Selecting the right contract research organisation (CRO) is one of the most important decisions in any drug discovery programme. The right partner should do more than generate high-quality data. They should provide the scientific expertise, experimental design and interpretation needed to reduce development risk, support confident decision-making and shorten discovery timelines.
Metrion is a specialist preclinical CRO focused on ion channel drug discovery, cardiac safety, translational neuroscience and custom cell line generation.
Established in 2015, we combine more than 250 years of electrophysiology expertise with human-relevant models, advanced technologies and collaborative scientific support to help pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic organisations accelerate drug discovery programmes from target validation through to candidate selection.
We have a detailed understanding of both voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, plus extensive experience of configuring high quality assays for multimodal and leak channels. Our experience helps ensure high-quality, accurate data to drive your medicinal chemistry strategy.
Choosing an experienced CRO can reduce project risk and accelerate decision-making.
Metrion is led by an experienced scientific leadership team, including two of the company's founders, whose expertise continues to shape our scientific direction. Supported by our laboratory scientists, we have contributed to numerous successful drug discovery programmes by delivering robust, high-quality data, detailed scientific interpretation and reliable project delivery.
Delivering high-quality data on time and within budget is only part of the story. To truly support your drug discovery programme, you need to understand what the results mean and how they should influence your next decisions.
At Metrion, every study is accompanied by a detailed scientific report that goes beyond presenting experimental data. Our experienced scientists analyse the findings in the context of your project objectives, providing clear interpretation and practical insight to help move your programme forward with confidence.
Every report includes:
Rather than simply delivering results, we provide the scientific insight and interpretation needed to reduce development risk, support informed decision-making and guide the next stage of your drug discovery programme.
Whether you require a single assay, an integrated screening cascade or a dedicated FTE team, our services are tailored to your scientific objectives, timelines and resources.
Our scientists work as an extension of your research team, combining technical expertise with practical advice to help solve challenges and keep your programme moving forward.
Our expertise supports programmes throughout drug discovery, including:
Reliable data starts with the right experimental model.
Our laboratories combine automated and manual patch clamp electrophysiology with fluorescence-based assays, multi-electrode arrays (MEA), human iPSC-derived cellular models and in-house cell line generation. This breadth of capability enables us to recommend and develop the most appropriate experimental approach for each project rather than applying a standard workflow.
In addition to an extensive catalogue of ready-to-use ion channel cell lines, we generate bespoke recombinant cell lines tailored to customer requirements, including challenging ion channel targets and complex multi-subunit expression systems. Our cell biology team has more than 30 years' combined experience in molecular biology and stable cell line generation, ensuring assay systems deliver the consistency, reproducibility and biological relevance needed for successful drug discovery.
This integrated capability enables clients to work with a single scientific partner from cell line development and assay design through to screening, data interpretation and strategic recommendations.
General CROs often provide broad capabilities across multiple scientific disciplines. A specialist CRO offers focused expertise, established technologies and a deeper understanding of the biology underpinning your therapeutic area.
For ion channel drug discovery, this specialist knowledge can improve assay design, accelerate problem solving, strengthen data interpretation and increase confidence in development decisions.
By combining specialist scientific expertise with advanced technologies and collaborative project support, Metrion helps clients generate robust evidence, reduce development risk and progress compounds with greater confidence.
Specialist CROs combine deep scientific expertise with technologies specifically developed for ion channel research, helping generate more reliable, biologically relevant data and supporting better informed decision-making.
Yes. Every project is designed around your scientific objectives, development stage and timelines, ensuring that the experimental approach is aligned with your programme.
Our expertise spans neuroscience, pain, cardiac safety, respiratory disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other therapeutic areas involving ion channel biology.
Our laboratories combine automated and manual patch clamp electrophysiology, fluorescence-based assays, multi-electrode arrays and human iPSC-derived cellular models, allowing us to recommend the most appropriate platform for each project.
Every Metrion report includes comprehensive data analysis, clear scientific interpretation and tailored insights to help inform your next steps. Our reports are designed to be practical decision-making tools rather than simply a summary of experimental results.