SE supports scientific progress

Scottish Enterprise is helping to support one of Scotland’s most innovative scientific companies through funding to aid the development of its novel, patented, biomedical gels.

Biogelx Ltd is a spin-out company from the University of Strathclyde. Based at BioCity in Newhouse, Lanarkshire, it produces gels on which cells, including stem cells, can be grown.

The gels are designed using methods inspired by biological systems, which means cells grown on them can be studied in an environment closely resembling natural tissues. That increases the potential for understanding the biomedical uses of stem cells, possibly leading to the development of new and innovative therapies.

Biogelx recently benefited from a new round of investment from Glasgow-based angel syndicate Gabriel and Scottish Enterprise, through the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB). It will use the funding to help commercialise the technology developed in research led by Professor Rein Ulijn, of Strathclyde’s Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Dr. David Lightbody, CEO of Biogelx Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have secured start-up funding through the support of Gabriel, the University of Strathclyde and Scottish Enterprise and look forward to bringing this internationally-recognised, patented technology to market.

“The use of bio-inspired materials across a range of applications will fundamentally change the way products are designed and developed. The launch of the Biogelx business provides a major opportunity to improve the way toxicology testing and drug development is carried out, through the use of patient-specific, cell-based bench-top systems instead of animals.

“As a result, we have already secured supply arrangements with key customers which we will support from our new laboratory in the recently opened bioscience facility at BioCity, Newhouse.”

Gabriel was originally conceived by the Strathclyde University Incubator, which has its premises on the University’s campus. Director Gill MacAulay said: “Gabriel is here specifically to encourage young and pre-start businesses. We keep the process of accessing this first vital stage of investment simple, in order to get the funds injected into the business quickly, and get them moving.

“We worked closely with Scottish Enterprise to build a process whereby we could all make quick decisions about this very vital early stage capital which is extremely thin on the ground”.

Kerry Sharp, acting head of the Scottish Investment Bank, said: “We are very pleased to be working closely with Gabriel to seek out and support more Scottish entrepreneurial talent. It’s part of Scottish Enterprise’s remit to help innovative new companies get started and secure critical funding and our work with Gabriel is a very important part of achieving that.

“We’re looking forward to continue to work closely with them to ensure young, striving Scottish companies have access to the capital they need to develop and grow.”