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Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3m to scale breakthrough drug discovery platform

Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3m to scale breakthrough drug discovery platform

NETPark-based Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3 million to scale drug discovery platform

Magnitude Biosciences, a Durham University spinout based at NETPark, has secured £1.3 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its VivoScan™ drug screening platform.

The specialist contract research organisation will use the investment to scale its technology, expand its work with global pharmaceutical companies, invest in new equipment and automation, and recruit additional staff.

Developing faster approaches to drug discovery

Magnitude Biosciences works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to identify potential treatments for ageing, longevity and neurodegenerative diseases.

Its VivoScan™ platform provides high-throughput drug screening using C. elegans, a microscopic nematode worm, as a biological model. It allows researchers to evaluate potential treatments in a whole organism at an early stage of the drug discovery process.

By combining this model with advanced imaging, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, Magnitude Biosciences can produce detailed biological data in weeks rather than years.

The approach gives researchers a faster and more cost-effective way to assess thousands of compounds while supporting the pharmaceutical industry’s move towards non-mammalian research models.

Dr Fozia Saleem, CEO of Magnitude Biosciences, said:

“Our ambition is to become the first company to provide a platform to screen millions of compounds in a whole organism. This investment in VivoScan™ gives us the opportunity to turn that ambition into reality and fundamentally change the scale and speed at which drug discovery can be done.
“We are building a platform that can move beyond simply screening more compounds. VivoScan™ generates rich, whole-organism biological data that can help researchers understand how potential therapies affect health, ageing and disease. “By making data generation faster and more cost-effective, we will be able to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies identify better drug candidates earlier and ultimately accelerate the development of new treatments.”

Finance Durham Fund backs company’s growth

Northstar Ventures led the investment round, committing funding from the North East Spinout Inspire Fund, North East Innovation Fund and Northstar EIS Growth Fund.

The £22.5 million North East Spinout Inspire Fund is backed by the universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside, as well as the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority through the North East Fund. It was established to help commercialise research emerging from the region’s universities.

Maven-managed regional funds also participated in the round. These included NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and the Finance Durham Fund, established by Durham County Council and overseen by Business Durham. New angel investors also provided funding.

The investment will also enable Magnitude Biosciences to access a £217,000 Innovate UK Investor Partnership grant.

Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council Cabinet member for planning, investment and assets, said:

“Magnitude Biosciences is a strong example of the ambitious, science-led businesses the Finance Durham Fund was established to support. “This investment will help the company scale its technology, reach more customers and create skilled jobs in County Durham. We are particularly pleased to see that growth taking place at NETPark, where Magnitude Biosciences is part of a growing life sciences community and has access to the specialist space, facilities and connections it needs for its next stage of development.”

Building on investment in the business

The latest funding follows an initial investment from NPIF II in May 2025 and will support Magnitude Biosciences as it responds to growing demand for faster and more predictive approaches to early-stage drug discovery.

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:

“We’re continuing to back the businesses that are driving innovation across the UK economy, with this new funding round helping to bring Magnitude Biosciences’ new technology to market. “With NPIF II providing initial investment in May last year, we’re able to support businesses throughout their journey, fuelling the Government’s Industrial Strategy and ensuring the North East’s life sciences sector continues to thrive.”

Dr Will Cousins, Investment Manager at Northstar Ventures, added:

“The North East continues to generate world-class innovations with the potential to compete on the global stage. Supporting ambitious companies with the capital they need to grow is essential if we are to unlock that potential. “Having worked closely with Magnitude Biosciences throughout its journey, we have seen first-hand the strength of the team, the technology and the opportunity ahead. We are proud to continue backing a business that is helping to shape the future of drug discovery.”

Magnitude Biosciences has delivered more than 120 projects for clients working across drug discovery, health and nutrition, and ageing biology. Its growth at NETPark strengthens County Durham’s expanding cluster of life sciences companies.

Find out more about the Finance Durham Fund and how Business Durham can help businesses access the funding, property and connections they need to grow.

 

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Durham joins £5.3m project to develop laser power technology

A laser pointing to the sky

Researchers in the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, based at Orbit in NETPark, are helping to develop a pioneering laser power system that could keep high-altitude aircraft operating continuously.

The project has received £5.3m in funding from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) through its Enduring Atmospheric Platforms (EndAP) programme. 

Working alongside Scalable Laser Limited and the University of Glasgow our researchers will help to develop “LIVINGSTON” (which stands for laser diodes and photo-voltaics for enduring atmospheric platform power beaming), an innovative laser power beaming system. 

