UK spin-out secures £2 million for gene-editing tool 

Forge Genetics, a University of Nottingham spin-out, has secured £2 million ($2.7 million) to grow its commercial work on bacterial strains and adapt its gene-editing tool for human and animal cells.

The technology offers advantages over CRISPR: it is more precise, supports a wider range of bacterial strains, and can detect unwanted DNA mutations in human cells, offering a potentially safer approach.

Founded by Professor Nigel Minton, Dr Chris Humphreys, Dr Craig Woods, and later joined by Dr Lisa Thomas, Forge has already secured over £2.2 million in contract research. Based at the university, the company plans to double its 10-person team in the next two years.

CEO Dr Craig Woods said: “This funding allows us to scale our business faster and adapt the tool for human cells, providing an alternative to existing gene-editing technologies.”

Mercia Ventures and the British Business Bank highlighted Forge’s strong technical reputation and growth potential, noting the company is breaking new ground in the sector.

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