South Korea-based Seegene, in collaboration with Springer Nature, has announced the 'Open Innovation Program powered by Seegene' (Open Innovation Program) for the development of syndromic quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays.
Available across the globe, the programme will enable scientists, clinicians and experts to develop the assays across all fields.
It will include 15 projects for the development of 15 syndromic qPCR diagnostics assay reagents across vector-borne and infectious diseases, in addition to aiding in the identification of drug-resistant pathogens.
These projects will be covered under different categories such as sexually transmitted infections, dermatophytes, urinary tract infections and vaginitis screening, including Group B streptococcus.
Other categories include respiratory panel, tick-borne disease, tropical fever virus, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant organisms.
As part of the programme, awardees will be selected by March next year following a comprehensive assessment of applications.
This programme is part of the Seegene OneSystem business, which focuses on the development of diagnostic products and early diagnosis in all fields, including cancer and infectious diseases.
Seegene chief R&D officer and executive vice-president Dr Dae-Hoon Lee said: “As this is the first phase of the Open Innovation Program, Seegene will lead the majority of the programme – product design, product development planning and feasibility studies without clinical specimens - so the awardees can focus on conducting preclinical and clinical studies with clinical specimens.
“In the next phase, awardees will utilise Seegene Digitalised Development System (SGDDS) to conduct the entire development programme, from product designs to clinical validations.”
In June this year, Seegene entered a strategic partnership agreement with Springer Nature, which will enable the latter to introduce the Seegene OneSystem business to the global scientific community for the development of new assays.
