NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has announced its 2026 Cohort – and LightOx is proud to be among them!
LightOx was selected to take part in the programme under the Human Resilience and Biotechnology challenge area, marking a major international milestone in our journey to develop light-activated technologies that address critical unmet medical needs.
Below, we share what this selection means for LightOx and how it supports the next stage of our journey.
Being selected from a global field of innovators
DIANA’s 2026 Programme was its most competitive to date, with more than 3,000 companies applying from across NATO nations. From this global field, just 150 companies from 24 countries were selected to take part in Phase I of the programme.
For LightOx, being chosen among this group was a powerful moment of recognition. It reflects the progress we have made in developing LXD231, our light-activated wound care technology, and it’s potential in addressing real-world challenges related to infection, wound care and antimicrobial resistance.
Tackling a growing and urgent challenge
One of the key themes of this DIANA challenge is improving resilience against increasing health and infection risks. Wound infections significantly delay healing and can cause serious complications, especially in defence settings—a risk heightened by increasing antimicrobial resistance. LightOx’s LXD231 directly tackles this challenge by destroying antibiotic-resistant bacteria to create a wound environment that can support the healing process.
The global scale of the problem underscores why new solutions like ours are critical.
A milestone moment for LightOx
Selection for the DIANA programme comes at an important point in LXD231’s development. With formulation work advancing and clinical planning underway, the opportunity to engage with an international dual-use network offers us valuable momentum.
As part of the programme, LightOx will receive funding and access to accelerator infrastructure, alongside mentoring and guidance from scientists, defence stakeholders and end users. These inputs will help shape how our dual-use technology can be deployed effectively in both clinical and defence applications.
This selection also represents growing confidence in LightOx’s ability to translate innovative science into tangible solutions that make a meaningful difference. The successful application to DIANA was led by David Chisholm, LightOx’s Head of Technology. His work in coordinating the process and preparing the grant submission played a key role in achieving this milestone.
David Chisholm on the DIANA 2026 Selection
“Being selected by DIANA is a real milestone moment for LightOx. The programme gives us the opportunity to work with end-users, mentors‑ and test centres to accelerate the development of LXD231 and show how it can be deployed in dual use applications. It’s‑ an exciting step that positions this technology towards clinical use and broader adoption in both defence and civilian healthcare settings.”
Kick-off in Copenhagen
Following the selection, our LightOx team had the opportunity to attend the first DIANA Innovation Incubator meeting in Copenhagen. It was an energising start to the six-month programme, where we connected with mentors, peers, and fellow innovators from across the NATO ecosystem. The sessions gave us valuable insights into technology refinement, and it was inspiring to see the breadth of expertise in the cohort.
Reflecting on the experience, David added:
“The strength and creativity of the other companies in the accelerator truly stood out, as did the clarity we gained around defence sector requirements. The experience has already challenged us to think differently about our technology’s potential impact. I’m‑ excited about how we can build on this momentum over the coming months”
Looking ahead
DIANA 2026 marks the start of a pivotal phase for LightOx and LXD231. With new opportunities, partnerships, and trials ahead, we are moving closer to providing a new option for the treatment of challenging wounds.
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LightOx’s LXD231 is a light-activated gel that can be applied directly to wounds to reduce infection and aid healing. Learn more about LXD231 and view our development timeline, here.
