Lancaster-based startup CCI Photonics has secured significant new funding to develop its groundbreaking technology for rapid infection detection and antibiotic screening.
Launched by Lancaster University researchers, the spinout aims to deliver test results in as little as 15 minutes—dramatically faster than traditional methods, which can take up to 72 hours.
The investment pot includes £200,000 from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) PraeSeed programme, £150,000 from the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), and £100,000 from Lyva Labs via Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. CCI Photonics has also received backing from ICURe Innovate UK and holds additional support through a UKRI Novel Technologies Grant.
At the heart of this innovation is InfectiScan, a powerful in vitro diagnostic device that uses infrared spectrometry and advanced AI models to pinpoint bacterial infections in bodily fluids—and determine the most effective antibiotics to prescribe. Founded on research undertaken in partnership with the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), the technology is designed to tackle antibiotic resistance by reducing the guesswork in prescribing antibiotics.
Current diagnostic tools often leave clinicians prescribing treatments on a “best guess” basis, contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance and increasing the likelihood of ineffective care or infection recurrence. With CCI Photonics’ InfectiScan device, healthcare professionals will be able to rapidly identify pathogens and confirm antibiotic suitability, significantly improving patient outcomes.
Dr Meza Ramirez, Chief Executive of CCI Photonics, emphasised: “This funding allows us to take critical steps in validating and refining our technology. With the support of our partners, we are working to bring a practical solution to healthcare challenges.”
Professor Craig Williams, Consultant Microbiologist at UHMBT, echoed this sentiment: “I hope this ongoing research will provide much more rapid diagnosis, leading to better infection treatment outcomes at a time when bacteria are becoming more resistant to commonly used antibiotics.”
Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON, also underlined the importance of disruptive technologies in the fight against infectious diseases, noting the urgent global health challenge and the need for swift innovation.
By combining world-class research, strong funding, and practical clinical collaboration, CCI Photonics is poised to transform infectious disease diagnostics—potentially slashing test turnaround times from days to minutes and helping to stave off the looming threat of antibiotic resistance.
