An Edinburgh spin-out able to measure human hormone levels in real time has secured £1.2m to investigate women’s hormone-related conditions and support better diagnosis and treatment.
Kāhu SiliconBio, founded by scientists Dr James Flewellen and Prof Teuta Pilizota, is commercialising research from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Engineering Biology, building on work backed by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).
IBioIC was set up in 2014 to stimulate growth in Scotland’s biotechnology industry. The organisation works with over 400 companies and 19 Scottish universities and based in the Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) at the University of Strathclyde.
The funding, awarded by the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIN-D), will support the development of the company’s next prototype as it adapts its technology for women’s health applications.
Unlike traditional hormone tests, which provide a single measurement at one point in time, Kāhu SiliconBio’s technology is designed to track hormone levels throughout the day, creating a more detailed picture of factors such as sleep, stress, nutrition and the menstrual cycle.
The system combines engineered biology with silicon chip technology. Bioengineered bacteria respond to specific hormones, while electronic components translate those biological responses into measurable signals that can be analysed instantly.
For many hormone-related conditions, limited access to detailed hormone data can make diagnosis and treatment more challenging. The technology could support research into conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), helping researchers better understand the relationship between hormones and health.
Dr James Flewellen, co-founder and chief executive of Kāhu SiliconBio, said: “Hormones play a fundamental role in health, but we still have limited visibility into how they change throughout our lives and how those fluctuations relate to disease. This funding will help us take an important step towards creating a new type of biological sensor that could give both researchers and patients a much deeper understanding of hormone patterns and their impact on women’s health.”
The technology was developed to monitor chemical compounds in liquids for applications beyond healthcare.
Since launching in 2025, Kāhu SiliconBio has secured support from a range of innovation funding programmes, including Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK, Silicon Catalyst UK and the Roslin Institute Campus Innovation Account.
The company plans to continue refining its prototype, expand its team and establish new research and clinical partnerships.
Dr Liz Fletcher, impact director and deputy chief executive at IBioIC, added: “Kahu SiliconBio is a strong example of how research-driven innovation can evolve into technology with the potential to address real-world challenges. The company’s progress demonstrates the value of collaboration between academia, industry and innovation organisations, and it’s exciting to see its work gaining international recognition as it moves towards new healthcare applications.”