Having the Scientific Mind, Sustaining the Entrepreneur Spirit
Every great discovery needs to be attached with a value – value for the society, for the greater good. This is exactly what Dyamed did.
The year marks a good start for research commercialization (translation research), as Dyamed licenses Lab-in-a-Catridge, “MicroKit”, from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), on January 16 2009 (Media release). With this latest technology commercialization venture, Dyamed will set up a spin-off company to develop a wide range of novel diagnostic tools. This is part of its agreement with Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL) , the commercialization arm of A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research).
MicroKit, is proudly developed by a scientific team, which is led by Professor Jackie Y. Ying, IBN Executive Director. This diagnostic system is capable of early stage diseases diagnosis from raw biological samples, for cancer, avian flu and many other infectious diseases. Overall, it is sensitive, accurate, easy to operate, allowing flexibility of usage by non-clinical personal, and is proficient of handling a wide variety of samples, including tissues and body fluids. It is advantageous over conventional laboratory testing due to its speed and being a disposable, self-contained system in compact cartridge loaded with reagents.
The dynamics of such unique diagnostic device will make detection and treatment of diseases at early stages possible. Thus, this will increase the chances of patients to fight against the disease at a more controllable stage, thereby greatly enhancing the potential of regaining their health in the long run.
With the ambition to distribute quality medical devices in Asia Pacific, Theodore and Rose Tan established Dyamed in 1998. It aims to develop a wide range of diagnostic kits based on MicroKit, with the target of introducing ‘MicroKit AlO’ as its first product in 2010.
At large, Dyamed’s foresight and its technopreneurship is wholly admirable. This will definitely spark off large encouragements for homegrown SMEs to keep their spirits high even in face with this economic turmoil.
Hurray for Dyamed!
Photo: Flickr/blood-preasure
Yes, Hurray. It is indeed good news to hear inventions from our homegrown research institutes being licensed.
Saw the exact product (real small and handy), MicroKit, at one of the IBN Open House sometime ago and the researcher was boasting of how this diagnostic kit would make diagnostic testing at customs very easy to administer. This way we can keep infectious diseases at bay right from the airport/terminals etc. Since the MicroKit allows flexibility of usage by non-clinical personnel, customs officers can simply do the job.
However I do wonder if cost of the MicroKit per unit would justify its implementation at the airports.. especially when we are talking about testing of bulk immigrants every day.
yup..it is indeed gd news to hear inventions from our homegrown research institutes being licensed.
Since it is an easy-use product, I agreed that it will be gd if the kit can be use in airports and immigration gantries to prevent diseases from coming in without detection and able to aid the carriers with our world class medical care. As for the costing, it will be justify its implementation because with recent health issues, prevention is better than curing. Cost will be kept as low as possible because its done locally, without hurting its quality.
yup..it is indeed gd news to hear inventions from our homegrown research institutes being licensed.
Since it is an easy-use product, I agreed that it will be gd if the kit can be use in airports and immigration gantries to prevent diseases from coming in without detection and able to aid the carriers with our world class medical care. As for the costing, it will be justify its implementation because with recent health issues, prevention is better than curing. Cost will be kept as low as possible because its done locally, without hurting its quality.