Research from the University of Oxford has paved the way for a revolutionary new test that could transform the way we detect haemolysis – a serious blood condition that affects millions worldwide. Developed by Pawel Swietach and Alzbeta Hulikova in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, this new urine-based test eliminates the need for expensive and invasive blood samples, making diagnosis faster, easier, and more accessible.
Red blood cells are the most abundant cell-type in the body, crossing every tissue in the body and becoming exposed to all possible stressors. Rupture (haemolysis) takes place when their limited defences are overwhelmed by metabolic, dietary, pharmacological, mechanical, immunological, or infective triggers. A haemolytic crisis can happen as early as birth and remain a life-long burden for those with a genetic risk (for example sickle cell disease or hereditary spherocytosis) or an environment-related risk (for example Malaria or dengue fever). Collectively, the presence of the biomarker can capture a very wide range of illnesses.
Monitoring haemolysis is essential as it can raise awareness of a medical problem, guide timely intervention, track disease progression, and inform treatment strategies. However, current blood-based tests incur significant costs (staff, equipment, consumables), are limited to in-person clinic visits, and have specific clinical limitations. This new test could dramatically improve early detection, helping patients manage their conditions more effectively.
Having identified an opportunity for improvement the Swietach group identified a novel, urine-based biomarker for haemolysis and developed a prototype lateral flow device (LFD) for rapid, non-invasive point-of-care detection. OUI has filed a patent and has signed development licenses with two commercial partners, Camtech Innovations and Muhdo Health, who will support this project. Commercialisation will pave the way for broader applications in haematology, pharmacovigilance, and general wellness monitoring.
CAMTECH INNOVATIONS is a leading UK-based service provider in rapid healthcare diagnostics, noted for developing several tests for healthcare monitoring, infectious disease diagnosis and food safety applications. The company has a highly skilled team with multi-disciplinary expertise in lateral flow and microfluidic device development, and has extensive experience in technology transfer and R&D partnerships.
THE MUHDO GROUP, a leader in epigenetic science, AI, and blockchain technology, is expanding its portfolio with a new platform tailored for mothers and children. As part of this initiative, The Muhdo Group has selected the Oxford-developed test for its ‘mother-and-child’ product line. Additionally, Muhdo is providing funding to support LFD manufacturing and explore the development of nappy inserts as an alternative testing solution for infants.
Daniel Kirilly, Innovation Director at Camtech says,
‘At Camtech Innovations, we are honoured to be part of this ground-breaking collaboration with Professor Swietach. Developing a rapid, non-invasive test for haemolysis, and other applications, aligns perfectly with our mission to advance accessible diagnostics, and we look forward to bringing this innovative solution to the market.‘
Steve Silvey, Deputy Head of Licensing & Ventures for Life Sciences at Oxford University Innovation, said, ‘At Oxford University Innovation, we are proud to support the commercialisation of research that has real-world impact. This agreement between Professor Swietach, Camtech Innovations, and Muhdo Health exemplifies how university research can be transformed into practical healthcare solutions. By enabling the development of this novel, non-invasive haemolysis test, we are helping to bridge the gap between academic innovation and patient benefit.’
Please contact communications@dpag.ox.ac.uk for further information if required