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Stem cell firm chooses Newcastle as European base

A Korean biotechnology company opened its European division at Newcastle University yesterday to develop its stem cell research programme.

RNL Bio specialises in stem cell research as well as developing therapeutic products and regenerative medicine. The firm currently employs around 85 members of staff and has been brought to the North East following a joint venture between One NorthEast, the North East Stem England Cell Institute (NESCI) and Cels, the organisation driving the growth of the North East’s healthcare economy.

RNL Bio has signed an initial 12 month tenancy agreement for a unit at the ‘Cels at Newcastle’ bio-incubator at the University of Newcastle’s Medical School. The move will bring three jobs in the coming weeks and aims to create around 14 new roles in the future.

The firm will use its Newcastle base to develop stem cell therapy products for diseases by isolating and culturing stem cells derived from a range of sources. They are also funding research projects in NESCI laboratories.

Professor Michael Whitaker, Dean of Development in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and co-Director of NESCI, said: “This is an important inward investment opportunity for the North-East - we hope the first of many in stem cells. We are very pleased to welcome RNL Bio to the incubator space operated by CELS at the Medical School. Scientists and clinicians in NESCI will be working closely with RNL Bio to help them realise their ambitions in Europe.”

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