Bio-Images set for expansion

A FLEDGLING healthcare business based at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary has raised £350,000 from Clydesdale Bank to help it expand into Europe and south-east Asia.

Bio-Images Research has developed imaging techniques to trace the effectiveness of drugs in the body.

The firm was founded in 2000 by Professors Howard Stevens and Clive Wilson, both of whom were senior academics at Strathclyde University. It has a customer base in North America, Europe and Japan.

Ian Stillie, finance director, said: "Since 2008, we have been looking for ways to widen our scope of operations and to use our expertise to access other industries such as the health, food and cosmetic sectors.

"We believe this is best done on a global basis and we are addressing opportunities internationally, particularly in the emerging markets of India, China and other parts of south-east Asia where we are about to establish a wholly owned commercial presence in Singapore."

It is also hopeful of securing a major research contract worth 1.5 million and the further development of its drug formulation business, Drugs Delivery International, which will allow the company to pick up a contract with a large Asian pharmaceutical company."