Tagomics secures £860k grant to advance colorectal cancer detection platform
Tagomics Ltd has secured £860,000 in Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst funding to develop a sophisticated diagnostic test for early colorectal cancer detection, forming part of a £1.2 million project that could transform cancer screening capabilities. The Cambridge-based biomarker discovery company will customise its proprietary Interlace platform to identify genetic and epigenetic mutations associated with colorectal malignancies.
Novel multiomics approach targets cancer biomarkers
The Interlace platform represents a distinctive advancement in epigenetic profiling technology, utilising a unique methodology that enriches unmethylated DNA for analysis whilst preserving the underlying DNA sequence integrity. This multiomics workflow generates comprehensive disease-associated biomarker profiles, enabling researchers to detect molecular signatures that conventional diagnostic approaches might overlook.
The funding will facilitate development of new analytical models for processing patient multiomics profiles and identifying previously uncharacterised disease biomarkers. This approach addresses critical gaps in current colorectal cancer detection methods, potentially enabling intervention during the earliest stages of tumour development when therapeutic options are most effective.
Clinical validation study launches with NHS partnership
Dr Arash Assadsangabi, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, will lead a pilot study involving 250 patients suspected of harbouring colorectal cancer. The clinical validation programme, conducted in collaboration with the Northern Care Alliance Research Collection biobank, aims to demonstrate the practical utility of multiomics profiling in routine clinical practice.
“We are delighted to have been awarded the Biomedical Catalyst grant as part of the Innovate UK programme, recognising the potential of our multiomic workflow in novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies,” said Dr Robert Neely, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Tagomics. “We believe that the unique, information-rich dataset that Interlace provides us will be pivotal in detecting colorectal cancer at the earliest possible stages of development, enabling treatment of the cancer when it is most vulnerable to modern therapeutics, with the aim of dramatically improving patient outcomes.”
Strategic partnership expands platform capabilities
Following project completion, Tagomics will enhance Interlace capabilities through its established partnership with Agilent Technologies, leveraging SureSelect target enrichment solutions. Dr Rita Shaknovich, Chief Medical Officer at Agilent Technologies, noted: “The Biomedical Catalyst grant is a fantastic achievement for Tagomics, reflecting the enormous potential for its novel multiomics workflow in the early detection of cancers.”
