Andrew Thompson

Founder & Director @Smi Systems

Cambridge, GB

SMi Drug Discovery has developed an optical technology capable of directly measuring molecular interactions with 1.6nm spatial resolution and microsecond temporal resolution. Using our instruments it is possible to visualise the interactions of molecules such as drugs, antibody therapeutics, diagnostic biomarkers, and DNA fragments as they bind and unbind with their complementary partner molecules. This allows us to 1) make highly precise measurements of how therapeutics engage with their targets, an essential component of drug development and 2), perform diagnosis by specifically and unequivocally recognising molecules associated with disease.Because the SMi instrument is a platform technology, it can be used to study a limitless diversity of molecular interactions (for example, drug-receptor, protein-protein & antibody-epitope interactions). Importantly, because only single molecules are needed, experiments can be performed where reagents are expensive or in limited supply, and where environmental waste is a consideration.We are currently in the process of identifying funders that can enable further development of this unique instrument into a leading diagnostic device. Please get in touch if you are interested in investing.