A biotech business launched by a University of Bristol academic that uses soundwaves to move cells in petri dishes has won £10,000 and a year’s membership of the city’s acclaimed SETsquared tech incubator.
Impulsonics’ patented technology makes growing cells in the lab cheaper, faster and more reliable by automating processes still done by hand in all but the biggest labs. 
According to founder Dr Luke Cox, pictured working in the university’s Ultrasonics and Non-destructive Testing lab, by gently moving cells with sound waves which avoid breaking their sterile housing, the cost of growing them can be cut dramatically.
Dr Cox says his technology could reduce the equipment costs involved in automating this process by 90%.
In the longer term, Impulsonics’ tech will build clusters of cells that mimic human organs, helping to reduce the cost of testing drugs in the pre-clinical stage.
Impulsonics’ novel solution to the long-standing problem – cell cultures growing in petri dishes must be moved every three days – earned Dr Cox top prize at the university New Enterprise Competition (NEC), which each year awards £50,000 in funding and prizes to entrepreneurial students, staff and alumni.
Other winners this year included an app that helps sports teams organise themselves and a start-up tackling child illiteracy with an artistically impressive computer game and board game.
Dr Cox, who is Impulsonics’ CEO, said: “With so many impressive businesses entering the NEC it’s fantastic to have taken the top prize. It’s also a real vindication of everything we’re doing at Impulsonics.
“We’ve talked to more than 150 people in the biotech industry to find out exactly what they need, and we’ve already had several expressions of interest in our technology.”
To help develop its first product, the business is currently raising money in its first funding round.
Dr Cox joined the university as an undergraduate in 2013 and went on to complete a PhD under the supervision of Prof Bruce Drinkwater and Prof Anthony Croxford, who have both built successful spin-out businesses.
Both are professors in the Ultrasonics and Non-destructive Testing lab, where Dr Cox spun-out his sound wave research. They have also been working closely with The Armstrong group, an interdisciplinary collaborative research group based in the university’s Department of Translational Health Sciences.
University of Bristol pro vice-chancellor for enterprise and innovation Prof Michele Barbour, who was on the NEC judging panel, said: “Seeing the creative and genuinely innovative ideas brought to the NEC by our university community is a real highlight of the year.
“It is always incredibly hard to pick the winners, but Luke’s research-informed technology really blew us away.
“I’ve done plenty of cell biology in my time and I very much recognise the barriers and problems Impulsonics’ technology seeks to address.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that cell biology will be much, much more automated in future – and I would love for a Bristol spin-out to lead the way in that laboratory revolution.”
Impulsonics also won pro bono legal support from Bristol-headquartered law firm VWV, SETsquared Bristol’s in-house legal team.
The SETsquared membership includes tailored business support, coaching and training, a network of advisers, mentors and investors and a community of inspiring start-ups to work alongside.
SETsquared Bristol director Kimberley Brook said: “We are always impressed by the quality of student enterprises who come through this competition, and this year has been no different.
“All of the finalists had a unique proposition and will receive some level of follow up support from the judging panel.”
