Liverpool laboratory testing specialist, BioGrad opens what claims is Europe’s first private women’s health research tissue bank that could lead to ‘life-changing discoveries’. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool laboratory venture BioGrad has opened what it says is Europe’s first private women’s health research tissue bank.
Comprising 10,000 sq ft of space, BioGrad founder and chief executive Dr Natalie Kenny says the facility could lead to “life-changing discoveries”.
It could uncover treatments and cures for conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, menopause and certain types of cancers.
This forms part of a wider £25m expansion by the business which began in 2022. It has expanded its services to four new locations including laboratories in Birmingham, Newcastle, London and a new HQ at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool.
In September 2024 the business further expanded into York and that news came just months after the company announced it had secured a six-figure sum from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to expand its training division.
Focused on the collection and storage of menstrual blood, peripheral blood, umbilical cord tissue, and umbilical cord blood, BioGrad is calling on females of all backgrounds aged 13 and above to donate to the tissue bank.
Menstrual blood donors will receive a convenient at-home collection kit, while peripheral blood and placenta donors can schedule an appointment through BioGrad’s dedicated online portal.
Placenta donations must be pre-arranged before labour and are contingent upon a health assessment, and cord tissue samples will be collected upon delivery.
Participants will receive compensation of £15 to £80 for each successful sample donation with the ultimate goal of driving stem cell and immunotherapy research, investigating the ‘why and how’ behind these debilitating conditions.
BioGrad has established relationships with hospitals including Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and other leading hospitals in the Liverpool city region, ensuring a “seamless and dignified” collection process.
Dr Kenny said: “For far too long women’s health has been an afterthought in scientific research. At BioGrad, we are proud to be leading the charge in changing this narrative.
“By opening Europe’s first dedicated private women’s health research tissue bank, we are not only addressing a critical gap in medical research but also empowering women to play a direct role in advancing healthcare and patient outcomes.”
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