APOLLO: Advanced Platform fOr rapid antimicrobiaL susceptibiLity testing Outcomes
The APOLLO project is a public-private collaboration between SoundCell and Erasmus MC to develop a faster diagnostic test that helps doctors choose the right antibiotic for patients with severe infections such as sepsis. By combining SoundCell’s rapid testing technology with the clinical and diagnostic expertise of Erasmus MC, the partners aim to expand and validate a new diagnostic tool that can identify effective antibiotics much faster than current methods. The project will run over the coming years and focuses on improving the speed and accuracy of infection diagnostics used in medical laboratories.
Severe bacterial infections remain a major health problem worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance—the ability of bacteria to resist antibiotics—is increasing and threatens the effectiveness of many existing treatments. Each year, an estimated 4.95 million people worldwide die from infections that are difficult or impossible to treat. In the Netherlands alone, around 10,000 people die from sepsis every year. A key challenge is that current tests to determine which antibiotic works best typically take 24 hours or longer. For patients with sepsis, this delay can be life-threatening and may lead to the use of broad antibiotics that are not always necessary.
In this project, the partners will further develop SoundCell’s rapid testing technology, which measures how bacteria respond to antibiotics within about one hour after laboratory growth. The goal is to broaden the range of antibiotics and bacteria that can be tested and will validate the method using clinical samples at Erasmus MC. The results will be compared with standard methods to ensure reliability and accuracy.
The project will deliver an expanded rapid diagnostic test panel, scientific publications, and the validation data needed to prepare for clinical certification and future implementation in medical microbiology laboratories. Ultimately, this innovation could help doctors treat infections faster and support responsible antibiotic use.
