An
innovative breath collecting device developed by academics at Northumbria
University, Newcastle, could revolutionise the way we diagnose diseases, such
as the newly emerged strain of coronavirus, COVID-19.
Northumbria
University secured regional support and funding for the next stage of product
and business development of technology which enables diagnosis of disease
through breath collection.
Research
shows that our breath contains valuable biological information, also known as
biomarkers, that can indicate health and disease. Biomarkers such as DNA, RNA,
proteins, and lipids found in the breath have diagnostic potential for diseases
of the lung and beyond.
The new
device allows sampling of the lung in a non-invasive way - by patients breathing
into it - to retrieve these biomarkers.
To date,
systems that diagnose from breath sampling have not proven to be reliable
enough due to contamination, sample loss and variability issues in breath
analysis. However, the new device resolves these issues so that the data
collected through this pioneering invention closely resembles results from lung
samples taken surgically.
It is hoped
that in the future the technology could be used in the diagnosis of lung
diseases as well as other health issues such as diabetes, cancers, liver
problems, brain and ageing diseases.
Research and
development of this technology was led by Dr Sterghios Moschos, Associate
Professor at Northumbria University whilst at Westminster University, and has
been progressed further whilst at Northumbria University.
Dr Moschos
explains: “Our ambition is to reduce the need for bloodletting for diagnosis in
its broadest sense. The research evidence that shows this is possible is well
established, what is missing is the standardised and reliable approach to do so
outside the research lab: in pharmacies, GP surgeries or the back of an
ambulance, for example.
“In the case
of Coronavirus, temperature monitoring in airports is not sufficient. The World
Health Organisation currently recommends testing nasal swabs, oral swabs and
swabs from inside the lungs to avoid missing the infection. That’s why it’s
vital that we develop non-invasive, quick and cost-effective tests for
diagnosis and screening.”
Development
of the breath collecting device has been greatly supported by funding from Northern
Accelerator, which made it possible to bring together a team to create a
functioning prototype of the device. Northumbria graduate Saqib Ali, has been appointed
as a Design Engineer for the project and has carried out the rapid prototyping
of the innovative device using 3D printers within the University’s engineering
labs.
Dr Tim
Hammond, Project Lead for the multi-university research commercialisation
programme, Northern Accelerator, said: “Dr Moschos’ technology is exactly the
kind of project Northern Accelerator sets out to progress. Our
pre-incorporation funding, along with a range of other support, helps academics
turn their promising ideas and world-class research into real world impact. This
device does exactly that – with our support it’s developing from an idea, to a
prototype, to a business that will impact healthcare around the world, as well
as increasing R&D expenditure and creating jobs here in the North East.”
The project has
also been supported by North by Northwest partner’s “Innovation to the
Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe)” programme. ICURe support enabled
the team to get out of the lab and speak to 144 key opinion leaders in breath
diagnostics in the US and EU. These conversations helped find a market for
their technology and develop a plan to take the technology out of the
University.
North by
Northwest partners, Head of Innovation, Dr Paul Donachy said “NxNW is a
community of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors helping accelerate the
commercialisation of University research in the North of England, Scotland and
Ireland. The InnovateUK funded ICURe
programme is a vital resource in helping University teams validate their
early-stage technology in the market. It is a pleasure working with such an
ambitious team behind the breath sampling device and we look forward to working
with them in future as they bring their platform to market.”
The primary
interest for the breath sampling device lies in human healthcare, but other
opportunities exist in other industries such as veterinary medicine,
biosecurity, agritech and food processing.
Professor
George Marston, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Northumbria
University, said: “The team have ambitions for this technology to replace
invasive venous and respiratory sampling tests where possible, particularly for
older and younger patients where needles and invasive tests can be
uncomfortable or sometimes not possible. We need new medical technologies that help to quickly and easily diagnose disease and monitor health, and this device is one
of those technologies. Sterghios and his team, along with our fantastic
partners, have the skills and experience to take this technology to market,
resulting in huge impact on healthcare globally in the coming years.”
