Support Network
A collection of organisations and services, locally and nationally, that can support translational research. Network items that include the University of Manchester logo are primarily accessible by members of the University. When logged in with a University of Manchester or guest user account, additional contact details will be available.
Industry
A B L M N P Q TA
-
Affinity Biomarker Labs
Supports research across Greater Manchester via the provision of central laboratory services and esoteric biomarker analysis.
How do you support researchers?
Affinity Biomarker Labs is focused on supporting research across Greater Manchester via the provision of central laboratory services and esoteric biomarker analysis in Greater Manchester. Founded at Imperial College London by clinical Biochemists from King’s College London, our new labs in Manchester will focus on the analysis of circulating blood based biomarkers, utilising clinical chemistry, immunoassay, multiplexing, haematology, genomics, proteomics and flow cytometry platforms. Affinity also partners with researchers in the development of novel diagnostics including molecular diagnostics and point of care immunoassays.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
Affinity welcomes approaches from translational researchers and can support translational funding bids, with early letters of support or joint submissions. Affinity can also support large scale clinical trial sample analysis.
General contact details
Email: info@affinitybiomarkerlabs.com
Webpage: www.affinitybiomarkerlabs.com
B
-
Bioxydyn Ltd
Bioxydyn provides high-standard, quantitative medical imaging services for clinical academic R&D and for drug developers, in small or large multi-centre studies.
How do you support researchers?
Bioxydyn supports Manchester investigators who use medical imaging measurements (i.e. imaging biomarkers) in their studies. This includes the design, set-up, conduct, QC, and analysis of imaging studies, whether grant-funded or in Pharma trials. All work is conducted in full compliance with ICH GCP. Bioxydyn has experience in MRI and other imaging in almost every organ system and disease area including oncology, inflammation, neurology, musculoskeletal, lung and liver. Bioxydyn supports both single-centre studies at UoM and multicentre studies, with particular expertise in harmonising protocols across different manufacturers’ scanners.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
At the point where the researcher is starting to contemplate the possibility of clinical trials that might use imaging, particularly MRI, readouts. Bioxydyn can help with
• Design and analysis of preclinical imaging studies helping translation to man
• Choice and specification of clinical imaging endpoints
• Justifying imaging readouts in grant applications
• Design, set-up, conduct, QC, and analysis of clinical imaging studiesGeneral contact details
Email: info@bioxydyn.com
Website: www.bioxydyn.com
Internal contact details (UoM)🔒 This content can only be viewed by authorised users. University of Manchester staff can log in with their IT account username. If you are not a member of staff, you can request a guest account. Some content may only be accessible to users with a University of Manchester IT account.
L
-
Lucid Innovation
Lucid Innovation provides practical know-how, skills, experience and facilities to help plan and implement impactful research and development. We focus on digital and physical medtech and wellness systems.
How do you support researchers?
Our team provides insight and advice on: Regulatory classification and strategy FDA clearance, UKCA and CE marking, Quality management systems, IP research and strategy, User-experience design, User interface design, Industrial design, Sustainability assessment and strategy, Software development , Electronics development, Risk evaluation and management, Human factors engineering, Biological evaluation and testing, Prototyping, Electrical safety and EMC testing, Clinical evaluation, Medical device trials and IVD studies, Manufacturing, Commercialisation, Grant and commercial funding applications.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
As early as possible.
General contact details
Email: ideas@lucidinnovation.com
Website: www.lucidinnovation.com
Video summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnUEI6Jgnvs
Address: Unit 3, Enterprise House, Manchester Science Park, M15 6SE
Point of Contact: Alistair Williamson
Phone: +44 161 860 0058
M
-
Manchester BIOGEL
A leader in the design and manufacture of biologically relevant synthetic peptide hydrogels that mimic the cell micro-environment and have tuneable properties to simulate the natural extracellular matrix of all tissues.
How do you support researchers?
We support researchers in Manchester by offering our scientific and technical expertise through strategic partnerships to accelerate the progress of basic and preclinical research projects. We also create avenues for continued professional development through industrial placements.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
Discovery research stage.
General contact details
Email: info@manchesterbiogel.com
Website: www.manchesterbiogel.com
Address: Manchester BIOGEL, Mereside, Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, UK
Internal contact details (UoM)🔒 This content can only be viewed by authorised users. University of Manchester staff can log in with their IT account username. If you are not a member of staff, you can request a guest account. Some content may only be accessible to users with a University of Manchester IT account. -
MedTec Consulting Ltd
Regulatory and commercialisation consultancy for Medical Devices, IVDs, SaMD and AI-enabled technologies, supporting university spin-outs from early development through UK/EU compliance.
How do you support researchers?
MedTec supports academic and clinical innovators developing regulated health technologies. We specialise in Medical Devices, IVDs, SaMD and AI-enabled technologies (AIaMD). We work with university spin-outs and early-stage ventures to define regulatory and evidence requirements early, providing a clear pathway toward market approval.
Our support includes:
- Regulatory classification and pathway definition
- UK/EU MDR and IVDR strategy
- AI regulatory positioning
- Conformity route planning
- Quality Management Systems (ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001)
- Risk management and clinical evaluation
- Technical documentation preparation
- Clinical investigation and performance study planning
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
Ideally early in development, before product design, claims and study plans are fixed.
Early engagement helps clarify classification, regulatory pathway, and evidence requirements, strengthening development planning and funding applications.
We also support projects preparing for UKCA or CE marking and technical documentation development.
General contact details
Email: admin@med-tec.co.uk
Website: www.med-tec.co.uk
Address: MedTec Consulting Ltd, 6 Romangate, Darlington, DL2 1FG
Point of Contact: Dawn Smiles
Email: dawn@med-tec.co.uk
Phone: 07968 597 912
N
-
Nexcea
We lead the strategic planning every innovation needs - engaging experts, analysing insights, and building strategies that inform development decisions and increase your chances of funding, adoption, and commercial success.
