Birmingham opens BioHub for life science start-ups
pharmafile | August 18, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Birmingham, Diagnostics, hubs, life sciences, research hubs, start-ups
A £7 million biomedical laboratory has opened in Birmingham to attract life-science researchers and start-ups.
The BioHub is a new facility for science entrepreneurs and start-up to conduct research, complete proof of concept work and progress medical ideas to market. Bioscience Ventures (BSVL), a joint venture between Abingdon Health and the University of Birmingham, is set to be the first biomedical company to move into the BioHub, followed by Linear Diagnostics.
“The name says it all,” says James Wilkie, chief executive of the Birmingham Research Park. “It’s a hub for bringing life and buzz to Birmingham and a place for bio-medical start-ups to grow into something brilliant.
“Other biotech incubators in the UK don’t have a shared lab like ours. With 24 bench spaces available, plus specialist labs too, The BioHub is a venue, it’s going to be a great community of science innovation; people sparking off each other, sharing ideas, and working in a state-of-the art equipped environment.”
BioHub tenants have the advantage of having access to a diverse network of businesses, research scientists and clinicians based at other life science venues along with the business support provided by BizzInn from the University, provided by the Enterprise Acceleration team at the BizzInn incubator.
Dr Chris Hand, chief executive of BSVL sees a whole host of merits in having their companies based at the new BioHub and says: “BSVL being located at The BioHub Birmingham allows us access to a dynamic and collaborative science community to further enhance current projects, establish new partnerships and exploit novel technology. Our vision is to further develop our diagnostic technologies and laboratory services and the BioHub certainly creates an environment in which to do so.”
The common theme for companies in The BioHub is the development and commercialisation of rapid diagnostic tests for use by healthcare professionals, particularly in developing countries. These can provide faster diagnosis and thereby improve patient outcomes, but as well as help doctors working in developing countries where access to centralised laboratories and clinics is challenging.
Yasmita Kumar
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