Readily Diagnostics receives about $970,000 for an affordable STI test
The Gates Foundation grant backs an early-stage test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis in low-resource healthcare settings.
Adapting respiratory-test technology to sexual health
The award extends Readily’s work on respiratory infections into sexual health. The proposed test would analyse a urine sample or vaginal swab near the patient, with a price intended to suit primary-care, family-planning and HIV-prevention services in low- and middle-income countries.
A further design goal is to identify genetic markers of drug-resistant gonorrhea. That could give clinicians information about antibiotic choice alongside the infection result. The company says the project will follow the foundation’s global-access principles, making affordability and broad availability part of the development brief.
Use of funds
Establish concept and feasibility of an affordable STI test
Develop sample preparation and antimicrobial-resistance detection
Define the product-development roadmap