Singapore: Singapore start-up and Germany-based biotech firm, AYOXXA, has collaborated with Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) for developing ophthalmic diagnostic tools using its multiplexing technology platform for protein biomarker detection.

"We are pleased to start this collaboration with such a prestigious research institute like SERI," said Mr Michael Rasche, corporate vice president, global commercial operations, AYOXXA Biosystems. "By gaining access to very low-volume samples from the eye, we can prove the benefits of our new protein multiplex technology beyond the research segment in clinical settings. We want to closely work with SERI in the ophthalmology space and potentially use our technology as new diagnostic application in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)."

"SERI has had a long and broad history of working with large and mid-size pharmaceutical and ophthalmic companies, and we are now keen to expand our collaboration scope to working with promising start-up companies from around the world, be it biotech, diagnostics or device companies, with our goal of positioning Singapore as one of the world hubs for innovative technology development in ophthalmology," said Prof. Tin Aung, executive director, SERI. "The partnership with AYOXXA can potentially enable the co-development of a range of ophthalmic diagnostic tools, beginning with AMD. Having a validated diagnostic platform can potentially help better assess patients and more objectively steer their treatment. It can also potentially assist in the development of new treatments."

Research teams led by Dr Dieter Trau, associate professor, NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering and Co-founder of AYOXXA, and Prof Wong Tien Yin, one of world's top eye researchers and medical director at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) will closely work together during this pilot study.

"The AYOXXA biochip technology is able to generate more data from precious patient samples. This will help to accelerate medical research, to understand diseases and to develop cures. I am happy to see this technology now applied on eye research by a strong team of SERI, NUS and AYOXXA", said Dr Dieter Trau.

"It is indeed heartening to see a technology that began its life within an NUS laboratory moving towards the clinic. AYOXXA's steady developments demonstrate how NUS research has strong industry relevance and can potentially make a significant impact upon patient care around the world," said Ms Irene Cheong, director, NUS Industry Liaison Office, which is part of NUS Enterprise.