Advanced Oxford is pleased to highlight the pioneering work of Verso Biosense, the med tech company based at Milton Park that is developing in utero sensing technology with the potential to transform understanding of women’s health worldwide.
Addressing one of medicine’s least understood organs
From endometriosis (where the uterus lining grows outside of the womb) to menopause, uterine health issues are often complex, debilitating and overlooked.
More than a quarter of women in England live with serious fertility issues and many can wait years for diagnosis due to systemic and cultural barriers. Despite the need, women’s health research has been limited due to chronic underfunding and historic biases.
As a result, the womb remains one of medical science’s least understood organs.
Shining a light through data
Tackling the challenge, Verso Biosense, founded in 2015, was born out of research led by obstetrics and gynaecology professors at the University of Southampton.
Their studies revealed embryos are typically cultured in laboratory conditions with 2-5% oxygen, whereas a natural environment is closer to 20% we don’t yet know what the ‘natural’ concentration is for an individual’s womb. This mismatch may be one reason why some IVF cycles fail. From this research, the company was set up to answer a simple question: ‘what if we could directly monitor the conditions in the womb and truly understand its environment?’
This inspired a breakthrough idea: ‘could we engineer an in-uterine device to monitor the womb directly and understand its conditions in real time?’
From questions to innovations
For Verso Biosense, the answer to those questions could lie in IRIS, the company’s first-of-its-kind in-utero sensor, which continuously monitors biomarkers in the uterus.
Similar to an IUD coil, the device sits within the uterus, collecting information such as temperature, pH levels and dissolved oxygen. The device sends data to an app that helps clinicians and researchers better understand uterine health and its broader implications in women’s health.
Kate Rowley, Verso Biosense’s CEO, explains: “People monitor their heart rate and sleep using wearables but no one has been able to monitor the uterus in this way before. We want our devices to give a glimpse into this very poorly understood organ.”
Empowering women through data
Now in early clinical trials across the UK, which include partnerships with the University of Southampton and London Women’s Clinic, Verso is in the process of gathering invaluable data from participants.
Kate said: “We want to combine datasets with other health data to uncover insights into conditions like endometriosis or fertility patterns. We are prioritising clinical applications in the first instance through our trials. However, we see this working with non-clinical approaches for health and wellness wearables in the near future.”
The company plans to expand its trials, refine the technology and move towards commercialisation in the next few years. They are also inviting individuals from Milton Park who may wish to take part in upcoming studies or join their scientific advisory board, welcoming interest from like-minded occupiers with expertise in clinical monitoring, power systems, sensors or data science.
A plan for the future
With trials progressing and a vision for commercial rollout from 2027, the company aims to expand its applications beyond fertility into perimenopause and menopause support, combining its data with wider health datasets to advance understanding.
To find out more about Milton Park and the pioneering innovation taking place across the site, visit their website.
