Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Associate Professor Sarosh Irani, who heads up our Autoimmune Neurology Group, has been funded by Mologic to help develop diagnostics for COVID-19.

Diagram of how a lateral flow assay works
Lateral flow assay

Associate Professor Sarosh Irani, who heads up our Autoimmune Neurology Group, has been funded by Mologic to help develop diagnostics for COVID-19.

The 14-month project involves taking blood samples from people who have had COVID-19 and deriving COVID-reactive antibodies from the B cells in the blood. This is the same process that his group uses for the autoimmune neurological diseases which are their focus.

This is achieved by identifying and capturing the COVID-reactive B cells, and cloning out their antibodies. The very best of these cloned antibodies are to be used by Mologic as the basis for improved rapid diagnostic tests (so called 'lateral flow tests') which detect the presence of the virus in saliva or nasal swab extracts, giving the result in 10-15 minutes.

These tests are designed for use at point-of-care. A high proportion of these will be distributed on a not-for-profit basis to under-resourced countries to enable affordable COVID testing.