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Forge Genetics announces licensing deal, to explore Forge Editing in pharmaceutical uses

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Forge Genetics team photo on stairs

Forge Genetics have finalised a significant licensing deal with AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company. The contract, comprising an upfront payment followed by development milestone payments, permits an exclusive licence for the use of Forge Editing in a limited field. Where other genetic tools had proved to be ineffectual in the engineering of the desired target, Forge Editing excelled in proof-of-concept and preceding projects. 

“The deal represents a considerable validation of the team’s hard work and a strong endorsement of our technology. We’ve developed a new way of modifying genomes and though we’ve been using it internally for two years already, this deal confirms that other organisations find this to be a valuable genetic tool.” Craig Woods, CEO Forge Genetics.

Forge Editing has been successfully implemented in difficult-to-engineer, non-model organisms, outperforming other genetic tools in programmability, precision and efficiency. The molecular means by which Forge Editing directs mutagenesis is fundamentally less burdensome to host cells than Cas9 based systems, enabling higher efficiencies of transfer and maintenance, facilitating strain creation. The Forge technology bears the potential for wide scope of application across diverse biological systems, with Forge having recently filed a patent for the use of Forge Editing in mammalian cells.

Forge are looking for cases of difficult-to-engineer organisms and diverse cell types from across the domains of life for proof-of-concept work and subsequent projects to further exhibit the potential of Forge Editing.

Forge Genetics provides contract research services for the production of genetically modified organisms, non-GM strain development with advanced screening methodologies and specialised fermentation and analytics. 

Forge offers proof-of-concept projects with an option to licence exclusivity of Forge Editing within a limited field relevant to the client. 

Release and image courtesy of Forge Genetics.

Neupulse raises £3m to accelerate delivery of Tourette’s wristband

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Neupulse Device

Neupulse, a University of Nottingham spin-out developing a wrist-worn neurotherapeutic device to help manage the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome, has secured £3m in new funding to scale sales and accelerate its path to market.

The round was led by Eos Advisory and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, through appointed fund manager Mercia Ventures, with participation from both new and existing investors. The funding will support the Nottingham-based company as it advances towards commercial launch.

Neupulse’s product is designed to address critical gaps in current treatment options. The company first secured funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II in 2024. The latest round enables it to move from development towards commercial launch in mid-2026, while continuing to build the evidence base required by clinicians, regulators and healthcare systems.

Paul Cable, CEO, Neupulse said: “This investment underlines the unmet need in providing people with conditions like Tourette Syndrome a solution to manage their condition, and as a company, we are driven to improve the lives of individuals with these conditions.”

Ian Rhodes, Chair of the board at Neupulse, added: “This is a great example of advanced biomedical research from a leading UK university creating an initial UK market launch during 2026. This will increasingly benefit the UK economy as the technology scales out globally.”

David Tindall, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “Neupulse’s growth over the past year, following investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, has been impressive. By addressing a clear gap in the market and delivering a much-needed solution for those affected, the business exemplifies the Fund’s commitment to backing ambitious, high-growth companies. This latest round of funding will further support Neupulse in developing and launching new treatment options.”

Andrew McNeill, Investor Director at Eos, said: “We are delighted to support the next chapter of Neupulse as they move towards commercialisation. This is exactly the kind of company and science we like to back. Passionate founders and technology with the potential to positively impact the lives of people across the globe.”

Sandy Reid, Fund Principal, Mercia Ventures added: “Tourette Syndrome is believed to affect up to two per cent of all children worldwide but currently the only treatments are medication and behavioural therapy, neither of which are ideal solutions. Neupulse’s device offers a genuine alternative that could transform lives.”

The £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II covers the entire Midlands region and provides debt finance from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead. The purpose of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the Midlands. The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the Midlands, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

Image courtesy of Neupulse.

NuVision Biotherapies raises £4.8m to scale eye treatment technology

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Close up of an eye

NuVision Biotherapies, the Nottingham-based eye care spin-out, has raised £4.8m in a funding round led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through fund manager Mercia Ventures.

The round also included investment from the University of Nottingham and Pioneer Group. Mercia Ventures and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II have backed the business since its inception, providing earlier funding rounds in 2023 and 2024.

NuVision develops products that use amniotic membrane tissue to support wound healing following eye surgery and to treat conditions including ulcers, burns, glaucoma and infections. The tissue is sourced from women undergoing elective Caesarean procedures and processed at the company’s Nottingham manufacturing facility.

