Nottingham CROs: 5 Companies Worth Knowing
Nottingham has developed a credible base of contract research organisations serving the drug discovery and preclinical research market. Anchored in part by BioCity Nottingham and the University of Nottingham's research ecosystem, the city's CRO offering spans cell-based assays, molecular pharmacology, immunology, gene editing and integrated drug discovery.
For biotech and pharmaceutical companies looking for external research capacity in the East Midlands, these five organisations are worth understanding.
This is a selected Benchscope guide, not an exhaustive ranking. Companies are included based on their stated services, location, relevance to the topic and presence within the Benchscope life sciences dataset.
Cellomatics Biosciences
Cellomatics Biosciences is a Nottingham-based CRO providing preclinical in vitro bioassay services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. The company focuses on cell-based assays, phenotypic screening, target validation and toxicity profiling across oncology, immuno-oncology, immunology, inflammation and respiratory disease.
Its laboratory capabilities include monoculture, co-culture and 3D cell models designed to replicate in vivo physiology. Cellomatics holds the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade (2022) and achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2025, and has been operating since 2015 with a global client base spanning early-stage drug discovery programmes.
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BioMedha
BioMedha is a preclinical CRO based at BioCity Nottingham, providing in vitro biology services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic drug discovery clients. The company works across immunology, oncology, immuno-oncology and inflammation therapeutic areas, offering assay development, target validation, compound screening and mechanism of action studies.
Its capabilities include whole blood and immune cell functional assays, flow cytometry, cytokine and Luminex multiplex assays, cell imaging and discovery toxicology. BioMedha is an HTA authorised establishment with an on-site blood donor panel, supporting projects that require access to fresh human primary cells.
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Excellerate Bioscience
Excellerate Bioscience is a contract research organisation specialising in molecular and cellular pharmacology for preclinical drug discovery. Founded in 2016, the company provides in vitro assay development, biochemical and cell-based screening, target validation and compound profiling to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms and academic institutions.
Its capabilities include GPCR kinetics, phenotypic screening, biophysical target engagement quantification and bespoke cell line development. Excellerate supports projects from early target identification through to lead optimisation and operates from dedicated laboratory space at NG2 Business Park in central Nottingham.
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Forge Genetics
Forge Genetics is a CRO founded in 2023 and spun out from the University of Nottingham. The company has developed a proprietary gene-editing platform as an alternative to CRISPR-based approaches, applied to strain development, gas fermentation and metabolite analytics for pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology clients.
The platform has been demonstrated across multiple bacterial species including Clostridia and Escherichia. In 2025 the company raised £2 million from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through Mercia Ventures, with plans to expand its tool for use in human and animal cells.
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Sygnature Discovery
Sygnature Discovery is an integrated drug discovery CRO headquartered in Nottingham, with additional sites including Alderley Park, Glasgow, Tytherington, Montréal and Lévis. Founded in 2004, the company provides end-to-end discovery services spanning target identification, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, computational chemistry, in vitro bioscience, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology and drug formulation.
Sygnature has reported contributions to 56 preclinical and 35 clinical compounds. It serves global pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations as well as not-for-profit clients and is an established integrated drug discovery CRO with a substantial UK and international footprint.
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Wider view
Nottingham's CRO cluster reflects a broader pattern in UK life sciences, where strong university research programmes generate companies with distinctive technical capabilities rather than broad-spectrum service offerings. The five companies in this guide span cell-based immunology and oncology assays, molecular pharmacology, gene editing and fully integrated drug discovery, giving external research teams several credible routes into specialist support depending on their stage and therapeutic focus.
Two of the five are based at BioCity Nottingham, underlining the site's continued role as an anchor for the city's life science services sector. For drug discovery teams looking for specialist external partners, Nottingham is a city worth mapping in detail.
Browse other CROs listed on Benchscope, or explore more life science companies by location, category and focus area.
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