Blood stream infections and sepsis are responsible for 20% of global death, a number that is predicted to rise due to the growing global health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)1.
Currently, determining the most effective antibiotic to treat a bloodstream infection takes several days, as laboratory testing is required to determine antibiotic susceptibility.
During this delay, clinicians are often forced to rely on broad-spectrum antibiotics. While this approach is intended to provide immediate coverage, it can disrupt a patient’s microbiome and further accelerate the spread of AMR.
Worse still, resistance is now emerging against these broad-spectrum antibiotics. As a result, patients may be treated with drugs that are ultimately ineffective during the most critical window of illness.
This delay in administering the right therapy can lead to rapid deterioration, and in some cases, death before lab results become available.
Every hour counts. Mortality from sepsis increases by 4-7% for every hour that effective treatment is delayed. These realities underscore the urgent global need for faster, more accurate diagnostic tools that can guide timely, targeted antibiotic therapy, and ultimately – save lives.
Innovation
Addressing this urgent clinical need, Cytecom, a spin-out from the University of Warwick, is developing the CyteCount system – an innovative diagnostic platform poised to drastically shorten the time needed to identify effective, targeted antibiotic therapy from days to hours. This approach aims to enable faster, more precise treatment for patients with bloodstream infections and sepsis.
At the heart of CyteCount is Optical Electrophysiology – a novel, patented technique that measures changes in bacterial and fungal membrane potential in response to antibiotics.
By combining fluorescent microscopy, electrical stimulation and Artificial Intelligence, the system detects real-time physiological changes at the cellular level. Living cells respond by glowing brighter, while dead or inhibited cells dim, providing a direct readout of antimicrobial susceptibility in as little as 45 seconds.
Crucially, this method does not rely on bacterial growth or replication, enabling much faster results than conventional culture-based diagnostics.
Currently in the pre-clinical development phase, CyteCount’s integrated approach is showing promise for delivering actionable results at the point of need. If fully realised, the system could offer several transformative benefits:
- Reduced mortality: CyteCount’s rapid identification of effective antibiotics could reduce complications, readmissions, and sepsis-related deaths.
- Optimised antibiotic use: Real-time results support coordinated, targeted prescribing and reduced reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Shorter hospital stays: Patients with sepsis currently spend up to 12 days in hospital while effective treatment is found – rapid diagnosis and treatment could free up crucial hospital space and save huge NHS costs.
Cytecom has received intensive, cross-sector support through the WMHTIA, with seven partner organisations helping to advance the commercialisation of its health technology. This collaboration addressed key challenges across design, manufacturing, intellectual property, regulatory, and investment readiness.
- Bruntwood SciTech: Enrolled Cytecom to the 8-week Triple Chasm business development and commercialisation programme, helping improve commercialisation process and focus on a target niche that clearly distinguishes customer from end user.
- Forresters: Delivered comprehensive intellectual property support, safeguarding the CyteCount technology.
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): Created a design for manufacture process for a research laboratory variant of the diagnostic device.
- Medilink Midlands: Played a key role in supporting Cytecom’s strategic visibility and ecosystem engagement, as part of its broader effort to establish a thriving medtech innovation landscape in the West Midlands. Cytecom partnered with Medilink Midlands to co-organise the Innovations Against AMR event, bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers to accelerate collaboration against antimicrobial resistance.
- Plug and Play UK: Provided one-to-one investors and industry partners introductions, along with commercialisation support, including an invitation to the Silicon Valley Winter Summit.
- SPARK The Midlands (Aston University): Supported regulatory training and compliance strategy by upskilling an in-house regulatory expert and facilitated grant collaborator introductions.
Cytecom was also a WMHTIA grant recipient which engaged support from Smallfry in the development of their product. Together, the team engaged with hospital laboratories, initiating an explorative design process grounded in insights into the needs of the working environment and its personnel.
The design and user interface evolved over time, adapting in response to industry feedback and creative input. While simultaneously considering usability, performance, manufacturability, and aesthetic direction, the team ultimately arrived at the CyteCount device, optimised to exceed laboratory requirements.
What’s next?
Since receiving support from the WMHTIA, Cytecom has already reached a major milestone – commercialising its first research-use device and securing its initial clients in the academic sector.
Looking ahead, the company is focused on completing clinical data collection with NHS partners in Leicester and finalising the design of its diagnostic device to reach regulatory readiness.
As development progresses, Cytecom plans to scale regional manufacturing – creating local jobs, strengthening the Midlands Health Tech ecosystem, and accelerating access to life-saving diagnostics for patients facing bloodstream infections and sepsis.
Dr Magdalena Karlikowska, CEO of Cytecom, said:
“The WMHTIA support has been instrumental in accelerating Cytecom’s journey from innovation to commercialisation. It enabled us to enhance the reliability of our diagnostic technology, strengthen our regulatory position, and refine our product development strategy.
Thanks to this support, we are now positioned to bring our rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing solutions to market sooner, improving patient outcomes and supporting the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
This support has not only advanced our technology but has also opened doors to new collaborations, investment opportunities, and regional economic growth.”
For more information on the work that Cytecom are doing, visit www.cytecom.co.uk
The WMHTIA is part of the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme, which is led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
This new model of funding focuses on locally-led innovation to drive economic growth and technological advancement by supporting regional innovative businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs. In the West Midlands, local leadership has been driven by a partnership comprising of the West Midlands Combined Authority, universities and other research institutions, and senior industry representatives.
Building on the £100 million already invested between 2022 and 2025, a further £30m was spread equally across three UK city-regions participating in the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme, which includes a funding boost of £4m for the WMHTIA to continue its support of Health Tech innovators in 2025/26.
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