Katy, TX — BlueRidge Life Sciences (“BlueRidge”), a leading life sciences consulting and services platform and a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners, today announced the acquisition of Design Science, a premier human factors and usability engineering consultancy serving medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies worldwide.
Founded in 1991, Design Science is recognized for its deep expertise in human factors engineering, usability testing, and use-related risk analysis for complex medical devices and combination products. The company employs a multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, psychologists, and researchers and operates state-of-the-art usability laboratories across the United States and Europe. Design Science has built long-standing relationships with global life sciences clients and is widely regarded as a trusted partner in navigating FDA and international regulatory requirements.
“This acquisition meaningfully expands BlueRidge’s capabilities across the product lifecycle,” said Ian Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of BlueRidge Life Sciences. “Human factors and usability engineering are increasingly critical to regulatory success, patient safety, and commercial adoption. Design Science brings exceptional talent, a strong culture, and a best-in-class scientific approach that complements our existing offerings and strengthens the value we deliver to clients.”
Design Science will continue to operate under its existing brand while integrating into the BlueRidge platform. Katie Hansbro, Chief Executive Officer of Design Science, will continue to lead the business alongside the current leadership team.
“Joining BlueRidge is an exciting next chapter for Design Science,” said Hansbro. “Our teams share a commitment to scientific rigor, collaboration, and client impact. Together, we will be able to offer more comprehensive solutions to life sciences innovators as products move from development through commercialization.”
The combination enhances BlueRidge’s ability to support clients across clinical development, regulatory strategy, and commercialization by adding differentiated human factors expertise, including formative and validation usability studies, risk analyses, labeling and training development, and ethnographic research. The partnership also creates opportunities for expanded collaboration across BlueRidge’s broader platform to better serve pharmaceutical and medical device sponsors globally.
“This acquisition underscores our belief that differentiated knowledge and exceptional talent are the foundation of enduring services businesses,” said Pat Heath, Principal of Renovus Capital Partners. “Design Science has built a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and designers with deep domain expertise in human factors. By joining BlueRidge, that talent and institutional knowledge become an even more powerful asset—enhancing BlueRidge’s ability to solve complex problems for clients and create meaningful opportunities for the professionals who do this work.”