What if the solution to chronic wound healing has been floating in our oceans for 600 million years?
Jellyfish collagen isn't just different from the cow and pig-derived materials used in medicine today. It's actually better at healing human tissue.
I sit down with Dr Andrew Mearns-Spragg, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Jellagen, who's proving this remarkable claim with hard data. His research shows jellyfish collagen outperforms traditional materials in vocal fold repair, triggers faster transitions from inflammation to healing, and creates longer-lasting tissue structure. The secret lies in what Andrew calls "collagen type zero," an evolutionarily ancient form that our bodies recognise differently, prompting superior healing responses without the prolonged inflammatory reactions seen with mammalian sources.
Beyond the compelling science, Andrew reveals how he built the world's first ISO-certified medical device manufacturing plant for jellyfish collagen from scratch. We explore the practical realities of sustainable harvesting (achieving near-zero bycatch), navigating FDA regulations for an entirely novel biomaterial, and convincing investors to back marine biotechnology.
This venture extends beyond the laboratory. By harvesting jellyfish blooms caused by overfishing, Jellagen addresses an ecological problem while creating advanced wound care solutions and providing alternative income for local fishing communities struggling with depleted fish stocks.
"The jellyfish collagen transition to healing was much quicker and longer lasting." - Dr Andrew Mearns-Spragg
You'll Hear About
Connect with Dr Andrew Mearns-Spragg
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-m-006bb41/
Website - https://jellagen.co.uk/
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavison100/
If you need any lab equipment:
Grant Instruments: https://www.grantinstruments.com/
Grant Instruments on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-instruments-cambridge-ltd/
