Lancaster University spinout secures funding to advance healthcare diagnostics

Lancaster University spin out CCI Photonics has secured significant funding to develop its diagnostic technology, which aims to improve healthcare outcomes.

This groundbreaking technology uses AI to detect infectious diseases and determine patients’ antibiotic susceptibilities in under 15 minutes.

The investment includes £200,000 from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) PraeSeed program, support from ICURe Innovate UK, and £150,000 from the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON). This funding will develop the company’s commercial strategy and support collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to validate the company’s diagnostic prototype for infectious diseases. An additional £100,000 investment has been deployed by Lyva Labs as part of  Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Investment.

Partners in innovation

Founded on research conducted in partnership with the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), CCI Photonics has also benefited from the involvement of PBL Technology who are a leader in advancing and commercialising innovative technologies and have played a key role in shaping the company’s commercialisation strategy. By leveraging its expertise and network, PBL has accelerated the technology’s development and continues to play an integral role in the company’s management team. Lancaster University Research Commercialisation Team have also supported the venture.

READ MORE: Bridging the gap: mouse breath research to advance infectious disease diagnostics

READ MORE: New disease testing component facilitates lower-cost diagnostics

CCI Photonics originated from the PhD research of Dr Carlos Alejandro Meza Ramirez at Lancaster University. His work, co-supervised by Professor Craig Williams, Consultant Microbiologist at UHMBT, and Professor Ihtesham ur Rehman, formerly of Lancaster University, has led to the development of a novel diagnostic prototype.

‘Best guess’ treatments

Current diagnostic methods to identify bacterial infections in patients take up to 72 hours for results, meaning many patients are prescribed antibiotics based on “best guess” treatments, leading to ineffective care, increased likelihood of recurrence and contributing to the rise of Antibiotic Microbial Resistance.

To tackle this issue, CCI Photonics has developed InfectiScan, a revolutionary in vitro diagnostic device that combines infrared spectrometry with innovative AI models. This device can detect bacterial infections in bodily fluids within just 15 minutes informing the healthcare worker what bacteria are present and what antibiotics should be prescribed.

Dr Meza Ramirez, CEO of CCI Photonics, said: “This funding allows us to take critical steps in validating and refining our technology. With the support of our partners, we are working to bring a practical solution to healthcare challenges.

“The collaboration between Lancaster University and Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust laid the foundation for this innovation.”

Memorandum of understanding

Lancaster University and UHMBT have already signed a commitment to work more closely together with a Memorandum of Understanding for projects around areas including research and innovation.

Consultant Microbiologist at UHMBT Professor Craig Williams said: “I am delighted to be involved in this ongoing research which, I hope will provide benefits to patients by providing much more rapid diagnosis which in turn will lead to improvements in the treatment of infection in our area and more widely, especially as bacteria become more resistant to commonly used antibiotics.”

Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON, a leading global centre for infectious disease R&D, said: “Combatting the transmission of infection is one of the most significant health challenges of our time, and its urgency continues to escalate. It is essential that we harness novel, disruptive technologies to advance our efforts in tackling the spread of infection.”

Pilot study

With the investment and UKRI Novel Technologies Grant, CCI Photonics, in collaboration with LSTM and UHMB, will perform a pilot study aiming to evaluate and validate the prototype effectiveness for quickly identifying urinary tract and bloodstream infections, including those resistant to antibiotics.

Successful validation will support the widespread use of the prototype in healthcare settings, such as GPs surgeries, and community pharmacies, improving patient care and outcomes as well as helping to reduce AMR.