AquAffirm announces new Innovate UK grant to support development of next-gen digital smart sensors to measure antibiotics in water

New project will focus on development of portable digital sensors to measure levels of  antibiotics in water, using the proprietary AquAffirm™ platform

 LONDON, UK – AquAffirm Ltd is pleased to announce that it has received a prestigious grant to spearhead development of its AquAffirm™ digital smart sensors for environmental monitoring of antibiotics in water. This significant financial support, provided by Innovate UK, marks a pivotal moment in AquAffirm’s commitment to advancing its proprietary platform technology for the betterment of public health and environmental sustainability. By leveraging state-of-the-art innovations such as this one, AquAffirm aims to create a new standard in water quality assessment.

Through this £200,000 grant Innovate UK has recognized the pressing need for improved monitoring of antibiotics in water sources due to their potential negative impact on human health and the environment. Recent reports of worrying levels of antibiotics in rivers in the UK and, indeed, around the world from human and agricultural sources have highlighted the significant global threat that the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) timebomb represents. With this generous grant, AquAffirm is poised to lead the way in developing cutting edge portable, digital, real-time smart sensors that will enable precise and reliable measurements of antibiotic concentrations in industrial effluents and environmental water bodies such as rivers around the UK and globally.

This project aligns seamlessly with AquAffirm’s core mission of promoting environmental stewardship and advancing technologies that address pressing global challenges. By developing these state-of-the-art sensors, we aim to contribute to the global effort to safeguard water quality and public health.

The AquAffirm™ platform uses an innovative smartphone-enabled design that includes disposable test strips, mobile app and web-connected software platform developed by the AquAffirm team.

“We are immensely grateful to Innovate UK for their support of this pivotal initiative ,” said Dr David Sarphie, AquAffirm CEO. “This grant enables us to take a significant step forward in developing advanced tools to better understand and address the impact of antibiotic pollution in our waterways.”

Dr Sarphie continued, “AquAffirm remains committed to developing and commercialising advanced tools for the betterment of our environment and society. With the successful creation and deployment of these sensors, we anticipate a transformative impact on environmental monitoring practices, enabling proactive measures to safeguard water quality and combat antibiotic resistance.”

The 18-month project will continue through the end of 2024.

About AquAffirm

AquAffirm develops proprietary digital tools/services to help clients from industry and the water sector reduce their environmental impact and improve sustainability. Specifically, AquAffirm is commercialising innovative digital smartphone-enabled point-of-use sensors and software platforms to help clients manage critical water infrastructure networks, control unwanted environmental contaminant release, and monitor/map environmental impact. As a service, AquAffirm also develops bespoke digital sensors specifically for its clients’ needs. AquAffirm’s long-term vision is to build a mobile-enabled network of sensors & software for water sustainability to include the most advanced digital water contaminant measurement platform for rapid measurement, monitoring and mapping of contaminants at the point-of-use.

The new sensors will be designed to:

• Enhance accuracy: Employ advanced technology to ensure precise measurements of antibiotic levels, surpassing current industry standards.
• Increase sensitivity: Detect even trace amounts of antibiotics, providing a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence in water sources.
• Real-time Monitoring: Enable real-time monitoring, allowing for timely responses to any emerging issues related to antibiotic contamination.
• User-friendly interface: Develop a user-friendly interface to facilitate easy deployment and data interpretation, making the technology accessible to a wide range of stakeholders.

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 Contact AquAffirm at: nanda.rahman@aquaffirm.com

+44 (0) 20 3095 7252