CEO at Presymptom Health, Dr. Iain Miller reveals how research from military laboratories - born out of battlefield demands - is now yielding innovative tech that allows for faster and more accurate detection of infections, even before symptoms appear.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. With the number of deaths associated with AMR projected to skyrocket in the coming years, innovation is urgently needed to ensure the continued effectiveness of life-saving medication and therapies.
At Presymptom Health, we have been repurposing artificial intelligence technology that was initially developed to protect troops from biological weapons as part of a new approach to tackling AMR.
Where military science meets medicine
The connection between military research and civilian healthcare has a rich history. From the microwave to the internet, dual-purpose military technologies have often been identified and subsequently transferred to everyday life.
A classic example is GPS navigation. Initially invented to provide accurate location information for submarines and missiles, now most mobile phones have GPS technology, enabling users to navigate cities, record walks, and keep tabs on their friends and family. Through £2.05 billion in science and technology research investment, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to support both military capabilities and healthcare innovations.
Presymptom Health was born from research at the Defence Science & Technologies Laboratory (Dstl) into better detection of biological threats, such as anthrax, plague and Ebola. Ploughshare – a company that finds new and inspiring uses for government inventions – identified the innovation as having potential societal impact and spun it out from the UK Ministry of Defence in 2019.
Bringing military innovation to civilian healthcare presents unique obstacles, which can be extremely challenging to overcome without the necessary resources and expertise. Ploughshare’s core purpose is to identify the best government innovations and help them to scale and deliver real-world impact, by nurturing spinouts, creating synergistic ecosystems, and facilitating technology licensing. Their own Ploughshare Accelerator Fund (PAF) provides pre-seed and seed funding that is often essential to build viable businesses from promising technologies.
A new diagnostic approach
On the battlefield, just as in civilian life, infection can be fatal despite the best medical practices. The UK MOD and US Department of Defense (DOD) recognised this challenge, particularly regarding sepsis – organ dysfunction caused by infectious disease.
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Traditional sepsis detection varies between medical practitioners and often comes too late. Conventional methods focus on identifying specific infectious agents, rather than understanding how the body responds to infection. This approach led Presymptom scientists to develop a more consistent, data-driven method that could be standardised across medical practices.
Rather than identifying specific pathogens, we analyse RNA-based host responses using artificial intelligence. Our InfectiClear® system was developed based on a comprehensive biobank comprising 15 years of patient data, including thousands of blood samples from patients who went on to develop infections and sepsis. It allows us to eliminate a huge amount of guesswork and can detect signs up to three days before current diagnosis methods. This approach allows for faster and more accurate detection of infections, even before symptoms appear.
The PRECISiON clinical trial was recently conducted across nine NHS sites, including Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, between May 2021 and April 2024 to demonstrate the effectiveness of InfectiClear® technology. Early results indicated that it is more than 95% accurate at ruling out lower respiratory tract infections – surpassing existing diagnostic methods. The trial included 484 patients, providing vital data about infection patterns and treatment outcomes. Further analysis of the trial results is currently ongoing, and full results will be announced later this year.
Preventing antibiotic overuse
While bacterial evolution naturally leads to AMR, unnecessary antibiotic use accelerates this process. Between 20-70% of the UK’s annual 35 million antibiotic prescriptions may be inappropriate or unnecessary, depending on the clinical setting. In fact, antibiotics are often prescribed as a precautionary measure to patients with suspected infections. Quicker and more precise infection detection can help clinicians make informed decisions about antibiotic prescription, potentially slowing AMR development.
This technology also has potential to reduce overcrowding in hospitals. Up to 38% of all UK emergency department admissions are patients with presumed infection who are potentially at risk of developing sepsis. More accurate early diagnosis could improve patient flow and resource allocation while maintaining high standards of care.
What’s next?
Presymptom has a follow-up trial, named Precision 2, planned in 2025 with 350 patients to further assess the accuracy of InfectiClear® for respiratory and other infections. We hope that the results from this trial will help drive adoption at scale across the NHS. The current system is designed to work with existing NHS PCR platforms – many of which were deployed during COVID-19 and are now underutilised. This is an excellent example of how we can build on existing healthcare infrastructure while introducing new capabilities.
While our initial focus is the UK, we plan to expand the impact of our technology into North America and Europe, subject to their specific regulatory requirements. The technology’s potential applications are global and could eventually benefit all healthcare systems seeking to improve diagnostic accuracy and resource efficiency.
As research continues into new antimicrobial treatments, improved diagnostic tools will play an essential role in maintaining the effectiveness of our current antibiotics. Presymptom’s journey from military labs to clinics across the country is a promising – and rather optimistic – model for addressing complex healthcare challenges through unexpected connections between different sectors.
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