A biotech and medtech innovation hub in Cardiff is celebrating its third decade by sharing some of the work undertaken by its business tenants.
Founded in 1992, Cardiff Medicentre is a joint venture between Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff University. Based in the grounds of the University Hospital of Wales, it provides space from desk leasing to high-spec laboratories for start-ups and established businesses in a supportive environment.
The centre has supported 55 businesses since it was founded.
One example is Intelligent Ultrasound, an AIM-listed artificial intelligence ultrasound software simulation company. They describe their vision as making “clinical diagnostic ultrasound easier to learn and simpler to use” and are focused on providing real-time ultrasound education and training through hi-fidelity simulation. The company states: “Our deep-learning based algorithms improve real-time ultrasound image analysis and make ultrasound machines smarter and more accessible to all medical professions.”
Another example is Alesi Surgical, responsible for developing and commercialising “products that improve the safety, efficiency and outcomes of all advanced surgical procedures”. The university calls Alesi Surgical’s Ultravision “the world’s first system for eliminating laparoscopic surgical smoke without the need for gas exchange”.
The final example shared by the Medicentre is Cellesce. Cellesce are described as the inventors of a “unique bioprocess for expanding human-derived, normal and cancer organoids”. Using patient-derived organoids, Cellesce aim to improve drug screening in models and prediction of patient responses to those drugs, with their technology capable of producing reproducible PDOs on a large scale.
Rhys Pearce-Palmer, Innovation Operations Manager of Cardiff Medicentre, said: “The innovation that happens here is staggering. Every tenant brings something new and they’re driven by wanting to fix or improve something to deliver better patient healthcare and boost the economy in Wales. So being as close as we are to UHW is a real advantage for those that can benefit from the clinical environment and contact with practitioners.”
