IVFmicro raises £3.5m to boost IVF success

IVFmicro has raised £3.5m to advance its microfluidic device designed to improve IVF success rates in routine clinic use.

The Leeds-based spinout from the University of Leeds, founded in 2024, aims to increase the quality and number of embryos in an IVF cycle.

IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, combines eggs and sperm in a lab before transferring embryos to the womb. A microfluidic device is a chip with tiny channels that move very small volumes of fluid.

The company says its device could raise the number of viable embryos available for transfer and the likelihood that an embryo will implant.

Currently, IVF leads to a successful pregnancy in about 30 per cent of cases for women under 35. A single cycle typically costs around £5,000 in the UK.

“My career has focused on understanding the reproductive biology of eggs and embryos, how they develop and, crucially, why things sometimes go wrong,” said IVFmicro co-founder and scientific director Helen Picton.

“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 investment was led by Northern Gritstone, with support from Innovate UK’s Investment Partnership Programme.

“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,” said Northern Gritstone chief executive Duncan Johnson.

“Millions worldwide require fertility treatment, but new solutions are needed to overcome the high costs involved and low success rates. We are especially proud that IVFMicro’s journey has been supported through our NG Studios programme and our Innovation Services, which exist to help founders like Virginia and Helen turn pioneering research into real-world impact.”