LIfT BioSciences secures €12m Irish grant to advance first-in-human trial of breakthrough cancer therapy

UK-Irish biotech LIfT BioSciences has secured a record €12 million grant from Ireland’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund to launch its first-in-human clinical trial of Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs)—a novel cell therapy targeting treatment-resistant solid tumours.

The funding will support clinical trial work in Galway, delivered in partnership with the University of Galway and immuno-analytics firm Hooke Bio. The study will initially focus on patients with metastatic cervical and head and neck cancers who have exhausted all standard options.

Described as a “game-changer” by Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, the project highlights Ireland’s role in accelerating advanced cancer therapies. The Galway-based trial will also support wider investment, manufacturing, and R&D activity in the region.

Learn how Ireland is backing next-gen immunotherapy and reshaping cancer care with LIfT’s groundbreaking IMAN platform.