Our Story.

Founded in 2018, Hutano Diagnostics is committed to enabling accurate and timely disease prognosis, diagnosis and management. To extend the capabilities of LFDs, we have developed an innovative aptamer-based LFD platform which translates the latest proteomics research into multiplex LFDs. 

We’re driven by honest science and persistent innovation.

Our experienced leadership team has a wealth of experience in aptamer technology, commercializing biotechnology solutions and entrepreneurship.

Management Team

Atherton Mutombwera
Founder and CEO

Atherton is an expert in biotechnology commercialisation and aptamer-based bioassay development. He founded Hutano Diagnostics in 2018 after completing his Masters in Nanobiotechnology as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and an MBA at Oxford University under the Weidenfeld Hoffman Trust Scholarship. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he has also co-developed the Weidenfeld Hoffmann Trust Enterprise Challenge and supported the development of the Africa Oxford Health Innovation Platform.

Dr Abdessamad Tahiri-Alaoui
CSO

Abdou has over 25 years of experience combining research in protein folding, aptamer technology, RNA solution structure, viral translational control and GMP vaccine manufacturing and testing within the University of Oxford and the Pirbright Institute. He was the first to develop adaptamers as bifunctional synthetic RNA and to isolate aptamers specific to disease isoform of prion protein and that inhibit prion conversion. Prior to joining Hutano, he was the Head of the Quality Control department at the Clinical BioManufacturing Facility (CBF) Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, where he was part of the Oxford team behind the development, testing and the release of more than six vaccines for phase I and II clinical trials, including the first batches of COVID-19 vaccine

Dr Prameen Chacko Kalikavunkal
Principal Scientist

Prameen is an expert in LFD and microfluidics development.

Our board members

Board Members

Dr Glenn Leighton
Chairman & Finance Lead

Glenn has over 20 years of experience in investment banking and financial services, with a proven track record in devising and executing financial and business growth strategies. He is also the Founder-CEO of Hydrophis, a carbon utilisation start-up and a non-executive board member of Circadian Therapeutics, a biotech which develops therapeutics for diseases associated with circadian rhythm disruption. He has a PhD in law from Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and undergraduate law degrees from universities in Japan and Australia. Glenn also has an MBA at Oxford University.

Professor William James
Science Lead

William is a Professor of Virology at the University of Oxford. He has extensive aptamer experience, leading a lab studying HIV-macrophage biology using aptamers and stem cells as major tools for research.

Dr Paul Abrahams
Regulatory Lead

Paul is an experienced healthcare entrepreneur, having co-founded and/or led several start-ups in the broad healthcare space. Currently, he is the CEO of Reacta Biotech, a company which develops GMP quality Oral Food Challenge diagnostic kits and the co-founder of VX Pharma, a fully integrated clinical research site. Prior to this, he has practiced as an emergency physician, obtained an MBA at Oxford University and worked in investment banking, health insurance and pharma logistics.

David Janeson
Chief Fundraising Advisor

David has been analysing investment opportunities and investing since 1998, previously working as an equity analyst with Investor’s Group, Canada’s largest mutual fund company at the time and currently leading Deltam Family Holdings Inc as the President. Since 2003, he has been an entrepreneur, co-founding companies and passively investing in technology and ESG.

Our company mission and vision

Company Mission and Vision

Our mission is to be the bridge that translates ongoing innovation into smart medical solutions.

Our vision is to shift the paradigm of health. 

Our company development roadmap

Company Development Roadmap

April 2023

Develop LFD Prototype

May 2024

Complete LFD and companion app development

August 2024

Complete LFD independent evaluation

Conclude commercial agreements with 4 distributors

November 2024

Complete field trial

Submit regulatory application