About SMi Meet the Team

Our Vision

 

Supporting informed decisions through single molecule quantification

 
 
 
 
 
 

Our Mission

 
 

SMi is developing transformational, single molecule imaging technologies for biomedical research and diagnostics. 

Our super-resolution instruments, coupled with deep learning, enable direct observation of individual molecules, and provide detection, quantification, and kinetics data.

Our platforms can be adapted to a multitude of molecular targets; process hundreds of samples in minutes; be used with minimal training; and can reduce project complexity, timelines and costs. 

This will open new frontiers in scientific research and healthcare.

 
 
 
 
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Our Story

SMi was established to transform scientific research, disease diagnosis and general healthcare by providing super-resolution tools that allow the direct observation of single molecules

SMi’s founders believed that such tools would yield unprecedented results that improve speed, throughput, and quality. By simplifying the design and user-interfaces of these tools, many of today’s time-consuming tasks would be eliminated and  information-rich results would become accessible to everyone.

What began in 2018 as a great idea was followed with funding from the UK government and equity investment in 2021. Around the same time SMi filed patents in several international jurisdictions and published some early data in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. These data revealed molecular interactions at resolutions that had not previously been possible.

Then the journey began…

 

Our Timeline

 
 

JAN 2022

Labs open

SMi opens laboratories on the US West Coast.

The University of Cambridge and Medicines Discovery Catapult scientists begin test and validation for SMi.

FEB 2022

Head office opens

SMi opens its UK head office on the outskirts of Cambridge, UK.

SMi also receives an NIHR grant award to fund public and patient engagement studies.

MAY 2022

Proof-of-principle

SMi completes the in-house design and manufacture of its proof-of-principle instrument.

This allows our data scientists to collect results and begin analysing them with SMi’s proprietary AI software.

JUL 2022

First instruments

Additional instruments are in-house manufactured and shipped to the University of Cambridge, Medicines Discovery Catapult and National Physical Laboratory.

SMi also receives a grant award to assist regulatory approval.

AUG 2022

New results

Using SMi’s instruments and proprietary sensor chips, single molecules are measured for the first time outside of SMi’s own labs.

SEP 2022

More funding success

SMi receives further substantial UK government grant funding to demonstrate capability in providing an accurate and rapid cancer diagnosis.

The project will run for 20 months and is in collaboration with cancer specialists at the Medicines Discovery Catapult.

OCT 2022

Usability

SMi undertakes formal usability testing at the NIHR Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre.

The success of these allows SMi to engage with Cogent Technology Ltd, to initiate contract manufacturing.

JAN 2023

Innovation

SMi files several new patents based upon the research it has been undertaking in its science and engineering facilities.

These build on our portfolio of existing international filings.

Q1 2023

Contract manufacture

SMi works with Cogent Technology Ltd to integrate quality management systems and create the first contract manufactured instruments.

Adhering to rigorous medical device standards will allow SMi to sell into both research and clinical sectors.

Q2 2023

UKCA/CE marking

After exhaustive testing at specialist facilities SMi receives notification that its instruments have passed regulatory safety requirements.

Q3 2023

Patent granted

The UK Intellectual Property Office grants SMi the first of several patents that are under consideration across multiple international jurisdictions. At the same time SMi successfully registers several trademarks ®.

Q4 2023

Contract research

SMi begins its first external R&D project with a top-20 pharma company.

Q1 2024

UK labs open

In addition, SMi secures a second patent in Hong Kong and trademarks its proprietary AI-enabled molecule detection software : TALoS ®

Q2 2024

Stage 1 BSI audit

SMi successfully completes its ISO 13485 conformity audit, for entry into diagnostic markets.

Q3 2024

Advisor appointments

SMi continues to grow its team of senior sector specialists. SMi’s unique experimental approach is also trademarked : SWiFT ®

 
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