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National staycation campaign delivers 11% boost to County Durham visitor spend

From left: Pam Porter Locomotion Museum, Richard Kaye Dalton Park, Duncan Peake Chair Visit County Durham, Matt McWhinnie Dalton Park, Sanjay Gidda Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, Sally Pearson The Bowes Museum, Dennis Wood The Auckland Project, Rhiannon Hiles Beamish Museum

A national campaign encouraging visitors to make County Durham their next stop has contributed to an estimated 11 per cent increase in visitor spend, while inspiring more people to stay overnight, stay longer and discover more of the county.

Next Stop Durham, Visit County Durham’s latest national destination marketing campaign, reached more than 18 million people between autumn 2025 and spring 2026, helping to raise awareness of County Durham as a destination for a UK break.

Visit County Durham is Durham County Council’s tourism service, working with businesses and attractions across the county to grow the visitor economy and promote County Durham as a leading destination.

Independent evaluation found that estimated visitor spend was 11 per cent higher than during the previous campaign, demonstrating the impact of targeted destination marketing in encouraging visitors to choose County Durham and spend more during their visit.

The campaign also supported Visit County Durham’s strategic ambition to increase overnight stays, with the proportion of survey respondents who said the campaign had influenced them to stay overnight increasing from 11 per cent in the previous campaign to 15 per cent.

Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Regeneration and High Street, said: “Encouraging visitors to make County Durham their next stop is an important part of growing our visitor economy. We know many people travel through the county without always realising the incredible range of experiences available here, and Next Stop Durham has helped showcase why County Durham is a destination worth stopping for. It is particularly encouraging to see more visitors being inspired to stay overnight, spend longer here and discover attractions they may not have previously considered. This supports our tourism businesses, strengthens the local economy and helps spread the benefits of tourism across communities throughout County Durham.”

The campaign was designed to capitalise on County Durham’s strategic position on the London-York-Edinburgh tourist corridor, with many people travelling through the county by road or rail on their way to other destinations.

Through Next Stop Durham, visitors were encouraged to stop, stay, explore and experience more of the county, helping to increase visits, extend stays and support businesses across the visitor economy.
The campaign was delivered through national media partnerships, influencer collaborations, out-of-home advertising in London, Manchester and along the East Coast rail corridor, alongside targeted digital advertising.

It showcased County Durham’s diverse visitor offer, from world-class attractions and outdoor adventures to food and drink, accommodation and heritage.

Tourism businesses and attractions involved in the campaign included The Bowes Museum, Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, The Auckland Project, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Locomotion, Raby Estates, Dalton Park, Lumley Castle Hotel and Seaham Hall Hotel.

Visitors influenced by the campaign also reported staying longer and spending more per night during overnight stays, while day visitor spend increased compared with 2024-25.

More than half of respondents said the campaign had definitely influenced their decision to visit County Durham, either for a day trip or a longer stay.

The campaign also encouraged visitors to explore beyond their original plans, with 71 per cent of respondents saying it had encouraged them to visit an attraction they had not originally planned to visit.
For those who already had a visit planned, 14 per cent said they stayed longer in the destination because of the campaign.

The campaign is expected to continue delivering benefits beyond the activity period, with 27 per cent of respondents saying it had changed their perception of County Durham and made them more likely to visit in the future.

Duncan Peake, Chair of Visit County Durham and Chief Executive of Raby Estates, said: “Next Stop Durham demonstrates what can be achieved when the tourism sector works together to promote the county. By combining our strengths and showcasing the variety of experiences available, we have been able to inspire more visitors to choose County Durham, stay longer and explore more. The campaign has delivered strong results, from increasing visitor spend to encouraging more overnight stays and helping people discover attractions they may not have previously considered. This highlights the strength of County Durham’s tourism offer and the value of continuing to raise awareness of everything the county has to offer.”

Rhiannon Hiles, Chief Executive of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, said: “Next Stop Durham has been a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the visitor economy works together. Beamish is proud to have been part of a campaign inspiring more people to discover everything County Durham has to offer. By showcasing the county’s outstanding attractions, beautiful landscapes and welcoming places to stay, the campaign has encouraged visitors to spend more time here, benefiting businesses and communities across the destination.”

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Filtronic shortlisted for Company of the Year at AIM Awards

Filtronic logo

NETPark-based Filtronic has been shortlisted for the Company of the Year Award at the AIM Awards 2026.

The nomination recognises the company’s continued development, including investment in its people and capabilities, increased manufacturing capacity and the delivery of communications technology for customers across the telecommunications, space and defence sectors.

