Public Funding for Microplate DX Limited

Resistance to antibiotics is one of the most concerning challenges society currently faces. It is on a par with climate change and accumulation of plastic in the ocean. It is a reflection on the importance of this challenge that many new technologies are being developed to help doctors select the correct antibiotic for a given infection. The misdirected use of antibiotics is one of the drivers of antibiotic resistance, inappropriate prescriptions increase the number of drug resistant infections and accelerate the process of reaching the point where current medicines no longer work. Microplate Dx is a company attempting to address this issue through an innovative technological solution which effectively shrinks traditional microbial culture on large agar plates down on to a microchip style technology and allows the resistance pattern of bacteria causing the infection to be determined. This allows clinicians to make informed decisions about which drug to prescribe in under one hour. Technologies like this will have a big role to play in improving 'antibiotic stewardship' and preserving the stocks of medicine we currently have. To take the Microplate Dx prototype from concept to reality it is necessary to address several measurement issues around the product itself so that its manufacturability and scalability can be properly demonstrated. Showing that the gel deposits, which go onto the chip can be deposited with high consistency is crucial to demonstrating manufacturability and also, being able to show that the various chemicals added to the gel which make the test work are evenly distributed throughout is a key performance factor which needs to be verified. In this project, Microplate Dx will work with the National Measurement Laboratory who through access to their biological printer and surface characterisation instrumentation will assist with these two challenges. Achieving these goals will help the company with moving its technological development forward and sourcing future investments and revenue.