Swedish diagnostics startup Readily Diagnostics has secured approximately $970,000, equivalent to about SEK 9 million, from the Gates Foundation to advance an affordable point-of-care test for sexually transmitted infections. The Uppsala-based company will use the grant to develop a molecular diagnostic targeting chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, three widespread infections that collectively account for hundreds of millions of new cases globally each year. The proposed platform is also being designed to identify genetic markers associated with antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
Expanding Access to STI Testing
Readily Diagnostics is targeting healthcare environments where laboratory-based testing remains difficult to access because of cost, infrastructure requirements, or long turnaround times. In many low- and middle-income countries, patients with suspected sexually transmitted infections may be treated primarily according to symptoms rather than confirmed diagnostic results. This approach can leave infections undetected while also contributing to unnecessary antibiotic use, continued transmission, and rising antimicrobial resistance.
The company aims to address these challenges by developing a test that can deliver molecular diagnostic results close to the patient without relying on centralized laboratory facilities. Its planned system will be designed to operate directly from patient samples and to remain affordable for settings such as primary care clinics, family planning services, and HIV prevention programs. By bringing testing closer to patients, Readily expects the technology to support faster and more informed treatment decisions.
Building on Padlock-Probe Technology
The new STI diagnostic will use the same proprietary padlock-probe technology that Readily has previously developed for respiratory infection testing. The technology is intended to combine the accuracy associated with laboratory molecular diagnostics with shorter turnaround times and lower operating costs. Readily is now adapting the platform to detect multiple sexually transmitted pathogens within a point-of-care format.
Founded in 2022 as a spinout from Uppsala University, Readily Diagnostics focuses on rapid molecular testing designed for use directly in healthcare settings. The company says its platform is intended to provide laboratory-quality results while reducing the need for complex equipment and centralized testing infrastructure. Its latest project represents an expansion of that technology into an area where affordable diagnostic access remains limited in many parts of the world.
Addressing Antibiotic Resistance
A key component of the project will be the potential detection of genetic markers linked to antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea. Drug-resistant gonorrhea has become an increasingly serious global public health concern as the bacterium develops resistance to treatments that have traditionally been effective. Identifying resistance before treatment could help clinicians select more appropriate antibiotics while reducing unnecessary exposure to medicines that are unlikely to work.
The project therefore combines infection detection with antimicrobial resistance information in a format intended for use near the patient. This could help healthcare providers move away from treatment based solely on symptoms toward more targeted prescribing supported by diagnostic evidence. More precise antibiotic selection may also help preserve the effectiveness of existing treatments by limiting avoidable or inappropriate antibiotic use.
Grant Supports Early Development
The Gates Foundation funding will support early-stage concept development and feasibility work rather than immediate commercial deployment of the test. Readily plans to use the grant for areas including sample preparation, antimicrobial resistance detection, and the creation of a broader product development roadmap. The project will also be developed according to the foundation's global access principles, with affordability and broad availability considered from the beginning.
Readily Diagnostics CEO Liza Löf said the company's objective is to make molecular diagnostics accessible regardless of where patients live. She said the funding provides an opportunity to demonstrate that accurate STI diagnostics can be made sufficiently simple and affordable for use across diverse healthcare environments. The company ultimately aims to translate advanced molecular testing into a practical tool for settings where existing diagnostic systems remain difficult to deploy.
The Gates Foundation grant gives Readily Diagnostics new resources to explore whether its molecular testing platform can address major gaps in STI diagnosis and antibiotic resistance management. If successfully developed, the technology could provide healthcare workers with faster information on both infection status and potential drug resistance without requiring access to centralized laboratories. The project remains at an early development stage, but it positions the Uppsala startup to pursue a more accessible model for molecular STI testing in resource-constrained healthcare systems.