are looking at innovation, take the opportunity to talk to the academics in the university, as they have been fantastic to me. I have been able to speak to the team, and my professor, about my invention and they were always there to answer questions.”
The university also helped with testing the products.
Hear Brian’s story of success live at the V&A on November 29th
The University of Dundee is now reaching out to other inventors and businesses with ideas they want to get off the ground and have launched a pilot event series called ‘Innovation Conversation’.
These events are designed to guide local businesses through the help and expertise available to them through the university. And who better to invite along to its next Innovation Conversation event than Brian McCormack himself who will be there to tell the full story on how an Innovation Voucher with the University of Dundee catapulted his business down a very successful road.
How Brian tapped into university’s expertise to launch his invention
Nicola Madill, marketing manager for the University of Dundee’s Research and Innovation Services, said: “The university is exceptionally proud of the success that Brian and his business has achieved since he embarked upon an Innovation Voucher project with us six years ago. We’re looking forward to Brian inspiring other businesses within our region who are looking to grow and develop and we hope that Brian has some top tips for them up his sleeve that he can share at our next Innovation Conversation event.
One of the really interesting parts of Brian’s story is that he didn’t come from a background in medical supplies or soluble materials and this didn’t put him off developing his novel idea.
He came to talk to academics within our School of Science and Engineering who were able to help him create and test several prototypes – the university was able to fill that knowledge gap which was a fundamental to the success of Brian’s products moving forwards.”
You can hear Brian talking about his experience as an inventor, and all of the benefits that come with applying for an Innovation Voucher with the University of Dundee at the next Innovation Conversation event.
This free event, which is being hosted by the University of Dundee, will be taking place in the V&A auditorium on Tuesday 29th November. Research and Innovation Services will be there to explain what Innovation Vouchers are and how to apply and Brian will share his inspirational story.
How do I book my free place at the Innovation Conservation event?
Brian urges innovators to attend because: “There is a bit of an inventor in a lot of people, they may not go forward because they are afraid of failing, they might even be told they are out of their depth on what they were trying to achieve or it could be they just don’t know what road to go down.
“I was lucky to have the University of Dundee’s involvement and now we need to make sure people of innovation are aware that there is academic help on hand which can be game-changing to your journey and it is readily available.
“It will always be known as time goes by that the innovation of these advanced wound dressings came out of the University of Dundee”
To attend the Innovation Conversation on Tuesday 29th November, book your place at this free and inspiring event through Eventbrite and find out how to advance your business with an Innovation Voucher, just as Brian McCormack did!
