Case Study – Dimension

Client introduction

Dimension Biotechnologies is a biotechnology spinout from the University of Bristol developing innovative diagnostic technology to assess microvascular health through blood-based biomarker analysis. The company is focused on enabling earlier detection and monitoring of disease by providing rapid insights into endothelial glycocalyx health, a key indicator of microvascular function

Areas of R&D

Development of innovative diagnostic technology for assessing microvascular health from blood samples.
Discovery and validation of novel biomarkers linked to vascular health and disease.

The challenge

Dimension Biotechnologies had already prepared an R&D tax relief claim. However, given the technical nature of the underlying science the company wanted assurance that all qualifying activities and costs had been appropriately identified and correctly presented.
Drawing on specialist experience in life sciences and innovation tax incentives, Catalyst helped refine the claim narrative to more clearly articulate the qualifying R&D undertaken.low-burden.

Our solution

Catalyst provided an independent review of Dimension Biotechnologies R&D claim, identifying opportunities to strengthen the technical narrative and ensure the overall claim was robust.
Catalyst evaluated the scientific uncertainties addressed through its diagnostic development activities and identified opportunities to strengthen the supporting technical case. This included refining descriptions of qualifying R&D, improving the articulation of technological advances and uncertainties to align with DIST guidelines, and highlighting areas where supporting evidence could be enhanced.
Catalyst’s Chartered Tax Advisers also reviewed the claim methodology, providing practical recommendations to improve the robustness and defensibility of the submission.
This gave Dimension Biotechnologies greater confidence that its claim accurately reflected the innovative work being undertaken and was supported by clear, compliant documentation

The result

Catalyst supported Dimension Biotechnologies by reviewing its R&D tax relief claim and identifying opportunities to strengthen both the technical narrative and supporting evidence.
As a result, the company gained confidence that its claim was robust, compliant and accurately reflected its innovative work in microvascular diagnostics, allowing the team to focus on developing its technology and future growth opportunities.

Client quote

Catalyst R&D helped us understand what HMRC is actually looking for in an R&D claim. I initially considered preparing the claim wholly myself, but it quickly became clear that an expert eye would be beneficial.

The Catalyst team were fantastic. Charlotte on the team has a PhD in Biochemistry and direct experience working with biotech, which (as a biotech business) was invaluable in helping us translate our project into language that HMRC could easily understand. From a financial perspective, the team provided clear guidance on what could and couldn’t be included, giving us the confidence the claim reflected everything we were entitled to.

Overall, the process gave us belief that our claim was as strong as it could be and handled by people who genuinely understood the science. I would highly recommend Catalyst R&D to other biotechnology companies.

Dr Arne Scott
Co-Founder, CEO, Dimension Biotechnologies