As a consultant anaesthetist working in intensive care, Dr Tim Craft had spent years facing the same frustrating challenge: knowing that propofol, one of the world’s most widely used sedatives, was difficult to dose accurately because there was no way to measure how much of the drug was in a patient’s bloodstream. Rather than accepting this as an unavoidable part of clinical practice, Tim and his colleagues set out to change it.
As Co-Founder and CEO of Somnus Scientific, he has helped develop ProSed®, the world’s first point-of-care propofol monitor, with the potential to personalise sedation, improve patient safety and help people recover more quickly from intensive care. In the latest of our Meet the innovator series, we spoke to Tim about turning a clinical problem into an innovation, the importance of collaboration, and the lessons he’s learned from bringing new technology into the NHS.
Please tell us about Somnus and the challenge it answers
Propofol is an intravenous hypnotic given to sedate people in intensive care (ICU) and, in higher dose, to produce general anaesthesia. It is used worldwide and has been around for over 30 years.
My professional background is that of a consultant anaesthetist with an interest in ICU. I, and my ICU colleagues, have known for years that we find it hard to get the dose of propofol right for each individual patient because we can’t measure how much is in their blood stream. We founded Somnus Scientific to address just this. We have invented the world’s only antibody to propofol and, as a consequence, ProSed®, the first point-of-care propofol monitor.
We will now be able to personalise the amount of propofol given to each patient, prevent the current problems of excessive dosing, and reduce the harm being suffered by patients as a result. We will get patients off a ventilator sooner and discharge them from ICU more quickly. This will increase the availability of ICU beds to the health service as well as saving money.
How has Health Innovation West of England been involved with your journey?
We have taken advantage of the expertise in Health Innovation West of England from the outset. This has ranged from informal discussion of our aims, consideration of our value proposition, to the more formal experience provided by our inclusion in the recent Commercialisation Academy. And we haven’t finished yet! Next we will be seeking advice about generating real-world evidence to demonstrate the benefits of rapid blood propofol measurement.
What are the plans/next steps for your innovation?
Our next phase of clinical testing helps to build our evidence base as well as garner feedback from ICU nurses using ProSed®.
What’s your greatest piece of learning from innovating in the NHS?
The power of end-user led innovation.
What’s the best part of your job?
Bringing all the key players with all the different experience and expertise together.
What are your hopes for the future?
To see widespread adoption of ProSed® prove the value, to patients, clinicians, and providers, of rapid point-of-care blood propofol monitoring in sedated ICU patients.
What are your three pieces of advice for budding health innovators?
- Build your own personal resilience – it’s a rocky road
- Develop your network and use it as much as possible
- Collaborate whenever you can. The answers never come from one person or organisation
Any final message for people working in healthcare?
Take care of yourself and those around you. An innovation that drives its developers into the ground is no good for anyone.
You can find out more about Somnus Scientific and get in touch with the team by following them on LinkedIn.
Posted on July 10, 2026 by Dr Tim Craft, Co-Founder and CEO of Somnus Scientific
