University spin-out awarded grant for latest project
ChromaTwist, a spin-out from the University of Birmingham, has secured an Innovate UK Smart grant to co-fund a £500,000 project advancing its novel fluorescent dyes.
The grant, covering 70% of project costs, will help improve dye brightness and staining capabilities, improving bio-imaging for clearer visualisation of cells and structures.
The funding also supports ChromaTwist’s technical development, scale-up preparations, and collaboration with the Babraham Institute in Cambridge as it gears up for a commercial launch.
ChromaTwist originated from groundbreaking research at the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemistry and has developed over 70 patented UV-excitable dyes emitting from blue to red, with the potential to extend into near-infrared.
Brighter and more versatile dyes help to enhance understanding of complex biological processes, enabling more accurate diagnostics and innovative therapies.
Professor Jon Preece, CEO of ChromaTwist, said: “‘This Innovate UK Smart grant will allow us to take the development of these UV excitable dyes to the next level in terms of their brightness and subsequent staining indices. In addition, the funding is invaluable in allowing us to forge a deeper collaboration with the world-renowned flow cytometry facility at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, building on earlier BBSRC funding.”
Dr Rachael Walker, head of flow cytometry at the Babraham Institute, said: “I am delighted to continue our productive partnership with Jon and his ChromaTwist team through this Innovate UK Smart grant. We will offer our extensive suite of both conventional and spectral flow cytometers, which provide 355nm and 320nm excitation, favouring the ChromaTwist dyes. Our diverse group of users will be able to test these dyes across a range of biological sample types.”
