Vilnius University’s Life Sciences Center (LSC) and two companies – Caszyme and nSAGE – have launched a collaborative project titled E! Universal CRISPR-Based Diagnostic Platform (UNCOVER). The aim of this project is to develop a CRISPR-Cas-based diagnostic platform capable of rapidly and accurately detecting infectious diseases.
This platform is envisioned to be universal, user-friendly, suitable for both human and animal health diagnostics, and easily adaptable to a wide range of pathogens and disease biomarkers.
Dr. Gintautas Tamulaitis, who has over 14 years of experience in CRISPR-Cas research, will lead the scientific efforts at Vilnius University. He is the author of more than 30 scientific publications, including two in the journal Science, and a co-author of five European and U.S. patents. His pioneering work has revealed new mechanisms of bacterial antiviral signaling and elucidated the functioning of Type III CRISPR-Cas systems.
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| Dr. Gintautas Tamulaitis. VU nuotr. |
“By leveraging the natural signal amplification used in Type III CRISPR-Cas systems, we aim to develop a next-generation diagnostic platform that will be broadly applicable in healthcare and molecular diagnostics,” says Dr. Tamulaitis of the LSC.
The project will be implemented at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University, building on its extensive expertise in genome editing, biomolecular research, genomics, neurobiology, molecular disease mechanisms, and biotechnology.
“Partnership is a vital link that combines unique expertise with innovative solutions. By collaborating with nSAGE and Vilnius University, we can unlock the potential of CRISPR technology and transform it into practical diagnostic tools. The UNCOVER project perfectly reflects Caszyme’s commitment to creating high-quality CRISPR-based solutions,” says Dr. Monika Paulė, CEO and co-founder of Caszyme.
Project partners will utilize advanced bioinformatics and protein engineering technologies to identify new and improve existing Cas proteins, enhancing their sensitivity and specificity.
“To develop a more sensitive and accurate diagnostic platform, we will apply our expertise in bioinformatics and Cas protein engineering to systematically optimize the system,” explains Dr. Giedrius Gasiūnas, Chief Scientific Officer at Caszyme.
The developed platform will be tested using patient samples and will address a major gap in point-of-care diagnostics. It aims to significantly enhance disease detection capabilities both in Lithuania and globally.
“nSAGE’s long-term vision is to become a leader in diagnostics and gene therapy innovation, contributing to the future of precision medicine. In collaboration with Caszyme and Vilnius University, we aim to develop a highly sensitive diagnostic system that operates without the need for sample amplification. This technology will substantially improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, especially for infectious disease testing, and fill a critical gap in rapid, direct diagnostics,” says Bonghee Lee, CEO of nSAGE.
“Collaboration allows us to combine expertise with innovation and thus accelerate technological progress. Partnering with Caszyme and Vilnius University enables us to fully harness the potential of CRISPR technology. Our goal is to transform this versatility into practical diagnostic solutions,” adds Solji Park, Chief Scientific Officer at nSAGE.
The UNCOVER project began on April 1 and will run for three years.
The project E! Universal CRISPR-Based Diagnostic Platform (UNCOVER) is co-funded by the European Union (Project No. 7803) under an agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania.
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