BEER-SHEVA, Israel, Oct. 2, 2017 -- BGN, the technology-transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), is collaborating with Singapore-based Ram Group to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic sensor for earlier detection and treatment of cancer and other diseases than is possible today.
The goal is to develop a sensor that will detect specific antibodies that are known to be signs of emerging diseases in the blood at very low and previously undetectable concentrations.
The research project is being led by Prof. Gabby Sarousi in the BGU Unit of Electro-Optical Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology.
"We are adapting existing sensor technologies to be able to detect very small amounts of chemical and biological components in fluids and in gas, in concentrations that are much lower than PPB (parts-per-billion)," says Prof. Sarusi. "The results will render any potential treatment, including chemotherapy, much more effective than today, since it will be conducted on cancer at such an early stage that it has yet to manifest itself as a visible tumor."
The sensor will be comprised of a miniature light waveguide ring with a diameter of a few hundred micrometers fabricated on a semiconductor chip and coated with chemical or biological receptors. When a tiny amount of liquid such as blood is placed on the ring, the receptors identify and attract the chemical component, i.e. antibodies, which are then identified using optical wavelength analysis.
"The sensor we are developing for RAM Group can be used in two different ways: 100 percent optical sensing or one that combines optical sensing with an electronic sensor," Prof. Sarusi says.
"We welcome the strong collaboration with RAM Group, which has R&D facilities in Israel," says Zafrir Levi, vice president of business development at BGN. "This technology is another example of the state-of-the-art applied science created here in BGU's labs."
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About Ram Group
Founded in 2010, Ram Group aims to revolutionize sensors and analytics technology across the Internet-of-Things and healthcare industries. Headquartered in Singapore, the firm has R&D facilities in Germany and Israel. The company's research has been protected by a wide range of patents, and its staff has been published in over 60 respected medical and scientific journals worldwide. In 2016, RAM Group won the "High-Technology Innovation Competition" for 2016, awarded by the German Federal Ministry of Research for the validation of the company's non-invasive continuous hemodynamic and vital-signs monitoring healthcare platform. This prestigious award is annually sought by some 100 of the top biotech companies in Germany. Visit the company website at http://www.ram.group.
About BGN Technologies
BGN Technologies is the business and technology-transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel. Located in the heart of the University's Advanced Technologies Park, BGN Technologies is the driving force behind industry-academia collaborations, and supports the University's mission of cultivating a high-tech eco-system within the Negev region. With a track record of over 100 startup companies, as well as partnerships in technology incubators and accelerators, BGN Technologies brings inventions from the labs to the market by fostering research collaborations and entrepreneurship among researchers and students. During the past decade, BGN Technologies focused on creating long-term partnerships with dozens of companies, including multinationals such as: Deutsche Telekom, Dell-EMC, Lockheed Martin, and PayPal, securing value and growth to a diverse ecosystem that surrounds BGU. For more information, visit the BGN Technologies website.
About American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) looks ahead to turning 50 in 2020, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more.
AABGU, which is headquartered in Manhattan, has nine regional offices throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.aabgu.org.