A world-leading University of 蓝莓视频 spinoff company, that decodes blood samples for potential treatments for illnesses like cancer and COVID-19, is expanding operations with the help of a $5-million USD investment.
, a University of 蓝莓视频 computer science professor who cofounded聽聽in 2015, says the company鈥檚 technology is the most advanced in the world when it comes to deciphering the complex workings of antibody proteins, a process called sequencing.
Among other projects, Professor Ma鈥檚 team is currently decoding the antibodies in the blood of patients who are recovering from COVID-19 with the hopes that the information can be used to develop new treatments. The National Research Council of Canada, through its Industrial Research Assistance Program, has also given the Rapid Novor team a grant to support the coronavirus work.
鈥淭he long-term goal is to profile all antibodies in human blood and ultimately provide a brand new way to diagnose disease,鈥 Professor Ma says. 鈥淐ompared to other protein sequencing technologies, we are faster and more accurate, allowing more complex samples. We are the only team in the world that can sequence antibody proteins from blood directly.鈥
The recent $5-million USD financing round, led by Co-Win Venture, will allow Rapid Novor, which just tripled its office space at Catalyst 137 in Kitchener, Ont., to hire more scientists.
鈥淭he team鈥檚 track record for innovation and their ambitious goal to decode immunity attracted us,鈥 said Eric Wen, a Co-Win Venture Partner. 鈥淩apid Novor has built a team of world-class scientists and practitioners in proteomics and bioinformatics. Their unique technologies will have profound impact in the life sciences industry. We are thrilled to be part of this innovative team.鈥
Professor Ma says his team has already developed a sensitive, non-invasive blood test to monitor patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer growing in bone marrow. The test detects a cancer relapse six months earlier than standard medical care.