Dr David Howard, Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate, is working with ReNeuron on the project. The picture above shows him operating the Repligen tangential flow filtration system used for exosome purification.
ReNeuron Group Limited, a leading UK biotechnology company, has joined Swansea University’s Institute of Life Science (ILS) in a new strategic research partnership to advance next-generation exosome therapies, helping transport medicines to the parts of the body where they are needed most.
The partnership will see ReNeuron relocate its operational activity to the ILS, marking a return to South Wales and strengthening the region's growing reputation as a hub for life sciences and research and development.
The collaboration will combine Swansea University’s specialist laboratory facilities and advanced research infrastructure with ReNeuron’s industry-leading expertise in exosome biology.
Led by Professor Steve Conlan and Professor Deya Gonzalez from the University’s Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology Research Group, the project includes funding for a full-time research associate.
The study will explore how the origin of an exosome influences its tropism—its ability to reach and act on specific cells. Building on existing proof-of-concept data, the team aims to demonstrate how ReNeuron’s CustomEX™ platform — which uses proprietary stem-cell-derived exosome producer lines to manufacture delivery vehicles that can be loaded with therapeutic cargo at scale — can overcome biological barriers to deliver life-saving, targeted therapies to hard-to-reach organs and cell types.
Professor Deya Gonzalez, Professor of Molecular Medicine at Swansea University, said: "We are thrilled to welcome ReNeuron to the Institute of Life Science. This collaboration is a perfect synergy between academic excellence and industrial innovation. By combining our research group’s deep understanding of cellular biology with ReNeuron’s sophisticated CustomEX™ platform, we have a unique opportunity to solve one of medicine's biggest challenges: the precise delivery of drugs to the cells where they are needed most. This partnership not only strengthens our research output but also ensures that Swansea remains at the forefront of the burgeoning exosome therapeutics field."
The establishment of ReNeuron’s new premises at Swansea University supports a shared vision for long-term biotech growth in Wales.
Randolph Corteling, Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said: "We are delighted to be back working in South Wales with Swansea University as we look to increase commercial activity and progress our commitments to research and development. Collaboration with Swansea University provides us with the infrastructure and support to leverage our CustomEX™ platform as a new therapeutic pipeline as well as enabling us to grow and progress the business in line with our strategic goals."
The partnership strengthens the pathway from laboratory research to clinical and commercial application, ensuring that the cutting-edge biotechnological innovations developed in Swansea can progress toward real-world patient impact.