Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) has announced support and funding for KQ Labs, a national accelerator programme for life sciences innovators founded and hosted by the Francis Crick Institute.
Launched in 2018, the KQ Labs programme supports up to ten start-ups working in areas such as drug discovery, digital health and precision medicine. The accelerator programme has supported 70 startups across seven cohorts, helping them to transform biomedical and data science ideas into scalable commercial ventures.
KQ Labs alumni, who received expert mentoring and high-value industry and investor networks during their five-month stretch in the programme, have collectively raised over £219 million in investment to date.
Through this new partnership, MDC, which is part of Innovate UK’s Catapult Network and aims to turn drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs, will contribute expertise and funding to scale KQ Labs’ national impact. It will draw on its networks across the country to help extend the programme’s reach to promising early-stage ventures throughout the UK.
It will also offer expert translational support to help participating companies validate their ideas and strengthen their commercial readiness. Over time, some companies may become eligible for further support through MDC’s wider programmes and initiatives.
Today’s announcement coincides with the KQ Labs Demo Day, where the 2025 cohort of ten startups will showcase their innovations to an audience of investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders.
This cohort includes innovators in ageing biology and anti-necrotic drugs, cancer treatment prediction tools and children’s mental health.
Applications for the next programme will open on 1 July 2025.
Stephen Mayhew, Chief Business Officer at the Francis Crick Institute, said: “A key strategic objective for the Crick is to support the biomedical research endeavour across the UK. KQ Labs is a key part of this mission, and this new partnership with MDC will allow us to scale its impact even further.”
Barbara Domayne-Hayman, KQ Labs Chair and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Francis Crick Institute, said: “KQ Labs has established itself over the last seven years as a flagship programme for data-driven health founders. With this support from MDC, we can build on a strong foundation and help even more early-stage ventures succeed.”
Chris Molloy, Chief Executive Officer, Medicines Discovery Catapult, said: “Young biotechs are the high-risk heartbeat of our sector, and they deserve industry-class translational support to make them fit to fund and grow. As a national Life Sciences service, that is what MDC is here for. We are delighted to be supporting this vital accelerator programme: defragmenting the nation, driving collaboration and deploying targeted funding to make companies more investor-ready.
“Together, KQ Labs, the Crick and MDC will maximise impact for the sector, the nation, and most importantly, patients.”
Nicola Heron, Chief Strategy Officer, Medicines Discovery Catapult, said: “Data-driven approaches offer the key to unlock significant advancements in healthcare. The UK’s brightest biotechs are applying groundbreaking AI, machine learning and advanced computational techniques to find new ways to treat disease, opening an exciting avenue for drug discovery innovation. We look forward to working with some of these companies and helping to realise the potential of their game-changing ideas.”
Supported by partners, including Cancer Research Horizons, KQ Labs plays a critical role in shaping a thriving UK life sciences ecosystem, particularly within London’s Knowledge Quarter. It connects the UK’s world-leading expertise in biomedical research and data science with the growing demand for digital innovation in healthcare.
