The Custom BioPharma Solutions Group at Beckman Coulter has been awarded renewed funding for two separate grants associated with the development of a simple, affordable point-of-care (POC) test for monitoring CD4 lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings. The grants were awarded to Beckman Coulter by Imperial College, London's CD4 Initiative, which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The renewal of both grants was based on successful completion of all milestones within defined timelines in year one. "Given this optimism [of the Steering Committee], we are pleased to tell you that we will continue to fund your projects in 2008 … congratulations and thanks again for your hard work in 2007," said Steven Reid, Ph.D., CD4 Initiative director.
The first grant, awarded in February of 2007, was intended for the evaluation and characterization of Beckman Coulter's quality assurance and quality control cellular materials for extended stability at elevated temperatures, representative of extreme environmental conditions in resource-limited settings like Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies carried out in year one have resulted in the successful identification and characterization of such elevated temperature stable control cell material. The renewed funding in year two is intended to further improve the stability of the identified control cell material and evaluate its utility in the envisaged POC assay.
The second grant, awarded in May 2007, was intended for the research and development of a semi-quantitative POC test to monitor CD4 lymphocytes in finger-prick blood of HIV-infected individuals. Studies carried out in year one were the first of its kind and defined the feasibility of such a cell-based POC assay using three different strategies. The renewed funding in year two is intended to further progress the R&D activities associated with this assay.
The goal is to develop, manufacture and distribute the robust POC test within four years of the start of the R&D activities at Beckman Coulter for use in resource-poor countries to assess prognosis and aid in treatment decisions for HIV/AIDS patients.
"Dr. Sybil D'Costa and her team have made remarkable progress in a short period of time and we continue to be optimistic that we will meet our overall objective," said Wade Bolton, Ph.D., vice president, Custom BioPharma Solutions and Services. |
