London UK, February 18th, 2025 - ​​ProtonDx is proud to announce that it has been awarded funding through the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare program to accelerate the development of Lacewing, our innovative diagnostic technology, to tackle the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis.

The SBRI funding will support the adaptation of Lacewing into a portable, point-of-care device capable of identifying bacterial infections in less than 20 minutes using just a drop of blood.

Unlike traditional diagnostics, Lacewing reads the patient's immune response to determine the source and severity of illness rather than identifying specific pathogens. This approach can accelerate the detection of infections, enabling timely and appropriate treatment and helping to curb unintentional misuse of antibiotics - a key factor in the fight against AMR, which could claim 10 million lives every year by 2050.

Dr Clare Wilson, co-investigator and clinical/healthcare professional partner at Imperial NHS Foundation Trust, explains the issues that Lacewing addresses. 

“When a child enters the emergency department with a fever, it’s vital to quickly determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral to guide antibiotic use and identify severe cases that need urgent care. Current tests often provide us with information too late, which can lead to unnecessary antibiotic use in an era of growing AMR. Treatment delays can also increase the risk of complications and mortality.”

By rapidly identifying infections and assessing their severity, Lacewing can transform the way febrile illnesses are diagnosed, ensuring faster treatment and reducing antibiotic misuse.

ProtonDx CEO Bob Enck welcomed the investment: "We are honoured to be among the innovative companies addressing the urgent AMR challenge. This award will enable us to develop Lacewing into a transformative point of care diagnostic tool that can help address AMR and ultimately save lives."

ProtonDx has been awarded almost £100,000 of the £1m SBRI funding for a project entitled ‘The rapid assessment of aetiology and severity of febrile illness to optimise antibiotic use and clinical care’. The project is led in partnership with Prof Jethro Herberg, Dr Clare Wilson, Prof Aubrey Cunnington, Dr Myrsini Kaforou and Prof Mike Levin, all from Imperial College London.

Backed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative, SBRI funding will help projects run for up to six months, with the aim to demonstrate technical and commercial feasibility. Verena Stocker, Director of Innovation, Research, Life Sciences and Strategy, NHS England and Chief Executive Officer, Accelerated Access Collaborative, stated: "These innovations… have the potential to significantly impact the fight against antimicrobial resistance." 

Editor’s notes
AMR is a global healthcare emergency. If current trends continue, 10 million deaths annually by 2050 are predicted. Accurate and timely diagnostics play a key role in reversing this trajectory.

SBRI Healthcare is funded by the Accelerated Access Collaborative and delivered in partnership with the Health Innovation Network. It is committed to supporting innovations that address unmet healthcare needs in the NHS. 
For more information, visit the SBRI Healthcare announcement.