IVFmicro, a University of Leeds spinout developing microfluidic technology for IVF treatment, has raised £3.5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Northern Gritstone with support from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships Programme.
Founded in 2018 by Virginia Pensabene and Helen Picton, both professors at the University of Leeds, IVFmicro provides the first microfluidic device (a device for safely managing embryo culture and handling with very small amounts of nutrient-rich fluid) that can be used in any IVF treatment cycle. This precision-engineered solution improves both the number of viable embryos available for transfer and the likelihood that an embryo will implant and result in a pregnancy. IVFmicro provides a 10-15% improvement in embryo quality and quantity, a significant leap that increases the potential to fall pregnant.
The company will use the funding for its next verification and validation phase, leading to trials on human embryos in fertility clinics.
Globally, 1 in 6 couples face fertility issues, yet IVF success rates remain at 25-30% for women under 35. IVF costs on average £5,000 per cycle in the UK.
“As a biomedical engineer, I began exploring the potential of this technology in 2017, when Helen and I first met at the University of Leeds,” said Pensabene, who serves as CEO. “From the start, our goal was to translate our research into a real solution for patients. Thanks to the combination of grant funding and Northern Gritstone’s support — both through investment and its innovation programmes — we have been able to grow our team in Leeds and take a major step toward bringing this precision-engineered IVF solution to market.”
Picton, Scientific Director and co-founder, added: “At IVFmicro, we are harnessing years of research into reproductive biology to create a practical, accessible solution that can improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatment. Our goal is to make IVF more effective, more predictable, and ultimately more hopeful for those striving to start a family.”
IVFmicro recently participated in NG Studios, a life sciences programme delivered by KQ Labs, the Francis Crick Institute, and Northern Gritstone.
