A valuable partnership with a leading biotechnology firm has seen the company donate 25 brand new qPCR machines to Lancaster University to support student learning, academic research and health innovation.

BioGrad is a UK-based biotech company with a strong foundation in clinical trials and biobanking and has donated equipment worth £245,000 to the University.

Laura Kornas, Head of Partnerships and Engagement for Health and Social Care at Lancaster University, said: “BioGrad is one of the UK’s most exciting biotech companies, with a track record of investment in bioscience training, enhancing the skills of the workforce in the North West and beyond.

“Our relationship with BioGrad means we are able to explore a number of avenues for engagement. Collaboration between academia and industry is crucial if we are to advance the UK’s life science sector at scale and pace, and to be globally competitive.”

Professor Jackie Parry, Head of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University, added: “In Biomedical and Life Sciences, we aim to prepare the next generation of bioscience professionals by equipping them with the technical skills to enhance their employability and have a successful career. This generous donation from BioGrad allows us to give more of our students direct experience of using qPCR equipment. This important technique is used across the biosciences, from disease diagnosis through to primary research.”

About BioGrad

The company is currently developing a UK biomanufacturing hub for the production of advanced cell therapies, including stem cell and CAR-T cell treatments for a range of diseases. Their mission is to accelerate medical breakthroughs and deliver transformative therapies to those who need them most.

PCR machines amplify tiny DNA or RNA segments into millions of copies, enabling detailed genetic analysis for research, diagnostics and forensics. qPCR, or real-time PCR, allows precise measurement of DNA/RNA during amplification using fluorescent dyes, making it essential for gene expression studies and viral load monitoring.

PCR technology is widely used in genetic engineering, molecular diagnostics, cancer and stem cell research, drug development, forensic science and agricultural biotechnology. It became well-known during the Covid-19 pandemic as the gold standard for Coronavirus testing.