QV Bioelectronics Secures £4.5M to Advance World-First Implantable Brain Cancer Device into Clinical Trials
Key Insights
QV Bioelectronics (search) has secured £4.5 million in funding to advance its GRACE therapy (search), a world-first implantable device that uses electric fields to destroy residual glioblastoma (search) cells after surgery.
The device targets glioblastoma (search), an aggressive brain cancer (search) affecting 2,200 UK adults annually with a devastating prognosis of 12-18 months average survival and only 3% five-year survival rate.
The funding will support the company's first-in-human clinical trial planned for mid-2026, following positive early laboratory testing results.
QV Bioelectronics (search), a Cheshire-based medtech company, has secured £4.5 million in investment and grant funding to advance its groundbreaking implantable device for treating glioblastoma (search), the most aggressive form of brain cancer (search). The funding will support the company's progression into first-in-human clinical trials planned for mid-2026.
Revolutionary Electric Field Therapy
The company's flagship technology, known as GRACE (Glioma Resection Advanced Cavity Electric Field) therapy, represents the first implantable device of its kind globally designed to improve outcomes for glioblastoma (search) patients. Developed by co-founders Dr Christopher Bullock, a biomedical engineer, and Dr Richard Fu, an NHS neurosurgeon, the device uses continuous therapeutic electric fields to destroy residual brain cancer (search) cells following brain tumor surgery.
"Brain cancer (search) is a devastating diagnosis, and for too long patients and families have had few treatment options," said Dr Christopher Bullock, co-founder and CEO of QV Bioelectronics (search). "Our mission at QV Bioelectronics is simple but ambitious: to develop technology that can meaningfully extend life and give people more time with those they love."
Addressing Critical Medical Need
Glioblastoma (search) affects approximately 2,200 adults in the UK annually and accounts for 32% of brain tumors diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017, according to Cancer Research UK. The disease carries an exceptionally poor prognosis, with patients currently surviving an average of 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, as reported by The Brain Tumour Charity (search).
The survival statistics are particularly stark: only 3% of diagnosed patients live for five years following diagnosis, and less than 1% survive for 15 years. Adding to the challenge, glioblastoma (search) has a 90% recurrence rate within two years of initial treatment.
Clinical Development Strategy
Early laboratory testing has validated QV Bioelectronics (search)' approach, showing positive results that support the technology's potential. The GRACE therapy (search) is designed to prevent glioblastoma (search) regrowth by using continual therapeutic electric fields, targeting both newly diagnosed and recurrent cases while aiming to maintain quality of life for patients undergoing treatment.
"This investment allows us to take a major step towards that goal, progressing into first-in-human studies and generating the vital evidence needed to bring a new treatment approach to the patients who need it most," Bullock explained.
Investment Consortium
The funding round was led by PXN Ventures (search) through the GMC Life Sciences Fund, managed on behalf of limited partners including Bruntwood SciTech (search), Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Additional investment came from NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, Empirical Ventures, and angel investors, with non-dilutive support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Innovate UK.
Dr Kath Mackay, chief scientific officer at Bruntwood SciTech (search), highlighted the significance of the investment: "The North West is a hotbed of life sciences innovation – Christopher and Richard embody that. Their work shows why the UK is an R&D superpower and their technology is poised to improve and save lives. Securing this level of funding is a major vote of confidence in both the team and their pioneering approach."
The company is based at Alderley Park, where it will continue its clinical trial work as it advances toward bringing this innovative treatment to patients facing one of the most challenging cancer diagnoses.