Redcliffe Labs, Skyroot Partner To Test Diagnostic Reagents In Space

Diagnostics company Redcliffe Labs has formed an alliance with space technology firm Skyroot Aerospace to assess the resilience of diagnostic reagents in a space environment. The first experiment under this agreement, designated DRIFT-1, will see Redcliffe's dry diagnostic reagents sent to Low Earth Orbit for a 90-day trial. The reagents' performance will be juxtaposed with that of an equivalent control sample held on Earth.

The primary objective of the experiment is to investigate the impact of space conditions on the stability and effectiveness of these reagents. The collaboration aims to generate data that could aid in the advancement of diagnostic technologies for space voyages and extreme terrestrial conditions. Despite the lack of details on the launch schedule, the specific rocket or spacecraft, the quantity and variety of reagents, or the financial aspects of the partnership, the findings could potentially guide Redcliffe in creating diagnostic products suitable for regions with restricted access to standard laboratory infrastructure or cold-chain facilities.

The partnership also explores potential uses in astronaut healthcare, life sciences, microgravity research, and point-of-care diagnostics for human spaceflight programs like Gaganyaan and the future Bharatiya Antariksh Station. According to Redcliffe's CEO Aditya Kandoi, "If we can craft diagnostics that withstand the rigors of space, we can develop more robust technologies that enhance access to dependable healthcare in some of the most demanding environments on Earth."

Established in 2018, Redcliffe provides pathology and diagnostic services through its laboratories, collection hubs, and home sample collection network. It serves over 220 cities and offers more than 3,600 diagnostic tests. The healthtech startup has secured approximately $115 million in funding. In September 2024, it raised $42 million in a Series C round led by Denmark’s Investment Fund for Developing Countries, with contributions from LeapFrog Investments, HealthQuad, and Spark Growth Ventures.

Redcliffe has also been expanding its diagnostic network via acquisitions, including Pune-based Megavision Diagnostics Center, a deal finalized this month, and centers in Ajmer and Kota. Redcliffe divested its fertility services business, Crysta IVF, in April to concentrate on diagnostics. This move comes less than a month after Skyroot's Vikram-I rocket made history as the inaugural orbital launch by an Indian private firm from India, launching two satellites into Low Earth Orbit from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre on July 18.

Founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in 2018, Skyroot designs small-satellite launch vehicles under its Vikram series. The company has raised over $95 million in funding to date from investors such as Temasek, GIC, and Sherpalo Ventures.