BritChips podcast: Microchips, bacteria and the price of fish

How can you tell if the seemingly crystal-clear waters of a fish farm are not hiding traces of chemicals that could harm marine life?

University of Edinburgh spinout, Kāhu SiliconBio, is developing biosensor technology capable of detecting and measuring trace chemicals in liquids in real time and at point of use.

The technology is a unique melding of biotech and electronics, which can ‘eavesdrop’ on the metabolic processes of live bacteria, and reengineer them to respond to different chemicals.

New Zealand-born Dr James Flewellen leads Kāhu SiliconBio, one of the UK semiconductor startups selected for the third cohort of the Government-sponsored ChipStartUK programme, managed by incubator Silicon Catalyst.UK.

In this podcast, James describes how he got involved with the project he now leads, with the aim of commercialising the technology to make it as easy to use as a digital thermometer.

Indeed, while Kahu SiliconBio’s initial focus is on the aquaculture industry, the technology could equally be applied to the healthcare sector, detecting specific chemicals in liquids such as saliva and blood, instantly and on the spot.

So it’s not just about the price of fish!

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