Professor Wiebke Arlt, Director of the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Professor of Transdisciplinary Medicine at Imperial College London, is co-founder of a new spinout company developing innovative diagnostic tests based on 'steroid fingerprint' technology, which identifies distinctive patterns of steroid hormones in blood and urine.
By Emily Armstrong
September 22, 2026
Time to read: 4 minutes
IMS Solutions Ltd (IMS) is developing new tests for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and the common hormone condition PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome), previously known as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). The company aims to improve how these conditions are diagnosed and managed, helping clinicians make more informed decisions and supporting more personalised care for patients.
IMS Solutions is based at the LMS, where Wiebke leads the Steroids and Metabolism group. The company is a joint spinout from the University of Birmingham and Imperial, commercialising research originally developed by Wiebke’s group at the University of Birmingham. Wiebke is the Chief Scientific Officer of the company, alongside the other co-founders Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Whitaker and Chief Financial Officer Liz Dainty.
One of the company’s first products is ACCelerate, a diagnostic test designed to help doctors distinguish between benign adrenal tumours and ACC.
Adrenal tumours are commonly discovered during scans carried out for unrelated reasons. While most are harmless, identifying the small number that are cancerous is challenging, creating uncertainty for patients and clinicians and sometimes leading to unnecessary surgery.
ACCelerate combines a panel of steroid biomarkers with a machine-learning algorithm trained to identify what researchers describe as a steroid “fingerprint”. The test analyses patterns of hormone production associated with cancer, helping clinicians determine which patients may require further investigation or treatment.
Previous multi-centre research has shown the approach to be significantly more accurate than imaging alone, raising the possibility of earlier diagnosis while reducing unnecessary procedures for patients with benign tumours.
An NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Product Development Award will support the next phase of development, including regulatory certification and commercialisation of the test.
Wiebke said: “We validated the test through the largest ever adrenocortical carcinoma study with over 2,000 patients from 11 countries and this demonstrated the test’s accuracy. The funding means we can implement the test in clinical practice, following full regulatory certification. In addition, we intend to show that it is also good value for money and can be reliably performed in existing NHS laboratories.”
IMS Solutions is also developing what could become the world’s first test to identify different forms of PMOS and predict the risk of associated health complications.
PMOS is one of the most common hormone conditions, affecting millions of women worldwide. The condition involves disruption of multiple hormone systems and is associated with infertility, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver disease.
Despite its prevalence, there is currently no definitive diagnostic test for PMOS. Diagnosis typically relies on a combination of symptoms, laboratory findings and imaging, and many women remain wrongly or undiagnosed. In addition, clinicians currently lack tools to distinguish between different forms of the condition and identify those at greatest risk of developing related metabolic complications.
The test under development by IMS Solutions combines blood-based biomarkers with machine-learning analysis to identify steroid hormone signatures associated with different forms of PMOS. Researchers hope the approach could support earlier diagnosis and help clinicians tailor treatment more effectively to individual patients.
Patent applications have already been filed, and clinical validation studies are underway in women with PMOS with results expected shortly.
IMS Solutions launches with venture capital investment led by Midlands Mindforge. In addition, an NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Product Development Award is supporting the further development, regulatory certification and commercialisation of ACCelerate. Meanwhile, the company is continuing development of its PMOS programme.
By combining expertise in hormone biology, clinical medicine, data science and artificial intelligence, IMS Solutions aims to bring new diagnostic approaches into routine healthcare, helping clinicians make faster, more accurate decisions and enabling more personalised care for patients.
Martin said: “IMS Solutions is launching with a strong commercial and scientific team, and a well-advanced roadmap for products that align with current demands from patients and healthcare providers.”