N2CR member Associate Professor Too Heng-Phon, who co-foundered biotech firm MiRXES with two of his former PhD students, Dr Zhou Lihan and Dr Zhou Ruiyang, has developed a test kit for the early detection of gastric cancer. This test kit uses blood-based microRNA (miRNAs) in liquid biopsy, which serve as biomarkers for the early detection of cancers. The miRNAs are able to highlight tumours present in the blood.

A/Prof Too first conceived the idea to develop these tests back in 2010 when the firm first started. Research into MiRNAs were very nascent at that point in time and thus, it was difficult to secure steady funding to create these test kits. Hard work and longstanding perseverance of the team has allowed MiRXES to receive over a $100 million in funding from various organizations since then, which in turn has provided a secure base for the firm to continue to develop accurate multi-cancer early detection solutions.

Click on the link below to read more about their pioneering research:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/s-pore-firm-comes-up-with-world-s-first-molecular-blood-test-for-early-detection-of-gastric-cancer