The company’s first product, Omnigen, was designed for use in operating theatres. A later product, OmniLenz, a specialist contact lens, allows amniotic membrane to be used without surgery, extending treatment into opticians’ practices and outpatient clinics.

NuVision now supplies more than 160 NHS centres and private clinics across the UK, including Moorfields Eye Hospital, as well as clinics in 12 countries across Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East.

Following a successful clinical trial, a combination of Omnigen and OmniLenz is now being used to treat dry eye disease. The latest funding will be used to scale the business, increase manufacturing capacity and support expansion into further international markets.

The company was founded in 2015 by Dr Andy Hopkinson, based on research carried out at the University of Nottingham. Its proprietary process preserves the healing properties of amniotic tissue while allowing products to be stored at room temperature for extended periods.

Noel Waters, Chief Operating Officer at NuVision, said: “This round of funding will enable the proven benefits of treatment with amniotic membrane to be made available to those patients with damage to their eyes caused by traumatic injury or following eye surgery. Our goal is to see treatment using our products become a global standard of care in ophthalmology and optometry.”

David Tindall, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said the investment reflected the fund’s purpose. “Seeing NuVision return to secure more funding after its successes is a testament to what the fund stands for,” he said.

Hannah Tapsell Chapman of Mercia Ventures said the business had made significant progress in recent years, adding: “This latest funding will enable it to continue building momentum and scale up manufacturing.”

Shakespeare Martineau advised Mercia Ventures on the deal.

Cerca Magnetics recognised with high Sunday Times 100 Tech ranking

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University of Nottingham spin-out, Cerca Magnetics has been placed at 15 in the highly regarded Sunday Times 100 Tech 2026, which ranks Britain’s fastest-growing private technology companies.

The University of Nottingham spinout, which developed and sells some of the world’s most advanced instrumentation for human brain imaging, is included for increasing sales nearly 107 per cent annually for the last three years.

Sales of Cerca’s lightweight wearable brain scanner reached £6.4m in 2024. The scanner interrogates neural activity with unprecedented accuracy. It can be used to probe conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and dementia.

“This important recognition comes as we grow our global market and expand the range of applications that our technology can impact. The Cerca scanner is without peer, combining technological advances with engineered robustness and affordability, to transform neuroscientific knowledge.”
David Woolger, CEO of Cerca Magnetics

The company has sold its systems to leading neuroscience centres in 12 countries, with customers in north America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. The scanner is currently on the approval pathway for clinical use, including in the UK and USA. It is being used by clinicians based at Gt Ormond Street Hospital as part of a major research project into epilepsy.

The Cerca Magnetics OPM-MEG scanner uses the principles of magnetoencephalography (MEG), which measure neural activity via detection of magnetic fields produced by electrical currents in the brain.

These fields are measured using newly developed quantum sensors called optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs). The sensors are lightweight and integrated into a wearable “helmet” that moves with the head. This makes it possible to study brain activity in people as they move naturally and carry out everyday tasks. The wearable system is also adaptable to scan children.

Data from the scanner show neurons firing in real time, which will also benefit research into concussion. Cerca was recently awarded a £2.8m contract to develop and build the world’s first mobile OPM-MEG scanner for the UK Ministry of Defence where it will be used to assess blast exposure on military personnel.

“Quantum technologies have revolutionised what is possible with brain imaging. Ten years ago, measuring MEG signals in people as they move around freely, whilst wearing what is essentially a hat, seemed like science fiction. Now, it’s possible and opening up new worlds of research, particularly related to the developing brain in the early years of life.”
Cerca co-founder and University of Nottingham Professor of Physics, Matthew Brookes

Cerca Magnetics was founded in 2020 with support from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.

University of Nottingham supports Shard Diagnostics to drive innovation in molecular diagnostics

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DNA Helix

Shard Diagnostics has become the latest company to join the University of Nottingham’s investment portfolio, supported through Nottingham Technology Ventures – the university’s wholly owned subsidiary responsible for managing its spin-out portfolio and related investments.

This milestone further strengthens the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving economic growth across the region. With a portfolio of nearly 40 companies – including 25 launched in the past seven years – the university plays a pivotal role in supporting early-stage ventures.

