Female-founded University of Leeds spinout IVFmicro secures £3.5m to advance IVF technology
A University of Leeds spinout developing technology to improve IVF success rates has raised £3.5m in pre-seed funding.
IVFmicro, founded in 2018 by Professor Helen Picton and Dr Virginia Pensabene, has created a device designed to improve how embryos are grown during IVF treatment. The company says the technology can increase both the quality and number of embryos produced in a treatment cycle, improving the chances of pregnancy.
The funding round is led by Northern Gritstone, with support from the Innovate UK Investor Partnerships Programme. The investment will be used to test and validate the technology, ahead of trials in fertility clinics involving human embryos.
More consistency in the lab
Around one in six couples worldwide experience fertility problems, yet IVF success rates remain relatively low. For women under 35, only about 25–30% of IVF cycles result in pregnancy.
Part of the challenge lies in how embryos are currently grown in the laboratory. Embryos are often moved and handled several times, and embryologists must make judgement calls about which embryo to transfer. These processes can affect outcomes and require highly skilled staff, adding to the overall cost of treatment.
In the UK, a single IVF cycle typically costs around £5,000.
IVFmicro’s approach aims to make this process more consistent. Its device allows embryos to develop in a more stable environment, using small amounts of nutrient-rich liquid to support early growth. According to the company, this can lead to a 10–15% improvement in embryo quality and quantity, increasing the likelihood that an embryo will successfully implant.
Professor Picton, IVFmicro’s scientific director, is a specialist in reproductive biology at the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine. She said her research career has focused on understanding how eggs and embryos develop, and why problems can occur.
“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,” she said.
“Our goal is to make IVF more effective, more predictable, and ultimately more hopeful for those striving to start a family.”
Dr Pensabene, IVFmicro’s chief executive, is an associate professor in electronic and electrical engineering at the University of Leeds. She said the idea grew out of research she began in 2017, when she and Picton first met.
“From the start, our goal was to translate our research into a real solution for patients,” she said.
“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.”
Northern power
IVFmicro is part of Northern Gritstone’s NG Studios programme, which supports early-stage life sciences companies, and is delivered in partnership with accelerator KQ Labs and the Francis Crick Institute.
Duncan Johnson, chief executive of Northern Gritstone, said the company highlighted the strength of innovation coming out of northern universities.
“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,” he said.
IVFmicro is based at Nexus, the University of Leeds’ innovation hub for spinouts and entrepreneurs.
Professor Nick Plant, pro-vice-chancellor for research and innovation at the University of Leeds, said the investment reflected the strength of the university’s research community.
“The hard work and expertise of the IVFmicro team will change the lives of those experiencing infertility,” he said.
“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.”