Accelerate@Babraham is supported by AstraZeneca, MedImmune, One Nucleus, and RxCelerate.
A new bio-incubator and life science accelerator capability has been launched at the Babraham Research Campus. Accelerate@Babraham is designed to support the earliest stages of new life-science ventures, by providing easy-access laboratory and office space, (the ‘bio-incubator’) together with supporting programmes of business, science, finance and entrepreneurial mentoring (the ‘accelerator’) provided by strategic partners.
The aim of Accelerate@Babraham is to support the development of science concepts and the creation of new companies by providing access to equipped communal laboratories on short-term agreements, as well as guidance from mentors and introductions to investors. The concept complements the Babraham Research Campus’ ongoing support of the Cambridge life science cluster through the provision of access to the campus community and infrastructure without the need to be an established occupier on site.
Companies will be able to access the fully equipped communal bio-incubator laboratory and offices on short-term licence agreements rather than lengthy leases. In addition, they will also have access to practical advice from Accelerate@Babraham’s strategic partners and the wider Babraham Research Campus community, to help them develop their businesses and science into investable propositions.
Accelerate@Babraham is supported by a number of strategic partners. Current partners are AstraZeneca, MedImmune, One Nucleus and RxCelerate. Additional supporters will join the programme as it develops. The current partners have committed to:
- endorse and support the promotion and marketing of the concept;
- provide hands-on support to Accelerate@Babraham occupiers through a programme of mentoring and entrepreneurial guidance and;
- be actively involved in the ongoing strategic development of Accelerate@Babraham.
In addition, some companies already located at the Babraham Research Campus have agreed to provide staff into a mentoring pool in support of the idea behind Accelerate@Babraham.
Further announcements will follow as the concept gains momentum, including the launch of a competition for access to Accelerate@Babraham’s capabilities and funding.
Derek Jones, CEO of Babraham Bioscience Technologies said: “Although incubators and accelerators are well established in the tech industry, life science versions are not so common, given the challenge in providing laboratories and scientific skills to the activities. We are delighted to have generated such interest from our partners, who like us recognise the importance of nurturing the earliest of life science concepts to help them grow into well-funded, well managed companies. Our future plans include the creation of a Campus Venture fund, which we hope will attract further interest, resulting in many more opportunities for new ventures to take flight.”
Shaun Grady, VP Business development at AstraZeneca commented: “Supporting life sciences start-ups has proved one of the most enjoyable aspects of our move to Cambridge. We see that we’re making a difference through our business mentoring, and the relationships we are building with the region’s start-ups bring great energy into AstraZeneca. Accelerate@Babraham will help enrich our relationships at the Babraham Research Campus, an environment which we already highly regard as a centre of life sciences energy.”
Jane Osbourn, VP Research and Development for MedImmune said: “As entrepreneurs in biologics with a deep history in Cambridge, MedImmune is proud to help foster the continued growth of the life science cluster in Cambridge and beyond by supporting Accelerate@Babraham. The programme aligns with our commitment to collaboration and to accelerating scientific advancement.”
Tony Jones CEO of One Nucleus commented of the initiative: “We are delighted to support the Accelerate@Babraham initiative. A founding principle of One Nucleus was to facilitate the creation of new companies and translational research in the region. Through supporting initiatives such as this and those entrepreneurs seeking to thrive here we can play our full part in ensuring the sustained success of the cluster.”
David Grainger, Executive Chairman at RxCelerate and Founder & Chief Scientific Advisor at the life-science VC Medicxi said: “It is no longer the availability of risk capital that limits the translation of high-quality basic research into drugs and other medical technologies. More often, it’s the ability of researchers and entrepreneurs to formulate plans attractive to venture and corporate capital, particularly if they have never done that before. Initiatives like Accelerate@Babraham are essential to help overcome that roadblock, bringing together exciting new ideas, experienced drug developers, including our team at RxCelerate, and commercial expertise.”
To discover more about Accelerate@Babraham please visit www.babraham.com
Additional Information
About Babraham Research Campus
Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd (BBT) is responsible for the management and commercial development of the Babraham Research Campus.
The Babraham Research Campus is distinct in its co‐location of 60 bioscience companies with the Babraham Institute, a world‐renowned research organization which receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The aim of the campus is to support UK bioscience through academic research, but also with facilities and capabilities for early-stage and growing commercial organizations. The campus provides companies laboratory and office space, networking and collaboration opportunities, together with access to outstanding scientific facilities in an ideal geographical location at the core of the Cambridge cluster.
The campus is managed and developed by BBT on behalf of the BBT shareholders, BBSRC and the Babraham Institute.
For more information please visit: www.babraham.com
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
About MedImmune
MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of small molecule and biologic prescription medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways across Oncology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Infection and Vaccines. The MedImmune headquarters is located in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca’s three global R&D centres, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK and Mountain View, CA. For more information, please visit www.medimmune.com
About One Nucleus
Established in 1997 and centred on the Greater London-Cambridge-East of England corridor. Headquartered in Cambridge, at the heart of Europe’s largest Life Sciences & Healthcare cluster, One Nucleus supports those institutions, companies and individuals undertaking activity in or with the above region. Find out more: www.onenucleus.com
About RxCelerate
RxCelerate is an out-sourced drug discovery and development company, founded in Cambridge UK in 2012, with a focus on working smarter. It has grown rapidly to become one of the leading providers of drug development services in the United Kingdom. RxCelerate operates a unique model, providing capabilities to discover and develop drugs for clients, designing as well as executing every aspect of the research and development plan.
RxCelerate offers a wide range of services. The biology team specialises in in vivo pharmacology, offering proprietary models of wide range of human diseases, as well as complex cell-based assays. The chemistry team provides medicinal chemistry, including in silico screening, and synthesis that integrates seamlessly with the in vitro testing capability. A dedicated team designs the optimum discovery or development strategy for each project, as well as integrated program management. By working closely together, these teams can deliver pharma-grade drug product candidates at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches.
For more information, please visit rxcelerate.com and connect with us on Twitter (@RxCelerate). Contact UK headquarters: jill@rxcelerate.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 804240. Contact US headquarters: laura@rxcelerate.com Tel: +1 (857) 409-6028
Submitted on 26/01/2018
