NEWS
New diagnostic offers malaria breakthrough
A new study has shown that Dragonfly, a low-cost, rapid, molecular testing platform is successfully able to detect asymptomatic malaria infections. The test, which requires only a capillary blood sample obtained from a simple finger prick, has demonstrated the ability to identify previously undetectable asymptomatic malaria infections, cases that often go unnoticed by point-of-care systems and fuel malaria’s spread across Africa. The positive findings, published in
Nature Communications, show that this field-deployable molecular platform meets the performance criteria proposed for community-level screening. It operates without the need for extensive laboratory equipment or infrastructure and can deliver results in as little as 45 minutes. Global health efforts to combat malaria continue to be hampered by asymptomatic carriers, who often sustain ongoing malaria transmission. The study shows that this rapid, portable molecular platform offers a sensitive and scalable approach to support future test-and-treat strategies. The Dragonfly test, based on technology developed at Imperial College London and its spinout ProtonDx, was developed and evaluated by a global collaboration including the MRC Unit The Gambia and the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro in Burkina Faso. Professor Aubrey Cunnington, from
Imperial’s Department of Infectious Disease, said: “This is the first time that a diagnostic test for use outside of a laboratory setting has proven sensitive enough to detect low level malaria parasite infections in people who don’t have any symptoms. These people are the main source of malaria transmission.” n Rakotomalala Robinson D, Pennisi I, Cavuto ML, et al. Sensitive near point- of-care detection of asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in African endemic countries. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):8925. doi:10.1038/s41467-025-64027-4
New partnership for Launch Diagnostics
Launch Diagnostics has announced a new distribution deal with Biocare Medical for its extensive range of IHC antibodies and reagents, plus associated automated solutions. The products are now available from Launch to customers within England, Wales and Scotland. Biocare Medical is an innovator in developing and supplying world-class automated immunohistochemistry instrumentation, and the full range of reagents for IHC laboratory testing. With over 300 antibodies in a variety of formats including concentrated, pre- optimised and pre-diluted, they can be applied to clinical and research needs. In addition, the Q Series and Ultraline antibody ranges are compatible with the Leica Bond system and Roche Benchmark system respectively. Biocare’s new NeoPATH PRO (pictured)
is an advanced staining platform which sets a new standard in automated staining for IHC. It offers intuitive automation and delivers high-capacity throughput, complete with optimised reagents and ready-to-use antibodies. Contact Launch Diagnostics
for more information or visit www.
launchdiagnostics.com.
Daresbury Laboratory hosts 10 pioneering health start-ups
Ten pioneering health start- ups are tackling some of the world’s toughest healthcare challenges, from lung cancer to eye disease, at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory. The companies are the latest to join STFC’s Health Business Incubation Centre (Health BIC), helping start-ups bring innovative new ideas to market faster, improving lives and enabling success in global health markets. From a simple blood test for earlier cancer detection to predicting heart disease years in advance with artificial intelligence (AI), these innovators are revolutionising healthcare to improve outcomes and reduce pressure on the NHS.
Located at Sci-Tech Daresbury in the Liverpool City Region, the Health BIC provides start-ups with a tailored support package worth up to £70,000, helping them turn breakthrough ideas into real- world healthcare solutions faster. Launched in 2024 with £1.8 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Innovation Zone Programme, the Health
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BIC sits within the growing North West Health Cluster, giving start-ups access to resources rarely available at an early stage. These include AI and prototyping facilities, expert business guidance, and intellectual property support, to accelerate the
development of products that benefit patients, create jobs, and strengthen the UK’s health innovation ecosystem. Among the latest start-ups to join the Health BIC and their projects are: Averywell – a minimally invasive blood test for early lung cancer detection; Cardiology Devices – a support device for patients with advanced heart failure unable to undergo surgery or transplant; PB Biologics – a patented method for safer, scalable microbiome therapies; and Caremixer – an AI-powered platform connecting health systems and services to deliver personalised care. Pictured are staff members from
Cardiology Devices and Caremixer, two of the companies now located at STFC Daresbury Laboratory. The 10 companies are the second cohort to join the Health BIC this year, with the first group having joined in April.
DECEMBER 2025
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