Nanovery
Entrepreneur First '19London, GB · Founded 2019 · 5 known investors
Nanovery develops DNA-based nanorobotic sensors that quantify nucleic acid sequences, such as RNA therapeutics and biomarkers, in liquid samples using a standard plate reader. The platform serves biotechnology research and therapeutic analysis workflows.
Also known as Nucleic Acid Nanorobotics (NANs) platform
Founders & leadership
Nanovery was founded in 2019 by Jerzy Kozyra and Mun Ching Lee.
Investors · 5
Also in the syndicate · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Nanovery develops a platform it calls Nucleic Acid Nanorobotics (NANs): synthetic DNA constructs rationally designed to recognise a specific DNA or RNA target and emit a quantitative fluorescent signal. The workflow is described as two main user steps — adding the nanorobots to a liquid sample with minimal preparation, then reading fluorescence on a standard plate reader to obtain the analyte's absolute concentration. The company states the assay is enzyme-free and homogeneous, uses patented signal amplification at room temperature, operates directly in complex media such as blood serum or plasma, is sensitive to single-nucleotide variations, and is compatible with 96-well and 384-well plates for high-throughput use.
Current product development focuses on short nucleic acid targets: bioanalysis of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), bioanalysis of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in plasma and tissue samples, microRNA biomarker measurement, and custom assay development services. A miRometer-122 assay kit for miRNA-122 in liver disease is listed as 'coming soon', with the company offering to share clinical findings from 150 patient samples on request. Stated application areas include drug safety, bioanalysis, RNA diagnostics, infectious diseases, cell and gene therapy, RNA therapeutics and vaccines, with a longer-term ambition of nucleic acid testing in decentralised or point-of-care settings.
Earlier public reporting describes the company as developing nanorobot-based tests to diagnose cancer and other diseases, including prostate cancer, liver disease and acute liver and kidney toxicity, positioned as lower cost and lower risk than tissue biopsy.
Founding story
Trade press reports that Nanovery was launched in 2018 by Dr Jurek Kozyra, who sought a more efficient diagnostics solution for serious diseases and wanted to bring more regular testing to clinicians and patients. Roma Galloway is identified as co-founder alongside Kozyra.
Business model
Nanovery supplies assay technology and services built on its DNA nanorobot platform: custom assay development undertaken collaboratively with customers, bioanalysis solutions for ASOs and siRNA, and a planned off-the-shelf assay kit (miRometer-122). Sensors are described as tailored to customer needs and designed to run on customers' existing plate-reader instrumentation.
Sources indicate revenue-generating activities in the form of assay development services and a forthcoming assay kit product; no pricing or commercial terms are disclosed in the sources.
Traction
A trial with NHS scientists at the North East Innovation Lab (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) compared Nanovery's measurement of an acute liver injury RNA biomarker against established methods and found equivalent accuracy with faster, more cost-efficient results. The company references clinical findings from 150 patient samples for its miRometer-122 assay. It raised over £1.85m in 2023 including a £750,000 Innovate UK grant, and reports a team of roughly a dozen scientific and computational staff plus a board with non-executive directors, advisors and observers.
Latest developments
The current website markets ASO and siRNA bioanalysis solutions, microRNA biomarker detection and custom assay development, and lists the miRometer-122 assay kit for miRNA-122 in liver disease as coming soon with clinical data from 150 patient samples available on request. An industrial PhD collaboration with Newcastle University is developing a nanorobot prototype for detecting metal ions in cancer diagnosis.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
The company describes itself as a pioneer in nucleic acid nanorobotics and claims its platform is the first to provide comprehensive solutions for RNA therapeutic analysis and biomarker quantification; these are company claims not independently verified in the sources. A London startup directory categorises it as a seed-stage biotech/health tech company. Positioning is against conventional nucleic acid quantification methods and tissue biopsy on cost, speed and workflow simplicity; an NHS comparison trial reported equivalent accuracy to established methods with faster and more cost-efficient results.
Stated differentiators are: direct operation in complex biological media without extraction or extension steps, enzyme-free and fully homogeneous chemistry that reduces contamination and error risk, room-temperature signal amplification, performance on short nucleic acid sequences where other technologies are said to struggle, and compatibility with standard plate readers rather than specialised instrumentation.
Technology
The platform uses synthetic DNA strands assembled through programmable base pairing into nanoscale devices that perform recognition, signal processing and optical response. Binding of a target nucleic acid triggers a fluorescent output that is read directly for absolute quantification. The company states the mechanism is dynamic and reversible, giving selectivity down to single nucleotide variations; amplification is patented and enzyme-free, works at room temperature, and requires minimal sample preparation, functioning in complex biological media. The team includes computational scientists applying molecular dynamics, modelling, bioinformatics and AI to nanorobot design and optimisation.
Go-to-market
Nanovery markets directly through its website with demo requests, contact forms and a named business-development/expert contact, offering custom assay development engagements as an entry point. It works through partnerships with research and clinical organisations, including Prostate Cancer Research, the NHS North East Innovation Lab and Newcastle University (including an industrial PhD placement).
Life sciences and biotechnology researchers, pre-clinical and drug development teams working on RNA therapeutics (ASOs, siRNA), bioanalysis and drug safety groups, and clinical/diagnostic laboratories. The company also cites applicability to agriculture bio and food safety sectors.
Geography
Founded and originally established in London; relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne (the Biosphere at Newcastle Helix, Tyneside) in 2020. Partnerships and trials cited are with UK institutions in the North East of England.
History
The company was originally established in London and relocated to Tyneside in 2020 to collaborate with Newcastle-area academics and R&D partners, including Newcastle University and the Newcastle Centre for Cancer. It is based at the Biosphere at Newcastle Helix. In 2023 it completed a trial with NHS scientists at the North East Innovation Lab and announced funding of over £1.85m, after which it said it would ramp up commercialisation plans. Its product messaging has since centred on RNA therapeutic bioanalysis (ASO and siRNA) and microRNA biomarker assays.
Risks & controversies
No controversies are reported in the sources. Risk indicators visible in the material include early commercial stage (the miRometer-122 kit is still pre-launch), reliance on grant and regional public-sector-backed funding, and claims of first-to-market status and clinical performance that are not independently verified in the available sources.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsFollowing the £1.85m funding and NHS trial results, Nanovery reported ramping up plans for commercialisation and expansion.
Funding comprising £500,000 from the North East Innovation Fund (supported by the European Regional Development Fund, managed by Northstar Ventures), investment from Prostate Cancer Research, £250,000 from JR Holding ASI, £305,000 from angel investors and a £750,000 Innovate UK grant for disease screening activities.
NHS scientists at the North East Innovation Lab (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) analysed an acute liver injury RNA biomarker using established methods while Nanovery tested the same samples; Nanovery's technology matched the accuracy of the traditional method while delivering results faster and more cost-efficiently.
Nanovery began working with Prostate Cancer Research, also an investor, to develop more reliable, simple and accessible prostate cancer testing.
The company, originally established in London, moved to Tyneside in 2020, basing itself at the Biosphere at Newcastle Helix to collaborate with Newcastle University and the Newcastle Centre for Cancer.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Nanoverynanovery.co.uk · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Nanovery do?
- UK biotech building DNA nanorobot assays that quantify nucleic acids such as ASOs, siRNA and miRNA on a standard plate reader.
- Who founded Nanovery?
- Nanovery was founded by Jerzy Kozyra, Mun Ching Lee in 2019.
- Who are Nanovery's investors?
- Nanovery's investors include Earlymarket, Entrepreneur First.
- Where is Nanovery headquartered?
- Nanovery is headquartered in London, GB.