Life sciences start-up support | ONE

The ONE Life Sciences Introduction to Start-up Programme ran in September and October to help academics, clinicians, and researchers to take their first steps towards commercialising new therapeutics, medical technology and digital healthcare solutions.

The potential businesses identified for further support through the programme, which is fully funded by ONE, are atLast and CFTest. atLast is developing an early warning test that can alert surgeons to potentially toxic levels of local anaesthetic during surgical procedures. CFTest is researching the development of a hand-held scanner that can detect early-stage cancers.

The start-up programme introduced nascent life sciences entrepreneurs to a system that allows them to quickly assess the viability of a business idea and develop a value proposition. In the final workshop, they pitched their concepts to an expert panel with the most promising two going on to receive further development support and coaching. ONE worked with the UK's most significant science incubator BioCity Group to deliver the programme.

A new ONE Life Sciences Accelerator Programme will be launched in early 2021 to accelerate the commercialisation of research and innovation in the region.

North east Scotland has significant life sciences strengths in its academic, commercial, clinical and research communities in areas including biologics, health data science, medical imaging and medtech. The start-up programme is part of ONE's work with partners and investment to accelerate life sciences research and innovation commercialisation. Industry's ambition is to double the number of life sciences companies based in the region.

Prof Stephen Logan, chair of the ONE Life Sciences sector board, said: “Our introduction to start-up programme identified exciting early-stage concepts for development and is supporting their founders with the first steps on their development and commercialisation journeys.

“We continue to be enormously encouraged by the innovation within the region’s life sciences community. Applying our sector strengths, including biologics, digital health and medtech, to tackle global health challenges, transform healthcare delivery and achieve better outcomes for patients creates significant commercial opportunities. Our goal, with our regional and national partners, is to accelerate life sciences collaboration and commercialisation to build one of the most dynamic company clusters in the UK, driving regional economic diversification and long-term sector growth.”

Rebecca Parr, of atLast, is principal scientist with Scotia Biologics Ltd. and is working towards a PhD with the University of Aberdeen. She said: “I jumped at the opportunity to take part in the ONE Life Sciences Introduction to Start Up Programme, run in collaboration with BioCity. It has given me invaluable insight into the world of business start-up and product commercialisation. I have learnt so much from inspiring people who have been through the process themselves. With their shared knowledge and experience, I now feel more prepared to take the first steps into the development of a commercial product.”

Carlos Fernandez of CFTest is a lecturer at Robert Gordon University’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences. He said: “When I started the programme, I had an idea. Now I have an aim and a goal to take my idea forward. The programme has been fantastic, it has fully opened my hidden entrepreneur eyes. Everyone has been very helpful and extremely supportive.”