Domainex’s Biology Centre of Excellence opens with King’s Award presentation
It’s a historic month for the team at Domainex, who opened a new Biology Centre of Excellence and were presented with their King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Mrs Julie Spence.
The new building at the Unity Campus at Pampisford is a cutting-edge three-storey facility providing more than 24,000 sq ft for Domainex’s expanding biology/bioanalytical departments.
The expansion provides a more than three-fold increase on the previous footprint to allow continued, rapid expansion of people and equipment to support Domainex’s ambition to provide innovative and customised drug discovery services to a growing client-base globally.
It will also enable the drug discovery and integrated medicines research partner’s ability to further support collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patient foundations and leading academic institutions globally.
Domainex has been setting new standards in research since 2001, when it was established as a spinout from UCL, Birkbeck College and the Institute of Cancer Research. Today, the company employs more than 100 scientists, 95 per cent of whom are educated to at least master’s degree level.
Domainex received several other awards during 2023, including the Cambridge Independent SME award for High Growth Business of the Year (gold) and Business of the Year – more than 50 employees (silver) .
Dr Trevor Askwith, head of biology, said: “The whole team is delighted with the new facility and space to expand our biology and bioanalytical capabilities. We are continually investing in cutting-edge technologies and developing new services.
“We launched a new cryo-EM service last year and recently expanded our suite of biophysical instrumentation by adding spectral shift technology, a third, multi-channel Grating Coupled Interferometry WAVEdelta system and a PEAQ-ITC instrument. The additional space will allow for further expansion and innovation.”
The grand opening on Wednesday (7 February) was officiated by Mrs Spence who also presented the King’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade to Domainex’s CEO, Dr Tom Mander.
Approximately 50 guests, including senior executives from leading biotechnology companies and local dignitaries, attended the opening event and were offered guided tours of the facility.
HM Lord-Lieutenant said: “It was my pleasure to open Domainex’s new Biology Centre of Excellence and to present the King’s Award for Enterprise to Domainex’s CEO, Dr Tom Mander.
“The King’s Awards are the most prestigious awards available to UK businesses, are highly competitive and only awarded to the best. I would like to congratulate Domainex on this fantastic achievement and on the opening of their new facility which will allow them to expand the high-quality, innovative drug discovery services for which they are globally renowned.”
Dr Mander said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the prestigious King’s Award from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, and are privileged that the Lord-Lieutenant has also opened our new building.
“Our exciting new facility will enable us to continue to expand the range of our services and will help bring much-needed treatments to patients faster and more effectively.”
