How a $2M Grant Could Change the Way Autism Is Diagnosed

Early treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can significantly improve the lives of affected children and their families, but diagnosing the disorder is often a challenge. A company in Syracuse, NY has developed an epigenetic test that could facilitate the early diagnosis of ASD, however, and in turn accelerate access to treatment. The technology, developed by Quadrant Biosciences, managed to impress a panel of grant reviewers, landing the company a $2 million small business technology transfer (STTR) grant from the National Institutes of Health. The funds are expected to help the company refine the technology and bring it to market.  STTR grants are meant to facilitate the translation of promising technologies to the private sector and ultimately provide beneficial healthcare innovations to consumers. The technology was developed in partnership with researchers at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and Quadrant Biosciences. "This grant will allow us to validate epigenetic technology with the power to dramatically advance autism assessment," said Steven Hicks, MD, PhD, a researcher at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. “I am honored to play a part in this groundbreaking work.” Quadrant and the company’s collaborators recently completed an NIH-funded study that included more than 500 children between the ages of...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: IVD Source Type: news