South West Health, Biotech & Nutrition R&D Companies Directory

Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national research and development centre that bridges the gap between academic innovation and commercial pharmaceutical development. They provide specialised expertise, advanced imaging, and collaborative platforms to accelerate the translation of novel drug discovery technologies into clinical practice. Their work spans diverse therapeutic areas including neurodegeneration, oncology, and advanced drug delivery systems, often acting as a central hub for industry-academic consortia.

GenomeKey develops rapid diagnostic solutions for bacterial infections, initially targeting sepsis, by combining DNA sequencing with machine learning to reduce diagnosis time from days to hours. The company has evolved from a focus on COVID-19 co-infection diagnostics to a broader point-of-care sepsis device, and recently applied its sequencing technology to pharmaceutical contamination monitoring.

Designability is a small enterprise that develops assistive technologies for people with disabilities and older adults. Their portfolio includes the Wizzybug, a powered wheelchair for children under five, and they have researched user-centred design for connected autonomous vehicles to ensure accessibility. Their work spans healthcare, mobility, and ageing society, with a focus on independence and quality of life.

Micrima Ltd develops MARIA, a radiofrequency-based breast imaging system that does not use ionising radiation and performs well in dense breast tissue, addressing limitations of X-ray mammography. The company has progressed from developing a prototype biopsy system to advancing a commercial screening device and a clinical study comparing MARIA to MRI, with a focus on improving early detection and patient experience.

Okulo (trading as OKKO Health) is a Bristol-based digital health company that develops smartphone applications for remote vision monitoring in chronic eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Their technology uses gamified vision tests to capture data and applies artificial intelligence to detect early signs of disease progression, enabling patients to self-monitor at home and allowing clinicians to triage care efficiently. The company has evolved from early feasibility studies and COVID-response projects to larger-scale development of an AI-driven biomarker platform and is now focused on commercial deployment within the NHS.

Atlas Genetics develops rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, focusing on sexual health. Using their io platform, they design multiplex stratified medicine diagnostics to enable immediate treatment decisions, moving away from central laboratory testing.

Amprologix is a biotechnology company developing novel antimicrobial biologics to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Using machine learning, bioinformatic peptide design, and high-throughput assays, they have created a new class of antibiotics called epidermicins, with their lead compound epidermicin NI01 showing potent activity against MRSA and other resistant pathogens. Their work spans from pre-clinical validation to development of topical formulations for skin infections.

Science Creates is a Bristol-based deeptech ecosystem that supports scientists and engineers to become entrepreneurs, focusing on human and planetary health. It provides accelerator programmes, lab space, and business support for early-stage deep tech startups, with a particular emphasis on engineering biology. The organisation has run three consecutive Innovate UK-funded accelerator programmes, scaling its model and expanding its ecosystem.

QMMS is a precision dairy technology company that develops data-driven decision support systems for farmers, focusing on mastitis diagnostics, antibiotic reduction, and net zero emissions. Their work has evolved from pathogen strain differentiation to the integrated REMEDY platform, which combines cow wearables, health data, and environmental metrics. They have successfully commercialised the Mastitis Pattern Analysis Tool (MPAT), adopted by over 300 farmers.

Neuronostics is a health technology company developing precision medicine tools for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Their lead product BioEP uses computational modelling and machine learning to analyse EEG data, providing a risk score for seizure susceptibility. Over their grant history, they have progressed from proof-of-concept studies to multi-site clinical validation and prognosis research.

Reach Industries develops Lumi, a visual intelligence platform that uses computer vision, machine learning, and data analytics to automate data collection, monitoring, and process control in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. The platform captures real-time data from laboratory environments, providing feedback to improve reproducibility and efficiency across the medicines value chain. Since 2020, the company has evolved from a general robotics tele-operation platform to a specialised system for sustainable medicines manufacturing.

The Vaccine Group is a UK-based biotech SME developing vaccine platforms for livestock using bovine herpesvirus-4 (BoHV-4) vectors. The company's work focuses on creating affordable, single-dose vaccines to control bacterial infections in pigs and cattle, thereby reducing antimicrobial resistance and greenhouse gas emissions. Their research has evolved from a specific S. suis pig vaccine to a broader platform targeting multiple cattle diseases, always in collaboration with academic and public sector partners.

Hone Bio develops artificial membrane-binding proteins that 'paint' cells to home to damaged tissues or deliver therapeutics precisely. Initially focused on cardiac repair, the company evolved to engineer CAR-T cells for solid tumours and now targets lipid nanoparticles to specific cells for cancer therapy and vaccines, aiming to reduce off-target effects.

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is a major acute hospital provider that actively participates in collaborative R&D to integrate digital health and AI technologies into clinical pathways. Their work has evolved from pioneering IoT-based self-management tools for diabetes to participating in national consortia for medical imaging and supporting the commercialisation of automated diagnostic software. They function as a clinical testbed, bridging the gap between academic innovation and frontline NHS patient care.

SENISCA is a University of Exeter spin-out developing oligonucleotide-based therapeutics to reverse cellular senescence by restoring alternative splicing, aiming to treat age-related diseases. Their work has evolved from initial studies on skin ageing to developing a senescence clock and targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with RNA medicines.

Brain in Hand develops a digital support system for autistic adults to improve independence, health outcomes, and employment prospects. Their work focuses on scaling a proven platform to reach tens of thousands of users initially in the UK and internationally.

Scarlet Therapeutics is a biotechnology company engineering red blood cells as universal delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins. They develop a platform to produce therapeutic red blood cells (tRBCs) from cell lines, aiming to treat metabolic diseases such as hyperammonemia and hyperoxaluria with longer-lasting and safer therapeutics. Their work spans from cell line engineering to proof-of-concept in animal models.

Milbotix develops sensor-instrumented smart socks (MPATIX/SmartSocks) that use machine learning to detect distress, anxiety, and agitation in people with learning disabilities and dementia. Their wearable technology provides real-time insights to carers, aiming to improve behaviour management and quality of life through early intervention.

Vitaware is a micro/small enterprise developing AI and simulation-based workflows for automated clear aligner production in orthodontics. Their technology aims to reduce cost and complexity of dentist-led treatment, evolving from feasibility studies (2021) to an industrial research project (2023) focused on in-clinic AI-driven decision support. They collaborate with Cardiff University and University of Exeter.

Albotherm develops temperature-responsive coatings for greenhouses that reversibly transition from transparent to white, providing passive shading in hot weather without electricity. Their technology aims to increase crop yields by up to 34% compared to traditional shade paints while reducing energy consumption and microplastic pollution. Their work has evolved from feasibility studies in glasshouses to polytunnel applications and plastic-free formulations.