Alice MacGowan, CEO of Nottingham Technology Ventures, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Shard Diagnostics into our investment portfolio. The company exemplifies the type of high-impact, research-driven innovation we are committed to supporting – transforming world-class scientific expertise into technologies that can meaningfully improve outcomes. We look forward to supporting their growth as they scale their platform and expand their commercial reach.”

Through strategic investments, the university is helping to accelerate growth, bring transformative technologies to market, and contribute significantly to regional economic development. Shard Diagnostics is the latest venture to join this thriving ecosystem, where pioneering research is translated into real-world impact.

Based at BioCity Nottingham, Shard Diagnostics is developing next-generation technologies for detecting biological analytes in several fields including Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Point-of-Care testing, Molecular Biology Research, Veterinary, Agriculture and Forensics. The alumni-led company is headed by Dr James Hassall (CEO) and Dr Declan Sculthorpe (COO), who both completed post-graduate degrees and post-doctoral research at the University of Nottingham.

Speaking about what this means for Shard Diagnostics, Dr James Hassall, said: “The investment arrives at an exciting time for us, as we recently launched our new website and product ranges across several verticals. We are looking to fully utilise this investment to catapult us into the commercial space and expand our offerings with our established platforms. The support from University of Nottingham and Nottingham Technology Ventures thus far has been invaluable, and both Declan and I are confident that this continued collaboration will aid us in our long-term success.”

Shard Diagnostics also benefits from the involvement of Professor Mohammad Ilyas, Professor of Pathology from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham. Acting as a clinical advisor, Professor Ilyas brings a wealth of knowledge on the practical demands of developing molecular tests combined with cutting-edge translational academic research.

Professor Ilyas, said: “Shard Diagnostics represents exactly the kind of translational pathway from innovation to clinical implementation that we strive to nurture at the University of Nottingham. Working with them will be a natural extension of my current work aimed at developing solutions for Oncology and advancing testing in the APAC and EMEA regions. It’s particularly exciting to guide the cutting-edge qPCR platform for liquid biopsy testing which will enable affordable longitudinal cancer testing that is so desperately needed.”

Looking ahead, Shard Diagnostics is poised for significant growth as it continues to expand its product offerings and strengthen partnerships within the healthcare and life sciences sector and beyond. With the backing of Nottingham Technology Ventures and the continued collaboration with the University of Nottingham’s expert researchers, the company is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on molecular diagnostics, helping to accelerate scientific discovery and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

BLUESKEYE AI selected for Google for Startups – AI in Health

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BLUESKEYE AI, a global leader in ethical artificial intelligence to objectively MEASURE social, emotional, and medically relevant expressed behaviour, BETTER than ever before, today announced it has been selected for a prestigious spot in the Google for Startups’ Growth Academy: AI for Health—an exclusive, game-changing program that supports promising AI-powered health innovation companies with the goal of enabling a positive impact on global healthcare systems.

The programme saw 25 companies from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa chosen after a rigorous selection process. Blueskeye is one of only three companies participating in the programme from the UK. In May, two of Blueskeye’s founders will head to Poland to kick off the three-month hybrid programme.

BLUESKEYE AI measures what was previously unmeasurable. Whereas the current gold standard for mental health assessment typically relies on infrequent and subjective self-reports or lengthy in-person clinical interviews, Blueskeye provides objective, honest, and fast measurement of the severity of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and other medical conditions that change the way you express yourself through face and voice behaviour. This will help prevent costly treatment through early intervention, and enable precision medicine. 

Today, Blueskeye provides face and voice analysis to customers in the Automotive, Health, and Social Robotics markets. In the Health space, its B-Healthy Platform supports clinical trials with clinical grade app-delivered tasks that let pharmaceutical companies collect ecologically valid data of previously unavailable digital endpoints. B-Healthy can help healthcare professionals and life science companies collect objective health measures, better understand patient conditions, and design personalised responses which could provide wider access to Blueskeye’s innovations.

Professor Michel Valstar, founder and Blueskeye’s Chief Evangelist and Scientific Officer said: “The Google For Startups program is a fantastic opportunity for BLUESKEYE AI as we continue to strengthen our position in the market. With ongoing clinical trials and increasing adoption of our technology, the program’s access to global experts, peer innovators, and ongoing mentorship will provide invaluable support as we continue our commercial growth and prepare for team expansion.”

