February 22, 2017
Ceres receives $750K award from US Department of Defense to adapt Nanotrap® Platform to Zika and emerging febrile illness pathogens from non-invasive sample types.
Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (Ceres) today announced the commencement of a development program, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense, to use Ceres’ Nanotrap® particle technology to commercialize sample processing tools for improved detection of Zika and other emerging pathogens from non-invasively collected urine and saliva specimens. During the 12-month performance of this program, Ceres will work in collaboration with George Mason University (GMU) to adapt the Nanotrap® platform for virus pathogen capture and concentration from urine and saliva samples, resulting in improved detection by multiple analytical methods suitable for point-of-care (POC) testing and high-throughput clinical laboratory testing. Additionally, Ceres will utilize the adapted Nanotrap® technology to demonstrate the utility to extend the current detection window of pathogens to both earlier and later time points.
“The Nanotrap® platform’s ability to rapidly concentrate and detect viruses at extremely low levels, from non-invasively collected samples, such as urine, will allow for easier and more accurate diagnosis of Zika and other emerging pathogens,” said Ben Lepene, Chief Technology Officer and Director of R&D for Ceres. “The universal nature of the Nanotrap® technology and our ability to pair it with existing tests will provide many opportunities for improved detection and pathogen identification in all settings, ranging from point-of-care to high-volume clinical laboratories.”