Biomedical Catalyst funding to boost healthcare innovation
Thirty projects are to receive a share of £17.8 million funding from Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst. This will bring them a step closer to translating their ideas into products and therapies for patients, and commercialisation.
Biomedical Catalyst is Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism helping small and medium-sized businesses test and develop innovative health and care solutions across health and life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices, and digital health. It transforms innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.
The projects cover a wide range of health technologies including:
- Smart at-home predictive analytics
- Treatment for a rare paediatric disease
- Treatment of solid tumours by targeting the immune system (immunotherapy)
- Advanced therapy to treat diabetic foot ulcers
- Novel anti-inflammatory therapies for ulcerative colitis
- Development of mRNA vaccines
- Ultrasonic scalpel driving system for robotic assisted surgery
Projects driving growth through innovation
SynaptixBio’s project is further development of what it hopes will be the world’s first therapy to treat a rare paediatric neurodegenerative disorder, a type of leukodystrophy. Leukodystrophies are a spectrum of diseases affecting mobility and physical development in children and survival is often limited to young adulthood. There is no cure for leukodystrophies, only symptomatic treatments which aim to maintain physical activity and mobility for as long as possible.
Chromition has an ambition to transform the way breast cancer is diagnosed with its Digital Rapid Autonomous Cancer Screening (DRACS) project. Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer improves patients’ quality of life and survival. Diagnoses are currently made by pathologists assessing tissue biopsies under a microscope. Using DRACS, tissue or blood cells are stained and identified as cancerous using a digital analyser, enabling more rapid diagnosis of breast cancer. The project is a collaboration with University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (Wythenshawe Hospital).
Chronic wounds cost the NHS over £8.8 billion each year and significantly impact patients’ quality of life. SolasCure is developing Aurase Wound Gel, containing the enzyme Tarumase, which breaks down proteins. This will help remove dead skin and foreign materials, reduce bacterial buildup and promote wound bed preparation and healing. The project aims to optimise the formulation of Tarumase to ensure it can be shipped, stored and used efficiently, while ensuring the maximum amount of enzyme reaches the wound surface. Aurase Wound Gel has the potential to help address the immense economic burden caused by chronic wounds and improve the lives of millions of patients.
Siloton’s personal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) system will enable patients with chronic retinal conditions to self-scan at home. This will mean treatment can be administered exactly when required, not just when patients are able to access a hospital OCT. Siloton will work with Bristol Eye Hospital on the project.
Neuronostics has developed an algorithm that analyses electroencephalogram (EEG, a test that measures brain activity) results to detect an epilepsy patient’s response to anti-seizure medications. Current treatments mean that patients begin taking medication as soon as they are diagnosed with epilepsy, but it may not prevent them from having seizures. Neuronostics is working with four NHS hospitals on the project and hopes the technology will improve patient outcomes.
Our flagship Biomedical Catalyst programme supports UK businesses at various stages of their innovation journey, helping them develop innovative healthcare solutions that make life better, secure investment, and accelerate bringing new products to market.
These industry-led projects demonstrate both commercial and technical promise, boosting the competitiveness and productivity of UK SMEs and ultimately enhancing the UK’s life sciences sector.
