Microarray technique for allergy testing

Investment Opportunity, Licensing Opportunity

Scientists at Nottingham University developed a technique that can test for up to 5,000 different allergens in one drop of blood. The basophil-microarray based allergy assay, a lab-based, in-vitro test that mimics human allergic reaction, could be used as an alternative to the traditional skin-prick test. It can test up to 5,000 different food or inhaled allergens, and works by assessing which allergens in the microarray prompt the release of histamine and other molecules that indicate an allergic reaction has taken place.

Marcos Alcocer, a lecturer in the School of Biosciences, said, “The whole idea is to trace what we call our immunological profile, the finger print of our immune system which tells us how we react.”

“Our technology is one step towards the ultimate goal of being able to have a full in-vitro diagnostic test for allergy. What we have to do now is examine the results of our test further and then assess how well it works compared to the gold standard techniques currently used for diagnosis. We will then be in a very good position for commercialisation.”

The innovation recently won a GBP 15,000 Da Vinci award in the Breakthrough Technology category. The awards, which are run by Loughborough University, recognise collaborative projects that lead to the commercialisation of healthcare innovations.

Dr Franco Falcone, Associate Professor in School of Pharmacy, said the award will be used to progress the research. “Getting funding from research councils for such a project is not always easy, so this is why Da Vinci award funding is ideal because it’s seed funding that we can then use to underpin a major grant application.”