资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

21/05/2019

CELLBLOKS
(Credit: Revivocell)

A revolutionary new tool has been developed to cut down the time it takes to test new drugs, which could also reduce the need for animal testing.

Biotech start-up Revivocell, using facilities funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), has launched a tool for use by researchers and drug development companies that can closely mimic body-like conditions for any organ in the body, as well as the environment of living human tissues, which can then be examined at the molecular level.

This technology can be used, for example, to better predict the effect of new drugs on the human body and identify potential issues early in the drug development process, such as drug-induced liver injury.  Cells can be grown in a way that they can simulate the interactive nature of biological barriers, such as the intestinal epithelial layer and the blood brain barrier, and can also be grown for systematic circulation

The technology, called CELLBLOKS, is superior to conventional 2D cell culture processes which, although they have played a vital role in many important life science discoveries, can be limiting as they are grown in isolation and therefore do not represent the true interactive nature of human tissues.

Revivocell is a spinout of Lancaster University, and is one of a growing number of healthcare companies to be taking advantage of the world-class facilities for start-ups and SMEs at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, located at Sci-Tech Daresbury in the Liverpool City Region, in their mission to develop and commercialise new and cutting edge healthcare technologies.  

Dr Valon Llabjani, Revivocell Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching CELLBLOKS, which provides a versatile and customisable solution for researchers setting up their own unique interactive cell studies, with multiple experiments in one platform. Locating our business within Daresbury Laboratory’s business incubation facilities is giving us vital access to a technologically sophisticated research environment and expertise, alongside office space within which we can operate on a day-to-day basis. This, in combination with the on-site business support, is particularly valuable as we move into the commercialisation stage for our technology.”

Further information

Read more on the STFC website.