Our strategy

As a self-funded organisation, we focus on finding solutions to medical challenges that may be overlooked due to costs, complexities or their high-risk nature. 

We fund, collaborate and provide scientific expertise to improve the lives of people with rare diseases and drug-resistant infections. Within rare diseases, our focuses include motor neuron disease, rare dementias, chronic and rare respiratory infections and childhood cancer. 

We step in where progress is hardest and the need is greatest, focusing our efforts where we can make the biggest difference and turn promising science into positive patient impact.

Our history

We were established in 2000 as a part of the Medical Research Council (MRC) known as ‘MRC Technology’. We helped commercialise scientific research funded by the MRC.

In 2019, we sold some of our rights to the cancer drug, Keytruda® (pembrolizumab). This started a new chapter for us, and with that came a new name.

What we stand for

We’re driven by the unmet needs of patients and their families, from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and lifestyle support.

As a self-funded organisation, we can focus on finding solutions to medical challenges which may be overlooked due to their complexity, high-risk nature or costs.

Our leadership

Our Board of Trustees guides and oversees our activities. They regularly assess our progress towards achieving our mission: developing and supporting an ecosystem that removes barriers that prevent discoveries from becoming available to patients.  

How are we funded?

Unlike many charities, we don’t publicly fundraise. Instead, we are self-funded primarily through investments and early ventures, alongside some other sources of income.