Trophy given to Sysmex Astrego AB, Winner of the Longitude Prize

Facsimile trophy given to Sysmex Astrego AB, Winner of the Longitude Prize on Antimicrobial Resistance, delivered by Challenge Works, in partnership with Nesta and Innovate UK

Sysmex Astrego won the £8-million Longitude Prize on AMR on 12 June 2024. The prize, launched in 2014, challenged teams to invent an easy-to-use test to diagnose infections and guide antibiotic prescribing, attracting 250 teams across 40 countries. Misuse and overuse drive antimicrobial resistance. By 2050, it is predicted that antibiotic resistant infections will cause up to 10 million deaths a year if no action is taken.

The design of the trophy reflects the history of the Longitude Prize. The triangle shape symbolises a sail, reflecting on the inspiration for the Prize - the 300th anniversary of the Longitude Act. In 1714 the British government asked for solutions to pinpoint a ship’s location at sea by knowing its longitude. The green glass represents stained bacterial growth in a petri dish, representing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance. The central pattern in the middle is adapted from the winning device’s cartridge.

Sysmex Astrego’s winning entry works by adding a small urine sample to a cartridge, which is then inserted into a device. The sample is kept at human body temperature and has a solution to stimulate bacteria growth.Within 15 minutes, the device will tell the user if there is a bacterial infection present. If there is, within 45 minutes, the device will recommend up to five antitbiotics for treatment.

The Longitude Prize also provided over £850,000 of seed grant to 32 teams in over 20 countries to support the development of teams' ideas. This included the Boost Grant programme, supported by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Government of India, which awarded a total of £550,000 to 29 Indian teams. Beginning as Nesta Challenges in 2012 Challenge Works designs and runs prizes help solve pressing global problems that lack solutions. With an open call for anyone to enter, their prizes for those often overlooked by traditional grant funding. In their first ten years, Challenge Works set 87 challenges and distributed £222.5 million in funding to teams across the world.