BioGrad has launched Europe’s first private women’s health research tissue bank, a 10,000 sq ft facility in Liverpool focused on advancing research into conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, and certain cancers. The facility is part of a £25m investment in women’s health research.
The tissue bank collects and stores menstrual blood, peripheral blood, umbilical cord tissue, and umbilical cord blood. BioGrad is seeking female donors aged 13 and above, offering compensation between £15 to £80 per successful sample donation. The company has established partnerships with Liverpool Women’s Hospital and other regional healthcare facilities to facilitate collection.
“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,” said Dr. Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad.
The initiative is led by an all-female team of experts under Dr. Sherin Pojar and aligns with The Women’s Health Strategy 2024’s goals to address healthcare disparities. Lynn Greenhalgh, Medical Director at Liverpool’s Women’s Hospital, expressed support: “The tissue bank will create a resource for the North of England for researchers in Women’s health which will allow quicker access to samples for research. This will enable more women to benefit from a greater understanding and potentially new treatments for women’s health problems that affect such a large part of the population.”
The facility aims to drive stem cell and immunotherapy research, investigating the underlying causes of various women’s health conditions. Participants can receive collection kits at home or schedule appointments through BioGrad’s online portal, with some samples requiring pre-arranged collection services.
