Public Funding for Oxford Molecular Biosensors Limited

This project aims to research and prototype a highly affordable, 3D-printed device for detecting toxicity in the field using OMBs novel molecular biosensors. The biosensor technology has recently emerged from the research base as OMB is a University of Oxford spinout, and as such the market is unestablished, requiring an innovative approach to enter and get purchase. In this project we will develop a prototype device able to quantify the light-output from our cutting-edge microbial biosensors. These novel biosensors are based on designed bacteria, and can be used to detect various important targets such as toxicity, genotoxicity, specific heavy metals and metalloids such as cadmium and arsenic, and also antibiotics. In the presence of these targets, the biosensors release light, which is able to be detected and quantified, to give information on the relative quantity in the sample. These targets can cause detrimental effects in the environment and in industries such as wastewater treatment plants and fish farms, and so OMBs biosensors can help inform the user on concentrations and provide an early warning system. Our target markets include waste-water treatment plants, aquaculture farms and brownfield sites - as the sensors can detect toxicity in under 30 minutes and inform the user if further testing is required, or if the plant is working correctly. In particular, this project focuses on value of the biosensor data, and aims to generate a dynamic database able to provide additional, highly useful data for the customer. As the device proposed in this project will be highly affordable, it will be more likely to be adopted in developing countries where it is most needed, and to this end we will not only be testing it in the UK, but also in Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

"Oxford Molecular Biosensors (OMB ltd) is a spinout from the university of Oxford. Our aim is to translate ground-breaking synthetic biology research into sets of useable chemical and biological monitoring tools and products for application worldwide. In this project we aim to develop a new sensor which is able to rapidly detect an important measure of water quality; Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). Current measures take up to 5 days and can cost £50-200 per measurement, however with our novel biosensor we believe we could reduce this time to between 20 minutes and 3 hours, at a reduced cost. Our new technology is based on a suite of novel biosensors that can quickly detect metals, organics and biological toxins at very low concentrations. These can be deployed to monitor and manage environmental pollution, provide new and unique solutions to waste remediation and assist in metal and waste recycling. It would allow us, and our customers to detect polluting effluents in rivers, lakes and the environment quickly, cheaply and effectively. The new biosensor would give rapid results at any site of interest, and could be used for a wide range of applications spanning from industrial waste, agricultural effluents and in river systems global y. With water security of paramount importance, our new biosensors offer a rapid and sensitive method to detect toxicity and pollution."