New investment for a world-leading research lab in Cambridgeshire in the UK will give drug developers access to a state-of-the-art suite of "drop-in" lab facilities.
The new biopharmaceutical services will be housed at the Babraham Research Campus in Cambridgeshire, and will be funded by a £300,000 (Euro 76,000) grant from the East of England Development Agency's (EEDA) pilot innovative capital equipment competition. Babraham will use the funding to expand its Technology Development Lab (TDL), providing a one-stop-shop for early-stage ventures in the drug discovery sector to road test their ideas and reduce the need to outsource.
The TDL already offers cost-effective services with fully fitted biology and chemistry facilities. On-site lab experts will provide support and skills training to those using the cutting-edge equipment - such as micro-array spotters and cell culture fermenters.
The pilot capital equipment competition was launched by EEDA in February. Babraham is one of three regional centres to scoop a share of nearly £1m ( €1.3m).
"EEDA's funding is going to be critical in enhancing the flexibility of Babraham's TDL, allowing us to cater for needs of growing biotech businesses in the region," said David Hardman, ceo of Babraham Bioscience Technologies (BBT). "Whether that's giving a company direct access to sophisticated labs and equipment, or providing a TDL scientist to carry out development work on their behalf, businesses in this region can tap-in to a wealth of facilities without having to tie-up their early-stage capital in outsourcing.
"We will continue to re-invest the revenue from developers using the new facilities back into the labs, further enhancing the offer, and maintaining Babraham's status as a world-leading research-base."
Through BBT and the Babraham Research Campus, 52 companies have been supported, and technologies developed at the lab have laid the foundations for three new biotech businesses.
"Bioscience is one of the fastest growing sectors of the East of England's economy which is bringing international recognition and investment to the region," added Richard Ellis, EEDA chair.
"At EEDA, we understand the importance of funding those who are just beginning to succeed in their chosen industry. This competition enabled us to select focal points across the region where we could invest in the infrastructure that ambitious, early-stage bioscience companies need to take them to the next level, and move their concepts closer to market success."