The Francis Crick Institute

The Francis Crick Institute

Biomedical research institute advancing human health

Overview

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical research center that advances understanding of human health and disease. It brings together diverse scientists and technicians, providing support and freedom to pursue ambitious, multidisciplinary projects. Researchers at the Crick explore fundamental biology to answer questions about how life works and how this knowledge can improve health, with partners helping to turn discovery into real-world applications. The institute operates through collaborative teams, shared facilities, and a culture that connects discovery to application, aiming to train the next generation of science leaders. Its goal is to expand knowledge of human biology and translate discoveries into better health outcomes for society.

Significant Headcount Growth

About The Francis Crick Institute

Simplify's Rating
Why The Francis Crick Institute is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Biotechnology

Healthcare

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$1.3B

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

2011

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Novartis agreed in 2026 to buy Crick-linked Myricx Bio for up to $1.5 billion.
  • The MSD-Crick collaboration restarted in January 2025 and runs through January 2030.
  • RAPID and the 2026 lung-on-chip work deepen Crick’s translational neuroscience and disease pipeline.

What critics are saying

  • The 2024/25 deficit hit £8.6m, and inflation is eroding reserves through 2029.
  • Edith Heard replaced Paul Nurse in 2025; leadership transitions disrupt fundraising and priorities.
  • If core funders trim support after 2029, the institute’s research model breaks.

What makes The Francis Crick Institute unique

  • UK founders fund the Crick, giving it unusual long-term operating stability.
  • The Crick monetizes science through translation: 120 projects and industry partnerships.
  • Its UCL, Imperial, and King's attachments pull external talent into multi-year collaborations.

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Funding

Total Funding

$1.3B

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Grant funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Grant Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Paid Vacation

Mental Health Support

Back-up care for dependents

Childcare Support

Annual Leave Purchase Options

Gym Membership

Commuter Benefits

Employee Discounts

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

14%

1 year growth

14%

2 year growth

14%
Tech.eu
Jul 8th, 2026
Respiro Diagnostics raises $1.3M to develop breath-based lung cancer diagnostics

Respiro Diagnostics, a UK startup developing breath-based diagnostics for lung diseases, has raised £1 million in pre-seed funding led by Zinc Venture Capital and SFC Capital. Amadeus Capital Partners, the Conception X Angel Syndicate, KQ Labs through the Francis Crick Institute, strategic angel investors and Innovate UK also participated. Founded by Alison Quinn and Dr Theo Issitt, Respiro is developing a non-invasive platform that analyses DNA, RNA and proteins from exhaled breath to detect lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. The technology provides an alternative to invasive tissue biopsies. Respiro has completed proof-of-concept testing in mesothelioma patients and plans to begin its first clinical study in lung cancer patients at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark in September 2026. The funding will support clinical research and further development of its breath collection device and laboratory platform.

Syncona Limited
Feb 13th, 2026
ALTx Therapeutics launches into the Slingshot accelerator with £12.55 million of funding

Based on the pioneering work of British scientist Simon Boulton, ALTx leverages fundamental insights in cancer cell immortalisation to develop novel treatments for cancer.

PR Newswire
Jan 12th, 2026
PulseAI raises seed funding to scale AI-powered ECG diagnostics and pursue FDA clearance

PulseAI, a Belfast-based cardiac diagnostics company, has closed its seed funding round led by Innovation Ulster Limited, with participation from The Mortara Group and The Francis Crick Institute. The investment will support scaling of its AI-ECG technology and pursuing US FDA 510(k) clearance. The company's platform addresses challenges in interpreting the 300 million ECGs performed annually worldwide, offering clinical decision support for primary and acute care settings. Dr Justin Mortara, former CEO of Mortara Instruments, will join as board chair. Funding will accelerate FDA regulatory advancement, clinical validation across diverse populations, product development for enterprise integration, and partnerships with device manufacturers and hospital networks. The technology has been trained on large-scale ECG datasets and validated with leading institutions across Europe and the United States.

King's College London
Mar 31st, 2025
Discover King's spinouts

Explore our portfolio of spinouts launched by King’s researchers.

Crick Institute
Feb 17th, 2025
Introducing... Sadra Sadeh

Sadra Sadeh recently joined the Crick on secondment, leading the Computational Neuroscience Lab.

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