– Dr Stella Peace, Executive Director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK
Projects
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- Ailsevax Ltd
Antigen-to-Surface Enhancement Technology (ASET); an antigen presentation boosting platform for mRNA vaccines - Atelerix Ltd
Combining cryostorage of cells and cell models with ambient shipping to advance biologistics for medical research: from cardiovascular disease to cancer - Birthglide Ltd
Developing a novel device to facilitate safer vaginal births and reduce the need for instrumental deliveries or Caesarean sections - Bivictrix Therapeutics Plc
BiVictriX is developing a first-in-class bispecific antibody-drug-conjugate for targeted therapy of ovarian cancer with reduced toxicity by selectively killing tumour cells without affecting healthy cells - Boobybiome Ltd
Testing and scaling up a unique breast milk-derived probiotic supplement for infants, designed to bolster early infant gut microbiome development - Chambertech Ltd
Persistent atrial fibrillation, a common arrhythmia, has a 50% intervention success rate. ChamberTech’s hybrid catheter will enhance success rates, reduce risk, and improve cost efficiency - Chromition Ltd
Digital Rapid Autonomous Cancer Screening (DRACS) - Cornel Medical Ltd
Personalising Antibiotic Therapy for Critically Ill Patients - Fuse Diagnostics Ltd
Fuse is developing a diagnostic test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea that brings the accuracy of laboratory-based tests into a simple, instrument-free format for decentralised use - Holly Health Ltd
Developing Holly Health Prevent using machine learning approaches, to hyper-personalise digital health coaching, improving self-management for individuals with multiple long-term conditions, and increasing NHS sustainability - J And M Technologies Ltd
rAINGEsensor is a unique orthopaedic technology allowing remote monitoring and delivery of patient rehabilitation, freeing up patient and clinician time, whilst improving outcomes - Myma Medical Ltd
AutoICSI-Sperm: An AI-based Fully-automated Sperm Selection To Improve Fertility Success - Naitive Technologies Ltd
Expanding OsteoSight™ to screen for osteoporosis using spine and chest X-rays, improving early detection, care pathways, and patient outcomes - Nami Surgical
Ultrasonic Scalpel Driving System for Robotic Assisted Surgery - Neobe Therapeutics Ltd
Developing DNA biosensors that enable microbial ‘trojan horses’ to break down tumours without affecting healthy tissues, increasing the efficacy of cancer-fighting drugs - Neuronostics Ltd
BioEP for prognosis: A quantitative biomarker for measuring response to anti-seizure medications - Oxford Heartbeat Ltd
PreSize® Neurovascular’s power as an AI decision support software will be extended to support the entire patient journey for brain implant surgery - Pangea Bio Ltd
Developing novel neuroprotective therapeutics to protect against optic neuropathy in glaucoma, ultimately reducing vision loss and improving quality-of-life for glaucoma patients - Polynerve Ltd
An advanced biodegradable nerve repair conduit setting a new gold standard for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries - Precision Cardiovascular Ltd
Comprehensive remote monitoring system for Congestive Heart Failure - Pyroptik Instruments Ltd
PyrOptik and Sheffield Hallam University are tackling skin tone bias: engineering innovative optical circulatory assessment technology for improved endovascular treatment outcomes and foot circulatory disorders - Siloton Ltd
OCT On a Patient-Used System (OCTOPUS) – A personal eye scanning device to cut clinical burden of chronic retinal conditions - Solascure Ltd
A new product for debridement of chronic wounds, developed using biomimicry and evidence-based medicine - SynaptixBio Ltd
A demonstration of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics for the treatment of a rare paediatric TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy – A first-in-human clinical trial - T-Cypher Bio Ltd
By extending T-Cypher’s unique immune profiling platform, the project will contribute to the company’s comprehensive T-cell repertoire analyses and deliver novel drug pipeline opportunities beyond cancer - ThirtyFiveBio Ltd
ThirtyFiveBio pioneers precision medicine for ulcerative colitis, targeting causal epithelial dysfunction in disease and creating biomarkers to select responsive patients for GPR35 inhibitor therapy - Trueview Medical Ltd
Trueview system for safer spinal surgery - Ultramed Ltd
Data integration with health systems will allow AI to be used to explore how each patient’s risk from an operation can be better assessed - Vascversa Ltd
VascVersa is developing novel therapies to ensure that every wound heals. This project will advance development and lay the foundation for a first-in-human trial in 2026 - Xim Ltd
Developing Lifelight as a contactless method for monitoring vitals of the most vulnerable people and saving lives: neonatal babies
- Ailsevax Ltd
Stay updated
The next round of Biomedical Catalyst Collaborative R&D funding, and Accelerators in FemTech and AI in healthcare are planned to launch in late summer. Sign up to our newsletter for updates on these support opportunities and other health news.
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Related programme
Biomedical Catalyst
Helps transform innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.