Latest news with #LlusernScientific
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Llusern Scientific Announces Key Appointments to Strengthen its Executive Team
CTO, CMO and CFO appointments to advance the commercial launch of its precision point-of-care diagnostic Lodestar DX for UTIs worldwide CARDIFF, United Kingdom, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Llusern Scientific, a point-of-care diagnostics company, today announces the appointments of Bob Yang as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Maddy Kennedy as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Mark Preston as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). These strategic appointments strengthen Llusern's leadership team as the company builds on its recent ISO 13485 certification and progresses towards IVDR certification, positioning Lodestar DX for upcoming commercial launches across Europe for treatment-directing diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bob Yang joins Llusern Scientific as Chief Medical Officer. A highly accomplished urology consultant, Mr. Yang brings extensive expertise in complex and recurrent UTIs and male and female incontinence. He has made significant contributions to antibiotic-free treatment options for recurrent UTIs and has been pioneering research in sub-lingual UTI vaccines and male incontinence devices. His expertise will directly complement Llusern's mission to revolutionize UTI diagnostics and support antimicrobial stewardship through the Lodestar DX system, a rapid diagnostic platform designed to enhance clinical decision-making. He is Lead Editor for Springer Nature academic textbooks on Urinary Tract Infections and Male Incontinence, solidifying his standing as one of the global leaders in urological research and practice. Mr. Yang continues to pioneer in his field as a urology consultant at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Hospital and an Associate Lecturer at Oxford University. 'Joining Llusern Scientific is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of innovative diagnostic solutions that will improve patient outcomes globally,' said Bob Yang, Chief Medical Officer of Llusern Scientific. 'The Lodestar DX system offers clinicians a powerful tool to make precise treatment decisions in a single visit, thereby enabling them to combat antimicrobial resistance through improved antibiotic stewardship.' As Chief Financial Officer, Maddy Kennedy brings over 25 years of experience in financial strategy, investor relations, and corporate governance to Llusern Scientific. She will play a crucial role in supporting Llusern's fundraising activities and steering its expansion into global markets. Known for her ability to translate complex development programs into clear financial plans, Maddy has successfully guided life sciences and technology businesses through strategic growth, M&A, IPOs, and exit planning. Her leadership roles at companies such as Maxwellia, Kesmalea Therapeutics, and Psioxus Therapeutics have equipped her with expertise in scaling operations and securing funding. She brings strong governance expertise from Non-Executive Director roles at Nuformix plc, Heartbeat CIC, and Tetris Pharma. She is currently also CFO at PBD Biotech and Fermtech. 'I am excited to join Llusern Scientific at this crucial stage of its development,' said Maddy Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer of Llusern Scientific. 'With its innovative Lodestar DX system poised for expansion into new markets, I look forward to supporting Llusern's growth and overseeing the financial operations needed to achieve its global ambitions.' Mark Preston joins Llusern Scientific as Chief Technology Officer, bringing extensive expertise in biotech, data analytics, and cloud technologies. As CTO, Mark will lead the development of Lodestar DX overseeing technological innovation, scalability, and compliance. Mark's early career includes experience in embedded systems and devices at Sony and Panasonic, working on networking hardware, mobile phones, and microscopes. His later work in app development, AI-driven insights, and workflow optimization enabled him to deliver scalable, secure, and compliant solutions for start-ups and global organizations, including vaccine manufacturers. As a Founder and Managing Director of consultancy firm Prismea, Mark helps biotech companies innovate with data analytics, cloud systems, and regulatory compliance as well as navigating medical regulatory frameworks with organizations such as the MHRA. 'I've been impressed by the Lodestar DX system and its ability to deliver treatment directing diagnosis of UTIs at the point of care,' said Mark Preston, Chief Technology Officer. 'I look forward to supporting the company's efforts to bring precision diagnostics to healthcare settings worldwide.' Emma Hayhurst, Co-founder and CEO of Llusern Scientific, commented:'We are thrilled to welcome Bob, Maddy, and Mark to our executive leadership team. Their deep expertise in urology, finance, and technology will be instrumental in ensuring Llusern remains at the forefront of providing precise, accessible diagnostic solutions that deliver improved outcomes for patients suffering from UTIs.' Notes to Editors About Llusern ScientificLlusern Scientific is a treatment-directing molecular diagnostics company, developing fast, accurate, and accessible tools to guide real-time clinical decision-making at the point-of-care. Our flagship solution, Lodestar DX, is a portable diagnostic device that delivers lab-accurate results for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in around half an hour. It is based on isothermal LAMP technology (not PCR) without the need for DNA extraction or centralized lab infrastructure. With industry-leading sensitivity and specificity, Lodestar DX empowers clinicians to diagnose and treat specific microbial infections with precision in a single visit, thereby improving patient outcomes. As well as providing guidance on the best treatment option based on the specific microbial infection, Lodestar DX also provides a clear 'rule-out' decision where antibiotics are not necessary, helping to reduce antimicrobial resistance through antibiotic stewardship. Building on success in the UK, Llusern is preparing for commercial launches across India and the MENA region in 2025 and the US in 2026. Llusern is committed to transforming diagnostic pathways and making precision medicine equitable, portable, and fast. Due to its small size and ease of portability Lodestar DX is particularly suitable for resource limited and decentralised healthcare settings including care homes, mobile diagnostics, and community diagnostic centres. Additionally Lodestar DX has uses within paediatrics, urology, and other secondary care settings. The Lodestar DX UTI testing system has been independently evaluated in studies by University of Oxford, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Southampton University, and Public Health Wales. The company was established in 2020 as a spin-out from the University of South Wales, UK. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contacts Llusern ScientificMartyn Lewis +44 (0) 7825 708936martyn@ Scius CommunicationsKatja Stout +44 (0) 7789435990katja@ Daniel Gooch +44 (0) 7747875479daniel@ in to access your portfolio
Business News Wales
18-06-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Llusern Scientific Speeding Up Infection Diagnosis with Welsh Innovation Support
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, which is based at Cardiff Edge Business Park, is bringing its first product to market. It is set to pave 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. The company has now announced that it has been awarded ISO 13485 certification for its Lodestar DX testing system, a rapid molecular diagnostic platform for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Dr Emma Hayhurst, co-founder and CEO of Llusern Scientific, said: 'When we founded Llusern Scientific, we were on a mission to make a positive difference in healthcare by developing a point-of-care diagnostic that would enable us to improve antimicrobial stewardship. Achieving ISO 13485 certification is a major milestone in our mission because it demonstrates that we have built a manufacturing facility to world-class standards. 'Not only does our Lodestar UTI testing system help a clinician decide whether or not to prescribe an antibiotic, but it will also identify the bacterial cause of the UTI. This enables clinicians to quickly target the right bug with the right treatment to save lives. Now we have ISO 13485 certification, our next goal is to achieve IVDR certification to further expand the market potential for our innovative molecular diagnostic globally.' There are more than 400 million UTI cases globally each year, of which around 90% are women. According to the Sepsis Trust approximately 15-30% of sepsis cases are caused by a UTI. Research has shown that antibiotics are overprescribed by as much as two times for UTIs leading to them being a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As well as providing guidance on the best treatment option, Lodestar DX also provides a clear 'rule-out' decision where antibiotics are not necessary, helping to reduce AMR through antibiotic stewardship. ISO 13485 certification is a crucial regulatory step for marketing medical devices globally, as it demonstrates that a manufacturer has a robust Quality Management System in place, showing commitment to patient safety, regulatory compliance, and consistent product quality. Llusern is preparing for commercial launches across India and the Middle East and North Africa region this year, and the US in 2026. 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.
