Skip to content Accessibility statement

University of York spin-out company receives funding boost

News

Posted on Monday 6 October 2025

A University of York spin-out company is to receive funding from a consortium of investors to develop its bioinformatics platform.
A female scientist in a white coat holds a petri dish up to the light
MORF-Bio’s software platform will mean scientists will be able to analyse data without the need for coding skills.

MORF-Bio says its mission is to be able to enable researchers to analyse data without the need for coding skills, and the new funding will speed up the development of its innovative bioinformatics platform.

Funding

The company will receive funding from a consortium of investors led by Deeptech Seed Fund, with support from York Angels, who facilitated pitching opportunities and connected the company to local angel investors.

Professor Gavin Thomas, MORF-Bio’s Chief Scientific Officer said: “Innovations for tackling climate change, developing new medicines and improving food security will be quicker and easier to develop because of better use of data.

“As scientists we look for patterns and these can be seen at a glance in the visual plots on our online platform.”

Monumental

Joyce Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of MORF-Bio, added: "This investment is a monumental step for us. The funds will be instrumental in allowing us to develop scalable, user-driven products. We’re excited to bring our unique data visualisation capabilities to a wider market, empowering scientists and researchers to make discoveries faster than ever before."

The University of York’s Commercialisation Team provided mentorship and expertise  for the spin out, liaising with funders and partners, while safeguarding intellectual property rights and supporting contract negotiations to accelerate the journey from idea to impact.

Strength

James Kitson, Head of Commercialisation at the University of York, said: “We are delighted to see MORF-Bio successfully spin out from the University. This achievement demonstrates the strength of York’s research base and our commitment to supporting entrepreneurial academics on their journey to impact. With a growing pipeline of spin-outs each year, MORF-Bio highlights how York is building a reputation at the forefront of translating world-class science into commercial success stories.”

Research newsletter

Our monthly research newsletter features a curated mix of news, events, and recent discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up

Explore more news

News

8 October 2026

Simple changes to pub environments can encourage drinkers to choose alcohol-free options without harming profits, according to new research.

News

8 October 2026

A new support programme can increase the number of patients who successfully self-regulate their intake of long-term strong-opioid painkillers without worsening quality of life, a study has shown.

News

5 October 2026

The University of York’s Cost of Living Research Group has looked at modern living standards across the city and revealed the extent of hidden pockets of poverty and inequality in one of the North’s most affluent cities.

News

1 October 2026

A new study has shown that faith leaders would be willing to partner on hypertension screenings and education, despite challenges of past health collaborations.

News

29 September 2026

Scores of students and staff welcomed Sir Kevin Sinfield to the University’s athletics track as part of his final endurance event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.

Read more news