Member Article

Grant magnifies prospects for Durham firm

A Durham-based company has been awarded a grant to help develop new technology for the nanotechnology sector. Durham Photonics, developers of advanced imaging software in biomedicine and bioscience, has secured a £95,000 grant for research and development with support from Cenamps, the centre of excellence for emerging technologies.

The grant, awarded by One NorthEast for research and development, will enable the company to recruit a full time scientific team as well as to begin feasibility studies on new imaging systems.

Durham Photonics was established in June 2007 and is based in Durham University’s laboratories and Enterprise Incubator. Its first product, a terahertz microscope -the first of its kind to reach market - will enable applications in bio- and nanomedicine and will launch late this year.

Dr Amanda McMurray, managing director at Durham Photonics, said: “This grant will enable us to further our development through additional research and to recruit new expertise. “Cenamps has supported the company since foundation and we continue to benefit from their input as well as that of other stakeholders. Outside investment remains imperative if we are to continue to excel in such an innovative field.”

Durham Photonics has benefited from Cenamps’ BioNano Regional Research Programme, which funded research in the Photonics Materials Institute that underpinned the Terahertz microscope.

Mike Pitkethly, CEO at Cenamps, said: “The continued development of the Terahertz microscope in Durham Photonics has been a great success. It is innovation such as this that enables the North East to continue growing, exporting and commercialising bio and nano research, and attracting technical expertise to live and work in the region.”

For more information on Durham Photonics, visit www.durhamphotonics.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .