Seegene, a leading South Korean company providing a total solution for PCR molecular diagnostics, unveiled today its ‘Open Innovation Program powered by Seegene (Open Innovation Program)’ in partnership with Springer Nature, a world-leading provider of services to the research community.
The inaugural program is available globally and is the first step in empowering experts, scientists, and clinicians to develop syndromic quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays across all fields.
The ‘Open Innovation Program’ is a part of the Seegene OneSystem business aimed at creating a world free from all diseases – through development of diagnostic products and early diagnosis in all fields, including cancer and infectious diseases, not limited to humans but for all organisms. To achieve this goal, the Seegene OneSystem business will share Seegene’s technology and expertise accumulated over 20 years with global partners and enable scientists around the world to develop new diagnostic products for all diseases.
The inaugural ‘Open Innovation Program’ consists of 15 projects to develop 15 syndromic qPCR diagnostics assay reagents across infectious and vector-borne diseases, as well as in the detection of drug-resistant pathogens. Applications may be submitted by Oct. 31, 2023, and following a comprehensive assessment of applications, awardees will be announced on March 15, 2024.
Applicants must comprise teams of two or more individuals employed or affiliated with a university, research institute or similar organization authorized to perform pre-clinical and clinical studies. Along with research grants of up to 600,000 USD per project, the awardees will be provided with Seegene’s syndromic qPCR reagents, extraction reagents, consumables, education on clinical study methods, instruments, and software for automated experimentation at no cost to use and perform pre-clinical and clinical studies for defined target pathogens during the study period.
Commenting on the format of the program, Dr. Dae-Hoon Lee, Seegene’s Executive Vice President and Chief R&D Officer said, “As this is the first phase of the Open Innovation Program, Seegene will lead the majority of the program – product design, product development planning, and feasibility studies without clinical specimens – so the awardees can focus on conducting preclinical and clinical studies with clinical specimens.
“In the next phase, awardees will utilize Seegene Digitalized Development System (SGDDS) to conduct the entire development program from product designs to clinical validations.”
Prior to unveiling the ‘Open Innovation Program,’ Seegene announced its strategic partnership agreement with Springer Nature in June 2023. Through the agreement, Springer Nature is introducing the Seegene OneSystem™ business to the global scientific community to actively participate in developing new assays within a global network across all fields.
Source: Company Press Release
