About

Our mission

A spin-out from the University of Cambridge, 52North is a medical technology company on a mission to build innovative diagnostic and digital solutions to transform emergency care.

We were awarded breakthrough status for our first product Neutrocheck® by the UK Government in 2024. With an award-winning team of multidisciplinary experts, we are backed by leading UK and US hospital venture funds, including Meridian Health Ventures and Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property Co. Trusted by leading institutions, and supported by the world’s largest cancer charities, we’re transforming care for the moments when it matters most.

Our name refers to the latitude of Cambridge, 52°N, which sits directly on the Greenwich meridian line at 0°.

Accelerator programmes

“We founded 52North to bridge the gap between cutting-edge medical innovation and the communities that need it most. Our mission is simple: to make emergency care safer and more effective—where timely access to the right information can save lives."

Umaima Ahmad, CEO and Founder

Our story

Founded in 2018, 52North has gone from strength to strength.

2018

The beginning

52North was founded by a group of four postgraduates at the University of Cambridge.

2019

Solution

The team win their first grant from Innovate UK to start developing Neutrocheck®.

2021

Pre-seed round

52North raises £1.3m pre-seed round to progress development of Neutrocheck®.

2022

Macmillan Cancer Support makes first investment

The UK’s largest cancer care charity makes its first ever investment in 52North.

2023

First major award

52North is awarded MedTech Company of the Year by the Cambridge Independent.

2024

Funding secured for ACORN™ triage app

The team wins £1.3M from NIHR to build and test ACORN™, a digital tool that enables remote triaging and management of emergency cancer care needs.

2024

Breakthrough status

Neutrocheck® given breakthrough status under the UK Government's Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) scheme.

2024

Seed round

52North secures $6m with landmark UK-US hospital venture capital deal.

2025

John Jeans appointed as Chair

John Jeans, CBE, ex Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Medical Research Council, joins 52North as Chair.

2025

Selected for NATO DIANA cohort

52North was selected from 2,600 applicants to join this competitive accelerator programme.