Oxford University Innovation helps to power global health solutions   

16th October 2024

A powerful new tool - launched by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) – is demonstrative of the impact of university research on global health.

EIT Pathogena is a genomic analysis tool designed to address the global threat of infectious diseases.

The innovative cloud-based platform, designed for use by researchers and academics worldwide, will initially focus on the detection and analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The process of translating cutting-edge academic research into practical solutions was steered through the work of OUI, in licensing the University of Oxford’s technology to the Global Pathogen Analysis System (GPAS), a University of Oxford spinout company, for the development of EIT Pathogena.

EIT Pathogena, built on Oracle’s cloud technology, enables researchers to gain vital insights into pathogen identification, drug resistance, and outbreak detection. It stems from the work of  Professor Sir John Bell, President of EIT Oxford, and Professor Derrick Crook, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Oxford.

Steve Silvey, Deputy Head of Licensing & Ventures for Life Sciences at OUI, said: “OUI is proud to have collaborated with GPAS to bring University of Oxford innovations addressing infectious disease threats into real-world application. Our joint efforts in forming GPAS and licensing the technology behind EIT Pathogena for tuberculosis surveillance and diagnosis mark the beginning of a meaningful partnership.”

Professor Sir John Bell said: “The launch of EIT Pathogena for Mycobacteria is the first crucial step in our journey to save lives through the power of genomics. By enhancing our understanding of disease transmission, we are paving the way for more effective interventions and, ultimately, a world where the threat of pandemics is significantly diminished. We are excited to expand this technology to other pathogens and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in global health.”

To find out more, you can read about GPAS here.

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