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ProtonDx is delighted to announce that its IMPACT-Farm Alliance partnership, co-led by Dr Nick Moser (as ProtonDx) and Dr Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano (as Imperial College London), has been awarded a Large R&D Partnership grant from Innovate UK Farming Innovation Programme to advance the development of Lacewing, a sample-to-result diagnostic tool designed to detect disease outbreaks and optimise vaccine strategies on pig farms.
In collaboration with leading experts from Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine, the Imperial Dyson School of Engineering, UK Agri-Tech Centre, Ceva, and Pilgrim’s, this funding will accelerate the progress of Lacewing, bringing it closer to becoming a rapid and cost-effective solution for farmers, veterinarians, and the broader agricultural sector.
Lacewing is a revolutionary ‘lab-on-a-chip’ technology capable of detecting and diagnosing porcine respiratory infections such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) and influenza. Currently, such infections are managed using a mix of vaccines, improved livestock management practices and antibiotics when illness leads to secondary bacterial infections. However, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the limited availability of effective vaccines for many pathogens continues to present a growing problem.
The grant will enable ProtonDx and its partners to enhance and accelerate Lacewing’s development toward commercial readiness. The test combines sample homogenisation, ultra-pure nucleic acid extraction and label-free microchip-based electrochemical molecular detection - allowing for fully automated pathogen detection from a scalable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional fluorescence-based systems. Lacewing bridges the gap between laboratory-grade precision and true penside usability, differentiating between multiple pathogens and tracking results wirelessly for efficient disease monitoring and control.
Nick Moser, Co-Founder and CTO of ProtonDx stated: “This funding will further aid the development of Lacewing into a fully automated diagnostic tool, capable of identifying a broad range of bacterial and viral pathogens. By working with a world-class team, we can transform the detection and management of porcine lung diseases on farms globally."
Vaia Peritogianni, Veterinary Surgeon of Pilgrim’s Europe stated: “Additional to the broadness of the pathogens it covers, this is a diagnostic tool that delivers reliable diagnostic results within minutes of sampling. The speed in diagnosis enables vets and farmers to act faster to manage and control diseases in a precise, efficient and appropriate way that can only promote animal health and welfare.”
June 25, 2025 - ProtonDx