Start-up Business Woman of the Year 2012

CEO: Dr Julie Barnes Year Started: 2011 Website: www.abcodia.com

Working with University College London, biomarker validation and discovery service Abcodia has exclusive access to the largest blood serum bio-bank of its kind in the world.

The scientific research gathered from the samples of 20,000 women over the course of 10 years is licensed out to some of the world’s largest diagnostic companies for the development of new cancer diagnoses.

Using her 20 years’ experience in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, Dr Julie Barnes has managed to turn this intelligent resource into a commercial business, using a lean model that relies on the latest smartphone and online communications to manage a fast growing business with a team of just six.

Judges’ comments:

Abcodia is no ordinary start-up and Julie is a great example of an entrepreneur – she spotted an opportunity, marshalled the resources and made it all happen. More importantly she is a great negotiator, getting funds from a VC and securing an exclusive contract to access her database. Working in the area of cancer diagnostics this is a business that will make a difference. With future contracts in place we can see the success of Julie and Abcodia going from strength to strength.