Member Article

DNA tech pioneers seek crowdfunding for portable malaria laboratoy

Newcastle DNA technology pioneers QuantuMDx have launched a crowdfunding campaign to progress their phone-sized portable labs in the fight against malaria.

The firm’s technology can run a malaria diagnosis and drug resistance test in under 15 minutes and a campaign to raise funds will be used to extend clinical trials of the device.

Using Indiegogo QuantuMDx are seeking to fund clinical trials so their technology can be used in developing countries.

CEO Elaine Warburton OBE said: “Our crowdfunding campaign is unique. Not only are we looking for contributors to support this phenomenally worthy cause to help save many hundreds if not thousands of children’s lives, but we’re also offering everyone the chance to leave a lasting legacy in the fight against malaria by contributing their winning ideas to the look and feel of our device and to take part in re-naming it from the current research name of Q-POC™.

“Who knows, perhaps we’ll find the next Jonathan Ive? “

CSO Jonathan O’Halloran added: “We have spent years developing our tech and we now have a prototype device that has completed a sample-to-result malaria DNA test in under 15 minutes. Contributions will help take our life saving device from the lab to the field and directly save lives.

“We have health workers around the world crying out for our technology and are now receiving the support of major NGOs, we just need help to finalize our development and drive the technology through clinical trials.”

The Company will be releasing a series of trailers of the campaign to introduce the technology on their YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/QuantuMDxTV.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .