Laboratories : Case Study
Dr Yichen Shi , CEO and Co-Founder of Axol Biosciences
Grazia Spillantini , PhD at the University of Cambridge . These individuals will guide Axol in ensuring its commercially available human primary and iPSC-derived cells continue to enable the development of pathophysiologically-relevant systems for disease modelling and drug discovery .
Further to these appointments and increasing its product range , Axol has also raised over £ 1 million through the equity crowdfunding platform , SyndicateRoom . Yichen Shi , Axol ’ s CEO commented : “ With this funding , we will diversify our product portfolio , increase our operations to meet industry demand and grow our customer base . We hope to ultimately revolutionise the drug discovery market by providing a comprehensive platform of human cells from healthy and patient donors to enable improved efficiency of the screening process and reduce animal testing .”
With expansion a priority , Axol moved to the Science Village , Chesterford Research Park , in November 2015 . The Science Village is an ideal HQ for both established and start-up companies which need flexible , high quality and prestigious self-contained accommodation . The innovative , energy efficient building offers individual R & D suites ranging from 1,515 sq . ft . to 1,993 sq . ft ., plus excellent scalability by combining spaces for larger occupation . The fully fitted accommodation , served by high speed data connectivity and Cat 6 cabling is also supported by a backup generator . Each suite enjoys demountable benching , two sinks and two fume hoods ( with space for a third if required ), housed within a dedicated room . An open-plan write-up / admin area , plus a self-contained single office / meeting room completes the layout , in addition to which , each suite is supported by its own independent , dedicated external plant area .
Axol chose Chesterford Research Park to consolidate its production and office space and ensure the organisation could continue unhindered in the pursuit of novel products that fulfil customer needs . At the time Yichen Shi commented of the move : “ Chesterford stood out due to its location within the cluster , convenient access to major road , rail and air routes and proximity to some of the biggest pharma players in the industry .”
Since the move , Axol have been able to accommodate several new staff members and the integrated open-plan offices and adjacent laboratory space is proving particularly advantageous , allowing the team to work alongside one another to bring state-of-the-art products to market . This also enhances the team ’ s ability to support the needs of Axol ’ s customers , which at present include Janssen Pharmaceutica , University of Cambridge , Harvard University ,
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Kings College London , University of Oxford and Aston University , among others .
Chesterford Research Park attracts leading R & D companies , like Axol , by providing state-of-the-art laboratory and office space within the most unique and idyllic surroundings . This supportive and nurturing environment not only attracts the right people and businesses , it also enables them to interact . The Park plays a pivotal role in this process and in doing so continues to attract innovative , ambitious companies , intent on delivering the groundbreaking , scientific discoveries of the future .
www . axolbio . com
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