CatSci and Reach Industries have won an Innovate UK grant to accelerate the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics.

The grant will fund a collaboration that combines scientific expertise with machine vision tools with an aim to streamline the synthesis, purification and analysis of RNA medicines.

Based on the Lumi Visual Intelligence platform developed by Reach Industries, CatSci and Reach plan to build a set of tools that combine local area monitoring with multiple global 3D mapping Lumi cameras, tracking movement between local stations to offer a holistic view of sample flow across the lab.

Innovate UK is a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and they are the UK’s national innovation agency. Their mission is to help companies grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding, agile, and inclusive ecosystem.

This news follows CatSci’s recent Welsh Government SMART Capital Equipment Fund grant of £230k to enhance its oligonucleotides capability.

Sam Whitmarsh, Director of Analytical Science and Digital Transformation at CatSci, commented: “I’m thrilled that we have won the Innovate UK grant. The partnership between CatSci and Reach Industries will leverage AI and machine learning tools to accelerate the development of oligonucleotide therapies.”

Silas Adekunle, CEO at Reach Industries, added: “This partnership with CatSci, supported by the Innovate UK grant, represents a significant step forward in transforming the landscape of RNA therapeutics and medicines development. Our collaborative efforts will provide unprecedented insights into the synthesis process, ultimately accelerating the development of life-changing therapies for patients who need it most.”

In July 2024, CatSci acquired Reach Separations, a specialist chromatography provider for the analysis and purification of therapeutics.

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW