Mologic and Fraunhofer CAP partner on rapid UTI diagnosis test

Personalised diagnostics developer, Mologic, and Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) have announced a partnership to develop a rapid, point-of-care test to immediately diagnose bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) and any associated antibiotic susceptibility.

The test, to be used in primary care settings, will hopefully lead to a step-change improvement in informed targeted prescriptions and will address the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

The project has been awarded a £900,000 development grant from SBRI Healthcare as part of an NHS drive to deliver new innovation in general practice. The project was one of ten novel technologies that were identified as having the potential to benefit future primary care and GP services. The award follows an initial six months feasibility funding of £92,000 made to Fraunhofer in April 2017.

The project’s technology combines nanophotonic waveguides and microfluidics to determine the response of bacteria to minute quantities of antibiotics.

Simon Andrews, executive director, Fraunhofer UK Research commented: “Over-prescription of needless antibiotics is fuelling the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance that threatens to render current antibiotics ineffective. We have already proven that our technology can successfully detect bacterial infections and at the same time establish susceptibly to different types of antibiotics. By partnering with Mologic, we look forward to bringing this and similar products closer to patients.”

Mark Davis, co-founder and CEO at Mologic said: “Antibiotic resistance is a global challenge which if not addressed will have catastrophic consequences for world health. By combining our expertise in developing and commercialising IVDs with Fraunhofer’s research and technology experience we have a real opportunity to better target treatments and avoid the inappropriate use of antibiotics. The technology has significant potential not only in the treatment of UTIs but far beyond. We thank SBRI Healthcare for recognising this, and we look forward to their ongoing support.”