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Across the world there is growing awareness of the importance of innovation and knowledge transfer. Innovation in the sense of generating new knowledge and making better use of existing knowledge, coupled with knowledge transfer and sharing paradigms, have never been more relevant to the universities, industry, commerce and the third sector. This volume represents the proceedings of the Innovation through Knowledge Transfer 2012 Conference which formed an excellent opportunity to disseminate, share and discuss the impact of innovation, knowledge sharing, enterprise and entrepreneurship. The volume contains papers presented at a Workshop on The Meta Transfer of Knowledge: Challenges in the Transfer of Knowledge in Industry, others from thematic sessions on Next-Practice in University Based Open Innovation, Social Innovation and Related Paradigms, Engagement with Industry and Commerce and Knowledge Exchange. All papers were thoroughly reviewed by referees knowledgeable in practical and theoretical aspects of the subject.

4056 Background: Recent advances in pancreatic cancer research implicate the involvement of several heparin-binding growth factors (such as HGF, HB-EGF, PDGF, hedgehogs, and TGFs) that control tumor-stroma interactions. We have rationally designed a heparan sulfate mimetic, M402, which has been previously shown to affect tumor progression and metastasis through disruption of multiple pathways. We hypothesized that M402 could modulate tumor-stroma interactions and enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine, and evaluated its efficacy in two preclinical models. Methods: A genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM; KrasLSLG12D p53LSLR172H) featuring spontaneous pancreatic tumor formation and metastasis assessed M402’s effect on tumorigenesis and metastasis. The orthotopic Capan-2 model in nude mice evaluated the effect of M402 on desmoplasia, a fibrotic response that hinders effective delivery of chemotherapeutics, via inhibition of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in fibroblasts and stellate cells. In both models, M402 was studied as monotherapy and with gemcitabine. Results: In the GEMM, M402 significantly prolonged survival in combination with gemcitabine while each monotherapy showed modest efficacy. M402, alone and in combination, also reduced metastases and local invasion and inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In the Capan-2 model, gemcitabine was increasingly less effective as desmoplasia progressed over time. The addition of M402 to gemcitabine increased its efficacy with respect to primary tumor burden. Metastasis, invasion, and surrounding fibrotic lesions appeared particularly impacted by the combination treatment. M402 was also effective as monotherapy with dose-dependency, which correlated with reduced SHH signaling. Conclusions: M402 can modulate tumor-stroma interactions involved in the metastatic and desmoplastic pathways in two pancreatic cancer models supporting the translation of these findings into a clinical study. A first-in-human study is planned that will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and biomarker profiles of escalating M402 doses in combination with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

This paper aims to enhance understanding on inter-organizational information sharing through a study in a Portuguese SME Innovation Network, which is composed of innovative firms from different economical sectors. The type of information shared was identified as well as the channels used, the gains obtained and the factors that influence its occurrence. A qualitative approach was used based on the perception of members and coordination. The motivating role played by the coordination of the network is a point to emphasize regarding the collective sharing of information. Factors related to network structure, national culture, characteristics of the companies and channels used were identified as inhibitors to a greater identification between the companies. Moreover, the factors that influence the information sharing process between the companies and its most important information sharing partners within the network were also identified. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion