TidalSense awarded SBRI funding to accelerate development of its asthma diagnostic AI technology

Cambridge, UK, 6 February, 2025: A research and development project that aims to establish groundbreaking new AI algorithms to diagnose asthma in young children has secured additional funding from SBRI Healthcare.

The project, from leading respiratory health tech company TidalSense, will use its pioneering N-Tidal device to develop new AI algorithms for the diagnosis of asthma in young children. The tool would be launched onto the company's AI medical device diagnostic platform and used to help diagnose asthma in children more easily and accurately.

Following a £795,000 grant from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme, TidalSense is preparing to develop the algorithms using the N-Tidal device, which it intends to make available in the future as part of the N-Tidal Diagnose platform. These algorithms could then be used to quickly and accurately test children for asthma.

This second phase of the project follows a successful pilot research programme also funded by SBRI in 2024, in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. This project demonstrated successful use of the N-Tidal device in healthy children and those with wheeze or paediatric asthma as young as five years old.

Paediatric asthma and viral wheeze are leading causes of hospital visits and consultations, with asthma affecting a million children in the UK. Asthma is a chronic condition where wheezing is triggered by numerous factors, while a viral wheeze is a temporary respiratory illnes, linked to a specific infection. Diagnosing both conditions in young children requires cooperation and effort from the child, typically involving spirometry which requires challenging manoeuvres involving forced exhalation.

Previous studies have shown that this method is considered difficult to perform, especially in preschool age children because they are less able to do the breathing manoeuvres required which can be a stressful and uncomfortable experience. If used incorrectly, spirometry devices frequently lead to delayed diagnoses due to difficulties obtaining accurate data, and unnecessary healthcare costs associated with prolonged hospital stays and additional treatments.

TidalSense's N-Tidal device requires normal, relaxed breathing in and out through the mouth. Unlike spirometry, forced breathing manoeuvres are not required making it significantly easier and more accessible for young patients.

Dr Ameera Patel, CEO of TidalSense, said: "Around one in 11 children in the UK have asthma, and it is the most common long-term medical condition in children in the UK. It's a particularly difficult condition to diagnose in children, because current diagnostic tools often require children to perform special breathing manoeuvres which can be difficult for them to do."

"TidalSense is invested in developing new diagnostic tools and pathways for common respiratory conditions, which are easy for the patient to perform and which do not require complex medical analysis. This means that the tests can be performed by generalist medical staff in primary care settings, making access to healthcare more easily accessible, and also more comfortable for the patient."

"TidalSense was one of four businesses awarded Phase 2 funding by the Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme. This national programme accelerates innovative technologies in the NHS and the wider health and social care system, tackling unmet health and care needs, including inequalities, in children's health."

Verena Stocker, Director of Innovation, Research, Life Sciences and Strategy, NHS England and Chief Executive Office, Accelerated Access Collaborative, said: "The SBRI Healthcare awards help the NHS to develop new technologies and solutions to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing society. These innovations were selected because they have the potential to make a big difference to improving the health and wellbeing of children. By supporting the most promising innovations, the NHS will continue to evolve, helping to meet more patients' needs and encouraging more innovators to come forward with innovative ideas that benefit all."