BioLabs Greater Boston Resident Spotlight: Oxbridge Clinical

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including COVID-19, are a major challenge when it comes to pinpointing the exact microorganism causing a patient’s symptoms. This is especially true for primary care, as RTIs are the most common reason for visits to a family doctor in both developed and developing countries. With so many viruses and bacteria that can cause RTIs, accurately diagnosing the underlying cause is crucial for providing the right treatment. However, we currently lack a rapid, cost-effective diagnostic tool for this purpose, and on-the-spot etiological diagnosis of multiple microorganisms is nearly impossible.

For decades, microbial cultures have been the gold standard for diagnosing bacterial and viral respiratory infections. Unfortunately, they are expensive, labor-intensive, and results often take 48-96 hours, which is impractical in many clinical situations. To tackle this problem, Oxbridge Clinical Inc. was founded in 2023 by Giulio Deangeli and Cristiano Peron, both physician-scientists from Cambridge and Oxford, respectively. Oxbridge Clinical aims to provide quick, accurate diagnostics for a wide range of infectious diseases, even in primary care settings, without needing costly lab equipment. Their technology is designed to be sensitive, affordable, and fast, potentially eliminating the need for broad-spectrum antibiotics that contribute to multi-drug resistance.

Since its founding, Oxbridge Clinical has achieved significant progress and can now accurately differentiate between various bacterial and viral species. They are also developing rapid antibiograms that will identify the most effective treatment for different infections in under three hours. For the first time, their platform will allow clinicians to make precise diagnoses on the spot, bypassing the long wait times associated with traditional microbial cultures. Additionally, their system's durability supports extensive recycling of consumables, significantly reducing the cost per test and creating a cost-effective diagnostic tool with minimal ongoing expenses.

Giulio and Cristiano are residents of Tufts Launchpad Biolabs, which has been crucial in preparing for their next fundraising round. The professional yet approachable environment provided by BioLabs , combined with their expertise in biomedical start-ups and the flexibility they offer early-stage companies, has been essential to Oxbridge Clinical's successful development.