QV Bioelectronics has secured £4.5m in investment and grant funding to support the next phase of development of GRACE, its world-first fully implantable electric field therapy designed to improve outcomes for patients with glioblastoma (GBM).
Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumour in adults and remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Around 2,200 adults in the UK are diagnosed each year, with current treatment options offering limited survival benefit. Despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, recurrence rates remain high, and average survival is typically 12–18 months from diagnosis.
GRACE (Glioma Resection Advanced Cavity Electric Field therapy) has been designed to address this unmet need by delivering continuous therapeutic electric fields directly to the site where residual tumour cells are most likely to remain following surgical resection. Unlike existing approaches, GRACE is fully implanted at the time of surgery, enabling uninterrupted therapy without adding day to day burden for patients.
The funding round was led by PXN Ventures through the GMC Life Sciences Fund and NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, and Empirical Ventures, with additional investment from angel investors. The round also includes non-dilutive grant funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Innovate UK.
This investment will enable QV Bioelectronics to progress into its first-in-human clinical study, a major milestone in the development of GRACE. The study will generate critical clinical evidence to support safety, feasibility, and early signals of efficacy, laying the groundwork for future pivotal trials and broader clinical adoption.
Dr Christopher Bullock, CEO and co-founder of QV Bioelectronics, said:
“Glioblastoma remains a devastating diagnosis for patients and families, and progress in treatment has been frustratingly slow. Our goal with GRACE is to integrate continuous therapy directly into standard surgical care, targeting residual disease at the point where recurrence begins. This funding allows us to take a significant step forward, moving into first-in-human studies and generating the evidence needed to bring a new treatment approach to patients.”
Founded by Dr Bullock, a biomedical engineer, and Dr Richard Fu, an NHS neurosurgeon, QV Bioelectronics combines engineering innovation with clinical insight to develop implantable therapies that fit seamlessly within existing care pathways. The company is based at Alderley Park, a leading life sciences campus in the North West of England.
Looking ahead, QV Bioelectronics will focus on executing its first-in-human study, continuing preclinical and translational research, and building partnerships with clinicians and institutions specialising in neuro-oncology. The company’s longer term ambition is to establish GRACE as part of the standard treatment approach for patients with glioblastoma, with the potential to expand into additional brain cancer indications in the future.