Stokes Bio

Stokes Bio emerged in 2005 as a commercial spin-off from the Stokes Institute at the University of Limerick, Ireland. The company was founded by Professor Mark Davies and Dr. Tara Dalton, both mechanical engineers and research colleagues at the university. Their background in microfluidics and thermal sciences at the Stokes Institute directly translated into the company's core mission.

The firm focused on developing and applying microfluidic technology to advance life science research and molecular diagnostics. Its primary business was the creation of systems for genetic analysis, specifically for measuring gene expression and detecting gene targets. This technology manipulated tiny droplets of fluid with automated machinery, enabling high-throughput, PCR-based genetic analyses. The applications for this technology were broad, serving clients in basic life science research, cancer diagnosis, pathogen detection, and pharmacogenomics. A notable collaboration was a licensing agreement and R&D partnership with Monsanto, aimed at applying the technology to agricultural biology and research.

Stokes Bio's journey was marked by significant financial and strategic milestones. It received initial backing from investors including the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Equity Fund, Enterprise Ireland, and the University of Limerick. Kernel Capital was an active investor, eventually reaching a total investment of €1.9 million for a 37% stake and playing a key role in securing the deal with Monsanto. After demonstrating the potential of its technology, Stokes Bio was acquired in April 2010 by Life Technologies, a major US biotechnology firm, for $44 million (€33.4 million). This acquisition occurred even before Stokes Bio had brought any products to market, a testament to the perceived value of its intellectual property. Life Technologies was itself later acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2014.

Keywords: microfluidics, genetic analysis, molecular diagnostics, PCR technology, University of Limerick spin-off, Life Technologies acquisition, gene expression, pathogen detection, ag-biotech, life science research, Monsanto collaboration, Kernel Capital, Mark Davies, Tara Dalton, Stokes Institute, DNA analysis, high-throughput screening, pharmacogenomics, qPCR instruments