Digitizing RNA

RNA measurement made fast and easy at scale with single-molecule accuracy

Our Mission

Cambridge Nucleomics is a biotech spinoff from the University of Cambridge. We help big pharmas, biotech companies and clinical researchers with a unique value proposition for accurate, fast and direct quantification of native RNA. Our mission is to quantify all short and long RNAs in one simple measurement by 2025, with the vision to build an innovative platform technology company for the RNA era of personalised and precision medicine.

The Challenge

Current RNA detection and quantification methods suffer from biases and errors, long running time, complicated protocols, low multiplexing and high cost. These problems are exacerbated for short non-coding RNA, such as miRNA, due to the need for enzymatic modifications of the target prior to processing.

Our Proprietary Technology Solution

With our proprietary nanostructure design technology, we are able to customise molecular probes that recognise specific nucleic acid molecules and detect them natively. Given a target RNA sequence, we design molecular probes that recognise the target. Specific signals from the resulting sample are then "digitised" by using a mature single-molecule readout technique.

This powerful technology, protected by two recently-filed patents, allows accurate, fast, high-multiplexed, simple, and most importantly direct measurement of the original target molecules without complicated sample processing. The platform technology not only overcomes current pain-points in RNA detection and quantification but is also suitable for the detection of other biomolecules such as DNA.

Applications

Accurate RNA Quantification

Fast and direct measurement of native RNA molecules, including short non-coding RNA, e.g. miRNA

Drug Discovery

Quantifying RNA in drug development more accurately, for all new drug modalities based on nucleotides, such as RNA

RNA-based Diagnostics and Prognosis

More accurate detection and quantification of RNA will allow better diagnostics and prognosis of various diseases, such as cancers

Founding Team

Prof Ulrich Keyser

Professor of Applied Physics, Ulrich is a pioneer in DNA nanotechnologies, DNA origami, biosensing via solid state nanopore technologies with almost two decades of R&D experience.

Mohammed Alawami

Former co-founder of two biotech companies, Mohammed is studying for a PhD in Physics with more than 5 years of multinational business development experience.

Dr Hendrik Runge

Hendrik gained extensive sequencing experience from his PhD in haematological malignancies at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. He has raised funding for his previous social venture and worked with the healthcare accelerator Start Codon in Cambridge.

Advisors

Prof Tuomas Knowles

Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics at University of Cambridge, Tuomas is co-founder of multiple Cambridge biotech startups (e.g. Transition Bio, Xampla, Fluidic Analytics, Wren Therapeutics).

Dr Richard Parmee

Dr Richard Parmee is a Cambridge Angel. He is also Director of Cheyney Group, Investor Director of Sorex Sensors and Director of Cambridge Mask Co.

Meet Our Partners

As a spin-out of Cambridge University from The Keyser Lab, we are proud to be supported by the Impulse programme at the Maxwell Centre for technology innovators and the Cancer Tech Accelerator by Cancer Research UK and Roche.

We have also received grants from Santander Universities in the Accelerate Cambridge programme - the flagship startup accelerator at the Judge Business School, in addition to support from Downing Enterprise.

Contact Us

For investment, support, and collaboration please contact us. Do follow us on LinkedIn.