At Nexus BioQuest, we support studies designed to feed into regulatory submissions, including INDs and similar filings. These are not routine experimental programmes. They sit in a very specific space where scientific execution, documentation discipline, and data integrity all carry equal weight. In this context, success is not defined solely by whether a study generates data. It is defined by whether that data can be confidently used to support a decision; whether internal, strategic, or regulatory in nature. That distinction is subtle, but it fundamentally changes how studies need to be designed and delivered.
Over time, we have seen that the robustness of an IND-supporting study is rarely determined at the point of analysis or reporting. It is determined much earlier, in how the study is structured, documented, and how consistently decisions are recorded as the work progresses. This is why we place significant emphasis on study planning. For every IND-supporting programme, our scientific teams develop a detailed study plan that acts as a working framework throughout the project lifecycle. This is not a static document created at the outset and then archived. It is a live reference point that defines the scientific rationale, outlines experimental design, and establishes clear milestones for delivery. Just as importantly, it ensures alignment between internal teams and clients from the start. In complex studies, alignment drift is one of the most common sources of inefficiency; not because of poor science, but because expectations evolve in different directions over time. A structured study plan helps to minimise that risk by making the intended path explicit and transparent. However, even the most study plan relies on one critical factor: execution fidelity. This is where documentation becomes central.
At Nexus BioQuest, we use an electronic laboratory notebook system to capture experimental work in real time. This means that every step of the process is recorded as it happens, rather than reconstructed retrospectively. The distinction may sound operational, but in practice it has a significant impact on data quality and traceability. Real-time documentation reduces ambiguity. It ensures that observations are captured in context, that deviations are recorded when they occur, and that the rationale for any adjustments is preserved. In IND-supporting work, where studies may be reviewed months or even years after completion, this level of traceability is essential. It also strengthens internal consistency. When multiple scientists are contributing across different stages of a study, a shared, contemporaneous record prevents fragmentation of knowledge and reduces the reliance on informal handovers or memory-based interpretation. Quality assurance is embedded into this framework rather than applied at the end of it. While Nexus BioQuest does not operate under GLP, we have developed an internal quality system that reflects the expectations of regulatory-facing research. This system is supported by an RQA-certified QA Lead and is designed to be proactive rather than retrospective. In practice, this means audits and quality checks are performed at defined milestones throughout a study, rather than only at final review. This approach allows us to identify issues early, when they are still easy to correct, rather than after they have propagated through downstream analysis or reporting. It also changes the role of QA within the organisation. Instead of functioning purely as a final gatekeeper, QA becomes an active contributor to study integrity throughout the lifecycle. This shift is important in complex biological studies, where small inconsistencies can have disproportionate effects if left unaddressed.
The final output of this process is a report that is designed with its end use in mind from the outset. For IND-supporting work, a report is not simply a record of what was done. It is a structured scientific narrative that must allow external stakeholders to understand the methodology, assess the validity of the results, and interpret the conclusions in context. That requires clarity, consistency, and careful consideration of how data is presented. We focus on ensuring that reports are both scientifically rigorous and easy to navigate. Data presentation is structured to support interpretation rather than simply display output. Methods are described in sufficient detail to allow reproducibility, and conclusions are explicitly linked back to the data they are based on. This level of discipline in reporting is not an afterthought. It is a continuation of the same principles that underpin study design and execution.
Taken together, structured planning, real-time documentation, and embedded quality oversight create a framework that supports reliable, high-confidence data generation. However, there is a broader point that is often overlooked in discussions about IND-supporting research.
As programmes become more complex and timelines become more compressed, the limiting factor is rarely scientific capability. It is the ability to maintain coherence across the entire lifecycle of a study, from initial design through to final reporting, without loss of detail, context, or intent.
This is where the distinction between simply outsourcing experimental work and building a genuine scientific partnership becomes important. When you work with Nexus BioQuest, you are not just outsourcing experimental work. You are partnering with a team that understands what it takes to generate data that is ready for the next step - whether that is an internal decision point or a formal regulatory submission. And in this space, that distinction matters.
Written by Danielle Clark
Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell in human blood with around 1011 new cells synthesised in the bone marrow each day. These cells are short-lived, packed with anti-microbial proteins and are first responders upon inflammatory insult. Upon activation, neutrophils utilise effector functions to destroy pathogens.
Neutrophils release anti-microbial proteins held in granules in a process called degranulation and can phagocytose pathogens in as little as 20 seconds. They can also mount a large oxidative burst via the NADPH oxidase (NOX2) complex, releasing reactive oxygen species to kill extracellular pathogens, and also those that have been phagocytosed. The final weapon in the neutrophil arsenal is release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) – web-like structures comprised of chromatin and antimicrobial proteins, released via a unique form of cell death called NETosis. These trap pathogens to prevent dissemination and expose them to high concentrations of antimicrobial proteins. Despite neutrophils being essential for host defence, dysregulated neutrophil responses can damage the host and drive inflammatory diseases, meaning targeting neutrophils could be of therapeutic benefit.
Neutrophils have been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. For example, NETs have been shown to sequester circulating tumour cells and awaken dormant cancer cells, leading to metastases formation. Neutrophils can promote the premetastatic niche and neutrophil-deficient mice show reduced metastasis. They also drive Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) where NETs are a source of autoantigens and lead to vascular damage. SLE neutrophils also produce large amounts of type I interferons. Neutrophils have also been shown to play a detrimental role in atherosclerosis, where NETs aid in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and prime macrophages to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, the role of neutrophils in disease is becoming increasingly understood and targeting these cells with therapeutics at the site of inflammation could benefit patients in many inflammatory diseases.
