Onda, a Canadian contract research organisation focused on aquaculture, has been awarded an Ignition Fund grant to develop rapid diagnostic test kits for detecting diseases in fish and shellfish. The funding will support research and development efforts at the company’s facility in Souris, Prince Edward Island.
The project aims to create portable, on-site test kits that allow aquaculture producers to identify pathogens quickly. Current disease detection methods typically require laboratory testing, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Onda’s kits are designed to offer faster results and help farmers take earlier action to manage health issues in their stock.
The Ignition Fund, administered by Innovation PEI, provides early-stage capital to entrepreneurs and companies working on new products or businesses in Prince Edward Island. The fund supports innovation-driven enterprises by helping them move from concept to commercialisation.
Myrna Gillis, CEO of Onda, said the grant will allow the company to speed up the development of its diagnostic tools, which aim to support disease monitoring and farm management in the aquaculture sector.
Dr. Jordan Poley, Director of LabTech at Onda, is leading the development. He said the company plans to work with industry, government, and academic partners to test and validate the kits before launch.
Onda specialises in aquaculture research and trials, offering customised services from its locations in Souris and Victoria, PEI.
