Technion scientists share £10m prize for work using ‘bio-chips’
Israeli biotechnology engineers win part of a reward for developing rapid diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance
Israeli biotechnology engineers have won part of a £10 million prize for developing rapid diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance.
The team at Technion and clinicians at the Bnai Zion Medical Centre won a Discovery Award this week for their work using ‘bio-chips’.
“By measuring how light reflects off the surface of these bio-chips, we can determine whether bacteria are growing or dying in the presence of certain antibiotics and specific antibiotic concentrations,” said Technion Ph.D. student Heidi Leonard.
The team will now be competing in the Longitude Prize, a £10 million five-year prize fund launched in 2014 with a challenge to develop a point-of-care test to detect and understand infections to help ensure the right antibiotics are used at the right time.
Now in its third year, it rewards those who develop a point-of-care diagnostic test that will conserve antibiotics for future generations.
Four million people get hospital-associated infections in Europe every year, so quickly understanding the right antibiotic for an infection is “critical for both a patient and to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance”.
Experts have warned that antibiotics resistance could kill up to 10 million people a year by 2050, surpassing cancer to become the leading cause of death.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
