Spotlight Pathology, a health technology startup developing software to support the diagnosis of blood cancers, has raised £1.4 million in a seed round led by UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund with participation from Liverpool City Region Seed Fund. The investment will support Spotlight Pathology as it gains additional regulatory approvals and progresses through its first clinical in-use trials.
Blood cancers are among the hardest to diagnose and often require multiple reviews by specialist pathologists. Delays can have serious consequences for patients, while pathology departments across the United Kingdom are facing growing demand and a shortage of trained staff. Spotlight Pathology has developed software that analyses digital pathology images to support clinicians in identifying blood cancers more quickly and consistently.
Designed to integrate into existing clinical workflows, the technology helps pathologists prioritise cases and reach decisions sooner, enabling patients to begin treatment earlier.
Spotlight Pathology was founded by Richard Byers, a consultant haematopathologist, and Martin Fergie, an AI specialist with more than 15 years’ experience developing algorithms for healthcare applications. The founders set out to address diagnostic bottlenecks in haematopathology by combining clinical expertise with advanced image analysis technology.
Blood cancers can be extremely challenging to diagnose, and diagnostic delays can have devastating consequences for patients. Our mission is to support pathologists with tools that fit seamlessly into existing workflows, helping them reach accurate diagnoses faster and with greater confidence. This investment gives us the momentum to move from development into real-world clinical settings. We’re excited to be scaling the business from Daresbury, working alongside partners across the North West and beyond, and to be strengthening our board with experienced leadership as we enter this next phase.
Spotlight Pathology is a strong example of how UK university research can be translated into technologies that will transform patient outcomes. The team are addressing a critical challenge in blood cancer diagnosis, and with the right leadership and support in place, the company is well positioned to bring this technology into clinical settings. This investment reflects our conviction in both the team and the technology, and our commitment to backing spin-outs that apply advanced science to pressing healthcare challenges, improving productivity in the health system and delivering meaningful global patient impact.
We are delighted to invest in a team that brings together world leading expertise in haematopathology and AI, led by Sam Perona, who is an exceptional leader in health technology, and to support Spotlight Pathology’s growth in the region.
Spotlight Pathology’s success is a powerful example of the groundbreaking health innovation emerging from our City Region. This investment is more than financial backing; it represents a commitment to accelerating lifesaving technologies that can transform how quickly and accurately blood cancers are diagnosed, which will make a real difference for people across our region.
