Australia-based prostate cancer technology company, Minomic International Ltd. was recently awarded a highly esteemed science prize that gives recognition to the “outstanding” science behind the company’s proprietary antibody. Minomic’s MiCheck, a novel prostate cancer diagnostic test known set to launch in 2016, contains the MIL-38 antibody and works on a special nanoparticle technology capable of detecting even the faintest traces of cancer.
Minomic received the prize during its recent participation in a high-level consortium, taking out the Australian Museum Eureka Science Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research, given to ground breaking research that has only been made possible by combining two or more unrelated disciplines. The award also jointly recognizes Minomic’s partners in research, Professors Jin Dayong from the University of Technology Sydney/Macquarie University and Tanya Monro from the University of South Australia. The team was able to demonstrate that combining Minomic’s proprietary MIL-38 antibody with “Super Dots” nanoparticle technology enables the detection of ultra low levels of cancer cells to be in blood or urine samples.
Minomic Chief Executive Officer Dr. Brad Walsh said: “This was a fantastic scientific achievement, and we are delighted that we have been able to contribute to this potentially ground breaking research finding.”
“This Eureka Prize accolade is internationally regarded and formally recognises the intrinsic science embedded in our technology,” he said.
“Our patented antibody is the centrepiece of our novel MiCheck® prostate cancer diagnostic test, but this scientific collaboration demonstrates its longer term value across a range of technologies.”
“This award augurs well for our company and its commercial prospects, because it provides further evidence that our platform is scientifically sound having been peer reviewed at the highest level.”
Dr Walsh added: “Super Dots are the brightest nanoscale tags for single molecule detection. By combining Super Dots with our prostate cancer technology in a trans-disciplinary approach we are able to break through some of the technical bottlenecks in cancer detection allowing us to achieve much higher levels of sensitivity.”
Founded in 1990, the Australian Museum Eureka Science Prizes are awarded every year to duly recognize exceptional and highly promising scientific research and advancements, leadership, communication and journalism and school science.
