Midlands Mindforge has made its first West Midlands investment, backing University of Birmingham spin‑out Healome Therapeutics as part of its growing cohort of early‑stage, high‑potential companies across the region. The investment was announced during a visit by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, who met the founding team and graduates now working at the company.
This follows Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, recent visit to Midlands Mindforge‑backed TextureJet, signalling a coordinated regional commitment to supporting university‑led innovation and attracting new capital into Midlands deep‑tech businesses.
Together with other private and third sector backers, Healome has raised £2m to continue preclinical development and regulatory engagement and scale-up manufacturing leading to real-world trials of the eye drops in 2027.
The other funders include Empirical Ventures (lead investor), Oshen Bio, SFC Capital and charities DEBRA Research and Cure EB. Both charities support people with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of rare, inherited genetic skin disorders that cause extreme skin fragility, painful blistering, and vulnerability to minor friction, for which Healome is developing a treatment.
During the visit, the Mayor met University of Birmingham graduates now working at Healome, reflecting the company’s commitment to developing regional talent and creating high‑value jobs in the West Midlands.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Dr Lisa Smith, CEO of Midlands Mindforge, tour Healome’s facility and meet the team
Mayor Richard Parker said: “Health tech and life sciences already support 14,000 jobs across the region and contribute £6 billion to our regional economy. There are even bigger economic gains to be made by backing ambitious, early-stage biotech firms like Healome.
“The team there is a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit and world-class researchers in our universities and beyond. It’s why we provided our funding into Midlands Mindforge: so their investment can turn breakthrough ideas like this into strong businesses that create skilled jobs and improve lives. That’s the real value I want to add to our economy while cementing the West Midlands’ reputation as a global innovator. It will also show the quality that’s here in the West Midlands and attract wider and greater capital investment into these companies.”
Healome Therapeutics was co‑founded by Professor Liam Grover, Professor Tony Metcalfe, Dr Richard Moakes and Dr Richard Williams, who is Chief Executive Officer.
Dr Richard Williams said: “We’re proud to be part of Midlands Mindforge’s growing cohort of companies. Their support, alongside the Mayor and our charity partners, is helping us accelerate development and build a business with real potential to improve patient outcomes.”
The underlying research began at the University of Birmingham’s Healthcare Technologies Institute, with additional backing from Empirical Ventures (lead investor), SFC Capital and Oshen Bio.
Midlands Mindforge, the patient‑capital investment company founded by the eight Midlands Innovation universities, is investing up to £2 million of WMCA Investment Zone funds alongside initial investment from Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, through the East Midlands County Combined Authority, as well as support from UKRI, the Rigby Group, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) via the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign.
David Coleman, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise, said: “When we established Midlands Mindforge, our goal was to help outstanding university discoveries become successful businesses. Healome is a great example of that ambition in action.
The support provided by Midlands Mindforge, the Mayor, the WMCA and other partners shows what can be achieved when the region aligns behind scientific innovation, creating the conditions to attract investment at scale.”
Pictured left to right: Claudia Whyte, Sjogren’s UK, David Colman, CEO, University of Birmingham Enterprise, Dr Lisa Smith, CEO, Midlands Mindforge, Dr Richard Williams, CEO, Healome Therapeutics Ltd, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands
Dr Lisa Smith, Chief Executive of Midlands Mindforge, said: “Healome shows how world‑class research from Midlands universities can grow into companies with the potential to transform lives. The gel they have developed is not only effective in its own right, but early indications show that it may also be used as a platform for underserved eye diseases.
“As one of our first cohort of investments, it reflects the breadth of innovation emerging across the region and the importance of patient capital in helping these businesses scale. We’re delighted to support Healome as it moves towards clinical development and builds its presence here in the West Midlands.”