Burn, G. L., Foti, A., Marsman, G., Patel, D. F., & Zychlinsky, A. (2021). The Neutrophil. Immunity, 54(7), 1377–1391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2021.06.006
Papayannopoulos V. (2018). Neutrophil extracellular traps in immunity and disease. Nature reviews. Immunology, 18(2), 134–147. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri.2017.105 Coffelt, S. B., Wellenstein, M. D., & de Visser, K. E. (2016). Neutrophils in cancer: neutral no more. Nature reviews. Cancer, 16(7), 431–446. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2016.52
Written by Will Gibbs
Integrity is one of our four core values at Nexus BioQuest. It drives our commitment to delivering accurate and fully traceable data that our clients can trust. Every process we follow—from study design to data reporting—adheres to ethical and scientific standards to ensure that our results are robust and reproducible. For us, integrity isn’t just about what we deliver; it’s about how we do it.
Integrity also extends to our relationships. We believe in open, consistent communication and see ourselves as true partners in every study. From study kick-off to final reports, we keep our clients informed at every stage, making sure they feel confident in both the process and the outcomes and allows us to build strong, lasting partnerships. This collaborative approach enables our clients to have confidence in the study process, knowing they are supported by a team of scientists striving to producing quality results.
Beyond client relationships, integrity also means continuous improvement to the service we provide. Our teams regularly review our methods and processes, pushing ourselves to uphold the high scientific standards our clients expect. By holding ourselves accountable, we provide research that our clients can rely on time after time.
The British Society for Immunology (BSI) ran their first Immune Therapies Summit at the end of November, which Courteney Arthur and Dr Rhiannon Jenkinson attended. It was a great couple of days and fantastic to discuss science and catch up with people we knew, as well as network and make new connections.
There were some excellent talks across different therapeutic areas, including immune-oncology, autoimmunity, inflammation and neuro-inflammation and the cross-disciplinary conference approach led to interesting discussions and questions. In addition, the breakout focus sessions led to some stimulating discussions within small groups. I attended the targeting innate immunity and beyond checkpoint inhibitors focus sessions, and the discussion was wide-ranging. Having the chance to discuss different perspectives from different viewpoints was a real plus, from the challenges faced from early drug discovery through to clinical trials and then through to the clinician’s perspective of the real-life experience of treating patients with approved therapies.
In terms of the therapeutic modalities and biomarker strategies utilised, these were wide-ranging; the use of vaccines was discussed across oncology, neurodegeneration, and infectious disease. The use of cellular therapy strategies to deplete B cells in patients suffering severe auto-immune disease was inspiring in terms of the positive clinical outcomes for many of the patients for a review, see DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-024-01139-z. Hearing a fantastic synopsis of the IL-23 pathway from its discovery through to its targeting for treating inflammatory diseases was a great example of the translation of blue skies research into clinical treatments. The keynote presentation on viral immunotherapy highlighted several innovative strategies with oncolytic and non-oncolytic viruses for mobilising an anti-tumour response in solid tumours resistant to ICI and how this approach can also target distal metastases.
Finally, three really interesting talks one on how targeting the right therapy to the right patients is key for efficacy; if targeting a specific pathway fails in the clinic but has been positive all the way through discovery and the appropriate biomarkers upregulated in the clinic, how this could be a combination of the right pathway but wrong molecule, potentially the wrong subset of patients or the wrong stage of disease. The second on repurposing of drugs between autoimmune and oncology indications. The third on how understanding biomarkers and the use of biomarkers can help us transition away from ‘imprecision’ medicine in the treatment of arthritis and IBD.
From a CRO perspective, hearing the scientific advances in developing new therapeutics and the challenges people are facing and the research solutions they utilise is inspiring and gets the scientific juices flowing in terms of assays we can develop to support our client's drug discovery programs.
The BSI should be commended on their approach at enabling discussion, and I’m excited to see how they develop this approach in future conferences.
Anna Willox, PhD
Head of European Business Development
As part of Nexus BioQuest’s ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of immunology and drug discovery, I had the opportunity to attend the SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) meeting in London this December. This event served as an invaluable platform for networking with industry leaders, learning about the latest advancements in laboratory automation, and exploring new technologies that could enhance our offerings at Nexus BioQuest.
Attending SLAS allowed me to connect with potential partners, discover cutting-edge developments in screening technologies, and exchange insights on best practices in drug discovery. I look forward to leveraging the knowledge and relationships gained at the event to help Nexus BioQuest continue to provide top-tier services for our clients, particularly in areas like immune profiling, cell-based assays, and immunotherapy development.
It was a fantastic experience to engage with experts and peers in the field, and I’m excited to see how the connections and insights from SLAS will help Nexus BioQuest expand its capabilities and strengthen its position in the industry. It was a true pleasure meeting so many inspiring individuals, including Sonia Houghton, Del Trezise, Jeroen Verheyen, Scott Mitchell, Dahir Ahmed, Thomas Richardson, Rob Howes, and reconnecting with familiar faces like Tom Crabbe after many years!
A huge thank you to the organizers, SLAS (Vicki Loise) and ELRIG (Sanj Kumar), as well as the sponsors, for creating such a wonderful opportunity to network and hear exciting presentations on innovations in the bioscience and drug discovery sectors, including new modalities.
I’m already looking forward to next year’s events!