GeneCapture today announced the firm has been awarded a two-year, $1 million Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) contract from the Department of Defense, Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD). JSTO-CBD is the Chemical and Biological Science & Technology (S&T) organization within the DoD’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The project focuses on the development of a desktop prototype to rapidly identify critical pathogens considered threatening to warfighters.
Dr. Krishnan Chittur, CTO and co-founder in the GeneCapture lab at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
GeneCapture, a resident associate company at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama, has developed a “gene signature matching platform” that screens for hundreds of pathogens (disease-causing germs) in less than one hour. The multi-pathogen test is conducted using a small, inexpensive disposable cartridge and can be used to test samples both from humans and animals. The technique is being evaluated as a possible solution for a portable infection diagnostic device for use in forward deployed military operations.
The DTRA issued STTR contract, Number HDTRA1-18-C-0031, supports the S&T objectives of the Joint Chemical and Biological Defense Program. The STTR program focuses on innovative research and development for promising technologies that address requirements in both government and commercial sectors.
In addition to remote applications for warfighters, the portable platform could enable civilian applications such as rapid infection diagnosis in schools, urgent care clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, veterinary clinics, cruise ships, and airports.
“It has been a dream of mine to bring this technology to market so that critical diagnostic decisions can be made quickly, which will save lives,” said Krishnan Chittur, Ph.D., chemical engineering professor emeritus at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and co-founder of GeneCapture. The original discovery was patented at UAH and exclusively licensed to GeneCapture.
Chittur describes the technology as using genetic probes to capture the ‘signature’ of the germs. An optical scan identifies which germ is present producing a result in about 45 minutes.
“It’s a completely new technique that would have been impossible without the advances in genetics and genomics discoveries of the last decade. That is one of the reasons we are located at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology – the research that’s happening here is cutting-edge,” he added.
Paula Koelle, chief scientist at GeneCapture, and principal investigator for the STTR Phase II contract, will lead the effort to produce the disposable cartridges and desktop analyzer for a set of pathogens selected by DTRA that present potential biological threats to the warfighter.
GeneCapture is collaborating on this contract with Birmingham-based Southern Research, a nonprofit, scientific research organization. Southern Research will provide its expertise in infectious diseases, purifying genetic material for testing, and designing clinical trials for the FDA. Southern Research has a proven track record supporting new platforms for detecting and preventing newly emerged and highly dangerous infectious disease pathogens.
“The opportunity to work closely with GeneCapture is a perfect match for Southern Research. We have a history of reaching out to the life sciences community, which benefits both our state economy and the global healthcare industry,” said Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton, Ph.D. “Our infectious disease scientists will produce reference tests and accelerate the clinical testing of GeneCapture’s new platform.”
“GeneCapture is focused on reducing the risk we all have of being infected from emerging pathogens and global pandemics – the clock is ticking,” said GeneCapture CEO and co-founder Peggy Sammon. “The GeneCapture team is working diligently to bring an affordable, portable solution to this critical problem by connecting with disease experts around the world to incorporate their needs into this product.”
About GeneCapture: Located at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, GeneCapture is a private company developing a solution for rapid diagnosis of human and animal infections. GeneCapture’s novel platform uses genetic signatures to identify the presence of pathogens. See GeneCapture.com
About Southern Research: Founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Research (SR) is an independent, nonprofit, scientific research organization supporting the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental, and energy industries. We pursue entrepreneurial and collaborative initiatives to develop and maintain a pipeline of intellectual property and innovative technologies that positively impact real-world problems. Learn more at SouthernResearch.org.
ABOUT Defense Threat Reduction Agency: DTRA is a Combat Support Agency and a Defense Agency with a three-pronged mission: 1.) to counter the threats posed by the full spectrum of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives; 2.) to counter the threats posed by the growing, evolving categories of improvised threats, including improvised explosive devices, car bombs and weaponized consumer drones, as well as the tactics, technologies and networks that put them on the battlefield; and, 3.) to ensure the U.S. military maintains a safe, secure, effective and credible nuclear weapons deterrent.
