The expansion follows Pooch & Mutt’s acquisition of BIOME9, a specialist microbiome research brand that serves UK veterinary professionals. This integration enables the brand to launch an innovative at-home Gut Health Test that combines proprietary research, science, and AI to analyse dogs’ individual microbiomes, delivering actionable insights to detect existing or predictive health issues. This activity is powered by the technology of long-term AberInnovation tenant – Agxio.
“Paul Dennison, CEO of Pooch & Mutt, said:
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This expansion strengthens our commitment to bringing even better pet care to owners. By investing in BIOME9’s in-house laboratory capabilities, we can ensure the highest level of quality control and deliver faster, deeper insights from our Gut Health Tests. It’s another major stride towards making good gut health accessible and actionable for every dog.
By locating BIOME9’s lab operations within AberInnovation and adding two new bioscientists to the team, Pooch & Mutt enhances the scientific foundation behind its gut health testing offering - achieving greater accuracy, faster turnaround times, and expanded potential for innovation. AberInnovation’s advanced laboratory infrastructure and collaborative research ecosystem make this level of precision possible, fostering an environment where science and product development progress hand in hand.
“Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Head of Science and Research at BIOME9 adds:
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I am thrilled that we’re joining AberInnovation, where we can expand our microbiome research and provide practical tools to veterinarians and pet owners. By combining cutting-edge science with real-world application, we can deliver insights that improve gut health, inform nutrition, and ultimately enhance the wellbeing of animals across the UK.
The announcement coincides with a major milestone for AberInnovation, which celebrates five years of operations as a national hub for bioscience innovation. Since opening its doors in 2019, AberInnovation has built a thriving ecosystem of 45 tenant and member companies, created 61 jobs, and supported businesses to raise over £13 million in grants and more than £10 million in equity investment.
“Rhian Hayward MBE, CEO of AberInnovation, said:
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We are thrilled to welcome Pooch & Mutt and BIOME9 to our growing community as we celebrate five years of innovation. Their work exemplifies the kind of science-led, commercially focused enterprise that thrives at AberInnovation. It’s a great example of how our facilities and expertise can accelerate discovery, product development, and real-world impact.
Conceived in 2014 with around £40 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government, BBSRC, and Aberystwyth University, AberInnovation has evolved into a leading centre for R&D, business incubation, and commercialisation support. Flagship programmes such as Solutions Catalyst, LEAP, and the Helix Programme guide companies from idea development to investment readiness.
With over 200 product development projects supported to date, AberInnovation continues to bridge the “valley of death” between research and market, empowering science-driven businesses to scale and succeed.