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Longitude Prize on AMR

Revolutionising diagnostics to combat the global superbug crisis

What was the Longitude Prize on AMR?

The £8 million (~$10 million) Longitude Prize on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was a global challenge that catalysed the creation of a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic test to slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Designed and delivered by Challenge Works, this historic, decade-long challenge sought to replace the standard 2-3 day wait for lab results with a solution that could accurately identify bacterial infections and prescribe the correct antibiotic in less than an hour. The prize tackled one of the defining health crises of our time: AMR, which currently claims over a million lives annually and is projected to cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050.

The breakthrough that met the challenge

The PA-100 AST System, which is now on permanent display in the Science Museum, is an innovative diagnostic test based on technology from Uppsala University.Using a tiny 400 microlitre sample of urine on a smartphone-sized cartridge, it can determine the presence of a bacterial infection in 15 minutes and accurately identify the right antibiotic treatment within 45 minutes.

Our partners

The Longitude Prize on AMR was funded and initiated by Nesta, which provided the £8 million prize pot. Additionally, the initiative was backed and partially funded by the British Government, supported by then-Chancellor George Osborne and former Prime Minister David Cameron.

How the prize came to be

In 2014, Challenge Works initiated a competition for the UK public to decide the focus of the new Longitude Prize. Working with 100s of scientists, academics and others, the following issues were identified:

  • Antibiotics – How to prevent the rise of resistance to antibiotics?
  • Dementia – How to help people with dementia live independently for longer?
  • Flight – How to fly without damaging the environment?
  • Food – How to ensure everyone has nutritious sustainable food?
  • Paralysis – How to restore movement to those with paralysis?
  • Water – How to ensure everyone has access to safe, clean water?

The choice of challenges was presented on BBC Horizon in 2014, with a poll opened to the public afterwards. The winner, Antibiotics, was subsequently announced on The One Show, on BBC One and formally welcomed by then Prime Minister David Cameron.

Our impact

As well as the winner, an additional 3 teams secured boost grants of up to £100,000 via the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), alongside a dedicated £3 million impact investment fund backed by an anonymous donor to help bring clinical prototypes to maturity.

The prize actively engaged and evaluated submissions from 250 startups, medium-sized enterprises, and larger companies worldwide.

Traditional laboratory-based testing takes up to 72 hours, the PA-100 AST System shrinks this diagnostic loop down to less than 30 minutes right at the point-of-care.

The technology pioneered for UTIs (the most common bacterial infection treated by the NHS) lays the groundwork for adapting rapid diagnostic technology to analyse blood and saliva, expanding the fight against AMR to other critical infections globally.

The prize served as a powerful market “pull” mechanism. It drew vital attention and investment to an under-funded, complex problem, inspiring cross-disciplinary partnerships that have spawned a new generation of point-of-care diagnostic businesses.

Learn more about our impact

Mikael Olsson

CEO and co-founder of Sysmex Astrego (Winner of the Longitude Prize on AMR)
""We have already started rolling out the test in Europe, we’re running studies in surgeries across the UK and working with regulators to secure additional approvals. The £8m prize will support us to tailor the test for use with different kinds of UTIs and antibiotics, speeding up access."

Prof Matthew Freeman

Head of Oxford’s Dunn School
"It’s great to see the Longitude Prize recognising the scientists tackling the massive emerging threat of antimicrobial resistance."

Dame Sally Davies

UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance
"We can no longer afford ‘just-in-case’ prescribing of antibiotics.The Longitude Prize winner lays the groundwork for a sea-change in how we manage these precious medicines, where healthcare workers are supported with rapid and relevant diagnostic tests to make the best decisions for their patients with confidence that they are prescribing the right drug, first time."

Dr Emma Hayhurst

Director/CEO or Llusern Scientific Ltd, Finalist
"The challenge has really helped us attract more funding. We've gone on to have investment and grant success. I feel this has been a real impact in participating in the challenge. Our research is now out there in the real world, making a difference and that's really exciting. I think if the challenge believed in us, then others will believe in us too."

Learn more about the journey of the winning team

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