Nexsen and Universiti Malaya launch food safety hub

Nexsen (ASX:NXN) formalised a partnership with Universiti Malaya to establish a state-of-the-art joint research facility aimed at revolutionising food safety diagnostics.

The collaborative venture, situated within the UM Innovative Medical Devices Centre of Excellence, marks a significant expansion of Nexsen’s research and development footprint in Asia.

Under the co-funded agreement, UM will contribute 50% of the establishment costs, providing Nexsen with a high-leverage entry into the Malaysian market alongside its existing operations in Hong Kong.

The facility’s maiden project focuses on developing a rapid, dual-sensor biosensor capable of detecting both E. E. coli and Salmonella on a single device—a critical technological gap identified by the Malaysian Ministry of Health.

Currently, no such dual-detection product exists commercially, despite the pressing need for heightened biosecurity in the robust food trade between Malaysia and Singapore.

By combining UM’s prototype development with Nexsen’s expertise in ultrasensitive sensor technology, the team intends to bring this innovation to market within 24 months.

Managing Director Mark Muzzin highlighted that this initiative applies the same core lateral flow and bioreceptor technology used in the company’s StrepSure and kidney diagnostic suites to the realm of food safety.

The move not only strengthens Nexsen's ties with a world-leading research institution—ranked 58th globally—but also demonstrates the versatility of its technology platform across human health, agriculture, and biosecurity sectors.