Phase II area is a fully-equipped cell culture facility where companies can use specialist equipment to grow cells that can be used for the production of proteins
Tony Baldry, MP for North Oxfordshire, has officially opened Phase II of the DiagnOx Laboratory, a unique incubator facility located in Cherwell Innovation Centre, Oxfordshire, that provides offices and shared laboratory and equipment facilities where diagnostics researchers, or companies developing medical diagnostic products, can undertake prototyping and proof of concept work.
The Phase II area is a fully-equipped cell culture facility where companies can use specialist equipment to grow cells that can be used for the production of proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, or as control materials to evaluate new diagnostic tests.
The Phase II opening was attended by representatives from Oxford Innovation, which manages the DiagnOx Laboratory, Cherwell District Council, companies in the diagnostics sector, including users of the DiagnOx Laboratory, academics and sponsors.
Baldry said: "I am delighted to open Phase II of the DiagnOx Laboratory, which is a unique facility designed to boost the commercialisation of UK diagnostics research.
"We are fortunate to live in one of the world's largest economies but we cannot simply sit back and assume that this will continue.
"We need to consider where our competitive edge will come from in the future, and I would like Cherwell Valley to become known as a knowledge economy that has a reputation for growing innovative new companies.
"I congratulate the DiagnOx team on their initiative, and look forward to celebrating the success of the companies based here".
Baldry also welcomed Hybrid Systems, the latest company to enter Cherwell Innovation Centre and take advantage of the DiagnOx Laboratory facilities to develop its new gene therapy treatments for ovarian and prostate cancer.
Len Seymour, managing director of Hybrid Systems, said: "DiagnOx provides an excellent package of support for early stage diagnostics businesses.
"It is cost effective to share the equipment they provide, and the day to day interactions with other companies using the Laboratory are extremely valuable".
Hybrid joins Macro Conex, a company developing a chemistry based core technology for use in many diagnostic tests; DiaMatrix, which has won an R and D grant (Smart Award) to develop a new product format for pregnancy testing and drugs of abuse tests; Oxford Bio-Innovation, developing new markers of diseases, and Ocuity which is licensing its innovative optical technology for display products, such as 2D/3D switchable cell phones, to manufacturing partners.
Lisa Mynheer, DiagnOx manager, said: "The provision of the cell culture facility completes the second phase of the DiagnOx Laboratory.
"It strengthens our ability to support all aspects of starting a diagnostics business and should help to kick start more life sciences businesses in North Oxfordshire.
"The expansion phase of the DiagnOx Laboratory was made possible with funding and support, worth in excess of £400,000, secured from the South East Regional Development Agency (Seeda), the DTI, Oxford Innovation and the North Oxfordshire Consortium.
"The funding also meant that we could recruit Maureen Peters to oversee the installation of the new facility and manage the DiagnOx Laboratory".
The event was sponsored by Sigma-Aldrich and Fisher Scientific, suppliers of laboratory equipment, consumables and chemicals, and Cherwell District Council.
