Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health concern. In 2023, there were a total of 401,800 new diagnoses of STIs made by sexual health services in England.1
Common STIs are often considered to be stigmatising and if left undiagnosed and untreated, they can cause long-term health problems, seriously impacting the wellbeing of affected individuals.
More so, untreated infections that lead to life-long treatment create significant cost to healthcare services. A 2011 Public Health England report estimated the costs for STI treatment (excluding HIV) ran to £620 million annually.2
Timely and accurate detection of STIs has been shown to help guide appropriate treatment, prevent complications, decrease onward transmission and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Innovation
University of Birmingham spin-out, Linear Diagnostics, is developing an accurate, point-of-care diagnostic platform that aims to diagnose infection from a single sample faster than any commercially available alternative.
Linear’s Exponential Amplification (EXPAR) technology uses an extremely fast method that can detect bacterial STIs, urinary tract infections, and viral infections including COVID in as little as 5 minutes.
The novel diagnostic device has several distinct advantages in that, not only does it provide very accurate results, but can measure multiple targets simultaneously using a disposable cartridge run on a small low-cost instrument.
It is here that rapid testing is essential, so patients can be diagnosed and start treatment within one clinic visit to stop the chain of transmission.
The benefits:
- Rapid results at the STI clinic: Immediate steps towards treatment of positively diagnosed patients decreases onward transmission and improves patient experience
- Lower risk of Antibiotic Resistance (AMR): The World Health Organization reports that the treatment of STIs contributes to the global AMR concern3
- Reduced healthcare costs: Early intervention can prevent long-term complications which create a financial burden on the NHS
The WMHTIA has supported Linear Diagnostics by driving the technology towards real-world deployment through bespoke prototype development and investment-readiness support.
This has included drawing on the support of the following WMHTIA partners:
- University of Birmingham: Iterative prototype development and work on different materials to reduce cost of development. By optimising the design at an early stage through the University’s advanced manufacturing facilities, considerable time was saved in the later engineering phases. Linear Diagnostics also participated in the University’s HealthTech AI Hub hackathon which provided solutions to identified company challenges including advanced AI-aided assay design and development.
- Bruntwood SciTech: Enrolled Linear Diagnostics to an 8-week business development and commercialisation programme, providing support with business theory, investment-readiness and developing the company’s market path. Also facilitated networking opportunities with investors and regional & national Life Science stakeholders at conferences and showcases.
- Medilink Midlands: Facilitated access to expert advice on intellectual property, clinical trial readiness, and regulatory compliance through tailored events programme. Also provided keynote opportunity at AMR conference leading to connection with ARREST-AMR innovations network, which offers funding and adoption support.
- Technology Supply Chain (TSC): Provided Linear Diagnostics with marketing guidance, expert bid writing support and stakeholder introductions – expanding Linear’s network.
- Linear Diagnostics was also a WMHTIA grant recipient.
What’s next?
The WMHTIA has shown to effectively strengthen the regional Health Tech sector’s ability to secure funding, particularly through targeted pitching and bid writing support. As a result, enterprises supported by the WMHTIA have secured £10m in national grants from organisations such as NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.
Notably, Linear Diagnostics has been awarded £1m funding to finalise the development of its rapid test for STIs in readiness for clinical trials.
The funding was awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Invention for Innovation programme to cover a three-year package of work by Linear, in partnership with NIHR HRC in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation and the North East Innovation Lab – part of Newcastle Hospitals.
This work will culminate in the first test of the technology on clinical samples in a real-world setting. Initially focused on sexually transmitted infections, Linear Diagnostics is also exploring wider applications of its rapid diagnostic.
Jean-Louis Duprey, Head of Research and Development at Linear Diagnostics, said:
“Working with the WMHTIA has greatly accelerated the progress of this project and the support has been invaluable in overcoming many of the varied and challenging obstacles in bringing our technology to market.”
For more information on the work that Linear Diagnostics is doing, visit www.lineardiagnostics.com
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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