New accelerator launches to drive UK life sciences

A new strategic initiative has been launched to help turn world-class research into successfully commercial life science companies.

Start Codon is a new accelerator designed to identify and recruit high potential life science and healthcare companies in the UK. It will provide seed-funding and leverage resources from the Cambridge Cluster to prepare selected companies for successful Series A fundraising.

The accelerator has launched with funding from keystone investors including Cambridge Innovation Capital, Babraham Bioscience Technologies, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Dr Jonathan Milner and Dr Ian Tomlinso.

Located within the Cambridge Cluster, Start Codon is the first accelerator to provide life science start-ups with significant investment of up to £250,000, a dedicated team of mentors, and office lab space located at the Milner Therapeutics Institute. Over the next five years Start Codon plans to invest and support up to 50 start-up companies.

Start Codon’s executive team will be led by Dr Jason Mellad, previously CEO of Cambridge Epigenetix, which he transformed into a liquid biopsy diagnostic development firm via obtaining broad and exclusive patent rights to the use of epigenetic biomarker 5hmC in cancer diagnostics.

“Our ambition is to provide life science and healthcare companies with a unique combination of funding, facilities, mentoring and support to fast track their development and success. We are selecting the most exciting pre-Series A companies from around the world, and bringing them to Cambridge, helping to solidify the region’s position as a leading global cluster,” Mellad said.

Dr James Sabry, global head of Pharma Partnering, Roche, said: “We’re very pleased to support Start Codon in harnessing the best research from the region and fostering healthcare innovation at its earliest stages. We believe some of the most cutting-edge science in the world is happening in Cambridge, and this investment builds on our commitment to driving scientific advances within the UK and globally.”