b'Case Study RAPID SUSTAINABLE DIAGNOSTICSSupporting researchers to tackle global issuesand low cost and carbon footprint of the test promises its associated with biofilms sustainability and adoptability widely across clinical and non-clinical sectors for early diagnosis and intervention, Loughborough University based biotechnology start- transforming care/product quality and costs.up, Cromerix, is working to tackle the growing global issues in healthcare, industry and home, due toCromerix has demonstrated rapid broad bacterial microbial infections and contaminations, which havedetection (gram-negative and gram-positive) and an economic impact of $5 trillion per annum associatedantibiotic sensitivity testing using a single-step aptamer-with biofilms, and an estimated annual burden ofbased fluorescence-switch assay. It has also designed $1 trillion by 2050 for antimicrobial resistance.concepts for microbial viability detection, equipment-The start-up currently specialises in aptamer-basedfree colorimetric detection, and a method and aptamer products that can deliver rapid sustainable diagnosticfor engineering a human microbiome-specific bacterial solutions, which has a global market size of ~$5 billion.metabolic activity. The start-up has engaged customer These aptamer-based techniques are transferrable tointerests in the fields of wound infection diagnostics, and engineering biology applications that have an estimatedcontamination in fuel, and pharmaceutical and personal global economic impact of $4 trillion in the next 10-20care products manufacturing sectors. Their findings on years. Dr Sourav Ghosh, Director at Cromerix anddiagnostic and engineering biology programmes have Senior Lecturer at Loughborough University, said,significant potential impact across a broad range of clinical and non-clinical sectors, including industry, home, We received an NBIC Flexible Talent Mobility Awarddefence, space, and environment.(FTMA) worth 20k, which was crucial in piloting research activities and intellectual property build-up. With support from Alderley Park, the Innovate UK Microbials Accelerators, and Innovate UK Edge, Cromerix is The initial concepts developed from this projectworking with experts to build an IP and regulatory strategy.supported the win of a Fast Start Innovate UK grant worth 50k, which further helped in proving theTo support the core technology development and feasibility of Cromerixs single-step microbial detectionapplication-specific validations, Cromerix is actively seeking technology. The growing technology evidence alsogrant, industry and private funding, industry and clinical helped the start-up win industry funding in fuelcollaborators and commercial advisors in the space of contamination measurement. Additionally, NBICmicrobial diagnostics (clinical and non-clinical), antimicrobial extended vital help in connecting with potentialresistance, microbiome, and engineering biology.customers, some of whom are continuing to engage with Cromerix around funding future development against a possible licensing agreement.Cromerixs diagnostic programme can deliver the worlds fastest definitive microbial test that informs both infection/contamination and antimicrobial selection. This is the first specific test having a broad microbial coverage, but can be designed to be species- Aptamera uniquely folded short single-stranded DNA/RNA at the specific where needed. The intrinsic speed, ease of use,heart of Cromerixs technology (an artistic view).Dr Sourav Ghosh Dr Sourav Ghosh is a Senior Lecturer at Loughborough University, leading biosensors research for over 10 years. He has supervised 8 PhDs and 5 postdocs, and won UK/EU research and enterprise grants worth over 2m. He post-graduated in biomedical engineering from the University of Oxford and studied for his PhD and postdoc at the University of Cambridge. Currently, he is delivering impact from his biotechnology research as the Director of Cromerix, a start-up based at Loughborough University.54'