Company Directory

Open biological data resources and bioinformatics services for life sciences

EMBL-EBI is the European Bioinformatics Institute, an intergovernmental research organisation and part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Located on the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, it maintains a suite of freely available molecular biology databases including UniProt, Ensembl, Expression Atlas and the Single Cell Expression Atlas. EMBL-EBI also conducts computational research, delivers bioinformatics training, and operates an industry programme supporting pre-competitive research and translational partnerships.

GCP-accredited oncology molecular diagnostics for clinical trials and research

The Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory is an ISO 15189-accredited molecular diagnostics facility within the University of Cambridge Department of Oncology, jointly funded by CRUK and NIHR. Operating to GCP and GCLP standards, it provides next-generation sequencing, circulating tumour DNA analysis, liquid biopsy workflows, and digital PCR services for oncology clinical trials and translational research. Services are available to clinical trials, independent research groups, and biotechnology companies as a site, central laboratory, and contract researcher.

BBSRC-funded national institute for animal biosciences research

The Roslin Institute is a BBSRC-funded national institute for animal biosciences research, part of the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Research is organised around three challenge areas: sustainable farmed animal production, infectious disease detection and prevention, and translational animal and human health. The Institute has a strong track record in translational spinout activity, including RoslinCT and Roslin Technologies, and has pioneered gene editing applications in livestock

National facility for mouse genetics and preclinical disease modelling

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell is the UK's national centre for mouse genetics, providing mouse model generation, phenotyping, cryopreservation, and archiving services to academic and industry researchers worldwide. The Centre offers genome engineering using CRISPR and other techniques to create genetically altered mouse models of human disease, and operates the UK National Mouse Archive. It serves as the central hub of the MRC National Mouse Genetics Network and delivers specialist training.

Structural chemistry database and software for drug discovery

The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) is a non-profit organisation that curates and distributes the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), the world's repository of experimentally determined small-molecule organic and metal-organic crystal structures, containing over one million entries. Alongside the database, CCDC develops and licenses a suite of cheminformatics software tools used in pharmaceutical drug discovery, solid form analysis, and molecular design. The organisation also conducts independent research in structural chemistry and offers consultancy services to industrial clients.

National innovation centre accelerating drug discovery

Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) is an independent, not-for-profit national innovation centre that supports UK medicines discovery organisations across the full drug discovery pipeline. MDC provides access to specialist laboratory technologies, computational and AI-driven tools, translational R&D expertise, and collaborative research partnerships. It works with SMEs, biotechs, academics, and charities to de-risk drug discovery projects, validate novel technologies, and strengthen the commercial and scientific case for clinical progression.

Integrated academic drug discovery facility for anti-infectives and innovative targets

The Drug Discovery Unit is an academic drug discovery facility at the University of Dundee, integrating medicinal chemistry, high-throughput screening, structural biology, cell biology, and DMPK in a single purpose-built facility. The DDU conducts small molecule drug discovery programmes across two areas: anti-infectives, covering tuberculosis, kinetoplastid diseases, malaria, and antifungals; and an innovative targets portfolio spanning oncology and neurodegeneration. The DDU has several partnership models on a commercial and collaborative basis.

NHS-embedded specialist pathology services and clinical biobank access

Novopath is the commercial pathology laboratory of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, providing specialist tissue-based diagnostic and research services to biopharma, biotech, and academic clients. Services include histopathology, immunohistochemistry, tissue microarray construction, digital pathology, biomarker discovery, and clinical trial support. An HTA-licensed biobank of over three million archived clinical samples is available for research, evaluation, and diagnostic validation activities, with prospective sample collection offered to meet specific project needs.

Food and gut health bioscience research on Norwich Research Park

Quadram Institute Bioscience is a BBSRC-funded independent research organisation focused on the interactions between food, gut microbiota, and human health. Operating within the Quadram Institute, a partnership with the University of East Anglia, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, and BBSRC, it conducts fundamental and translational research across food safety, the gut microbiome, infectious disease, and healthy ageing. The institute also operates a clinical research facility and hosts one of Europe's largest gastrointestinal endoscopy centres.

ISO-accredited core technology facility for cell analysis, genomics, and proteomics

Central Biotechnology Services is an ISO 9001:2015 and GCLP-accredited core technology facility within Cardiff University's School of Medicine. It provides fee-for-service access to platforms spanning flow cytometry and cell sorting, genomics and bioinformatics, electron and light microscopy and proteomics and biomarker analysis. Services range from user-access instrument booking to fully managed studies, and are available to commercial clients including start-ups, SMEs, and global pharma and biotech companies, as well as academic and NHS partners.

UK national innovation centre for cell and gene therapy

Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is a UK independent innovation organisation established to advance the cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between research and commercial scale. It operates GMP-compliant Manufacturing Innovation Centres in Stevenage and Braintree, offering process development, technology transfer, and clinical and commercial manufacturing services. It was established in 2012 by Innovate UK and employs over 300 people.

Academic cancer research institute and drug discoverer

The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is an independent research institute and member institution of the University of London, specialising in cancer biology, drug discovery, genetics, and precision radiotherapy. Working closely with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the ICR has discovered cancer medicines including abiraterone, olaparib, and carboplatin. The institute operates an in-house drug discovery centre, conducts research across eight scientific divisions, and establishes spin-out companies to translate discoveries towards clinical benefit.