Precision medicine accelerator launched for start-ups specialising in disease treatment

Barclays, UCL and Capital Enterprise have launched a UK precision medicine accelerator, the P4 Precision Medicine programme, for start-ups specialising in disease treatment and prevention taking into account an individual’s genes, environment and lifestyle.

The first cohort will see 12 of the world’s best precision medicine start-ups complete a six-month programme that brings together industry, healthcare and academia for the first time to create a new ecosystem dedicated to preventive, precise and personalised medicine for all.

Phil Beales, professor of medical genetics at UCL: “Precision medicine is a new paradigm for disease treatment and prevention that considers an individual’s variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. It is transforming how all patients are being treated. For precision medicine to become the norm, actors from the healthcare, industry and academic sectors must work together to find new solutions. This is why partnering with Barclays is such an exciting opportunity in which the best academic and business minds can work together with entrepreneurs to create a new ecosystem where ideas are exchanged and nurtured rather than the typical one-directional information flow common to most accelerators.”

The launch of the P4 Precision Medicine programme is part of a wider partnership between Barclays and UCL to support innovation in the healthcare industry. Later in the year, the pair will open a dedicated co-working, collaboration and incubator space specifically designed to bring together start-ups, key industry players and experts in the healthcare field to accelerate the exchange of ideas, funding, and talent in the sector.

In addition to acting as a central entrepreneurial hub, the London-based space will provide residents access to researchers and healthcare partners from UCL, on-site business mentors from Barclays and entrepreneurship expertise from Capital Enterprise.

Jon Hope, director of Eagle Labs at Barclays, said: “The healthcare sector is ripe for disruption and there is a strong drive to innovate and evolve across the entire supply chain. To help support this growing industry, we’re excited to launch a precision medicine accelerator with UCL. By connecting healthtech start-ups to industry experts, ideas and funding, and equipping individuals and businesses with the skills they need to harness new and emerging technology in healthcare, we can play our part in ensuring these ambitious entrepreneurs will be in the best position to succeed.”