The EVolution Therapeutics Story

Where our story begins

EVolution Therapeutics grew out of decades of research from Professor Andrew Devitt’s laboratory at Aston University into extracellular vesicles, inflammation and the body’s natural repair processes.

This research explored how cells communicate during inflammation, how natural vesicles influence immune responses, and how the body moves from injury towards healing.

The company was founded to translate this understanding into a new therapeutic approach: one that builds on natural pro-resolution biology, but is designed with the consistency, control and scalability needed for clinical development.

Inspired by natural vesicles

Extracellular vesicles are part of the body’s natural communication system. They carry biological signals between cells and can influence how tissues respond to damage, inflammation and repair.

Our founding research highlighted the therapeutic potential of this biology. However, naturally derived vesicle products can be complex, variable and difficult to manufacture consistently.

EVolution Therapeutics takes inspiration from natural vesicles, while moving towards a more defined and reproducible platform based on mRNA-LNP technology.

A graphic of natural extracellular vesicles
Circular scientific infographic showing a central mRNA-LNP hydrogel platform surrounded by three connected capability areas: inflammation biology, scalable formulation, and local therapeutic delivery.

What we bring

EVolution Therapeutics brings together deep academic expertise, translational science and a clear understanding of inflammatory disease biology.

Our approach offers a way to harness the body’s own pro-resolution signals in a format designed for greater product control, scalable manufacturing and targeted local delivery.

This combination of biological insight and engineered therapeutic design is what sets EVolution Therapeutics apart.

Why this matters

Many inflammatory diseases are not simply caused by inflammation being present. They are driven by inflammation failing to resolve properly.

When this happens, tissues can become trapped in a cycle of damage, delayed repair and ongoing disease.

By focusing on inflammation resolution, EVolution Therapeutics offers a different way of thinking about treatment: supporting the body’s natural transition from inflammation to repair, rather than only suppressing inflammation or managing symptoms.

Three-step scientific infographic showing persistent inflammation progressing into a cycle of tissue damage, followed by resolution and healing, using circular tissue illustrations connected by arrows.
Four-part infographic showing EVolution Therapeutics’ value proposition: a strong scientific foundation, a defined therapeutic approach based on an mRNA-LNP hydrogel platform, translational potential through local tissue delivery, and broader platform opportunities across multiple disease areas.

What we can offer

EVolution Therapeutics offers a platform with potential across diseases where dysregulated inflammation prevents normal healing.

Our lead focus is chronic non-healing wounds, but the underlying biology has broader relevance across inflammatory, fibrotic and tissue-repair disorders.

For investors, partners and collaborators, EVolution Therapeutics offers:

A strong scientific foundation
Built on decades of academic research into extracellular vesicles, inflammation and tissue repair.

A defined therapeutic approach
Inspired by natural vesicle biology, but engineered as an mRNA-LNP platform for improved consistency and control.

Clear translational potential
Focused on local delivery, measurable disease settings and clinically relevant inflammatory conditions.

A broader platform opportunity
Potential to expand beyond wound healing into other diseases where unresolved inflammation drives tissue damage.

Looking ahead

EVolution Therapeutics is building from a strong scientific origin towards a new class of therapeutics for inflammation resolution and tissue repair.

Our ambition is to work with investors, strategic partners and clinical collaborators to develop treatments that address the underlying biology of chronic inflammatory disease and offer new options for patients with high unmet need.

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Our Timeline

EVolution Therapeutics has swiftly advanced since its inception. The journey began in June 2022 with entry into the BBSRC ICURE ‘Exploit’ programme. Since then, we have continually grown with various grant funding and awards. 

Jun 22

Entered the BBSRC ICURE ‘Exploit’ programme

Dec 22

EVolution Therapeutics incorporated

Mar 23

Secured £284,084 grant funding from Innovate UK’s ICURe Follow-on Fund

Apr 23

Foundational Patent Submitted

Jul 23

Aston University: Convertible Loan Note investment of £50,000

Sep 23

Secured £237,843 grant funding from Innovate UK’s Engineering Biology Collaborative Research and Development grant

Oct 23

Entered Innovate UK’s ICURe Traction programme

Nov 23

Entered SPARK The Midlands accelerator programme

Dec 23

Professor Devitt and Dr Milic awarded £585,000 from the BBSRC Super Follow-on-Fund

Feb 24

New Research Scientist Appointed

Jan 24

First Batch of LNPs Produced

Sep 24

Safety & Efficacy Data In-Vivo

Oct 25

Second Patent Submitted

Apr 26

Joined Innovator's Club Cohort of 2026

May 26

Selected to Join the 2026 Accelerate@Babraham Cohort

Our Team

Meet our Experts

EVolution Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company spun out of Aston University. Our nanoparticle-based therapeutics represent a next generation approach for the treatment of intractable inflammatory diseases, designed to precisely modulate the innate immune response at sites of pathology. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in immunology, nanomedicine and translational science, united by a shared focus on advancing innovative therapies from preclinical development towards clinical impact.

Alice Wigington

Lead Scientist

Alice has expertise in inflammation biology, extracellular vesicles and nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery. She has strong hands-on experience across flow cytometry, ELISA, Western blotting, cell-based wound-healing assays and preclinical research, with a focus on developing translational models to support tissue repair and inflammatory disease programmes.

Stewart McKinlay

Commercial Advisor

Stewart has over 25 years’ medical device experience, including 20 years at Smith+Nephew leading R&D in Wound Care and Biologics. He has supported 60+ product launches, 12 acquisitions or technology bolt-ons, and now chairs or advises multiple medical start-ups.

Dr. Sri Bellary

Clinical Consultant

Sri Bellary is a Senior NHS diabetes consultant and nationally recognised expert in complex diabetes complications. He has led innovative models of diabetes care and is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Dr. Matt Vassey

Chief Operating Officer

Matt possesses over a decade of expertise as a business development and technology commercialisation specialist, with a background in fundraising, partnerships, and development of innovative technologies.

Dr. James Gavin

Co-Founder & CEO

With expertise in extracellular vesicles and nano-based therapeutics, Dr Gavin maintains a commercial and growth focus to drive the development of transformative treatments for inflammatory diseases.

Prof. Andrew Devitt

Co-Founder & CTO

With over 30 years of experience in the field of inflammatory cell biology, Andrew Devitt is a distinguished professor and Executive Dean of the School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Biosciences

Dr. Ivana Milic

Co-Founder & CSO

A highly experienced analytical chemist and lecturer in Biosciences at Aston University. Dr Milic possesses world-leading expertise in mass spectrometry for analyses of proteins and highly challenging lipid classes.

Liz Dainty

Chief Financial Officer

Elizabeth qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG and has over 25 years of experience in both the commercial and charity sectors, holding pivotal fiscal and project management roles with numerous biotech start-ups.