Headquartered at NETPark, Filtronic designs and manufactures RF, microwave and millimetre-wave components and systems. Its technology supports demanding communications applications in the UK and international markets.

Over the past year, the company has continued to grow its operations and strengthen its position across its target sectors.

The AIM Awards celebrate the achievements of companies and individuals operating within the UK’s AIM market. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony later this year.

Congratulations to everyone at Filtronic on the well-deserved recognition.

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Bishop Auckland attraction shortlisted for three international awards

A bird at kynren

An attraction in Bishop Auckland has been shortlisted for three international awards just weeks after launching its latest venture.

An attraction in Bishop Auckland has been shortlisted for three international awards just weeks after launching its latest venture.

Kynren – The Storied Lands, County Durham‘s new live-action show park, is a finalist at the 2026 Park World Excellence Awards, competing against leading attractions from across Europe and beyond.

It has been nominated for Best Regional Park, Best Live Entertainment, and Best Marketing, standing alongside attractions such as Puy du Fou España, Walibi Belgium, Bellewaerde, and Doha Quest.

Read more

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National honour for Durham University’s globally significant Japanese collections

Visitors enjoying the Japanese collections at Durham University’s Oriental Museum.

The Japanese collections at Durham University’s Oriental Museum have been awarded Designated Collection status by Arts Council England, recognising their national and international significance.

The status places the collections among a select group of museum, library and archive collections recognised as being of outstanding importance outside of England’s national museums. 

There are currently just over 160 designated collections in England – and Durham University now holds five of these.  

They are the Chinese, Egyptian and Japanese collections at the Oriental Museum, alongside Cosin’s Library and the Sudan Archive, both held within Palace Green Library. 

The newly recognised Japanese collections have grown significantly in recent years and are now one of the Oriental Museum’s fastest expanding collections.  

Items span centuries of Japanese history and culture, from the Muromachi period through to contemporary works. 

Highlights include swords and armour, intricately embroidered silk kimono, ceramics, woodblock prints and traditional folk toys.  

The collections also reflect modern Japan through contemporary ceramics, manga, street fashion and digital art. 

Rachel Barclay, Senior Curator at the Oriental Museum, said: “Being awarded Designated status is a wonderful recognition of the work that has gone into developing our Japanese collections over many years.  

“What began as a relatively small collection has grown into one of the museum’s greatest strengths, supporting teaching, research and public engagement while helping us build partnerships across Japan and East Asia. 

We are delighted to see their national and international significance recognised, and we look forward to sharing these remarkable collections with even more visitors through future exhibitions, research and public programmes.” 

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “This collection tells the rich and complex story of Japanese art, culture and history across four centuries and the historic links between Japan and the North East of England.

“Covering everything from 16th century porcelain to modern day street fashion and anime, there’s something here for everybody. I would like to congratulate the team for their award.”

Over the past decade, the University’s Japanese collections have more than doubled in size through major donations and acquisitions.  

Significant additions in recent years include the Hyatt King Collection of Japanese ceramics, donated by David and Anne Hyatt King, and a major gift of almost 600 woodblock prints and postcards from Durham University alumnus John P Scott. 

The museum also holds a nationally significant collection of traditional Japanese folk toys collected by Jane Irissa. 

The collections play a central role in Durham University’s long-standing partnership with the National Museum of Japanese History in Japan, helping to strengthen international research, cultural exchange and diplomatic links. 

They represent years of work by University staff to broaden the scope of the collections through building positive relationships with museums, universities and cultural organisations in Japan. 

Shuji Maeda, Minister at the Japanese Embassy in London said: “Having visited Durham University twice over the past year since my arrival at the Embassy, I feel this recognition is very well deserved. This collection brings authentic Japanese culture to people across the UK, including younger generations.

“The fact that such a rich Japanese collection is accessible to those who live beyond London is particularly significant and symbolises that strong historical ties are felt across the country. I pay tribute to Rachel and her colleagues, as well as Professor Yoshi Miki, for their dedication.” 

The award of Designated Status comes ahead of a major new exhibition at the Oriental Museum, ‘Breaking the Mould: Japanese Ceramics from the Hyatt King Collection’, which opens on 2 October 2026.  

It will showcase highlights from the collection of more than 2,000 ceramics donated by the eminent collectors David and Anne Hyatt King. 

It features the work of 20th century masters including Suwa Sozan, Fukami Sueharu and Tsukamoto Kaiji, whose creativity helped redefine Japanese ceramics in the modern era.  

Displays also explore the achievements of the renowned Seifu family workshop of Kyoto and the technical brilliance of Hirado porcelain.