25 years of growing the best of ideas
The Medicentre in Cardiff has housed some of the UK’s most creative and imaginative healthcare companies. Here, we look at what the site has achieved as it reaches its 25th birthday
Since 1992, the Medicentre has been an “incubator” for some of Wales’ most innovative healthcare ideas and creations.
Based at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, the site provides laboratory and office space for exciting medtech and biotech companies.
Staff support early-stage life sciences businesses, helping companies grow into successful operations that sell products and services globally.
An event was held on November 23 to mark the 25th anniversary of Medicentre, now run jointly by Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
“The Medicentre is an essential component of the shared strategy for clinical innovation between Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board,” said Professor Keith Harding, Dean of Clinical Innovation at Cardiff University.
“It is an effective and purposebuilt space for translating great ideas into improvements and innovations in the health service.
“The Medicentre has been generating success stories for 25 years and helps ensure Cardiff and Wales are seen as international leaders in this space.”
Dr Sharon Hopkins, deputy chief executive and executive director of public health for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating 25 years of the Medicentre and this well-established and unique partnership that has developed here.
“Clinical Innovation is not a new concept for Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale UHB. Both organisations have a strong track record of working together, but the joint partnership reaffirms a commitment to develop relationships with industry, other health boards and government to translate existing research into patient and health economic benefits and identify as yet unmet clinical need.
“The continued evolution of the Medicentre remains an exciting part of the health sector which develops and delivers groundbreaking concepts and ideas for decades to come for patients now and in the future.”
The anniversary coincided with a new grant funding award for MedaPhor, a Medicentre tenant specialising in ultrasound.
The university spin-out has received a £466,000 Innovate UK grant to develop an augmented reality needling product.
Doctors use interventional needling to biopsy small samples of body tissue, to drain fluid through tiny tubes and to administer regional anaesthesia.
Clinicians need to be able to see the needle-tip, ensuring they do not damage other tissues, so they often rely on ultrasound – a safe imaging technique that can be brought to the patient’s bedside.
MedaPhor will improve needling with an artificial intelligence technique known as deep learning and an augmented reality headset for doctors to wear.
The headset projects the ultrasound view over the patient’s anatomy, highlighting the pathway the needle needs to follow and automatically tracking the needle tip to ensure it does not damage key anatomical structures.
Cardiff Bioanalytical Services A leading provider of External Quality Assessment schemes for clinical and forensic toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring. It was acquired by LGC Standards in 2010.
Cardiff Research Consortium A tenant from the Medicentre’s opening year, Cardiff Research Consortium provided analysis and consultancy services for pharmaceutical companies looking to determine the cost benefit of a particular drug regime.
It also supported drugs trials with an extensive outcomes research database. It was acquired by Capita Group plc for £11.6m in 2009.
Indoor Biotechnologies Graduating in 2016, Indoor Biotechnologies specialises in innovative products and services for indoor air quality, environmental sciences, allergy and asthma.
The company’s products help detect the causes of allergies, including those from pollen, food, animals and mites.
MedaPhor Another university spin-out, MedaPhor
OnExamination Formed by two doctors from the university, OnExamination provides a range of exam preparation materials for practitioners.
The company was acquired by the British Medical Journal in 2007.
Q Chip A biopharmaceutical developing cancer therapy and ophthalmology products allowing for the sustained release of substances over extended periods of time. It was acquired by nanomedicine company Midatech Pharma in 2014 following its AIM listing.
Synexus Clinical Research Synexus manages clinical trials and recruit patients for the process.
The largest organisation of its kinds in Europe, the company leased Medicentre space to establish its presence in Wales. It was taken private in 2007 by Lyceum Capital at a valuation of £18m.
TrichoTech TrichoTech supplies drug and alcohol testing to legal courts. It was acquired by Concateno plc for £11.25m in 2007.