b'Case Study REVOLUTIONISING HEALTHCARESupporting the next generation of scientific leaders accurate microbial identification becomes a cornerstone in the management of this complex condition.Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects around 11,000 people in the UK, and over 160,000 globally. One ofThe company have previously identified biomarkers for the most important bugs that causes this is PseudomonasP. aeruginosa in a large MRC clinical study in adults and aeruginosaa bacterium that is present everywhere butchildren which were identified not only in sputum but rarely has negative effects on people with healthy lungs.also plasma and urine. With the support of former NBIC For people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), this bacterium canBITE student Simone Lucanto, MiDx are developing a be deadly, and it is the leading cause of decline in lunglateral flow test that is highly sensitive and specific to health, compromising peoples quality of life.patented biomarkers. This testing will provide significant NHS cost savings (up to 54m long term). It can be used NBIC Interdisciplinary Research Fellow, Dr Shaunin the clinic and (be disposed) by pwCF at home, uses Robertson has developed a technological solutionnon-sputum biofluid, and returns a result in 15 minutes. to enhance the rapid detection of the P. aeruginosaThis will be revolutionary for pwCF to gain autonomy pathogen. In 2022, Dr Robertson took part in theover their own health.Biofilms ICURe Sprint - an accelerated version of the well-established Innovate UK Innovation toIP has been generated and has been exclusively licenced Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe)to MiDx. A subsequent patent will be filled when programme, which was funded by NBIC and deliveredappropriate to maximise patent lifetimeby SETsquared. After completing the programme Dr Robertson was awarded funding to transform hisMiDx are currently in the final prototyping stage of the solution into a spin-out called MiDx. Dr Robertson said, device and are now part of the 4.5m Precision Innovation Hub, funded by LifeArc and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, that My experience on the Biofilms ICURe Sprint waswill be providing access to testing with clinical samples transformational to my career aspirations as it allowedfor the study. Dr Robertson is co-investigator for the me to get out the lab, build networks and engageclinical studies that will take place from mid 2025, along directly with stakeholders. The process was intensive,with University of Nottingham Associate Professor and but the skills and training were extremely useful andNottingham University Hospital Trust Honorary Clinical helped mould a new mindset on how I approachConsultant Helen Barr and NBIC Nottingham Co-Director innovation and technology commercialisation. Professor Miguel Cmara. In October 2024, former NBIC BITE student Simone Lucanto was appointed Chief MiDx plan to revolutionise healthcare for individualsTechnology Officer at MiDx.with CF by pioneering cutting-edge lateral flow devices for precise and rapid microbial identification. MiDx strive to empower healthcare professionals and patients e.g., people with cystic fibrosis, with innovative diagnostic solutions that enable timely and targeted interventions. By combining their lateral flow technology with a deepThe first Biofilms ICURe Sprint understanding of the unique challenges faced by thosegave six academic teams from with cystic fibrosis, MiDx aim to enhance the quality ofacross the UK the opportunity to life for patients and contribute to a future where early,establish a commercial market for their research.Dr Shaun RobertsonDr Shaun Robertson is CEO and co-founder of MiDx. Prior to MiDx, Shaun was an NBIC Interdisciplinary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, where he led academic and industrial collaborations as PI and Co-I, in addition to supervising PhD and MSc students. At Nottingham, his research covered a broad topic of microbial biofilms and focused on polymicrobial model development, interkingdom quorum sensing focused on wounds and CF leading to a number of high impact publications.50'