# Mercia’s first University of Edinburgh investment offers dialysis hope Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2018-05-02 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: Revolutionary Technology Saves Dialysis Patients' Lives Meta Description: Discover how Invizius's H-Guard™ product aims to reduce cardiovascular disease risk for dialysis patients, with support from Mercia Fund Managers. Tags: featured Tag URLs: featured (https://financedigest.com/tag/featured) URL: https://financedigest.com/mercias-first-university-of-edinburgh-investment-offers-dialysis-hopehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/invizius-team-1736842768965-compressed.jpg) A spinout company whose technology could save the lives of thousands of dialysis patients has secured £500,000 from [Mercia Fund Managers](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=3ZUQjNycMu7D%2Fe%2Bm%2FOmi3Qi1eTNrfRb0HcFplK3KYerw%2B6SfjwwI9u2kguK9MEu8xCgBC2R64keP5cgjWrP%2FkNIxV4YzepnSEihaF%2FsrviWRrCmN%2FzC1qQ%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merciatech.co.uk%2Four-business%2Ffunds-we-manage%2Factively-investing%2Fmercia-eis-funds%2F&I=20180502094206.00000001fc10%40mail6-53-ussnn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhZTk4N2NkMzhhNDdiMzIwOTU3MDZjMjs%3D&S=O6D2-jr_4LbXu7Ft36ELOaCl2nkko9hnDeCr0Ci1Mxo), in the first investment deal since Mercia’s partnership with the University of Edinburgh was announced in November 2017. ![Invizius Team](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/invizius-team-1736842768965-compressed.jpg) Invizius Team [Invizius](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=3ZUQjNycMu7D%2Fe%2Bm%2FOmi3Qi1eTNrfRb0HcFplK3KYerw%2B6SfjwwI9u2kguK9MEu8xCgBC2R64keP5cgjWrP%2FkNIxV4YzepnSEihaF%2FsrviWRrCmN%2FzC1qQ%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.invizius.com%2F&I=20180502094206.00000001fc10%40mail6-53-ussnn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhZTk4N2NkMzhhNDdiMzIwOTU3MDZjMjs%3D&S=L9QL0kYdD7MJ8GPc2RAm0idEXEK502QRjgvdG3EJ68o) stems from years of research by biologist Dr Andy Herbert and his team, who believe they have found a way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among patients undergoing long-term dialysis. The investment will allow the company to build its team and take the product to the next stage of development in preparation for clinical trials. Despite improvements in dialysis therapy, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for dialysis patients. Today, almost half of all dialysis patients die from cardiovascular complications, and [life expectancy](https://www.financedigest.com/life-jacket-market-globally-expected-to-drive-growth-through-2027.html "Life Jacket Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2027") on dialysis is just one-third of that for the general population. The patient’s immune [system sees](https://www.financedigest.com/bae-systems-sees-big-opportunity-in-space-after-uk-satellite-bolt-on.html "BAE Systems sees big opportunity in space after UK satellite bolt-on") the dialysis filter as a foreign body, creating inflammation that damages the cardiovascular system over time. Invizius’s H-Guard™ product is a powerful anti-inflammatory used as a ‘primer’ to coat the filter surface which, when mixed with the patient’s blood, makes the surface seem less foreign to the patient’s immune system. Unlike some other proposed solutions, H-Guard does not shut down the immune system but instead [effectively](https://www.financedigest.com/cost-effective-digitized-innovation-to-drive-the-immune-thrombocytopenia-treatment-market.html "Cost-effective Digitized Innovation to drive the Immune Thrombocytopenia Treatment Market") ‘hides’ the device from it to prevent an immune response. While the first product is aimed at kidney dialysis, there is also potential to use the [technology with other devices](https://www.financedigest.com/medical-device-technologies-market-expectations-and-growth-trends-highlighted-until-2028.html "Medical Device Technologies Market Expectations and Growth Trends Highlighted Until 2028") or procedures such as catheters, stents, organ transplants and vascular grafts. Invizius is led by CEO Richard Boyd, who previously founded VueKlar Cardiovascular, with Dr Herbert as CTO. The team has spent six [years developing](https://www.financedigest.com/the-next-upcoming-years-to-see-the-dental-lasers-market-develop-on-an-organic-note.html "The Next Upcoming Years To See The Dental Lasers Market Develop On An Organic Note") the technology with support from world-leading dialysis manufacturers, Kidney Research UK, and £600,000 from Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Spin Out Programme. Edinburgh Innovations, which [manages industry](https://www.financedigest.com/energy-management-system-market-2021-by-global-key-players-types-applications-countries-industry-size-and-forecast-to-2025.html "Energy Management System Market 2021 by Global Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Industry Size and Forecast to 2025") engagement for the University of Edinburgh, has supported the researchers throughout the commercialisation process, which started with their novel scientific findings and included the recent launch of the spinout company. **Richard Boyd said:** “We are very pleased to welcome Mercia as an investor. Their ability to back and help develop [life science](https://www.financedigest.com/crowdsourcing-of-data-to-drive-the-life-science-market.html "Crowdsourcing of data to drive the Life Science Market") businesses from the point of spin out through to commercialisation makes them an ideal partner for Invizius.” **Dr Nicola Broughton, Head of Universities at Mercia, said:**“Invizius [builds on the world-class research carried out at the University of Edinburgh and is an excellent choice for our first investment](https://www.financedigest.com/increase-in-investments-in-building-refurbishment-and-new-construction-activities-to-propel-demand-of-construction-safety-net-market-fact-mr-report.html "Increase in Investments in Building Refurbishment and New Construction Activities to Propel Demand of Construction Safety Net Market: Fact.MR Report") under our partnership with the University. This technology could revolutionise kidney dialysis and, with 3 million patients worldwide, has the potential to [save countless lives](https://www.financedigest.com/saving-on-water-bills-more-than-just-a-drop-in-the-ocean-for-businesses-facing-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Saving on water bills: More than just a drop in the ocean for businesses facing the cost-of-living crisis"). The funding will take the [company one step closer to bringing](https://www.financedigest.com/the-digital-ir-revolution-how-new-technology-is-bringing-companies-and-shareholders-closer-together.html "The digital IR revolution: how new technology is bringing companies and shareholders closer together") it to market.” **Dr George Baxter, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Innovations, said:** “I’m delighted to [see this substantial investment in a University spinout company](https://www.financedigest.com/wait-and-see-u-s-companies-curb-investment-as-they-await-fed-moves.html "Wait and see: U.S. companies curb investment as they await Fed moves"), whose work holds such promise for many patients. It’s a [perfect example of how partnerships](https://www.financedigest.com/why-trust-and-technology-are-the-perfect-partnership-to-rebuild-the-financial-sector.html "Why trust and technology are the perfect partnership to rebuild the financial sector") can enhance the University’s impact, and Edinburgh Innovations looks forward to working with Mercia and our researchers to identify and support further such opportunities.” **Eleanor Mitchell, Director Enterprise Growth, Grant Appraisal & Management, said:** “We are delighted that Invizius has secured this important seed investment. Our initial support helped to engage a strong commercially experienced management team early in the process to ensure the technology [development was focused on the market application](https://www.financedigest.com/turbo-compounding-systems-market-development-status-competition-analysis-type-and-application-2026.html "Turbo Compounding Systems Market Development Status, Competition Analysis, Type and Application 2026"). Scottish Enterprise looks forward to a continued relationship with this innovative company on a high growth trajectory with a product that will make a huge difference to patients on long-term kidney dialysis.” Morton Fraser provided legal advice to Mercia on the investment while MBM advised the company. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---