How we're making IVF more accessible to everyone
University of Leeds spinout IVFmicro has received a £3.5 million investment that will improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatment.
The company, co-founded in 2018 by the Faculty’s Dr Virginia Pensabene, alongside Professor Helen Picton, has developed a microfluidic device that enhances the quality and number of embryos in an IVF treatment cycle.
Northern Gritstone leads the pre-seed funding with support from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships Programme. It will be used by IVFmicro for its next verification and validation phase, leading to trials on human embryos in fertility clinics.
Globally, one in six couples will face fertility issues, yet IVF success rates are only 25-30% in women aged under 35.
This is due in part to limitations of the embryo culture process, which typically involves repetitive handling, subjective selection of the best embryo, and the expense of highly skilled operators.
Improving embryo quality and quantity
The average cost of one IVF cycle is £5,000 for a UK-based patient.
IVFmicro’s precision-engineered microfluidic device enables safe embryo culture and uses small volumes of nutrient-rich fluid.
This provides a 10-15% improvement in embryo quality and quantity, boosting the likelihood that an embryo will implant and result in a pregnancy.
Dr Pensabene, CEO of IVFmicro, is an Associate Professor in the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering who has published scientific advances in microfluidics and brings technical and scientific expertise to product design.
She said: “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.
“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.”
Professor Picton, Scientific Director of IVFmicro, is a non-clinical expert in female reproductive biology and embryology in the University’s School of Medicine and has generated more than £8 million in research grant income.
She said: “My career has focused on understanding the reproductive biology of eggs and embryos, how they develop and, crucially, why things sometimes go wrong.
“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.
The hard work and expertise of the IVFmicro team will change the lives of those experiencing infertility.
Northern Gritstone is an investment company dedicated to supporting ambitious science and technology businesses in the North of England.
IVFmicro is part of the NG Studios programme, which supports pre-seed life science businesses, and is delivered by accelerator KQ Labs, the Francis Crick Institute, and Northern Gritstone.
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “IVFMicro is a brilliant example of the world-class innovation emerging from the Northern Arc’s universities, combining scientific excellence with a clear commercial vision to tackle the societal challenge of infertility.
“Millions worldwide require fertility treatment, but new solutions are needed to overcome the high costs involved and low success rates.”
IVFmicro is based at Nexus, the University of Leeds community and hub for innovators and entrepreneurs.
Professor Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, said: “The hard work and expertise of the IVFmicro team will change the lives of those experiencing infertility.
“This well-deserved investment is further evidence of the outstanding talent that exists within our highly innovative research community.
“We are proud to support Helen and Virginia in harnessing and commercialising their research and look forward to working with them as they embark on their next chapter.”
