The U-RHYTHM device is worn in a comfortable band placed around the hips. The position of the microdialysis membrane, which is placed superficially in the skin University of Bristol/Designworks Windsor/David Hills (Glude.tv)
The U-RHYTHM device and spool University of Bristol/Designworks Windsor/David Hills (Glude.tv)
Dynamic Therapeutics, a University of Bristol spin-out, has today [25 April] been awarded a prestigious Blavatnik Prize by QantX, a leading venture capital firm, for its pioneering U-RHYTHM technology. The award recognises the scientific advances and future potential of the UK's most innovative scientists and engineers.
Hormones play a crucial role in many aspects of our health from regulation of metabolism to growth and development, and reproduction to stress responses, managing mood, emotions and sleep-wake cycles. Monitoring them is difficult as not only do hormone levels vary greatly across the day but also by individual patient. Standard techniques for the diagnosis and management of hormone-related disorders rely on taking single measurements usually in the morning, which is problematic because many hormone levels change in an oscillating manner.
In contrast, U-RHYTHM measures the patterns of biologically active molecules in the tissues and how they change over time. This information can be analysed to identify potential - and importantly the early - disruptions which could affect a patient's health.
Dynamic Therapeutics, founded by Professor Stafford Lightman, Dr Georgina Hazell from Bristol Medical School and Alex Caccia, is based on more than 25 years research on hormones.
Its U-RHYTHM technology offers a low-cost solution to capture up to 72 samples over a 24-hour period with data on hormone production. The company's mission is to become the gold standard for time-based measurement of hormones to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and improve treatment for patients with conditions such as Type 1 diabetes and hypertension.
Richard Haycock, CEO of QantX, said: "We know more than ever about the workings of the human body and yet the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions remain challenging, particularly those caused by hormonal imbalances which vary with time. Whilst clinicians rely on single point in time tests such as blood and urine, the U-RHYTHM device has the potential to capture dynamic information about a patient's health and improve diagnosis. We@re excited to support the Dynamic Therapeutics team with a Blavatnik Prize for Innovation and help them deliver a low-cost, non-invasive solution."
Stafford Lightman, co-founder of Dynamic Therapeutics and Professor of Medicine at Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS), added: "It is a great honour to receive a Blatavnik Prize from QantX and comes at an exciting moment in the company's evolution. Our trials are already showing significant interest among customers for U-RHYTHM and we are looking to rapidly expand our work with research institutions as we look to commercialise the technology in the next year."
