IVF device developers secure £3.5m investment

Researchers developing an IVF device to improve embryo number and quality have secured £3.5m in investment.

Dr Virginia Pensabene and professor Helen Picton have created a microfluidic device that aims to increase the number and quality of embryos within an IVF cycle.

As of 2025, only 25 to 30 per cent of women aged 35 or under have a success rate with IVF. This is one in six of those who undergo treatment.

Professor Picton is scientific director of IVFmicro and a non-clinical expert in reproductive female biology and embryology at the University of Leeds School of Medicine.

She said: “My career has focused on understanding the reproductive biology of eggs and embryos, how they develop and, crucially, why things sometimes go wrong.

“At IVFmicro, we are harnessing years of research into reproductive biology to create a practical, accessible solution that can improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatment.

“Our goal is to make IVF more effective, more predictable, and ultimately more hopeful for those striving to start a family.”

The average UK cost for one cycle is about £5,000, making success rates a key concern and access difficult for many.

The University of Leeds team has received funding from Northern Gritstone, with support from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships.

The investment will move the work into verification, leading to trials on human embryos in fertility clinics.

IVFmicro utilises a precisely engineered microfluidic device (technology that manipulates very small fluid volumes) to manage embryo culture and tiny amounts of nutrient-rich media.

The approach is reported to provide a 10 to 15 per cent improvement in the chance of successful embryo implantation.

Dr Pensabene, chief executive of IVFmicro and associate professor at Leeds, said: “As a biomedical engineer, I began exploring the potential of this technology in 2017, when Helen and I first met at the University of Leeds.

“From the start, our goal was to translate our research into a real solution for patients.

“Thanks to the combination of grant funding and Northern Gritstone’s support — both through investment and its innovation programmes — we have been able to grow our team in Leeds and take a major step toward bringing this precision-engineered IVF solution to market.”

Duncan Johnson, chief executive of Northern Gritstone, saidd: “IVFMicro is a brilliant example of the world-class innovation emerging from the Northern Arc’s universities, combining scientific excellence with a clear commercial vision to tackle the societal challenge of infertility.”

Professor Nick Plant, pro-vice-chancellor for research and innovation at the University of Leeds, added: “The hard work and expertise of the IVFmicro team will change the lives of those experiencing infertility.

“This well-deserved investment is further evidence of the outstanding talent that exists within our highly innovative research community.

“We are proud to support Helen and Virginia in harnessing and commercialising their research and look forward to working with them as they embark on their next chapter.”