Cancer Blood Test Spinout is Awarded £1.25m in Funding

A spinout founded by Trinity Lecturer in Biochemistry James Larkin has been awarded £1.25m in Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst funding.

The grant will allow Oxomics to accelerate the development of its AI and metabolite-based cancer detection technology. Oxomics technology diagnoses cancer using a simple, universal blood test, coupled with machine learning which identifies cancer-specific patterns of small molecules in the blood called metabolites. Its test will fit into existing patient care pathways and offers rapid earlier diagnoses, allowing referral of the right patients for the right imaging at the right time, improving patient outcomes.

The technology is based on Dr Larkin’s development of a blood test that can be used to detect a range of cancers and whether these cancers have spread (metastasised) in the body. The test shows promise to help clinicians detect cancer and assess cancer stage in the future. Unlike many blood-based tests for cancer, which detect genetic material from tumours, this test uses a technique called NMR metabolomics, which uses high magnetic fields and radio waves to profile levels of natural chemicals (metabolites) in the blood.

Dr James Larkin, CEO and co-founder, said: ‘This is a fantastic achievement for all the team and will be absolutely transformative for our ability to drive our technology development. I’m looking forward to the day where our test is available for every doctor and patient who needs it.’

Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency which supports business-led innovation; its Biomedical Catalyst is a grant funding mechanism that helps small and medium sized businesses test and develop innovative health and care solutions across life sciences.