US Department of Defense backs Manchester medtech firm with $1.4m funding

Medical technology business genedrive plc has secured $1.4m (£1.07m) in funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD) for the development of its handheld disease detection device.

The Manchester-headquartered company said the seven-figure boost, for the continuation a DoD programme launched in August 2015, will be used to further develop its small portable Genedrive system.

The firm will enhance Genedrive, which provides molecular diagnostics at the point of need, so that the system can detect a broader range of biohazard targets.

genedrive plc said the ultimate aim of the DoD programme is to develop a cost-effective system allowing multiple units and tests to be deployed for field use.

The new funding brings the total DoD support to $6.5m (£4.95m).

David Budd, CEO of genedrive plc, said: “This next phase of field testing will help to further validate and confirm the characteristics of the Genedrive system: portability, flexibility and accuracy.

“The evaluation will be far reaching, rigorous and, if successful, it will be a clear validation of the Genedrive unit as a robust and easily deployable handheld device for pathogen and disease detection.”

He continued: “During our work with the DoD we have uncovered several developments that have applicability within our proprietary human healthcare initiatives, and, as such, this programme has served to accelerate our own development priorities.”