Here in the UK’s third largest city, Microneedle Solutions (MNS) is revolutionising the way vaccines and medicines are delivered, locally and globally. Its flagship innovation, Miracus™, is a painless, self-applied microneedle patch that eliminates the need for needles, clinic visits, and cold-chain logistics[1].
We talk to Co-founder Henry Dunne, to find out MNS is making a bold step toward more accessible, equitable healthcare, with a mission to “reduce health inequalities across the globe, by increasing access to medication irrespective of location, race or gender.”
The painless vaccine patch transforming health and tackling inequality
Miracus™ is more than a technological breakthrough, it’s a solution to long-standing barriers in healthcare.
Locally, it helps free up NHS capacity by shifting routine injections out of clinical settings, improving uptake among those with needle anxiety, and supporting neurodiverse individuals with a calmer, self-paced experience.
Globally, it extends access to underserved communities, including rural areas and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Traditional vaccines are temperature-sensitive and need continuous, unbroken, temperature-controlled environments. In many countries, cold-chain infrastructure (from packaging and storage – to transportation), as well as access to a trained workforce, can be limited – creating barriers to essential vaccinations.
Miracus™’s room-temperature stability simplifies logistics, as well as reducing waste making it a scalable solution for mass immunisation and chronic disease management.
By enabling self-administration, Miracus™ reduces travel burdens, time off work, and healthcare costs, making prevention and treatment more feasible for families, carers, and remote populations.
A first-of-its-kind innovation
While microneedle patches have been explored in research, none have yet been commercialised for drug delivery. Co-founder Henry Dunne explains:
“Our aim is to bring the world’s first vaccine patch to market, modernising a method that’s barely changed in 200 years. We saw recurring barriers, needle anxiety, staff shortages, and costly cold-chain and knew a better, scalable answer was possible. Miracus™ is that answer.”
Powered by Leeds’ health innovation ecosystem
Led by former University of Leeds biotechnology students, MNS’s journey has been deeply rooted in Leeds’ vibrant health innovation landscape, which is one of the most interconnected in the UK, with support from organisations including:
- University of Leeds: Home to many of MNS’s advisors and world-class facilities that power its R&D.
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: One of the country’s largest teaching hospitals, and a key collaborator in MNS’s first-in-human clinical trial, shaping design, governance, and delivery. The trial will be delivered by Leeds NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF).
- Nexus (University of Leeds): MNS’s base of operations, housing its manufacturing and testing labs within a dynamic £40m global innovation community.
In Leeds, networks don’t just move ideas from A to B – they open doors, create unexpected opportunities and connect the right people to turn vision into reality.
Henry explains how the city’s integrated ecosystem, combining academic excellence, clinical expertise, and entrepreneurial support makes Leeds the ideal launchpad for health innovation:
“Leeds offers a complete ecosystem: a leading university, one of the UK’s largest NHS trusts, and active innovation networks, all in one city.”
Looking ahead
The team at Microneedle Solutions is not just developing a product, they’re reshaping how healthcare is delivered. By tackling inequalities and simplifying access, they’re setting a bold standard for patient-centred innovation.
As Leeds continues to grow as an internationally-leading hub of health and care transformation, MNS stands as a shining example of what’s possible when visionary ideas meet the right support.
Did you know? Leeds has just taken its offer to innovators to the next level with the launch of a new, £2 million Health Innovation Leeds Incubator, which offers support for businesses of any size to overcome challenges and scale successfully. Find out more (including the chance to sign up for updates and be first in the queue as details of a 2026 innovator event are announced) here.
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Find out more about Microneedle Solutions at – https://www.microneedlesolutions.com/
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[1] The process of transporting and storing products that must remain within a specific, continuous temperature range to maintain their safety and effectiveness.
Photo captions
Image 1: Health Secretary Wes Streeting visited Leeds in June 2025, and saw how Microneedle Solutions is part of the city’s unique “health and care powerhouse”.
Image 2: Henry Dunne, Co-founder of Microneedle Solutions.
