Oxford spinout’s diagnostic tests take just weeks to develop
25th July 2016
A technology co-developed at the Universities of Oxford and Sao Paulo State University in Brazil will be commercialised by spinout OID (Oxford Impedance Diagnostics), offering the potential for ultrasensitive fast diagnostic tests for a range of diseases.
OID has raised £2m in seed funding from investors including Oxford Technology Investment Fund, Oxford Sciences Innovation, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and angel investors. The researchers have data on a broad range of biomarkers for conditions including cardiovascular health, a range of infectious diseases, breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
The OID tests can quantify the presence of specific antibodies, proteins or other biomarkers in a whole blood sample or other biological or liquid samples with extremely high levels of sensitivity. The associated impedance or capacitance signals, provide a method of measuring biomarkers that is not only low cost but also offers a platform for a wide range of diagnostic and research applications.
Professor Jason Davis at the University of Oxford’s Department of Chemistry is co-inventor of the technology and cofounder of the company. Davis said: “Using the OID proprietary technology, the development of a new panel of biomarkers takes only a few weeks.
“OID will provide state of the art biomarker tests. We are working with a number of leading clinical teams to identify and test marker panels within patient samples.
CEO Andy Anderson said: “OID is aiming to change the way diagnostics are delivered over the next ten years. We will offer rapid product development of tailored diagnostics. Our platform is based on a significant portfolio of peer reviewed data from Professor Davis and his colleagues here at Oxford. We will develop diagnostics which are both cost effective and easy to use. The diagnostics are based on a robust platform which offers extremely high sensitivity, speed and multiplexing. Tests will be developed that can be used either in clinical laboratories or at point of care, dependent upon clinical need.
“We aim to develop our own assays for a range of conditions and our initial focus will be on cardiovascular health and cancer.”
The University’s technology commercialisation company Oxford University Innovation supported the team by filing a suite of patents, building the business plan and marketing the opportunity.
Dr Adam Stoten, Head of Technology Transfer – Life Sciences at Oxford University Innovation, said: “The low cost, speed and exceptional sensitivity of these diagnostics have the potential to improve treatment and reduce healthcare costs, boosting patient outcomes.”
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