Early detection of cancer biomarkers by 10x faster and 10x lower-concentration measurements using nanopores
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We will develop a novel approach to detect RNA cancer markers irmpoving sensitivity and speed by a factor of 10 each.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ulrich Keyser (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Boškovic F
(2024)
Nanopore translocation reveals electrophoretic force on non-canonical RNA:DNA double helix.
in bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Platnich C
(2024)
Chemical annealing restructures RNA for nanopore detection
| Description | We demosntrated that we can detect short RNA pieces that are related to cell function and hence may act as biomarkers. We are currently preparing a publicaton for fungal RNA identification and limit of detection for bacteria in blood. We have preliminary data that shows that we can detect 100s of bacteria in ml of blood with a single nanopore device. With the simultaneous measurement of 16 nanopores we will be able to reduce the limit of detection to a few bacterial cells in blood. The work will be published and the IP licensed to industry through the commercialisation arm of Cambridge University. We are in discussion with Cambridge Enterprise about protecting the IP in this project and are looking for partners. |
| Exploitation Route | We are working with a startup company Cambridge Nucleomics to translate the work into a clinical test for sepsis patients. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | The work has resulted in interest from a startup company, Cambridge Nucleomics, who want to use the technology to detect RNA in blood for sepsis detection. The start-up company has now licensed the technology and raised pre-seed funding in March 2025. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Title | RNA fragmentationand target enrichment for nanopore sensing |
| Description | We have developed a protocol to enrich our samples after RNA extraction. A dedicated heating protocol in the presence of multi-valent ions removes background RNA while preserving the target RNA molecules. This was a major step forward for the practical implementation of our method. The method will be published in a publication that is currently under preparation. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We are now able to detect up to 80 different viruses and bacterial sequences in complex samples. |