Company Directory

Human tissue research CRO supporting preclinical drug discovery

Pharmagene Discovery Services is a UK contract research organisation specialising in laboratory-based research services using consented human tissue and primary human cells. The company provides tailored assay design and development across target expression, spatial biology, functional cellular biology, bioassays, and biotherapeutic safety testing. Operating under GLP conditions and licensed by the UK Human Tissue Authority, Pharmagene maintains an in-house human tissue biorepository and offers sample processing and biostorage services to biopharma clients globally.

C. elegans whole-organism platform for preclinical drug and compound screening

Magnitude Biosciences Limited is a contract research organisation providing preclinical drug discovery and compound screening services using Caenorhabditis elegans as a whole-organism model. Its proprietary biophotonics platform enables automated, high-throughput, non-invasive monitoring of health and lifespan metrics across large worm populations, supporting compound library screening, pathway analysis, microbiome assessment, and toxicology studies. The platform accelerates early compound triage for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nutrition clients, reducing reliance on mammalian models.

Colorimetric assay kits for extracellular matrix analysis and quantification

Biocolor is a Northern Ireland manufacturer of dye-based, colorimetric assay kits for the quantitative analysis of extracellular matrix biomolecules. Its product range covers collagen, elastin, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and apoptosis, using a simple dye-binding method compatible with standard laboratory spectrophotometers. Kits are widely cited in scientific literature and used in research across connective tissue biology, drug discovery, and bioengineering.

In vitro biology CRO for immunology and oncology drug discovery

BioMedha is a pre-clinical contract research organisation specialising in in vitro biology for early-stage drug discovery. The company provides assay development, target validation, compound screening, and mechanism of action studies across immunology, oncology, immuno-oncology, and inflammation therapeutic areas. Capabilities include whole blood and immune cell functional assays, flow cytometry, cytokine and Luminex multiplex assays, cell imaging, and discovery toxicology. BioMedha is an HTA authorised establishment with an on-site blood donor panel.

Preclinical and clinical CRO specialising in biomarker services

Epistem is a contract research organisation providing preclinical and clinical research services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Its capabilities span in vivo and in vitro preclinical models across oncology, gastrointestinal disease, dermatology, and autoimmune indications, alongside GCLP-accredited biomarker services including gene expression profiling, next-generation sequencing, histology, and protein biomarker detection. The company has particular expertise in low-input genetic analysis and laser capture microdissection, supporting target validation and biomarker-led drug development programmes.

Specialist genetic and skin toxicology CRO

Scantox Manchester is a GLP-compliant contract research organisation providing genetic toxicology and genomic safety services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical companies. Its services span early genotoxicity screening using proprietary cell-based assays with minimal compound requirements, through to a full suite of regulatory GLP studies including Ames, in vitro micronucleus, comet assay and transgenic rodent mutation testing. Next-generation sequencing-based mutagenesis testing was added to the portfolio following its acquisition.

Ex-vivo organ perfusion services for preclinical drug evaluation

Pebble Bio is a contract research organisation providing ex-vivo organ and tissue perfusion services as an alternative to large animal experimentation. Using living organ systems maintained under physiological conditions, the company evaluates the safety, efficacy, and pharmacology of novel therapeutics, biomedical materials, and medical devices. Services are structured as fee-per-project packages supporting assets from early-stage evaluation through to regulatory submission.

Specialist CRO for ion channel screening and cardiac safety assessment

Metrion Biosciences is a contract research organisation specialising in preclinical ion channel biology, cardiac safety screening, and neuroscience drug discovery services. Founded in 2015 as a spin-out from Xention Limited, Metrion provides automated and manual patch clamp electrophysiology, GLP-compliant hERG testing, CiPA cardiac ion channel panel screening, and translational neuroscience assays. It serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies globally on a fee-for-service or collaborative basis from its laboratories at Granta Park, Cambridge.

Non-invasive deep lung breath sampling device for molecular research

PulmoBioMed is a medical technology company developing a handheld device for collecting exhaled breath condensate from the lower respiratory tract without contamination from the upper airway or oral cavity. The device provides uncontaminated lung-derived samples for downstream molecular analysis including proteomics, metabolomics, microbiology, and nucleic acid profiling. Applications span respiratory disease diagnosis, pulmonary biomarker discovery, antimicrobial resistance research, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology screening. A clinical configuration targets point-of-need asthma diagnosis.

Diagnostic reagents, instruments and quality controls for clinical and research laboratories

Randox Laboratories is a global manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic reagents, clinical chemistry analysers, quality control materials, and biochip array technology for laboratory medicine. Products serve clinical, research, molecular, forensic toxicology, food safety, and veterinary laboratory markets across more than 145 countries. Randox manufactures approximately 15% of all worldwide cholesterol tests and 10% of all clinical chemistry tests, and reinvests up to 25% of annual turnover in research and development.

Ex vivo human skin models for pharmaceutical and cosmetic testing

Ten Bio is a contract research organisation providing ex vivo human skin research services to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and medical device companies. Its patented platform mechanically tensions surgically sourced human skin to replicate the mechanobiology of intact living tissue, maintaining viability for up to two weeks. Applications include topical drug delivery, transdermal absorption, wound healing, aesthetic treatments, and pre-clinical safety testing, offering a human-relevant alternative to animal models.

Integrated drug discovery CRO specialising in small molecule programmes

Domainex is a contract research organisation providing integrated drug discovery services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, patient foundations and academic institutions. The company offers medicinal and computational chemistry, protein expression, assay development and structural biology, supporting programmes from target expression through to pre-clinical candidate nomination. Domainex operates two sites within the Cambridge life sciences cluster and holds a King's Award for Enterprise for international trade.