Eagle Genomics has closed a $9 million scale-up funding round, promising to use the investment to further develop the capabilities of its artificial intelligence-augmented knowledge discovery platform and drive further commercial expansion across Europe and the US.

Environmental Technologies Fund (ETF) and a consortium of investors from across science, AI and analytics fields have provided this latest round of investment. The consortium, led by Granpool Innovative Investments, includes bpd partners, Anatom Holding and Albert-László Barabási, director of Northeastern University's Center for Complex Network Research.

The Cambridge-based business focuses on driving microbiome-related research, a field which is attracting the attention of global brands like Unilever, in response to growing scientific interest in the role of microbes in maintaining health.

The microbiome, the ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and viruses present in virtually all living organisms, is proven to be affected by the products we use and consume. Eagle Genomics’ knowledge discovery platform harnesses AI to analyse complex genomic and microbiomic data at scale, delivering new insight and allowing enterprise brands to assess the viability, efficacy and safety of products.

Unilever has already used the platform to distil credible scientific evidence to support claims about its Zendium toothpaste, which uses natural enzymes to boost the good bacteria in the mouth, for instance.

“We are on course to establish Eagle Genomics as a market leader at this transformative time and anchor our position as the preeminent platform vendor enabling the digital reinvention of life sciences R&D,” stated Anthony Finbow, chief executive at Eagle Genomics.

“The microbiome is a megatrend that is evolving very quickly, and we are the forefront of associated discovery with our unique solution to address the enterprise data challenge," he continued, adding: "We have our sights set too on other complex data challenges including CRISPR and quantum biological challenges, such as understanding the immune response more fully."

Rob Genieser, partner at ETF Partners, added: “The timing could not be better, with the world’s focus on disease and accelerated innovation and ever more in-silico innovation."

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