January 2025

UCLB Impact Insights is the monthly roundup from UCL Business, the technology commercialisation company for UCL – bringing you inspiring stories of success and impact from commercialising UCL’s world class academic research.??

UCLH and GSL bring diagnostics hope for Parkinson’s and other diseases?

A new partnership between UCLH and Guilford Street Laboratories (GSL) will combine next generation testing, artificial intelligence, advanced mass spectrometry and machine learning to diagnostics in the UK.???

The partnership, a UK first for the NHS, will marry scientists and clinicians to create new tests meaning earlier diagnoses, better monitoring of new therapies and improved outcomes for NHS patients.??

The focus will be on neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disorders like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and complex inherited metabolic conditions including mitochondrial and neurotransmitter disorders.?

Dr Caitriona O'Rourke , Senior Business Manager, UCLB, said: “It’s inspiring to see such rapid action from GSL, which is combining advanced techniques to improve diagnostics. This strategic partnership will bring hope to many, allowing for faster treatment for diseases including Parkinson’s.”?

More here.

In the news

The FT highlights UCLB spinout Autolus?

The news story focuses on the work taking place at Autolus Therapeutics ’ Stevenage facility, which is manufacturing the latest generation of an innovative, personalised cancer treatment: a new Car-T cell therapy to treat the blood cancer acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after it received the green light from the US Food and Drug Administration in November.?

Read more here.

UCLB welcomes a new chair, Lucy Armstrong?

UCLB is pleased to announce the appointment of Lucy Armstrong , as new Chair of the UCLB Board, with effect from 11 December 2024. Lucy succeeds David Hunter who has guided UCLB as Chair since January, 2015.?

Lucy brings a wealth of experience, drawing on over thirty years of working with businesses to accelerate their development and success.?

Lucy said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the UCLB Board, as company Chair. UCLB and the technologies arising from commercialising UCL’s research base have achieved some remarkable milestones in the last thirty years. I look forward to working alongside UCLB as we continue to support and grow the businesses built on the exciting pipeline of UCL innovations and technologies that will generate the commercial and societal impacts of the coming years.”?

More here.

Prime Minister sets out AI action plan at UCL?

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer , announced a new plan for artificial intelligence (AI) to boost growth and living standards and revolutionise public services in a major speech at our UCL East campus earlier this month.?

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, who met UCL researchers pioneering the use of AI in areas ranging from medical imaging to eye health, as well as addressing fundamental issues in AI applications.?

More here.

Synthesia ranks in the inaugural ‘The Sunday Times 100 Tech’, a prestigious list of the UK’s leading private technology companies?

Synthesia was ranked as the UK's fastest growing generative AI company (7th place overall) in the inaugural edition of The Sunday Times 100 Tech, a list published which analyses Britain’s fastest-growing private technology companies.??

Synthesia, a company co-founded by UCL professor Lourdes Agapito ( UCL Computer Science ), uses generative AI techniques to create photo-realistic synthetic actors for video content.

Engitix also listed in 'The Sunday Times 100 Tech'

It was also great to see drug developer Engitix Therapeutics reach spot 28. The company was founded in 2016 to commercialise cutting-edge research at UCL’s Institute for Liver and Digestive Health.?

This recognition highlights the importance of the pioneering ECM-based discovery platform in uncovering novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of fibrosis and solid tumours.?

Find out more here.

Spotlight on

EnAcuity raises ￡1.28m to target safer surgery?

UCLB and 英国帝国理工学院 spinout EnAcuity has raised a ￡1.28m in a pre-seed round led by Twin Path Ventures, joined by the London Co-Investment Fund and Crista Galli Ventures.???

EnAcuity’s solution is set to transform laparoscopic surgeries by enhancing real-time imaging, helping surgeons more accurately identify functional details in the body that are typically invisible to the human eye.???

Dr Weng Wong , Senior Business Manager at UCLB said: “It’s great to see how rapidly EnAcuity has developed over the past year. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the next stages of the company’s development.”??

More here.

Tenpoint Therapeutics merges with Visus Therapeutics?

UCLB spinout Tenpoint Therapeutics Ltd has merged with Visus Therapeutics to create a leading force in ophthalmic therapeutic medicines aimed at rejuvenating the aging eye.??

The merger, which sees Henric Bjarke joining as CEO, with Ben Bergo of Visus named President and CBO initiates a cross-over Financing Round with participation from syndicate members including F-Prime, Sofinnova, EQT Partners, British Patient Capital, Qiming, AdBio and Eight Roads.?

UCLB’s Director of Biopharm, Richard Fagan , added: “This is an exciting step for Tenpoint whose expertise is well complemented by Visus’ expert team, and the two companies will be stronger combined.”???

Find out more about Tenpoint Therapeutics here.

Technology spotlight

EnAcuity is building the first hardware-free hyperspectral imaging solution for real-time surgical image enhancement.?

A sustainable solution, improving the capabilities of the existing in the OR equipment.?

Key features:?

• AI-fueled hyperspectral imaging??

• Hardware-agnostic software?

• Real-time image enhancement?

Find out more about EnAcuity here.

Events?

We were delighted to be joined by co-founders of UCL spinout Oriole Networks , Professor Georgios Zervas and James Regan . They spoke openly about their research and commercialisation journey, the support they received from UCLB, and the UCL Technology Fund , and much more.?

For more UCLB content and updates, please visit our website here.?