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U.S. Awards Grant to Develop Faster Anthrax Test
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded $1.2 million to a Massachusetts company to develop a faster anthrax detection test, the Bedford Minuteman reported today (see GSN, Nov. 11, 2004). The grant will allow Genomic Profiling Systems to “develop products to fulfill the need for rapid analysis in industrial microbiology and health care. These new technologies allow more accurate testing in the event of a bioterrorist attack,” according to a press release from Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). “Genomic Profiling Systems fulfills an essential role in improving the nation's preparedness against bioterrorism,” Kennedy said. “This grant will clearly enhance the nation's safety by facilitating earlier detection and treatment if an attack occurs. This cutting-edge technology is urgently needed in light of the obvious terrorist threat.” Money from the multiyear grant will be focused on developing a faster anthrax detector said Brian Musselman, a Genomic marketing consultant. “We can do other things, but we try to narrow these things down. The key thing is it’s rapid.” Genomic plans to use “Multipath” technology that can detect anthrax with only 60 cells, which is “thousands of times lower than current conventional strip tests,” according to the company. “Those are things that people like to hear, a small number of cells,” Musselman said (Paul Furfari, Bedford Minuteman, Aug. 4). Meanwhile, Avecia Biotechnology is looking for 400 people in the United Kingdom to test an updated version of the Biothrax anthrax vaccine (Nick Capehorn, icBerkshire, Aug. 4).
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