Aquatic Diagnostics Ltd

Winner of SMART Award

"As a direct result of winning a SMART:SCOTLAND Award, immunodiagnostic reagents are now commercially available for use in aquaculture."

The Way They Were

Few diagnostic reagents for use in aquaculture were commercially available, despite the huge range of economically important fish pathogens that existed. Such reagents were commercially available for clinical and veterinary medicine but as very few existed for fish, these had to be developed from scratch. Over 15 years Professor Sandra Adams' research laboratory at the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture developed a variety of probes to detect fish pathogens and to monitor immune responses in fish.

Using the SMART Award

Professor Adams explained that 'it had become apparent that a market existed for the diagnostic reagents, as requests flooded in from all around the world'. As the antibodies were to be used as diagnostic probes, it was vital that they were rigorously validated for specificity, that they were stable on transportation, and that they were produced under standardised conditions. 'The SMART Award offered the ideal opportunity to do this.'

SMART funding came through in December 2001 and Dr Kim Thompson and Mrs Karen Sneddon were appointed as Technical Director and Project Scientist. Space and equipment were rented from the university and a small production facility was set up to take the business plan forward.

The Effect of the SMART Award

As a direct result of winning a SMART Award, Professor Adams and Dr Thompson set up Aquatic Diagnostics Ltd (ADL) in August 2001. This means that immunodiagnostic reagents are now commercially available for use in aquaculture. 'This offers a whole new dimension in fish health management, as these reagents can be used for both pathogen detection and to assist in vaccine development,' Professor Adams explained.

The launch of ADL is particularly timely. Global aquaculture is expanding rapidly, with respect to the quantity and variety of fish species being cultured to meet the demand of the consumer market.

Asia accounts for 90% by volume of global aquaculture production with China responsible for a large proportion of this. In November 2002 ADL went on to appoint Jingmei Biotech Ltd as its Chinese distributor. Since then Fukanoshi Ltd has been appointed as ADL's Japanese distributor. Twenty products are now available through ADL with another 15 in the pipeline. ADL anticipates a turnover of 250,000 within three years.

Contact Details

Aquatic Diagnostics Ltd
Institute of Aquaculture
University of Stirling
Stirling
FK9 4LA

Contact: Professor Sandra Adams
Chief Executive Director
Tel: 01786 466568
Fax: 01786 472133
Website: Link opens in new window www.aquaticdiagnostics.com