Latest News
Enterprise Ireland client companies announce the creation over 1000 new jobs
Irish Stock Exchange announces #IPOready initiative
382 actions set out in Government's 2015 plan for jobs
Fountain Healthcare Partners to manage €85m VC Fund
Research & Innovation
€25m investment in Dairy Processing Technology Centre
Baileys €600k innovation partnership with Enterprise Ireland
Bowel cancer blood test 'breakthrough'
World's first bone repair technology developed by Irish scientists saves horse's life
Startup Zone
The Start-up Class of 2014 comes to Dublin Castle
Irish start-up HiberGene Diagnostics raises €2m to commercialize tests for rapid diagnosis of critical diseases
PayPal and Dunnhumby back mobile location marketing start-up Pulsate
Irish space start-up gets €800,000 in ESA funding for big data in the cosmos
International Activities
Oneview Healthcare signs its first deal in the Middle East
New export guide to support companies reaching for new horizons
Irish healthcare companies exhibit at Arab Health
Upcoming Events
Mobile World Congress 2015
Arab Irish Business Forum - Focus on the Gulf
Pet Care Market Innovation Event
Tech Town at Career Zoo – 21st February
Contact Us  Follow Us
Research & Innovation

Bowel cancer blood test 'breakthrough'
 
Dr Peter Fitzgerald is the founder and managing director of the medical testing firm, Randox Laboratories
Dr Peter Fitzgerald is the founder and managing director of the medical testing firm, Randox Laboratories

Irish scientists are developing a new €25 blood test for bowel cancer, which could save thousands of lives by spotting the disease at the earliest possible opportunity. The simple check will pick up on antibodies in the blood, produced as the body reacts to the onset of bowel cancer.

The collaboration between researchers from the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute at Dublin City University and Irish biotech firm Randox, promises that the new test will be a significant breakthrough in the diagnosis of bowel cancer and could be available for widespread use by the end of next year.

Studies show that the identification of these very specific biomarkers will allow for a test which is more sensitive and accurate than existing screening. This means it will not only save lives, through earlier, more reliable and faster diagnosis, but because it is a simple blood test, it is hoped it will encourage more people to come forward for bowel cancer screening.

Professor Richard O’Kennedy, Scientific Director of BDI said:

“Typically patients who experience the symptoms of bowel cancer may visit their doctor. This new, quick and non-invasive test will help in identifying patients with bowel cancer earlier, so they are sent for colonoscopy and thus treated more effectively. Survival rates from bowel cancer are closely associated with the stage at diagnosis. More than half of people with bowel cancer are diagnosed in the later stages, requiring more complex treatment, with a poorer chance of survival. The aim of this new test is to find the cancer at the earliest possible stage, when it is easier to treat, improving outcomes for patients.”

The new test will be implemented on Randox’s proprietary Biochip Array Technology detection platform. Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald said:
“The potential here is quite revolutionary, while bowel cancer is a very serious illness – early diagnosis leads to improved survival. If bowel cancer is found early, the growth is typically small and can be removed, leaving the person healthy and needing less treatment. In addition bowel cancer places considerable burden on our healthcare system. Stage 3 bowel cancer treatment costs are estimated at more than €45k per patient, with Stage 1 treatment €18,550 – less than half, if we can catch this cancer early and treat it early, then the economic benefit will be considerable.”

The collaboration is funded by Enterprise Ireland and Randox. Initial work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland and carried out at Dublin City University and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and Beaumont Hospital. The inputs of Dr. Gregor Kijanka, Dr. Julie-Anne O' Reilly, Dr. Barry Byrne and Professors Elaine Kay and Dermot Kenny were vital in developing this research.

Randox molecular diagnostic tests (video)



Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us
Email Newsletter Software by Newsweaver