Enable Biosciences Receives $1.5 M Grant from NIH/NIDDK for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection Test

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Jul 31, 2018, 08:44 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Enable Biosciences Inc has been awarded a two-year National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH/NIDDK) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant for $1.5 million to commercialize innovative technology by conducting research and development (R&D) work on low cost and multiplex tests for type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that affects over a million Americans. Over one in 300 children under age 18 are affected. Up to 40% of new T1D cases coincide with potentially deadly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA can be avoided by screening for autoantibody biomarkers, allowing doctors to intervene before major symptoms arise, but tests to detect these markers are generally considered too expensive for screening.

As a part of the award, Enable Biosciences is automating their Antibody Detection by Agglutination-PCR (ADAP) platform to reduce cost and increase throughput. With these improvements, Enable hopes to increase patient access to testing. Earlier detection of pre-diabetic individuals can improve overall care and link patients to clinical trials to potentially slow or halt progression to full type 1 diabetes.

"Developing new technologies to improve the lives of those with type 1 diabetes has been a part of Enable's DNA since its inception. We are pleased to receive NIH/NIDDK support to produce high-quality and accessible tests to allow physicians to intervene earlier and help patients with autoimmune diabetes lead healthier lives," said Cheng-Ting "Jason" Tsai, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Enable Biosciences.

About Enable Biosciences: Enable Biosciences is a San Francisco-based diagnostics startup commercializing technology from UC Berkeley and Stanford University. They are developing ultrasensitive and multiplex immunoassays to help diagnose diseases in the earliest and most effectively treatable stages. To read more about Enable, please visit www.enablebiosciences.com. For press inquiries, email [email protected] or call Peter Robinson, Ph.D. (415-967-1460).

SOURCE Enable Biosciences Inc