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A new healthcare spin-out from the University of Reading, Astratus Limited, is set to revolutionise how bacterial infections are diagnosed and treated. The company has developed a customisable, high-speed antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) platform that significantly reduces the time it takes to identify the best antibiotics to treat infections. This innovation targets the £3.6 billion global AST market and could be a game-changer in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a looming global health crisis projected to cause 39 million deaths by 2050.
The Astratus platform offers same-day, digitised results—a dramatic improvement over the current testing timeline of two to three days. Its modular, ultra-high throughput system makes it suitable for both large and small laboratories, including veterinary settings. By delivering accurate results within six hours, the platform enables faster, personalised prescriptions, reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics—a key driver of AMR.
The founding team—Dr Oliver Hancox, Ms Julie Hart, Dr Alexander Edwards, and Dr Sarah Needs—have designed the platform not only for clinical use but also for research purposes. It can support new drug development, biofilm investigations, and antimicrobial discovery, aligning with the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health to combat resistance globally.
Backed by the University of Reading’s strong enterprise ecosystem, Astratus represents a model for how academic research can spark innovation with real-world impact. With the UK government aiming to boost university-linked start-ups, Astratus is well positioned to lead in health tech and combat one of the greatest medical challenges of our time.
