55576RAPID: a new test to identify the safety of new drugs and vaccinesClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKAccess to medicines and anti-viral vaccines would have significant societal, environmental and economic impacts, both in the short and long term. The current Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the inefficiency in how novel therapeutics are made and tested. New drug and vaccine development takes on average \>10 years, with costs in excess of 2 and 0.5 billion USD respectively. Latter stage therapeutics failures amount to over 90% in clinical trials, because predicting reactions in humans cannot be determined with current models and tests. Global pandemics are predicted to become more common, and subsequently, there is an increased and immediate need for 1) more accurate preclinical models, and 2) better, predictive tests to identify safety of drugs and vaccines. Cytochroma addresses the first need; by providing physiologically relevant, stem-cell-derived, human models for preclinical testing. We specialise in liver cell manufacture, a tissue that is often damaged and in which testing is required. We propose to address the second need and develop a more efficient method of testing the safety of new drugs and vaccines. This Robust Automated Phenotypic Identification of cell Damage or 'RAPID' test would use observational-based screening. By tagging cells with fluorescent dyes and viewing via a powerful microscope we can visualise how tissues react to drugs and vaccines at a single-cell level. This provides vastly more information than traditional tests and can be combined with machine learning to understand, modify and feedback to directly improve the development of new therapeutics. Cytochroma manufacturers liver models from a unique stem cell bank. These stem cells reflect a diverse genetic background that allows testing of a global population in vitro -- enabling identification of a _universal_ treatment for diseases. Our state-of-the-art technology and robotic based cell production can be easily adapted to tag cells and screen for toxicity on a high- content microscope. This automated approach enhances our capacity and enables us to provide cells at a scale and quality required for testing. These cells and the RAPID test will enable more accurate identification of toxicity, reduce late-stage attrition and accelerate development to make essential drugs and vaccines available faster. Cytochroma is based in Scotland, where over half of all Europe's biosafety is undertaken. The Company is well connected at all levels within the sector and it has strong relationships with several leading Contract Research Organisations and pharmaceutical giants, both of which offer an attractive route to market.