INDOOR Biotechnologies, which has its headquarters in Virginia, set its sights on Cardiff Medicentre in the grounds of the University Hospital of Wales as the home of its new state-of-the-art facility. It will see the company expanding its allergen analysis services and its research and development arm as it enters the next phase of growth.
Dr James Hindley, Scientific Operations Manager, who is heading up the new lab said, “Much of what we will be doing in Cardiff is measuring allergens from species including cat, dog, dustmite, pollen and nuts. Our clients are academic and non-academic researchers, allergen manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers of allergen reduction or management products and food companies based all over the world ho call on us to help detect and work towards minimising the effects of allergens.”
INDOOR’s new facility will also be used to carry out allergy-based research and to develop new products and services including new allergen detection kits which will be sold to allergy sufferers and companies and researchers working in countries including France, Spain and Japan and throughout the UK.
“The scale of our work reflects the ongoing issues allergies present in everyday life, and the strong commercial basis for what we’re doing,” said Hindley. “By creating this new lab, we will be opening up new markets to supplement those already secured by our US parent company.”
The group’s expansion into Wales comes at a time when Welsh life sciences businesses are set to benefit from a £100 million government fund aimed at building on Wales’ growing reputation in this area.
“The progress that’s been made in life sciences and innovation here over the last 1-2 years is impressive and there is a tangible and promising emphasis on helping these companies thrive,” said Hindley.
South Wales born and bred, Hindley studied Biochemistry at Cardiff University, obtaining his PhD at the hospital campus just a stone’s throw away from Cardiff Medicentre. After a spell working at INDOOR’s US headquarters and its UK base in Warminster, Hindley is excited to be bringing the company to Wales.
“On a personal level, I’m thrilled to be back in Cardiff, starting to put something back into the region. I’ll be maintaining close ties with Cardiff University in particular and look forward to recruiting local talent and growing the company with the support of Cardiff Medicentre.”
The business incubation site was chosen as the base for INDOOR’s new facility because of its prime location on the hospital campus, its set-up and the facilities on offer, including part-fitted labs. INDOOR’s fellow tenants at Cardiff Medicentre include the medical devices company Asalus, drug testing business Cansford Laboratories and the ultrasound training company Medaphor.
“It’s hugely inspirational to be working alongside growing businesses which are doing some pretty exciting things,” Hindley said.
Dr Mark Bowman, Director of Innovation at Cardiff Medicentre said, “We’re delighted to welcome James and his team. As a business incubator which supports and nurtures new life science companies, we’re always pleased to see businesses with great ideas, and people with a strong work ethic and plenty of ambition.”
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