One BioMed and Genome Institute of Singapore establish Joint Laboratory

SINGAPORE – Local diagnostics company One BioMed Pte Ltd and A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have established a joint laboratory to develop molecular diagnostic assays for the Asian clinical infectious disease testing market.

The joint laboratory will focus on the full development and integration of the initial assays for the One BioMed platform. Each panel will be highly multiplexed and syndromic, addressing clinically important infectious diseases in Asia, including pediatric respiratory infections, drug resistant tuberculosis and mosquito-borne illnesses. The laboratory will be located in the Genome building at Biopolis and will leverage the deep genomic expertise of GIS to improve the delivery of clinical medicine.

One BioMed – recently spun-out of A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) – is developing a point-of-care diagnostic platform deploying two proprietary technologies: a chemistry-based nucleic acid extraction and a silicon biophotonics dual-ring sensor. Integrated into a consumable cartridge design and run on a portable instrument, these approaches will enable simple, cost-effective, rapid and highly multiplexed molecular testing outside of a central laboratory setting.

Dr Alexander Lezhava, Group Leader, Translational Research will lead the lab for GIS, and Dr Park Mi Kyoung, founder of One BioMed and its Chief Technology Officer, will lead the lab for the company. “We allied with the GIS Translational Research group because they combine extensive molecular diagnostics assay development expertise with regulatory and commercialisation experience,” said Dr Park.

Prof Ng Huck Hui, Executive Director of GIS said, “Our collaboration with One BioMed helps us to address one of the most difficult problems facing patients and healthcare providers across the region – poor access to accurate testing for infectious diseases like influenza, dengue and tuberculosis. This partnership is a great, high impact example of Singapore technology developed to solve clinical challenges which disproportionally effect Asia.”

About One BioMed Pte Ltd

One BioMed is a private, Singapore-based molecular diagnostics company developing a simple, rapid, cost-effective and highly multiplexed platform focused on clinical infectious disease testing at the point-of-care in Asia.

About A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact.

The key research areas at the GIS include Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Computational and Systems Biology, and Translational Research.

The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.

For more information about GIS, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/gis