Fiscal Year:
2001
Title:
Novel Technology for the Analysis of Gene Expression
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
N/A
Award Amount:
$549,192.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION: (provided by applicant)
The goal of this project is to develop a new technology for the rapid
screening and analysis of cancer-linked proteins. AmberGen has made
significant progress during Phase I by developing methods for the rapid
isolation, detection and analysis of proteins. Referred to as Pro-Screen
(protein screening), the technology is based on the use of tRNAs to
incorporate special markers and linkers into proteins which are expressed in
vitro from a patient's genomic DNA or mRNA. Specific accomplishments include
demonstration of the ability to rapidly detect truncations, point mutations
and functional defects. During Phase II, AmberGen will shift its focus
towards clinical applications. Highly sensitive, rapid and non-isotopic
methods will be introduced for detecting chain-truncating mutations based on
fluorescent-PAGE and chemiluminescence. Rapid screening of point mutations
will be facilitated using UV -MALDI mass spectrometry. A variety of rapid
functional assays of cancer-linked proteins will be developed which are based
on in vitro incorporation of multiple markers. Clinical applications to be
evaluated include the detection of APC mutations in familial adenamatous
polyposis (FAP); the screening of APC and p53 mutations as part of a
non-invasive diagnostic assay for colorectal cancer and the profiling of p53
mutations in lung and breast solid-tumors.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
AmberGen will commercialize Pro-Screen technology with specific applications in the area
of pharmaceutical genomics, screening of inherited diseases, early detection of cancers
and profiling of tumors for clinical diagnosis. An early focus of commercialization will be
the introduction of screening technology to detect APC and p53 mutations as part of a
non-invasive colorectal cancer test as well as BRCA screening. Subsequently, several
cancer related genes would be screened using AmberGen's Pro-Screen technology.
Principal Investigator:
Sadanand Gite
Small Business Information at Submission:
AMBERGEN, INC.
1106 COMMONWEALTH AVE BOSTON, MA 02215
EIN/Tax ID:
043228005
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No