Atlas Genetics awarded £2 million contract to expand STI test menu on platform

The ultra-rapid Point-Of-Care (POC) molecular diagnostics company, Atlas Genetics, has received a £2 million phase II contract from Innovate UK for the expansion of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) test menu on its io rapid diagnostic platform.

This contract will encompass a collaboration between Atlas Genetics, Aquarius Population Health and the Applied Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Unit (ADREU) at St George’s University, London.

As a part of the project, further research into diagnostic pathways within sexual health and the benefits of introducing POC testing will be performed. Additionally, the io platform will be evaluated through use in several UK sexual health clinics, which will also assist the development of the company’s Multi-STI (io MSTI) test prior to clinical trials.

“We are delighted to have been selected for this substantial follow-on contract. The work being done by this collaboration will enable us to better understand how best to integrate our io system into UK sexual health clinical practice,” said Dr John Clarkson, chief executive officer of Atlas Genetics. “Innovate UK’s commitment to introducing new, pioneering approaches to healthcare validates both our technology and our leading role in molecular diagnostics.”

“We are very excited to collaborate on this Innovate UK funded project,” commented Dr Elisabeth Adams, managing director of Aquarius Population Health. “Together with Atlas Genetics, we are developing an innovative digital value proposition tool which we believe will help sexual health clinics in their commissioning and adoption of io rapid diagnostic platform.”

“This is a highly exciting and innovative approach to better understand and overcome the often complex and substantial challenges to getting cutting-edge technology adopted into the NHS,” added Dr Tariq Sadiq, director of the Applied Diagnostic and Research Evaluation Unit at St George’s University of London. “We believe that there are real benefits to using the io rapid diagnostic platform as patients will be able to receive the appropriate treatment immediately and thereby reduce onward transmission, and ultimately save the NHS time and money.”