It is one of a number of innovative new businesses that have prospered within the supportive environment of the Norwich Research Park.
Founded in 2008 to service the needs of professionals working in specialist areas of biochemistry, Inspiralis’ customer base spans the globe – and it is widely recognised as the number one topoisomerase company in the world.
“A key element of our business is to supply the necessary tools and materials to develop and screen novel anti-infective and anti-cancer compounds,” said founder director Dr Nicolas Burton.
“The overseas demand for our services from research groups working in the pharmaceutical industry and academia around the world is so great that today 90% of our products are exported.”
Inspiralis has continued to go from strength to strength, recently expanding into new premises at the Innovation Centre.
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, chief executive officer at Norwich Research Park said: “Norwich Research Park provides a great environment for start-up science based businesses. The flexible accommodation and offer of shared equipment makes it the ideal location for companies, particularly at the early stages of their development when access to affordable scientific facilities and free business support is so important to their growth.”
“We provide the necessary tools and materials to develop and screen novel anti-infective and anti-cancer compounds,” said Dr Burton. “We supply enzymes such as topoisomerases (that regulate the overwinding or underwinding of DNA) and ligases (that act as catalysts in chemical reactions in which molecules are linked together). Also plasmids (DNAs capable of independent replication) and other DNA- and RNA-modifying proteins. We also provide substrates and kits for analysis, along with the enzymes from a range of organisms and a variety of mutants.”
Inspiralis developed from the John Innes Centre laboratory of Professor Tony Maxwell – a world leader in the field of topoisomerase research.
It still maintains strong links with Professor Maxwell’s lab, including sponsoring a student there. It also sponsors students within the school of biological sciences at the University of East Anglia.
“We have made good use of the greater space and enhanced office facilities created by the move into our own premises, expanding our supply of high-quality research products and screening services worldwide,” he said.
The founding directors are Tony Maxwell, Nicolas Burton and Alison Howells. They were joined by Tony Blake in 2010. Investors include Iceni Seedcorn Fund and Plant Bioscience Ltd represented on the board by Dr Martin Stocks.
Image: (L-R) Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer Norwich Research Park with Inspiralis directors Alison Howells and Dr Nicolas Burton.
Norwich Research Park is home to over 12,000 people including 3,000 researchers and clinicians with an annual research spend of over £100 million. Over 40 businesses are based on the Park.
Norwich Research Park is a partnership between the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, four independent world-renowned research institutes namely the John Innes Centre, Institute of Food Research and The Genome Analysis Centre (all strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)) and The Sainsbury Laboratory linked to the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. The BBSRC is itself a partner as is the John Innes Foundation.
The main strength of Norwich Research Park is the concentration of world-leading scientists coupled with the capability for multidisciplinary research. We continue to build on this by attracting new partners and innovative businesses to the Park to collaborate in our research and to develop our vision.
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Media contacts:
Victoria Thompson, Head of Marketing, Norwich Research Park
Email: Tel. 01603 673 675
[email protected]
Harry Mitchell, AF PRomote
Tel. 01603 881 983
Email: [email protected]
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