Apr 22 2009
Ceres Nanosciences, LLLP, and National Cancer Institute contractor SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI), have signed a collaboration agreement to assess Ceres' nanotechnology-based system that can isolate scant amounts of substances in body fluids, with an eye toward developing tools for diagnosing cancer at the earliest possible stage when treatments are most effective.
Under the agreement, SAIC-Frederick laboratories will begin by assessing Ceres’ Nanotrap™ technology in an effort to identify from body fluids extremely low concentrations of steroid hormones.
The agreement was formed under the National Cancer Institute’s Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative (ATPI), which aims to further NCI’s mission by rapidly translating the results of basic research into new tests and treatments for cancer patients. SAIC-Frederick, as prime contractor at the National Cancer Institute at Frederick, is facilitating ATPI partnerships for the government.
“The role that steroid hormones play in cancer continues to be a research area of great interest,” said Timothy Veenstra, Ph.D., Head of Laboratory Proteomics Analytical Technologies at SAIC-F. “Our intent in developing the Ceres Nanotrap™ is to increase the speed and accuracy with which samples can be processed and analyzed. This will lead to a better understanding of the role that steroid hormones play in cancer.”
“This collaboration with SAIC-F is an ideal match for Ceres,” said Ross Dunlap, Chief Operating Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “It is aligned with our mission to develop an integral technology for more efficient and effective sample processing and disease diagnosis. We are very excited to partner with Dr. Veenstra’s team in support of the cancer research programs at SAIC-F.”
Ceres’ Nanotrap™ technology is a nanoparticle platform developed to better capture low-abundance biomarkers and protect them from degradation. The Nanotrap™ collection process, coupled with existing clinical diagnostic platforms, has the potential of significantly improving efficiency, reliability, sensitivity and accuracy of a wide range of critical diagnostic processes. This may improve diagnosis of diseases, including cancer, at their earliest stages.