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- Cancer diagnostics developer BARD1 Life Sciences (BD1) has signed a consultancy and research agreement with Griffith University
- Under the agreement, Griffith’s Mucosal Immunology Research Group will provide support for the development and commercialisation of BARD1 tech
- BARD1’s particular focus is on autoantibody tests for the early detection of ovarian, breast and lung cancers
- The MIRG’s advanced lab systems will help BARD1 perfect its novel diagnostic technology and potentially streamline its pathway to market
- BARD1 is up 9.5 per cent in early trade, with shares priced at 2.3 cents each
Cancer diagnostics developer BARD1 Life Sciences (BD1) has signed a consultancy and research agreement with Griffith University’s Mucosal Immunology Research Group (MIRG).
Under the terms of the agreement, Griffith’s MIRG will provide support for the development and commercialisation of BARD1 technology in the detection of ovarian, breast and lung cancer.
BARD1’s Mission
BARD1 specialises in non-invasive diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancer. The company says its mission is to find new ways to detect and prevent cancer to improve patients’ lives.
BARD1 is currently developing a proprietary tumour marker platform – a technology which will help identify tumours earlier, and do so without invasive surgical biopsies. The new tech has potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications across multiple cancers. BARD1’s particular focus is on autoantibody tests in development for early detection of ovarian, breast and lung cancers.
The Merger with MIRG
The Mucosal Immunology Research Group is focused on understanding the role of the immune system in human health and disease. Headquartered within the Menzies Health Institute at Griffith University, this focus is achieved through a range of pre-clinical and clinical research initiatives in partnership with clinicians and commercial partners.
The MIRG’s expertise in laboratory and diagnostic testing will help BARD1 define and refine how its advanced diagnostic technology is performing, and how it can be perfected. The MIRG’s specialised data capture and analytics will underpin the advancement of BARD1’s novel technology.
A New Hope
The new partners hope MIRG’s laboratory expertise in analysing and quantifying immune responses will fast-track BARD1’s pathway to the commercialisation of its tech.
BARD1 CEO Dr Leearne Hinch says the MIRG partnership is an ideal fit for the company’s growth and development strategy.
“[The partnership] provides the company with local access to additional expertise in immunoassay development and performance, biostatistical analysis and critical biospecimens for future clinical validation studies as we advance our diagnostic programs towards commercialisation,” Leearne explained.
BARD1 is currently based in Perth, WA, but its research arm has been working out of Geneva, Switzerland. In fostering the collaboration with Griffith, BARD1 can move its entire operation to Australia’s east coast. This offers the opportunity to streamline its model and focus on delivering its technology to market.
BARD1 is up 9.5 per cent in early trade, with shares priced at 2.3 cents each as at 12:05 pm AEDT.
