Congratulations Astek Diagnostics on this milestone achievement!
Astek Diagnostics poised to greatly improve UTI patient outcomes through partnership with MedStar Health
Astek Diagnostics, based at bwtech, announced a strategic partnership with the MedStar Health Research Institute focused on advancing innovation around the identification of urinary tract infections and detection of antibiotic sensitivities in 1 hour through its JidduTM Analyzer diagnostic device. MedStar Health Research Institute is the research arm of MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region.
The partnership includes an Accelerated Pilot Study focused on testing, validating and further improving the technology behind Astek’s Jiddu Analyzer. The research began in July 2023 and its first phase was completed in November 2023, reaching testing accuracy of 90.43%. In December 2023, Astek initiated the second phase of the study, which is scheduled to be completed in February 2024. The research is preparing the underlying technology to be transitioned from a breadboard prototype to an alpha prototype by April 2024. Astek is aiming to significantly improve diagnostic speed and accuracy, thereby reducing patient complications and pain, as well as lowering healthcare costs. The second phase of the study is scheduled to be completed in February 2024 and will be focused on preparing the underlying technology to be transitioned to an alpha prototype by April 2024.
Under the leadership of UMBC alumni, Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD, Astek Diagnostics has achieved remarkable milestones in a short period. Since founding Astek in 2020, Mustafa has shown pragmatic leadership and the company has swiftly transitioned from idation to near-market readiness. Mustafa’s decision to start Astek was driven by a personal experience – his grandfather’s struggle with a urinary tract infection where he was misdiagnosed, prescribed the wrong antibiotic, became delirious, and suffered a fall.
Astek is currently preparing to introduce its urine-based testing system in 2025 and aims to broaden its scope to include tests for other biological samples such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for Meningitis, effluent for wound infections, and blood for Bacteremia. The company has already demonstrated promising results in areas like food safety and bio-reactor contamination, suggesting wide-ranging applications of its technology.
About Astek Diagnostics: Astek is a precision diagnostics company which is developing the Jiddu Analyzer to confirm bacterial infections and assess antibiotic sensitivity across multiple sample types: urine, CSF, effluent, and blood. Astek has prioritized going to market in 2025 with a urine-based test which identifies a UTI infection and detects antibiotic sensitivity in 1 hour. The company is part of the Y Combinator (S21) and has received support from Harvard University, NSF, FDA, BARDA, NIH and numerous VC funds and angel investors.
For more information, please visit Astek Diagnostics.
About MedStar Health: MedStar Health combines the best aspects of academic medicine, research, and innovation with a complete spectrum of clinical services to advance patient care. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT values—Service, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—across our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we’re committed to providing high-quality health care that’s also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health—It’s how we treat people.
Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.