AN ambitious Life sciences business has decided to leave its English base and relocate to Scotland.

Cellexus cited Scotland's reputation as a life sciences hub as well as strong links with academia and the NHS as it moved operations from Cambridgeshire to Dundee.

The innovative business also received £250,000 of equity funding from the Scottish Investment Bank, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise.

Director Bob Cumming said: "We started the process [to move to Scotland] and have just been bowled over by the help, support and knowledge that is up here that we didn't have access to before."

Cellexus has a device which produces proteins from bacteria including yeast, e-coli and algae.

The Cellmaker system, which typically costs between £20,000 and £30,000, is said to be simpler and require less frequent sterilisation than others available in the market.

While the company's main market is pharmaceuticals and diagnostics the system could also be used in the food and biofuel industries.

Mr Cumming, who studied microbiology at Glasgow University, said: "It is a simpler cleaner process, It doesn't require cleandown of the equipment or re-sterilisation and re-validation. It is much easier to do."

The company plans to use the funding from the Scottish Investment Bank to enhance its international sales and marketing programme.

It already has a distributor in the United States and has held talks with representatives in India and China.

Mr Cumming said Cellexus is looking closer to home for deals in Europe as well.

According to him staff numbers should increase from four to six across the rest of this year with the expectation of employees doubling during 2016.

Turnover is expected to rise to around £2m during 2016 if the company's expansion goes to plan.

Cellexus will also go onto Scottish Enterprise's account management programme which sees companies with high growth potential receive additional support.

Mr Cumming said the company chose Dundee over other life science hubs in Scotland as it is doing development work with Dundee University and had also accessed help from electrical engineering business Albacom, also based in the City of Discovery.

Julia Brown, director of life and chemical sciences, Scottish Enterprise, said: "That Cellexus has chosen to move to Dundee from Cambridgeshire is testament to Scotland's reputation as the location of choice for life sciences companies.

"Cellexus is an innovative, forward-thinking company and we look forward to continuing to work with them to help them successfully up-scale and explore new markets, driving forward their ambitious growth plan."

Mr Cumming is an experienced entrepreneur who founded catheter maker Ecosse Medical before selling it to 3M then set up surgical drapes business Ashfield Medical which was sold to Medex Medical.

He was also a founder of DNA Research Innovations which was sold to Invitrogen for more than $35 million in 2004.

Mr Cumming and other investors acquired the assets of Cellexus Biosystems, which had been listed on the PLUS Markets stock exchange, from administration in 2008.