Aston University and BG Research Partner to Commercialize Groundbreaking Medical Diagnostic

Technology that can rapidly diagnose high-consequence infectious diseases will take a major step forward towards commercialization, thanks to a new partnership.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Aston University (Birmingham, UK) and BG Research (Kimbolton, UK) will help to further develop technology to rapidly diagnose serious and high-risk infectious diseases. CENOS, developed by BG Research, uses a portable and robust instrument that can deliver fast RT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests directly from unprocessed samples of blood, swab, saliva, or urine.

The platform is designed for use in remote locations, as it does not require specialist personnel or laboratory equipment and can be easily scaled in the event of an outbreak. PCR tests, used during the COVID-19 pandemic, usually require analysis in a laboratory, taking a day or more to get a result. CENOS can deliver results in around 30 minutes, enabling infected patients to be quickly isolated and treated.

CENOS can also be used for early detection of those infected but without symptoms, helping to minimize transmission and contain outbreaks. The technology is currently being piloted in veterinary settings, testing livestock for avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, Newcastle disease, and African swine fever. The KTP between Aston University and BG Research will take the company’s existing prototype and optimize its design for low-cost and high-volume manufacturing while enhancing key characteristics such as robustness, reliability, and ease of operation, assembly, and servicing.

The research will draw on expertise in the design for manufacture of medical devices from Aston University’s Engineering 4 Health (E4H) Research Centre and use the University’s advanced facilities in prototyping, materials engineering, and manufacturing processes. E4H combines research in all fields of engineering (biomedical, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and computer sciences) with health disciplines to translate innovative and emerging engineering technologies into healthcare.

The KTP will provide BG Research with a clear path towards high-volume manufacture, enabling the company to launch the CENOS instrument commercially, initially for veterinary use but, once the necessary regulations are obtained, for use in human diagnostics worldwide.

“We met with six university teams around the country, but were highly impressed with Aston University and chose them as our KTP partner,100% on merit. The University has the reach, interest, and facilities to help us get to where we need to be,” said Nelson Nazareth, managing director and chief technology officer of BG Research.

“This KTP offers us an opportunity to be involved in something with the potential to have a major impact on managing the progression of infectious diseases in countries where their burdens are most strongly felt,” added Dr. Patrick Geoghegan, senior lecturer in mechatronics and biomedical engineering and a member of the Engineering 4 Health Research Centre (E4H) at Aston University. “We hope it’s the start of a long relationship with BG Research, where we can work together to achieve their goals.”

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Aston University
BG Research