Noam Feinstein, Senior Startup Partner Manager and Campus Lead at Google for Startups, added: “We’re excited to welcome BLUESKEYE AI to the Growth Academy: AI for Health. Their integrated approach to transforming healthcare with AI stood out in our selection process. Google is proud to support their mission and connect them with other visionary companies who are redefining the future of health.”

Participants in the program will benefit from virtual and in-person sessions focused on AI best practices, product design, leadership, responsible innovation, and customer growth, with ongoing technical support from Google’s expert teams—even after the programme ends.

About BLUESKEYE AI:

BLUESKEYE AI uses machine learning to objectively MEASURE social, emotional, and medically relevant expressed face and voice behaviour, BETTER than ever before. This helps clinicians, patients and their friends and families assess, treat and monitor health, mood and mental state. Its solutions span across healthcare, automotive, social robotics and other industries.

Learn more at www.blueskeye.com 

Spin-out company launched to deliver gene therapy during bone repair surgery

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image of DNA strands and a paid of tweezers being held in a gloved hand

A gene therapy system that can repair and regenerate human tissue is being developed for use in orthopaedic surgery with the launch of a new spin-out company.

TherageniX is a University of Nottingham spin out that’s been launched in collaboration with NLC, a healthtech venture builder, to develop technology that uses gene therapy to provide biological cues to boost the body’s response to regenerating skin, bone, muscle and cartilage. TherageniX will initially focus on orthopaedic application, with the aim of improving the outcomes for patients with bone loss, infection and disease.

This technology has been developed by Dr James Dixon in the School of Pharmacy who has created a platform technology to deliver a variety of therapeutic molecules into different cells and tissues as disease treatments. The platform uses peptides and DNA or RNA to form nanoparticles that when uptaken by cells can drive a diseased or injured tissue to generate its own therapeutic molecules

Bone repair usually uses grafts from the patient’s own body (autologous), but this has drawbacks when there is not enough bone available for large defects or when there is risk of infection, or further trauma at the harvesting site. Many bone implants fail due to poor integration, infection or do not function well when healed.

TherageniX’s solution will be added to autologous bone grafts during operations by delivering genes directly as a powdered medicine while the patient is undergoing surgery. This will improve the regenerative capacity of the graft and is expected to lead to better outcomes, while reducing trauma at the graft donor site. This new therapy will also reduce waiting times for patients and manufacturing costs.

“Adapting our technology for a rapid application directly to grafted tissue within the operating theatre has been a vision for our gene delivery platform for several years, we have the opportunity here to bring regenerative medicine and gene therapy forward with innovative applications and apply it in ways we could not have envisaged only a few years ago. We hope that our system will generate a platform of transformative, economically viable and impactful approaches to clinical problems that remain poorly addressed in modern medicine.” Dr James Dixon, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham

Anandkumar Nandakumar is the CEO of TherageniX, he said: “I am very excited about the technology and we have a unique approach to help patients with bone defects. We are only at the first step with the possibilities of this technology. In the future we can envision treating several types of defects and tissues and move towards personalized medicine.”

TherageniX is an early stage venture with the first proof of concept in pre-clinical studies and has been supported by Nottingham Technology Ventures who manage the University of Nottingham’s spin-out portfolio.

“We’re incredibly pleased to announce the launch of TherageniX and are looking forward to seeing the potential of this platform realised for orthopaedic applications. Delivery of gene therapies to the site of action is a critical challenge, which this innovation has the ability to solve. It is incredibly rewarding to see the work of Dr. Dixon and colleagues at the University of Nottingham recognised by this external investment” Dr Alice MacGowan, Nottingham Technology Ventures

Nottingham trio share award for brain imaging innovation

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A trio of young Nottingham scientists have been recognised for their work to transform brain imaging with the development of a new kind of wearable brain scanner.

Elena Boto, Ryan Hill and Niall Holmes from the University of Nottingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy have been awarded the Clifford Paterson Medal from the Institute of Physics (IOP). It has been awarded for their work on the development of wearable, lightweight brain imaging technology that can provide images of human brain function with unprecedented accuracy, even whilst the patient is moving.

The team have been working on this project since 2015. Together they have pioneered the rapid development of this new scanner, which employs quantum enabled sensors to measure magnetic fields above the scalp (a process termed magnetoencephalography (MEG).

