LotusDx Locates Its R&D Laboratory at ONE BioHub 

LotusDx has established its R&D laboratory at ONE BioHub, located on the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen (Scotland). Company executives say the move to ONE BioHub is a key milestone in the development of LotusDx’s at-home sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kits and supports the firm’s progress towards clinical validation and commercial development.

A startup founded in Glasgow, LotusDx has chosen ONE BioHub to access laboratory facilities and specialist support within its life sciences ecosystem, including established links to NHS Grampian. This will enable the company to explore clinical collaboration opportunities, including patient engagement and input from clinicians and researchers to support product development and validation.

“When I first visited ONE BioHub, I immediately felt it was the right place for LotusDx. The quality of the lab space, infrastructure, and wider support environment made a strong impression, and I could clearly see its potential to support our long-term growth, including future manufacturing ambitions,” LotusDx Co-Founder/CEO Ali T stated. “While we had originally expected to make this move after our first funding round, the support of the University of Glasgow, the STAC program and the team at ONE enabled us to establish our R&D base sooner. We have also benefited enormously from the support of people across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and beyond. As we begin this next phase in Aberdeen, we are excited to become part of the city’s innovation community, build something meaningful here, and give back wherever we can.”

Current STI testing methods are limited by accessibility, time to diagnosis, and stigma associated with in-person testing. LotusDx is developing at-home diagnostic kits for common STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, providing an affordable, simple, and faster solution that will allow users to order kits to their home and receive results through a dedicated app without the need to send samples to a laboratory or attend a clinic. The app will also help connect users with local healthcare professionals, pharmacies, and support networks to help ensure access to the necessary treatment, guidance, and support.

ONE BioHub is the home for the life sciences ecosystem in northeast Scotland, where founders can access expert advice and tailored programs to grow and scale their ventures. ONE collaborates with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to bring entrepreneurial education to founders in northeast Scotland, including a bootcamp on the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework in Aberdeen in March. Ali attended the bootcamp and, as part of the winning team in the final session, won six months free hotdesking space at ONE BioHub.

“At ONE BioHub, we pride ourselves in offering companies based in northeast Scotland, from startups to large-scale enterprises, with bespoke commercial and growth support, state-of-the-art laboratory space, access to our entrepreneurial and clinical networks, and opportunities for peer learning and collaboration,” said Dr. Deborah O’Neil, chair of ONE Life Sciences and BioAberdeen Ltd. “We are delighted to welcome LotusDx to ONE BioHub, as their commitment to providing better solutions for sexual health will address barriers in existing approaches and bring new expertise to our growing community. Ali and team are a perfect fit not only with our entrepreneurial ecosystem, but also with the region’s R&D strengths in infectious disease and diagnostic product development and commercialization.”

LotusDx is a medical technology company developing a rapid at-home test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea that provides a result in minutes, then guides users toward support and treatment. The Company was founded by Dr. Mia-Jerusha Mandava, Dr. Parisa Dehghani, and Ali T.

 ONE BioHub is a launchpad for startups and high-potential life sciences companies that want to rapidly scale and grow. Based in Aberdeen, it offers flexible lab and office space, tailored business support, and direct links to universities, NHS Grampian, and investors. Part of Opportunity North East’s life sciences initiative, ONE BioHub is driving the region’s growing biotech cluster.