CEMAS

About Us

CEMAS is an independent, privately-owned, contract research organisation that provides support to the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine and biocide industries.

CEMAS was founded in 1989 to provide an analytical service that delivers quality data on time. 35 years later, CEMAS remains an independent family-owned business that has retained a keen focus on quality and delivery. CEMAS has grown to provide a range of services to the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine and biocide industries.

Our scientists bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles. Many study directors and senior analysts have more than 25 years of experience and we maintain a large range of modern equipment. We offer a range of services, from analysis and method development to full multi-site study management.

GLP was a key part of CEMAS when it was established in 1989 and, along with GMP and GCP, remains central to the business.

CEMAS is also a great place to work. We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team and opportunities arise throughout the year. We offer a friendly, supportive working environment with excellent benefits that include a pension plan, private healthcare, income protection and life insurance.

CEMAS – a Brief History

CEMAS was founded on 14th February 1989 by Dr Nic Coombe, Michael Eustace and Philip Meitner. Our current Managing Director joined CEMAS the following year. The business was established to undertake pesticide residue analysis to GLP with a single aim: to deliver quality data on time.

The Founders

Nic Coombe was principal residue chemist at the Jealott’s Hill agrochemical research centre (then ICI Agrochemicals), Michael Eustace was a Sales Manager for ICI Fertilisers and Philip Meitner was a businessman.

The Early Years (1989 – 1994)

In the early days, CEMAS operated from a building within the Royal Holloway College (University of London) in Egham, Surrey.   CEMAS was essentially an instrument lab containing a range of GC and HPLC instruments, soon to be joined by the first GC-MS.  CEMAS stayed there until the spring of 1994, when the company bought and moved to a new facility in Ascot, Berkshire.

Nic Coombe and Neal Rawle working in the lab in 1991

Nic Coombe and current Managing Director in the lab, 1991.

Two Decades of Growth (1994 – 2014)

CEMAS grew consistently over the next two decades.  Agrochemical and biocide formulated products testing was introduced and the first pharmaceutical laboratory was opened, with the addition of GMP and GCP compliance.  Services continued to develop, to include multi-site study management (1999), in addition to operator exposure and DFR studies (2000).  The first of many LC-MS/MS instruments was installed in 2000. The Ascot laboratories were expanded, but again space became limiting.

Current Laboratories (2014 – present)

CEMAS bought the Imperial House site in Wokingham, Berkshire in 2013. It was a major challenge to convert this open-plan space into laboratories, incorporating walk-in freezers, fume hoods, the supply of pure gases for mass spectrometers, and high-capacity air conditioning.  This conversion was completed in less than a year, with the company officially operating out of Imperial House from February 2014.

During construction of the Imperial House laboratories, CEMAS also bought the adjacent site, Cheney House, which now houses our pharmaceutical testing business.

During and post the pandemic the company has made significant investments in its digital, GxP-compliant data management capabilities. 35 years after its creation, CEMAS remains an independent concern, now fully-owned by the Eustace family. Quality, compliance, delivery and reliability remain at the heart of the business.

Michael Eustace with son and current CEMAS Chairman Richard,

Michael Eustace with son and current Chairman Richard, 2015

 

 CEMAS 2024

Analysts working with LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analytical instruments

WHAT WE DO

Our Services

Click below to find out more about our chemical analysis and study management services

CEMAS is an independent, privately-owned, contract research organisation that provides support to the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine and biocide industries.