Oxartis to benefit from over £10k of business support and lab-space at Heyford Park Innovation Centre
Pioneering tissue regeneration technology start-up Oxartis is celebrating winning a Bio-Kickstart competition that will enable them to benefit from dedicated lab space and a business support package for one-year at Heyford Park Innovation Centre near Bicester, Oxfordshire.
The bio-medical start-up is developing tissue regeneration technology to transform the lives of patients who have suffered significant tissue loss, including burn injury or trauma as well as patients who have an ulcerative degeneration of skin.
Oxartis Founder and CEO, Dr Julian Dye said: “We are delighted to be joining Heyford Park Innovation Centre as it gives us the facilities that we urgently need to move our technology to the next level.
"Our team all currently work remotely, so we are really looking forward to having a base that has all the core equipment, space and support. This will help us achieve our vision to transform the healing process through novel regenerative tissue reconstruction solutions.”
He added: “I have visited various patient and treatment centres and when confronted with such life-changing injuries, it makes me more determined to use science to make a difference and I truly believe that we can do this.”
Finalists were invited to present their business plans to a judging panel, consisting of leading individuals in the local innovation ecosystem.
Judging member, Jonathan Rohll, Head of Science and Entrepreneur Advocate, OBN, said: “It was a pleasure to be a judge for the BIO Kickstart Competition.
The finalists operated in diverse areas of the life sciences making it an interesting and challenging task.
Nevertheless, Oxartis was, for me, a clear winner. He added: “I wish them well in developing their 3D tissue scaffold material and I am sure that they will derive a great deal of value from the prize and residency at the Heyford Park Innovation Centre.”
The Centre is managed by Oxford Innovation Space who successfully manage innovation centres throughout the UK, providing expert support and knowledge to drive business growth and regional success.
HPIC Centre Manager, Trudy Franklin-Slattery said: “We are proud of all our businesses at the Centre who are pushing the boundaries of science and technology to develop products that will improve lives.
"We have had some really inspiring success stories over the years and with the expert business support from our innovation director I am sure Oxartis will go from strength to strength.
"Following their bio kickstart success, Oxartis have also been secured a grant from Innovate UK, which will help them on their journey towards clinical trials.”
