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Owlstone medical enters collaboration to advance early disease detection using non-invasive breath biopsy

Owlstone Medical

Thermo Fisher Scientific Orbitrap GC-MS technology to be integrated into Breath Biopsy to support identification of novel biomarkers for early disease detection

13 Nov 2019
Laura Sisman
Administrator / Office Personnel

Industry news

Owlstone Medical has announced its partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific to seek to advance the application of non-invasive breath sampling to address the challenges of the early detection of disease and the precision medicine delivery of healthcare through the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers.

Under the agreement, both parties will work to integrate the Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ GC Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap™ Mass Spectrometer into Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy® platform. An initial project will seek to qualify the mass analyzer for the detection of new biomarkers via a validated discovery and routine analysis project. Upon successful completion, the technology will then become a standard part of Owlstone Medical’s biomarker discovery process, whereby metabolomic studies are conducted on breath samples for internal programs, or on behalf of pharmaceutical or academic clients, to discover novel biomarkers that could translate into research and clinical tests. The work will take place at Owlstone Medical’s Cambridge, UK, Breath Biopsy® laboratory.

“There is clearly a growing need for non-invasive diagnostic solutions to support the early detection of disease.” said Morten Bern, senior director marketing, chromatography and mass spectrometry, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The integration of our Orbitrap GC-MS technology with Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy® platform provides a unique basis to improve patient outcomes through the discovery of breath biomarkers and their incorporation into clinical practice.”

Billy Boyle, co-founder, and CEO at Owlstone Medical said: “The GC Orbitrap platform’s ability to detect a wide range of chemicals during both targeted and untargeted analyses without losing selectivity or sensitivity, promises to be of substantial benefit to our Breath Biopsy® platform. With a large and rapidly expanding installed base of GC Orbitrap systems, our partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific represents an exciting opportunity for cross-promotion of the platform and technique, by which the benefits of Breath Biopsy® can be broadly realized.”

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Mass SpectrometryMass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique used to identify and quantify molecules based on the mass-to-charge ratio of gas-phase ions. It provides detailed information about the structure, composition, and properties of compounds and is widely used across fields such as environmental monitoring, materials science, drug discovery and development, food and beverage testing, and wider chemical research. Key MS techniques include tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LS-MS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Choosing from these wide range of techniques and technologies can be a daunting task, so keep up to date with scientific applications, performance expectations, and customer reviews here all in one place. Visit our product directory to receive quotes direct from the manufacturer. Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.BiomarkersBiomarkers are biological markers which can be measured and evaluated to indicate a biological state. The use of biomarkers in research and diagnosis can indicate a normal or disease state or drug response of cells / tissues. Biomarkers include genetic markers, cell surface markers such as antigens, antibodies or receptors and secreted molecules such as cytokines. An assay system is required for identification of biomarkers. :GC-MS GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) instruments and equipment are used to separate, quantify and identify mixtures of small and volatile compounds, such as polycyclic aromatics, fatty acids and alcohols. Often used in drug detection, forensic investigation and environmental analysis for pesticides and contaminants, GC-MS is a powerful addition to your lab’s analytical capabilities. GC-MS/MS instruments equipped with a qTOF or triple quadrupole analyzers can give greater sensitivity and resolution to your analysis. Find the best GC-MS instruments and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MetabolomicsMetabolomics is the study of small metabolites (the intermediates and products of metabolism). It involves the identification and quantification of cellular metabolites using analytical technologies such as GC, HPLC, NMR, and LC/MS.Translational ResearchMolecular DiagnosticsMolecular diagnostics use an individual’s genetic code and gene expression to diagnose and monitor diseases. The technique is used increasingly in the field of infectious diseases and oncology, as well as areas such as coagulation, HLA typing and pharmacogenomics. Molecular diagnostics plays a pivotal role in personalized medicine.Precision MedicinePrecision medicine refers to the idea of customized healthcare, where medical decisions and treatments are tailored to the individual patient. Molecular diagnostics, companion diagnostics and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) play a pivotal role in this approach. Biomarker DiscoveryClinical biomarkers refer to substances related to known medical conditions that can be accurately measured <i>in vitro</i>. Biomarkers can be used to diagnose presence of a disease and indicate disease severity. The discovery of new biomarkers is incredibly valuable in the field of diagnostics.

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Owlstone medical enters collaboration to advance early disease detection using non-invasive breath biopsy