Spin out to aid chemistry research

A new spin out launched by the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds, will focus on enabling the pharma industry to develop lifesaving medicines.

The company, Redbrick Molecular Ltd, will partner closely with universities to identify commercially valuable chemicals of interest. It will license and manufacture compounds for use in drug discovery R & D. Redbrick will use all profits to support further UK chemistry research via grant funding projects at member institutions.

Professor Dave Petley, vice president for research and innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “Universities are always seeking novel ways to translate research into industry-ready tools. I am delighted that Sheffield is a partner in Redbrick Molecular’s pioneering approach to commercialisation, which is inspirational and offers an innovative way to fund future academic research.”

Industry and higher education relationship

The company was formed with industry input, and will aim to form relationships with other higher education institutions as both licensors and future company members. It will sit at the interface between industrial customers and universities to enable both collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Andy Hogben, managing director of Redbrick Molecular, said: “Redbrick is specifically designed to act as a conduit between academic and industrial research. We focus on delivering industrial-grade products that are attractive to medicinal chemists working in research and development whilst supporting our academic partners to develop exciting new chemistry.”