News

A photo of the seated audience listening to a presentation at the University of Oxford laboratory services showcase.

Connecting startups to cutting-edge laboratory facilities in Oxford

18 May 2023

The BioEscalator and Oxford University Innovation teamed up to hold an event to showcase the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at the University of Oxford to resident BioEscalator companies and start-ups from the Oxfordshire innovation ecosystem.

Pictured left to right: Peter Jianrui Liu, CEO; Brad Wilson, Chairman; Andreas Halner, President and COO, Oxford Cancer Analytics

Oxford Cancer Analytics raises $3.7M led by Eka Ventures to revolutionise liquid biopsy and early cancer detection

10 January 2023

Oxford Cancer Analytics is pioneering a new generation of blood-based liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection. It has announced the completion of an additional seed financing round, led by Eka Ventures, with participation from LifeArc, MegaRobo Technologies, Oxford Technology Management, and value-add individual investors. The Oxford and Toronto-based company has raised $5.5M to date. It will invest in expanding its first-in-class international studies and developing products for the deadliest cancers that can benefit most from liquid biopsy early detection.

Pictured: Dr Zhu Liang, Proteomics Scientist, with Dr Junetha Syed Jabarulla, OXcan Chief Scientific Officer

Oxford Cancer Analytics part of Oxford team that aims to detect lung cancer early via a simple blood test

16 December 2022

A team of Oxford scientists and clinicians has launched a study to detect the early stages of lung cancer using a blood test and machine learning. The team from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, the Oxford Radcliffe Biobank and the local spin-out company Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan) will recruit 200 participants to identify cancer biomarkers - molecules such as proteins found in blood that are a sign of lung cancer. Oxford Cancer analytics joined the BioEscalator community in June 2022.

Alethiomics and Infinitopes shortlisted in the New Startup of the Year category for the Cancer Research Horizons Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards 2022

5 December 2022

Alethiomics is uncovering new biology to discover and develop life-changing treatments for patients with blood cancer, and Infinitopes is identifying hidden tumour targets, enabling the creation of high-efficiency vaccines.

Ochre Bio outgrows the BioEscalator

28 October 2022

With Ochre Bio's chemistry laboratory housed at The Oxford Science Park, it was a no-brainer for the company to move over to the park when it outgrew the BioEscalator.

Nucleome Therapeutics raises oversubscribed £37.5M Series A financing

19 October 2022

Nucleome Therapeutics, a recently graduated BioEscalator tenant, has closed an oversubscribed £37.5M Series A financing round. The funds will be used to advance the biotech company's autoimmune disease programmes, fuel the expansion of its dark genome atlas and further develop its pioneering platform.

Image of a brain hovering in a person's hands

Mental health in the SME community

10 October 2022

Starting up your own business is challenging at the best of times; business plans, funding, licensing and IP are just a few of the hurdles founders face. In addition to the global pandemic and the current financial crisis in the UK, SMEs are under more pressure than ever.

Pictured left: Dr Quin Wills, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Ochre Bio
Pictured right: Jack O'Meara, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ochre Bio

Ochre Bio raises $30M (£27M) Series A financing for the development of RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases

10 October 2022

Ochre Bio's Series A funding will support the development of its first candidates for IND-enabling studies and expand discovery and RNA chemistry capabilities to address a wider set of serious liver-related diseases.

The BioEscalator bids farewell to Nucleome Therapeutics

27 September 2022

Nucleome Therapeutics has outgrown its space at the BioEscalator and moved to pastures new. The company will continue its growth journey at The Oxford Science Park.

Nucleome Therapeutics shortlisted for the Innovation Award category at this year’s Scrip awards

26 September 2022

Nucleome has been shortlisted due to its groundbreaking technology that decodes the dark matter of the human genome. The company is delighted to be a finalist for this prestigious award, a testament to the quality of the science and of their team, who have worked tirelessly to shine a light on the dark genome with the ultimate goal of uncovering novel ways to treat disease.

A hospital worker carrying a medical box with human organ for transplant written on it

Ochre Bio and Accunea in top 10 finalists of the 2022 Lyfebulb - Veloxis “Transforming Organ Transplantation" Innovation Challenge

25 September 2022

Rory Cunningham, Preclinical Scientist at Ochre Bio’s New York-based lab, and Nick Housby, co-founder and CEO of Accunea, will pitch their ideas and business solutions live to an expert panel of judges comprised of healthcare industry, medical, and patient leaders over the course of a two-day summit.

Infinitopes shortlisted as a finalist for 'Best Start-up Biotech' at the OBN Awards 2022

20 September 2022

BioEscalator resident Infinitopes has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 'Best Start-up Biotech' category at the OBN Awards 2022. The company is pushing the boundaries of science and medicine to identify hidden tumour targets, enabling it to create high-efficiency vaccines.

Atherton Mutombwera, CEO of Hutano Diagnostics, is a joint winner of 2022 Äänit Prize

19 September 2022

Hutano aims to save lives by developing better, faster testing technology for diagnosing dangerous diseases in resource-poor contexts. “I first read about the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship when I was a first-year student at the then NMMU computer labs" Atherton said. "Every year after that I would look out for the advert and get inspired. As an alumnus, I am more inspired and grateful for the Foundation’s support. The funds will be used to increase our team with a principal scientist to support our rockstar chief scientific officer, allowing us to reach our milestones. The Aanit Prize helps us bring our tests closer to the community.” Atherton is a 2014 Mandela Rhodes Scholar from Zimbabwe.

A photo of Atherton Mutombwera, CEO at Hutano Diagnostics Ltd.

Atherton Mutombwera’s Hutano Diagnostics among 2022 Äänit Prize finalists for $80K award

8 September 2022

Atherton Mutombwera, a Zimbabwean national, is the founder and CEO of Hutano Diagnostics and is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar in the class of 2014. His project under Hutano Diagnostics is a ground-breaking lateral flow device (LFD) to identify children with fevers who are likely to develop sepsis. The award of up to $80K will go towards the winning company's African social impact initiative. Voting is now open for an Audience Choice Award. The venture with the most votes will win $1K. Vote for Atherton!

OSPT selected by INCATEurope as one of the six new ventures to receive stage 1 support

24 August 2022

OSPT, short for Oxford Silk Phage Technologies, is developing a new material integrating bacteriophage viruses to produce medical implants reducing surgical site infections and the need for antibiotics. INCATE has selected the company to receive stage 1 funding which includes coaching and sponsored services up to €10,000. This new funding will help OSPT refine its regulatory strategy. OSPT will get a chance, along with other already selected companies, to apply for stage 2 funding of up to €250k at INCATE later this year.