The RAPID-COVID project aims to clinically validate its innovative multiplex technology in both point of care and high throughput settings. Their prototype will simultaneously detect and differentiate SARS-CoV-2 as well as 30 other common respiratory bacteria and viruses. GeneFirst’s assay will allow for accurate, cost-effective, and comprehensive diagnoses during the current outbreak, as well as future routine diagnosis. The strategy provides maximum flexibility for screening and triage, allowing better and faster care and alleviating pressures on healthcare systems.

The REDEEMA project will design and develop an inexpensive manufacturable (III-V semiconductor material based) resonant cavity enhanced photodiode (RCE-PD) infrared (IR) sensing array for monitoring greenhouse gases (GHGs). A paradigm in high sensitivity mid-IR GHG sensing, the REDEEMA sensor will aid existing analytical instrumentation in the intelligent field deployment of the quantitative analysers and/or in the determination of gas sources. It will improve performance and open many new opportunities with environment applications.

Using the company’s flagship proprietary software, eMR, Medi2Data develops highly secure applications that make it simple for GP practices and patients to exchange data. The healthcare software company will use its Innovate UK Smart Grant to further develop its interactive mobile application, ‘eMR Health Passport.’ The application securely holds a copy of the patient’s medical record in an easy-to-navigate format. The eMR passport will reduce the costs that primary care currently faces, simultaneously improving patient outcomes and the relationship between GP and patient.

The DeepADMET project aims to develop a Next-Generation Platform for Novel Drug Discovery, using Deep Learning of ``absorbption, distribution, metabolism and excretion-toxicity`` (ADMET properties). Poor ADMET properties are the cause of almost 56% of drug failures in pre-clinical and clinical development, generating upd to $1.4bn losses worldiwide. Thanks to DeepADMET, a new modelling method is now available: by employing modern ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) methods and applying these methods to modelling pre-gathered ADMET data, researchers can now provide more robust and precise ADMET properties.

Funded through the Eureka Eurostars Actions within the H2020 Programme, MISCA aims to provide Monolitically Integrated detector Solutions for next-generation Comms Applications. Current optical communications infrastructures cannot sustain the increasing bandwith demand, without massively increase power consumption. Thus, MISCA uses intelligent monolithic integration of compound semiconductor materials platforms to deliver high-speed detector solutions with co-optimised RF and optical performance, to deliver increased chip-scale specification and reduce operating power requirements.

The BreathSpec project aims to develop a rapid, non-invasive device that can diagnose bacterial or viral infections through ultra-high sensitivity breath analysis. Once developed the BreathSpec device will help reduce the development of anti-bacterial resistance and alleviate the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through improved diagnosis of antibiotic treatment. The device will also reduce the scientific, clinical and financial challenges associated with the development of new antibiotics.

The CADDNOR project aims to develop a point of care (POC) diagnostics and carbohydrate-based therapeutics, focused on the detection of Norovirus. The developed assay uses glyconanoparticle technology with potential for replacing molecular technologies and immunodiagnostics – a major shift in analytical approach. The use of carbohydrates instead of antibodies as the recognition mechanism has several advantages including their production using industrial scale, cost-effective chemoenzymatic synthesis which addressed the call topic.