Our Focus Areas
Research & Development Focus Areas
At Incas Diagnostics, our R&D team drives innovation to deliver impactful, affordable, and context-specific diagnostic solutions. Our core focus areas include:
• InfectiousDiseases:
Development of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for prevalent and neglected tropical diseases such as malaria, HIV, syphilis, yaws, typhoid, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia.
• Reproductive&Women’sHealth:
Creation of point-of-care diagnostics for vaginal infections, pregnancy, ovulation, and hormone-related conditions affecting women.
• Substance&PublicHealthScreening:
Design of screening tools for drugs of abuse, alcohol detection, and other public health monitoring needs.
• Agricultural&VeterinaryDiagnostics:
Development of test kits for animal diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Anthrax, and Avian Influenza, as well as food safety tests like Sudan IV detection in palm oil.
• MolecularDiagnostics:
Innovation in nucleic acid-based tests for pathogen detection and surveillance using technologies such as PCR, RPA, and LAMP.
• ProductDevelopment&Customization:
Partnering with researchers, institutions, and organizations to develop tailored diagnostic solutions and prototypes for specific health challenges.
• ClinicalValidation&FieldTrials:
Rigorous validation of diagnostic tools through laboratory and community-based studies to ensure effectiveness, sensitivity, and reliability.
Ongoing Projects
Projects Under Develpment
Polymerases
Incas Diagnostics is collaborating with the University of Cambridge and the GIZ to develop and mass produce isothermal polymerase enzymes for Molecular Point-of-Care tests.
NINA
The Non-Instrumented Nucleic Acid Amplification device (NINA) is a technology developed by PATH in the United States and licensed to Incas Diagnostics for mass production.
In resource-limited settings, the lack of decentralized molecular diagnostic testing and sparse access to centralized medical facilities can present a critical barrier to timely diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent control and elimination of infectious diseases. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods, including reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), are well-suited for decentralized point-of-care molecular testing in minimal infrastructure laboratories since they significantly reduce the complexity of equipment and power requirements. Despite reduced complexity, however, there is still a need for a constant heat source to enable isothermal nucleic acid amplification. This requirement poses significant challenges for laboratories in developing countries where electricity is often unreliable or unavailable. To address this need, we have developed an electricity-free amplification and detection for Molecular Point-of-Care Diagnosis in resource limited countries.
Antibody Engineering Services
Development of Diagnostic recombinant monoclonal antibodies
At Incas Diagnostics, we engineer and manufacture recombinant monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use. Monoclonal antibodies are used to develop several test kits as well as therapeutic agents. Antibodies are engineered to produce antisera which are used to treat several diseases including Covid-19.
Development of therapeutic recombinant monoclonal antibodies
At Incas Diagnostics, we engineer and manufacture recombinant monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use. Monoclonal antibodies are used to develop several test kits as well as therapeutic agents. Antibodies are engineered to produce antisera which are used to treat several diseases including Covid-19.
Medical Devices for Global Health Impact
Wearable Small Molecule Biosensors
Incas Diagnostics is also into the development of wearable small molecule biosensors and is currently working on developing a patch which monitors drug intake in real time on a mobile phone. The patch is placed on the hand of the patient and his/her drug intake can be monitored in real time.
AI Enabled Pathogen Detection
Incas Diagnostics combines artificial intelligence with biomedical engineering by developing AI enabled pathogen detection devices. The company has been working on developing an AI enabled microscope trained to be able to diagnose disease like malaria and cervical cancer by distinguishing a normal slide from an abnormal one.
Smartphone Based Pathogen Detection
The company also aims to develop smart phone-based pathogen detection kits and has received funding for the development of a test for sepsis in children which would be detected using a smart phone.
Partnerships & Collaborations: Academic institutions, Global Health Organizations, and Funding Agencies
At Incas Diagnostics, strategic partnerships are central to our mission of expanding access to reliable, affordable diagnostics across Africa. We work closely with academic institutions, global health organizations, and funding agencies to accelerate innovation, research, and product development.
Academic & Research Collaborations.
We collaborate with leading local and international universities and research institutions to drive scientific discovery and training:
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Ghana
• Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research – Ghana
• University of Ghana
• International academic institutions and research laboratories through joint projects and knowledge exchange
Global Health Organizations
We partner with key global health stakeholders to ensure our solutions are impactful and accessible:
• PATH
• FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics)
• World Health Organization (WHO) programs
• West African Health Organization (WAHO)
• African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM)
Funding & Development Agencies
Our R&D and product deployment efforts are supported by reputable funding agencies and donors:
• Grand Challenges Canada
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (through consortium projects)
• European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)
Research Articles
Microfluidic rapid and autonomous analytical device (microRAAD) to detect HIV from whole blood samples
While identifying acute HIV infection is critical to providing prompt treatment to HIV-positive individuals and preventing transmission, existing laboratory-based testing methods are too complex to perform at the point of care.
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A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Detection of Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue
The eradication of yaws caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue is constrained by the lack of rapid, accurate diagnosis. We sought to develop a molecular point-of-care test for the diagnosis of yaws.
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Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi loop mediated isothermal amplification
Yaws, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. Improved diagnostics will be essential to meet this goal.
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