R&D Consultancy

Discovery is rarely the main hurdle. Translation is.

We help biotechs, investors, and tech transfer teams de-risk complex science, build robust R&D strategies, and execute them efficiently.

By combining independent consultancy with direct access to MDC’s state-of-the-art laboratory capabilities and a trusted network of specialists and CROs, we turn early scientific concepts into reproducible, investable, and clinically viable programmes.

Three things decide whether momentum holds:

Turning science into an asset: the evidence that shows a programme is real, not just promising.
A credible path to the clinic: a staged, defensible route from bench to patient.
Confidence to fund and partner: an evidence package that gives investors and partners conviction to back the science and clinical programmes.

Innovators Investors Ecosystems

Biotechs, spinouts and academic teams.

We make your science investible, faster. We help biotech companies, spinouts and academic teams build and scale robust R&D programmes by identifying the critical risks, defining the evidence required and connecting strategy directly to delivery.

How we help:

Data Health Check – An independent review of data quality, reproducibility and translational relevance designed to identify critical gaps, hidden risks and the evidence required to support your next decision.
Translational Roadmap – A staged, milestone-driven development plan that aligns scientific priorities with clinical, regulatory, commercial and funding objectives, helping teams focus their time and capital on the work that creates the greatest value.
Product Vision and Target Product Profile – Defining what the product needs to be, who it is for and what success looks like before significant time and capital are committed. This connects patient and clinical need with product differentiation, the development pathway and the evidence required at each stage.
Independent Validation – Independent experimental work delivered through MDC’s laboratories or our trusted external network to confirm critical findings, close evidence gaps and generate decision-grade data for investment, partnership or programme progression.

Independent scientific diligence for life sciences investors.

We provide independent translational diligence. We help investors assess scientific quality, translational risk and the evidence required to make confident investment and portfolio decisions.

How we help:

Translational Due Diligence – Independent assessment of the core scientific assumptions, data quality, reproducibility, differentiation, development feasibility and key translational risks. Where a desk-based assessment is not sufficient, we can use MDC’s laboratory capabilities and wider network to validate critical findings, close evidence gaps and generate decision-grade data.
Triage and Selection – Comparison of opportunities against consistent scientific, clinical and commercial criteria, allowing you to prioritise high-potential assets and pinpoint underlying risks.
Post-Investment Support – Translating the investment thesis into a milestone-driven R&D plan, defining value-inflection points, and connecting portfolio companies to MDC labs and CRO partners to resolve emerging delivery risks.

Accelerators, clusters and hubs.

We support cohort programmes and their companies to identify risk earlier, strengthen their science and improve readiness for funding, partnership and further development.

How we help:

Cohort selection and progression – Independent scientific review of applications, scoring, interview panels and support with selection, progression and (where appropriate) deselection or stage-gate decisions.
Product vision and Target Product Profile workshops – Interactive sessions teaching founders how to define product requirements, target patient needs, and outline evidence benchmarks before committing capital.
Portfolio quality clinics – Structured reviews to identify the most important scientific and translational risks, evidence gaps and highest-value next experiments. We help cohort companies direct limited resources to high-impact risk reduction.
Expert panels, seminars and mentoring – Direct access to MDC specialists and our external network for interview panels, technical seminars, office hours, mentoring and targeted advisory input.

Pre-flight fit-to-fund checks

Every roadmap converges on the right molecule, validated across six checks:

Right target
Strong target–disease link, differentiated efficacy, predictive biomarkers.
Right tissue
Adequate bioavailability and tissue exposure; clear PK/PD.
Right safety
Differentiated safety margins; secondary pharmacology managed.
Right patient
The most responsive population, with a clear stratification strategy.
Right commercial
Differentiated value vs future standard of care; access and diagnostics.
Right data
Clinical insight informs preclinical models; reverse translation.

↓

Right molecule
Each open question becomes an evidence-backed tick: fit-to-fund.

From concept to delivery: Independent strategy backed by laboratory infrastructure

We go beyond delivering a report or set of recommendations.

We combine independent R&D strategy with direct access to MDC laboratories and a trusted network of scientific specialists and CROs. This enables us to support programmes across the entire pathway from target to patient, whether you require an independent expert review, experimental validation, selection of the right delivery partners, or hands-on implementation of your R&D strategy.

What we offer and outcomes for your programme:

Independent R&D strategy – Clear, objective decision-making that avoids confirmation bias and focuses resource allocation.
Integrated MDC lab access – Rapid experimental validation to generate robust, reproducible data packages.
Extensive specialist network – Instant access to niche scientific expertise, clinicians, and vetted CRO partners without long setup delays.
Commercially focused frameworks – R&D programmes designed explicitly to meet investor, partner, and regulatory expectations.

“We understand that every programme is different. The rise of complex modalities like ADCs, radiopharmaceuticals and RNA therapeutics, alongside the accelerating power of AI-native platforms, has raised the ceiling on what’s possible, but it has also raised the bar on what it takes to get there.

The hardest questions span every dimension of development. How do you navigate rigorous and complex scientific, commercial, regulatory and clinical requirements when resources are limited? What does an investor or a partner actually need to see? Where are the critical gaps that could slow you down?

We work alongside innovators and investors to answer those questions – practically, independently, and with real translational experience behind every conversation.“

Johnny Habchi, Head of R&D Consultancy

What founders say after working with us

Thanks to the whole team for assessing our situation and compiling such a thorough report. It’s great to have input from people with that experience.

VP
Neurodegeneration biotech

A clearly defined, commercially justified lead indication, an investor-ready TPP and a structured development roadmap.

CEO
Clinical-stage biotech

Clear direction and structured guidance, helping us define a robust product development plan and streamline our vision into actionable steps.

CEO
Drug-delivery / oncology biotech

Their expert input guided our in vivo proof-of-concept studies, avoiding unnecessary risk and expediting our timelines.

CEO
Anti-infectives biotech

MDC’s R&D consulting has been transformative, refining our strategy with scientific rigour, identifying and mitigating risks, and strengthening our business model.

Founder & CEO
Neuro-oncology biotech