AsianScientist (May 31, 2017) – Singaporean diagnostics company One BioMed Pte Ltd and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have established a joint laboratory to develop molecular diagnostic assays for the Asian clinical infectious disease testing market.
One BioMed—recently spun-out of A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME)—is developing a point-of-care diagnostic platform deploying two proprietary technologies: a chemistry-based nucleic acid extraction and a silicon biophotonics dual-ring sensor. Integrated into a consumable cartridge design and run on a portable instrument, these approaches will enable simple, cost-effective, rapid and highly multiplexed molecular testing outside of a central laboratory setting.
The joint laboratory will focus on the full development and integration of the initial assays for the One BioMed platform. Each panel will be highly multiplexed and syndromic, addressing clinically important infectious diseases in Asia, including pediatric respiratory infections, drug resistant tuberculosis and mosquito-borne illnesses. The laboratory will be located in the Genome building at Biopolis and will leverage the deep genomic expertise of GIS to improve the delivery of clinical medicine.
Dr. Alexander Lezhava, Group Leader, Translational Research will lead the lab for GIS, and Dr. Park Mi Kyoung, founder of One BioMed and its Chief Technology Officer, will lead the lab for the company.
“Our collaboration with One BioMed helps us to address one of the most difficult problems facing patients and healthcare providers across the region—poor access to accurate testing for infectious diseases like influenza, dengue and tuberculosis. This partnership is a great, high impact example of Singapore technology developed to solve clinical challenges which disproportionally effect Asia,” said Professor Ng Huck Hui, Executive Director of GIS.
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Source: A*STAR; Photo: Shutterstock.
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