How do you support researchers?
We help researchers and innovators do the strategic planning that should underpin every successful innovation journey. Using our structured, insight-led process, we identify and engage the right experts - clinicians, commissioners, regulators, patients, and other decision-makers - who can provide the real-world insight needed to shape a credible, evidence-based strategy.
We analyse these insights using proprietary tools and work closely with teams to define a strategy that informs key decisions around IP, regulatory approach, clinical data generation, and commercialisation. This early strategic clarity reduces risk, improves focus, and increases the chances of securing translational funding, investment, and adoption.
But this isn’t a one-off exercise. The best innovators revisit and refine their strategy as they generate data, receive feedback, or approach major milestones. We support this process throughout the journey - ensuring the innovation stays aligned with what matters to its future users, buyers, and regulators.
We’ve supported multiple organisations in Manchester including QV Bioelectronics, Vitec Microgenix, Salford Royal Hospital, and the University of Manchester Innovation Factory. We also supervise MBA consultancy projects at Alliance Manchester Business School, applying rigorous, insight-driven methods to help ventures succeed in the real world.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
Ideally, as early as possible - before locking in decisions about the product, IP, regulatory pathway, or clinical plan. Our work helps shape those decisions by uncovering what matters to the people who will ultimately decide whether an innovation gets adopted, funded, or used.
We add the most value when engaged from the point a team is considering how their idea might work in the real world - typically around D3 - but we also support projects at later stages (T1-T3) when a strategy needs to be tested, refined, or reoriented in light of new evidence or market feedback.
Strategic insight isn’t a one-off task - it’s a process. As projects evolve, new questions emerge. Revisiting the strategy periodically ensures innovators remain aligned with stakeholder needs, avoid drift, and stay focused on what will actually drive success.
General contact details
Email: hello@nexcea.com
Website: https://www.nexcea.com
Address: Nexcea Limited, G31 Adamson House, Wilmslow Road, Towers Business Park, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M20 2YY, United Kingdom
Point of Contact: Paul Riley
Email: paul.riley@nexcea.com
Phone: 0161 327 2644
P
-
People Planet Product
People Planet Product is a hardware product design and strategy consultancy focusing on early-stage insight activities to help researchers get a clear understanding of the problem their product is solving so that they end up designing a product that users want.
How do you support researchers?
The formation of the company was founded on a frustration of seeing lots of innovative technology-based products struggling to gain market traction due to a lack of understanding of the underlying problem being targeted. This was also coupled with seeing lots of missed opportunities to consider and implement effective environmental-focused product strategies until much too late in the development process. We are looking to offer product development support to help researchers understand their users, implement ambitious sustainability strategies and ultimately communicate their product vision to stakeholders and investors.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
We have experience across the full product development journey from research to production but typically support innovators in the early stages of their product development journey. For pre-investment or pre-funding projects, we can explore collaboration opportunities through grant funding or plan for future work once funding is secured.
General contact details
Email: matt@peopleplanetproduct.co.uk
Website: https://peopleplanetproduct.co.uk/
Q
-
Quiddity Health Ltd
Quiddity Health provides expertise and feet on the ground to digital health companies looking to enter the UK Healthcare Market. Market Access, Strategy, Engagement, Full Pipeline Ownership.
How do you support researchers?
- We have a portfolio of clients who are looking to generate evidence and utilising local expertise is critical to us.
- Our clients often have job opportunities which we could feed into your team of experts to be a part of.
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support?
When they are looking for information or expertise on validation of hypothesis. Or when they are looking for knowledge on what else might exist in the competitive landscape from a digital health perspective.
General contact details
Email: Thomas.cooke@quiddityhealth.com
Website: https://www.quiddityhealth.com/
Address: Colony Piccadilly, 5 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BR
Point of contact: Thomas Cooke
Phone: 07305 816439
T
-
The National Measurement Laboratory at LGC
Development and validation of challenging measurements using state of the art analytical platforms combined with a unique understanding of chemical and bio-measurement
How do you support researchers?
The development of better diagnostics and therapeutics requires accurate measurements to guarantee product safety and quality, and to ensure patient confidence and safety. These measurements are often challenging due to the complexity of the sample matrix or particular analyte properties, such as ultra-low concentrations or chemical form.
At the NML, we specialise in the development and validation of these challenging measurements. We have one the most diversely equipped mass spectrometry laboratories in the UK. Our wide range of state of the art analytical platforms and unique understanding of chemical and bio-measurement, enables our 80 measurement scientists to offer innovative solutions to complex clinical measurement challenges.
We can develop targeted or un-targeted methodologies for the analysis of elements, species, nanoparticles, organic molecules, proteins, nucleic acids and cells or profiling of your biological samples. We also have the capability to perform elemental and isotopic analysis directly on solid samples using laser ablation (interfering as little as possible with the sample).
Our current research programmes include:
- improving current clinical diagnostics and supporting technology transfer
- supporting the development of future diagnostics, including precision medicine and point of care testing
- improving the safety and efficacy of (bio) pharmaceuticals
- improving the efficacy of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)
At what stage in their research project should a researcher approach you for support
As early as possible - our expert team will work with you to understand your needs and propose and deliver innovative measurement solutions in accordance with your project specifications.
General contact details
Dr. Thierry Le Goff, Health Science & Innovation
Phone: + 44 (0)20 8943 7675 or + 44 (0)7387 106 742
Email: Thierry.legoff@lgcgroup.comAddress: UK National Measurement Laboratory, LGC, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, UK TW11 0LY