The company plans to launch a test that leverages unfolded p53 as a biomarker for detection by mass spectrometry in a US-based CLIA-certified lab late next year.
The assay uses mass spec to measure levels of three proteins in blood and could provide a low cost, non-invasive alternative to existing Alzheimer's tests.
The two grants awarded will support DiamiR's development of microRNA diagnostics for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and Rett syndrome.
Washington University researchers and a team including scientists from Eli Lilly independently identified a modified form of tau as a promising Alzheimer's marker.
Roche, Shionogi, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Eisai will provide the charity with specimens from Alzheimer's disease patients who participated in clinical studies.
The company's adaptive low-resource testing technology requires no instrumentation and limited equipment, making it adaptable to settings without clinical lab infrastructure.
The company said that it will use the funds to build out its CLIA facility and continue developing its blood-based Alzheimer's disease test for the clinic.
The findings suggest blood-based testing for tau brain deposits is feasible and could be combined with other blood-based assays to improve Alzheimer's testing.
The company will offer a 32-gene polygenic score test to patients in the Osaka, Japan Nakanoshima Clinic, with reporting and patient support help from IxLayer.
