InteRNA Technologies BV of Bilthoven signed a research agreement with VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, to develop microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer using InteRNA’s proprietary library of micro-RNAs.
InteRNA will apply its lentiviral-based miRNA over-expression library in high-throughput screening assays to identify the biological role of individual micro-RNAs and novel therapeutic targets in leukaemia, colon, prostate and head and neck cancer.
In addition, diagnostic miRNA profiles will be developed through next-generation sequencing, in combination with InteRNA’s proprietary small RNA bioinformatics pipeline, miR-Intess, on diverse patient sample sets provided by the university.
The power of the approach will be in combining profiling and functional screens. “This research collaboration with investigators at several departments in the Cancer Centre in Amsterdam will significantly boost our discovery programmes,” said Roel Schaapveld, Chief Operating Officer of InteRNA Technologies.
“MicroRNA’s play a critical role in the development of cancer and are expected to predict clinical progression in cancer patients. This collaboration enables us to find new microRNA-based biomarkers for tumour progression as well as to develop opportunities for pharmacological intervention in a range of malignant diseases,” said Professor Gerrit Meijer of VU University Medical Centre.
“The collaboration with InteRNA is another example of our mission to translate our scientific knowledge into products and services that improve healthcare and prevention of disease,” said Koen Verhoef, Technology Transfer Officer of VU University Medical Centre.
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