GENEFIRST LIMITED

Their core work

GeneFirst is a UK molecular diagnostics SME developing DNA/RNA detection kits based on their proprietary Multiplex Probe Amplification (MPA) technology. Their work focuses on building diagnostic assays that detect multiple pathogens or disease markers in a single test — used for HPV-related cancer prediction and respiratory virus identification including COVID-19. They take assays from design through clinical validation and commercialisation, including deployment on automated high-throughput robotic platforms and point-of-care devices. In practice, they are a small R&D-driven company that turns nucleic acid chemistry into regulated clinical products.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2018 the company's H2020 work started in oncology-adjacent diagnostics with HPV OncoPredict, aiming to stratify HPV infections that progress to cancer. From 2020 onward, triggered by the pandemic, they pivoted sharply into infectious respiratory disease with RAPID-COVID, applying the same multiplex probe amplification platform to COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens on point-of-care and robotic high-throughput formats. The underlying chemistry is consistent; the clinical target shifted from cancer risk prediction to outbreak-ready pathogen detection.

They are moving their MPA platform toward rapid, automatable infectious disease diagnostics — a strong fit for partners working on outbreak response, respiratory panels, or decentralised testing.

How they like to work

GeneFirst has coordinated both of their H2020 projects, taking the lead rather than joining as a junior partner. They run small, focused consortia — only five unique partners across four countries — consistent with an SME that owns the core technology and brings in clinical and engineering collaborators around it. Working with them means engaging a technology owner who drives the agenda, not a service provider filling a subcontract.

A compact network of 5 partners across 4 countries, built project-by-project around their MPA technology rather than a large standing consortium. Their footprint is European and coordinated from the UK.

What sets them apart

GeneFirst is one of few UK SMEs that both owns a proprietary multiplex nucleic-acid amplification chemistry AND has led EU-funded projects taking that chemistry all the way through clinical validation. Unlike larger IVD companies, they are small enough to co-develop bespoke assays with partners; unlike academic groups, they deliver validated, commercialisable kits. Their dual track record across oncology (HPV) and infectious disease (COVID-19) shows the platform travels across clinical domains.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HPV OncoPredict
  Their largest grant (EUR 1.67M) and a rare attempt to move HPV testing from detection into predicting which infections progress toward cancer.
• RAPID-COVID
  A fast pandemic-era pivot (2020 start) applying their MPA platform to point-of-care COVID-19 and multi-pathogen respiratory detection.