Newcastle company secures funding for innovative medical technology

A Newcastle medtech company has secured nearly £250,000 in funding from Innovate UK to further its research into the impact of genetics on implants.

Based in The Biosphere on Newcastle Helix, ExplantLab combines extensive medical, bioengineering and surgical knowledge to further understand explants (implants that have been removed from the body). Having opened last year with both chemistry and biology laboratories, The Biosphere is already close to 50 per cent full and is home to a host of innovative life sciences companies.

The Innovate UK funding will allow ExplantLab to develop its machine learning algorithm which considers patients’ genetics and can lead to the prediction of adverse reactions to metal implants. Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency which drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas.

David Langton, Director of ExplantLab, said: “The Innovate UK funding is part of a £350,000 project that will take our work to the next level. It will allow us to greatly expand our current data set and move our work from the research stage to being clinical ready. Ultimately this will allow us to determine which implants will function best on an individual basis and protect patients.”

Cllr Ged Bell, Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Newcastle City Council said: “The Biosphere is designed to give life sciences companies the opportunity to commercialise and ExplantLab is a great example of this. ExplantLab has benefited from being based at The Biosphere with like-minded businesses and the Innovate UK funding will help advance the team’s innovative work. It’s great news for ExplantLab, The Biosphere and the region and we look forward to seeing the company grow in the future.”

As part of the funding, ExplantLab will host a conference for orthopaedic surgeons, researchers, nurses, physiotherapists and professionals with an interest in medtech at Sage Gateshead on 18 and 19 June this year. The Orthopaedic Horizons Conference 2020 will cover topics including robotic surgery, genetically determined implant selection, the latest in explant analysis and AI in big data analysis. Any profits from the conference will be donated to St Oswald’s Hospice.

David added: “We’re really excited to be bringing this new conference to the region in June. We’re currently pulling together the content for the two days and would welcome enquiries from anyone interested in exhibiting.”  

For more information on the conference please visit: www.explantlab.com