They used small, lightweight optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), which employ the fundamental quantum physics of atoms to measure the neuromagnetic field. The team were able to incorporate these sensors into a novel scanner design that can be worn as a helmet allowing people to move freely The system can be adapted to anyone, from newborns to adults, and sensors can be placed much closer to the head, dramatically enhancing data quality. OPM-MEG is also cheaper than conventional scanners.

“The work that Elena, Ryan and Niall have done is genuinely ground-breaking, with far reaching implications for healthcare. Individually, they are exceptional scientists, but working together they have achieved something that is truly and uniquely special. The Clifford Patterson Medal from the IOP is richly deserved, and a wonderful recognition of Elena, Ryan and Niall’s achievements.” Professor Matt Brookes, MEG research lead at the University of Nottingham

The combined efforts of the team has made the commercialisation of OPM-MEG viable. Cerca Magnetics Limited was launched in July 2020, with Boto, Holmes and Hill as co-founders. In its first year, Cerca was profitable with over £1 million of sales; sales of greater than £3 million are predicted in 2022. Customers include major children’s hospitals and leading academic institutions worldwide. This new technology has potential to significantly enhance 21st Century healthcare.

The IOP awards celebrate physicists at every stage of their career; from those just starting out through to physicists at the peak of their careers, and those with a distinguished career behind them.

They also recognise and celebrate companies which are successful in the application of physics and innovation, as well as employers who demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.

Congratulating this year’s Award winners, Institute of Physics President, Professor Sheila Rowan, said: “On behalf of the Institute of Physics, I warmly congratulate all of this year’s Award winners.

“Each and every one of them has made a significant and positive impact in their profession, whether as a researcher, teacher, industrialist, technician or apprentice.

“Recent events have underlined the absolute necessity to encourage and reward our scientists and those who teach and encourage future generations. We rely on their dedication and innovation to improve many aspects of the lives of individuals and of our wider society.”

More information is available from Elena Boto on [email protected]

Face and voice recognition technology set to transform diagnosis of perinatal depression

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Artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed to use face and voice recognition to help recognise and predict depression in pregnant women and new mums has received funding to develop it as a clinical tool.

University of Nottingham Spin out company BlueSkyeye AI Ltd has secured £3.4 million to pursue its mission to improve people’s quality of life through the use of its proprietary face and voice analysis technology with the development of a tool to help diagnose peri and post-natal depression.

Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child and affect up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions. However, research has shown that negative attitudes and stigma towards diagnosis and treatment can result in women avoiding seeking help.

The research team have developed the Avacado app that can use face and voice recognition to predict the indicators of depression in women from 3 months pregnant to 6 months post-partum. The app can detect facial muscle actions,speech rate, and tone of voice, which is fed into the artificial intelligence technology alongside questionnaire data to analyse emotional state and provide an indication of the risk of depression.

At present the app is used as an indicator of persistent low mood, the next stage is to develop it into a clinical device that can be used to aid the diagnosis of depression and signposting for help and treatment. The team have worked with the Institute of Mental Health to develop the Avacado app and over the next year will work with them and Nottingham University Hospitals to conduct a clinical trial with volunteers early next year.

This emerging technology has multiple applications and the funding will also be used to serve the rapidly growing needs of the Digital Health & Wellbeing and Automotive sectors. From 2024 all new cars sold in the EU must have camera-based driver safety monitoring systems installed. The team will research how these cameras can be used to detect inattention or health events to enhance safety and wellbeing for the drivers and passengers of vehicles.

Founded in 2019, BlueSkeye AI is an Award winning, early stage Healthtech spin-out from the University of Nottingham’s School of Computer Science. It was established by Professor Michel Valstar (CEO) and Dr Anthony Brown (CTO), and Chief Machine Learning and Software Engineer Dr Timur Almaev. The funding was led by XTX Ventures, which invested alongside Foresight Group, the University of Nottingham and a consortium of other VCs and high-net-worth individuals.

“The demand for alternative pathways to access mental healthcare is enormous, and continues to grow by the day. We’re committed to disrupting traditional approaches to healthcare to help improve the quality of people’s lives, and we’re particularly focused on the perinatal mental health sector. With the support of XTX Ventures, Foresight Group and other investors, we’ll strengthen the rollout of new clinical trials and product development, and champion the benefits of technology for reinforcing healthcare provision on a national, regional and global basis.” Professor Michel Valstar, Co-Founder and CEO at BlueSkeye AI and Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham

For more information please visit Blueskeye AI