Research technologies and IP licensed could provide simplified, automated diagnostics.

Beckman Coulter inked four agreements with National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) to advance development of its molecular diagnostic instrument. The deal includes assay research and licenses for intellectual property that will enable development of infectious disease tests. Under the terms of the three-to-five year agreements, research will begin early this year.


“With these agreements, we will take a big step toward the launch of our sample-to-result molecular diagnostic system including a differentiated menu of moderately complex tests that address urgent clinical decisions,” according to Mike Whelan, group vp of Beckman Coulter’s high sensitivity testing group. 


“The agreements give us access to intellectual property for the development of tests for infectious diseases including sepsis, hospital-acquired infections, and sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and neisseria.”


The assay development research relies on NUI Galway nucleic acid detection technology for both bacterial and fungal targets along with SPRI™ (solid-phase reversible immobilization) and other technologies from Beckman Coulter.


“The combination of NUI Galway technologies with ours gives us a glimpse of the next generation of molecular diagnostics,” Whelan adds. “Our goal is that our simplified, automated solution will allow these time-consuming, complex, and labor-intensive tests to migrate into the routine hospital lab.”

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