Gentronix wins research grant

BIOTECH firm Gentronix, a Manchester University spin-out, has been awarded a grant of £147,552 by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Technology Strategy Board.

The Manchester company will use the funds to conduct a feasibility study in the field of epigenetics –  a relatively new area concerned with the regulation of genes by chromosome modifications which don’t change the DNA sequence or chromosome numbers.

Gentronix will look at whether it is possible to develop a screening assay for compounds that may cause cancer as a result of epigenetic mechanisms.

Chief executive John Nicholson said “Gentronix has an excellent track record of innovation, and though as a growing company we have to balance innovative research with customer priorities, the award of this grant gives us the opportunity to carry out important fundamental research.”

The company, which is backed by NVM Private Equity and YFM Private Equity, has developed a range of “GreenScreen” genotoxicity test platforms, and sells reagent test kits to customers in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in Europe, the USA and Japan.