NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) — Freenome and the Medical University of Graz in Austria announced today that they have established a laboratory to investigate cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and other bloodborne molecules as cancer biomarkers, with the goal of advancing early detection and personalized treatment for the disease.
The lab — which is receiving an undisclosed amount of funding from Freenome, the Austrian government, and the Christian Doppler Research Association — will use the company's proprietary artificial intelligence genomics technology to investigate the role of cfDNA and other cell-free biomarkers in cancer. It will be located at the university.
"One area of focus will be expanding our understanding of the significance of nucleosome footprints, which are key to the dynamics of gene expression and the patient's immune system response to the presence of cancer," Freenome CSO Imran Haque said in a statement. "The Medical University of Graz has been a leader in this important research, and we’re excited to deepen our collaboration."
Earlier this year, France's Institut Curie began testing Freenome's AI technology for studying changes in circulating cell-free DNA to predict patient response to immuno-oncology treatments. The company also recently inked a deal for its technology with Qiagen.