Digistain scans new horizons in breast cancer diagnostics with Innovate UK support

Alongside a £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant, tailored business growth support and access to global opportunities through Innovate UK, Digistain has secured significant additional private investment to further accelerate its growth.

Digistain focuses on enhancing cancer diagnostics through quantum technology and artificial intelligence (AI), tackling challenges of cost, speed and accuracy in assessing breast cancer recurrence risks.

The company is on a mission to address the key challenges of cost, speed and accuracy in genomic-based diagnostic testing. By replacing slow, expensive wet-lab biomarker analysis with a rapid, AI-driven solution, Digistain is making advanced cancer diagnostics more accessible to healthcare providers and patients worldwide. This innovative approach has earned recognition from global institutions and industry leaders, solidifying Digistain’s potential to transform cancer care on a global scale.

In 2023, Digistain successfully applied for an Innovate UK Smart Grant and began receiving intensive growth support from Innovate UK Business Growth. Hemmel Amrania, CEO at Digistain, credits Innovate UK Business Growth’s support for shaping the company’s trajectory.

Hemmel says: “Innovate UK Business Growth has provided a structured framework and a pathway to scale our innovations. From signposting to funding opportunities to market introductions, their support has been pivotal.”

Hemmel attributes a significant part of Digistain’s success to the continued support and funding from Innovate UK, which played a crucial role in enabling the publication of the company’s landmark clinical validation study in the prominent scientific journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. It propelled Digistain to be identified as one of just four finalists for the prestigious Nature Spinoff Prize, selected from a pool of 168 companies.

Strategic support fosters partnerships and investment

Under the guidance of Innovation and Growth Specialist Ross Clark, Innovate UK Business Growth provided vital support to Digistain at critical points in its journey. Ross worked closely with the company to uncover its specific challenges and needs through in-depth discussions and strategic analysis.

By understanding the barriers to growth, he developed a tailored action plan with Digistain to address these challenges. Initially, the focus was on strengthening the company’s innovation strategy, identifying key areas for development to enhance its AI-driven diagnostics technology. This collaborative approach led to securing a £10,000 Research and Technology Organisation (RTO)/Catapult grant, enabling the company to overcome specific technical challenges and advance its technology.

With this foundation in place, Innovate UK Business Growth’s tailored guidance helped Digistain prepare for a successful equity funding round, securing £400,000 in private investment. Combined with the earlier £350,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant, this funding equipped Digistain with the financial resources and strategic expertise needed to accelerate its growth trajectory.

As the company gained momentum, Innovate UK Business Growth facilitated introductions to international partners, including CORE Diagnostics, which supported Digistain’s expansion into India, Nepal and Bangladesh – regions where access to affordable cancer diagnostics is often limited due to underfunded healthcare systems.

Additional distributor agreements followed in Scandinavia, Southeast Asia and Latin America, supported by Innovate UK’s extensive global network. The company is also planning further expansion across Europe. Ongoing support from Innovate UK Business Growth has been instrumental in fostering strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with Deloitte following Digistain’s selection from a pool of over 250 companies.

To integrate its technology into healthcare systems, Digistain has also benefitted from strategic introductions to key stakeholders such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). A significant breakthrough came in 2023 with Digistain’s acceptance into the prestigious NHS Innovation Accelerator programme, opening new opportunities for growth within the UK healthcare market.

This coordinated support—spanning strategy, funding, partnership opportunities and market integration—has enabled Digistain to scale its innovations and deliver life-changing diagnostics to healthcare providers worldwide.

Digistain also benefitted from Innovate UK’s Global Explorers programme, enabling its team to visit India and the USA to explore further partnerships and market entry strategies.

Hemmel adds: “The input from Innovate UK Business Growth went beyond funding, helping us navigate complex international markets and build key relationships. Their strategic support has significantly advanced our ability to scale and integrate into global healthcare markets.”

Delivering impact for patients and the UK economy

The company’s technology has already benefitted hundreds of economically disadvantaged patients abroad by providing affordable and accessible cancer diagnostics.

Internationally, Digistain’s partnerships with healthcare leaders such as SOLCA (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer), a renowned cancer centre in Ecuador and KC Diagnostics in Thailand have strengthened its global presence. Endorsements from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and inclusion in top clinical journals further underscore its credibility and impact.

Domestically, Digistain has achieved certification under ISO 13485, the globally recognised standard for ensuring the quality and safety of medical devices. With patents in the US and Europe and approvals from three UK insurers (Bupa, WPA, and Healix), it is well-positioned for sustained growth. The company currently employs over 10 people and is targeting additional investment to drive job creation and scale its operations further.

Expanding global impact

As Digistain continues to expand its reach across the NHS and global markets, it remains committed to making breast cancer diagnostics accessible to patients worldwide. Its innovations are not only driving better healthcare outcomes but also contributing to the UK economy by creating jobs and attracting investment.

A UK government-commissioned independent study further underscored Digistain’s transformative potential, estimating that its technology could save the NHS in the region of £290 million.

Hemmel concludes: “Our technology is delivering real impact, improving access to life-saving diagnostics for patients globally. At the same time, we’re driving economic growth in the UK through innovation and investment.”

With a clear focus on scaling its technology and reaching new markets, Digistain is set to redefine cancer diagnostics on a global scale.

Innovate UK Business Growth has provided a structured framework and a pathway to scale our innovations. From signposting to funding opportunities to market introductions, their support has been pivotal.

– Hemmel Amrania, CEO at Digistain