Genedrive PLC (LON:GDR) has secured a further US$1.4mln in funding from the US Department of Defence for its handheld biohazard-detection device programme.
The extra funding follows successful field trials on the portable device whereby officials assessed its potential to check for hazards such as biological warfare agents.
Genedrive will use the funds to further develop the device to detect a broader range of biohazard targets across multiple cartridges.
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The company said the aim of the programme is to develop a “cost-effective system that would allow multiple units and tests to be deployed for field use”.
The latest funding brings the total it has received from the Department of Defence to US$6.5mln.
The next stage of the programme is expected to generate about US$1.4mln in development income for the year to 30 June 2018.
"This next phase of field testing will help to further validate and confirm the characteristics of the Genedrive system: portability, flexibility and accuracy,” said Genedrive’s chief executive, David Budd.
“The evaluation will be far reaching, rigorous and, if successful, it will be a clear validation of the Genedrive unit as a robust and easily deployable hand held device for pathogen and disease detection."