Based at Cardiff Edge Business Park, Llusern Scientific is developing rapid diagnostic tests to transform how urinary tract infections are diagnosed and treated. With targeted support from the Welsh Government’s Innovation team, the company is bringing its first product to market—paving the way for faster diagnosis, better patient outcomes and reduced antibiotic misuse.
Established in 2020 as a spin-out from the University of South Wales, the company set out to address a major health challenge. Urinary infections affect more than 100 million people worldwide each year. Its portable, easy-to-use molecular diagnostic device delivers accurate results within 35 minutes, giving clinicians fast and reliable information.
Dr Emma Hayhurst, CEO of Llusern Scientific, said: “We knew from the start that better diagnostics could play a key role in tackling antimicrobial resistance. Our technology makes accurate testing faster, cheaper and more accessible—something that benefits both patients and healthcare systems.”
To help realise this vision, the company has received a range of targeted support from the Welsh Government’s Innovation team, including SMART Flexible Innovation Support (SFIS), expert design assistance and intellectual property (IP) strategy development—each playing a vital role in advancing the technology and preparing for commercial scale-up.
Initial SFIS support in early 2024 enabled the team to develop a clear innovation plan, setting out priorities for product improvements, new clinical applications and growth. A second SFIS award in September 2024 has since supported the delivery of this plan, while design and IP interventions have strengthened its route to market.
As a result, Welsh Government innovation support has helped Llusern Scientific to:
- Enhance its existing diagnostic platform, making it suitable for use in a wider range of clinical settings.
- Develop a new unique test panel design, addressing contamination risks and improving ease of use for non-laboratory settings.
- Strengthen its IP portfolio through a comprehensive audit and actionable recommendations, boosting investor confidence.
- Expand research and development facilities at Cardiff Edge Business Park.
- Advance collaborations with Public Health Wales and NHS partners, supporting clinical validation and real-world evidence generation.
While Agile Cymru funding has provided valuable opportunities to explore international markets, the company’s core innovation progress has been driven by targeted support from the Welsh Government’s Innovation team.
With these foundations in place, the business is now entering a critical phase of growth. New facilities, enhanced capabilities and strengthened partnerships are positioning it for future success in Wales and further afield.
The impact of this innovation journey is already visible:
- Llusern Scientific has grown from a founder-led start-up to a dedicated team of seven employees.
- Its state-of-the-art facilities research and development (R&D) have been expanded.
- Early international partnerships are opening new markets, while ongoing NHS collaborations aim to embed the technology within Wales’s healthcare system.
Dr Hayhurst added: “The support we’ve had has given us breathing space to keep developing, allowed us to focus on R&D and given us the capacity to build prototypes, protect our ideas and prepare for market. We simply couldn’t have done this without Welsh Government backing.”
The company’s work supports the Welsh Government’s Innovation Strategy by addressing key priorities such as improving health and wellbeing through faster, more accurate infection diagnosis, creating skilled jobs in Wales’s growing life sciences sector and contributing to economic growth by developing innovative technology with global impact.
Find out more about how SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) can support your organisation. Visit Business Wales Innovation to learn more.