National Measurement Laboratory

The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC is a founding partner of the Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators programme.

At the NML, we have a strong heritage in measurement science. We are the UK’s designated institute for chemical and bio measurement, and the home of the Government Chemist. We deliver world-leading measurement science to solve complex global challenges, ensuring trust and confidence in the thousands of measurements performed routinely within the UK to improve quality of life. We address measurement challenges of the future to foster innovation, promoting productivity and economic growth within the UK and further afield.

Our experts are uniquely placed to help solve some of the most demanding chemical and biological measurement challenges identified by industry, academia, hospitals, and government.

With ~110 staff based across sites in Teddington, Leeds, Glasgow and Belfast, our chemical and bio-measurement science supports the areas of health, food security & supply, defence & security, renewable resources, environmental protection & sustainability.

We perform high accuracy measurements with known uncertainties. We play a leading role internationally in the standardisation of measurements and developing global best practice. Our novel research programmes advance emerging areas of measurement science and underpin developing regulation. We provide traceability for routine chemical and bio-measurements within the UK to support comparison of measurement results between laboratories.

Our work, which spans nanoparticles to small molecules, peptides and proteins to nucleic acids and cells, is based on the core platforms of mass spectrometry, nucleic acid quantification and flow cytometry.

The measurement expertise within the NML supports UK industry to enhance product development, demonstrate compliance with current regulation and provide confidence in results for their customers, stakeholders, and funders.