Quanterix Announces Recipients of Annual Accelerator Grant Program

Oct 3, 2019
PDF Version

 Winners of the second annual call for research proposals focuses on predictive biomarkers of neurodegeneration, neurological injury and inflammation in relation to cognitive functioning and brain connectivity among breast cancer survivors 

 BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2019-- Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ: QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis to advance the science of precision health, today announced Shelli Kesler, Ph.D., and Ashley Henneghan, Ph.D., MSN, from the School of Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin, as the winners of its annual Accelerator Grant Program for their research proposal, “Neurodegenerative and Inflammatory Predictors of Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients.” As recipients of the grant, Quanterix will award $50,000 toward the cost of their research in the company’s Accelerator Lab using Quanterix’ ultrasensitive Simoa technology.

“The Accelerator Grant Program is designed to help facilitate breakthroughs in science and medicine, and this was the most competitive selection process we’ve seen with a higher-than-anticipated number of proposals from prominent organizations and institutions around the world focused on oncology research,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of Quanterix. “We are proud to play a role in advancing the efforts of Drs. Kesler and Henneghan to prospectively evaluate predictive biomarkers of neurodegeneration, neurological injury and inflammation in relation to cognitive functioning and brain connectivity in a cohort of breast cancer survivors and healthy controls for the first time.”

Drs. Kesler and Henneghan are working to provide a way to evaluate neurotoxic effect of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients by measuring neuro biomarkers and inflammation markers to predict cognitive impairment due to chemotherapy. By analyzing proteins, adjustments to treatments can be made accordingly based on potential cognitive impairment.

Drs. Kesler and Henneghan have a long-term collaboration including funded projects involving peripheral biomarkers and cognitive-behavioral outcomes in patients with breast cancer. As a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, Dr. Kesler has expertise in cognitive neuroimaging research, which provides advanced statistical analysis of neuroimaging data with a focus on measures of functional and structural connectivity, including the application of graph theoretical analyses (connectomics) and machine learning. As an Assistant Professor, Dr. Henneghan has expertise in biomarkers associated with cancer-related cognitive impairment and has recently worked with the Accelerator Lab to run the Neuroplex-3 on samples from another study.

“We are thrilled to receive the Accelerator grant, whose funds will aid our efforts in moving the science of cancer-related cognitive impairment forward by utilizing the latest technology for biomarker assessment,” said Dr. Henneghan. “The ability to measure neurodegenerative biomarkers from peripheral blood is both cost effective and minimally invasive for our study participants. We are excited to incorporate these methods into our team’s research at UT Austin School of Nursing and hope to provide novel insights on the mechanisms of this adverse treatment effect.”

Quanterix’ state-of-the-art Accelerator Lab is a dedicated CLIA-certified laboratory environment for custom assay development and clinical sample testing. Staffed with a large team of scientists dedicated exclusively to Accelerator projects, to which grant recipients will also have access, the Lab offers some of the greatest ultra-sensitive assay development and instrument operation experiences available. Since its launch in 2014, the Lab has powered considerable advancements in disease detection and drug development, helping researchers obtain quick, robust data that would otherwise take more time and added resources.

“Drs. Kesler and Henneghan captivated our team with their proposal focused on neurodegeneration and cognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors,” continued Hrusovsky. “Their application is truly innovative and we look forward to watching as they conduct this groundbreaking research through the Accelerator Grant Program with the science of Simoa.”

To learn more about the Accelerator Grant Program, click here.

 About Quanterix 
Quanterix is a company that’s digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health. The company’s digital health solution, Simoa, has the potential to change the way in which healthcare is provided today by giving researchers the ability to closely examine the continuum from health to disease. Quanterix’ technology is designed to enable much earlier disease detection, better prognoses and enhanced treatment methods to improve the quality of life and longevity of the population for generations to come. The technology is currently being used for research applications in several therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation and infectious disease. The company was established in 2007 and is located in Lexington, Massachusetts. For additional Information, please visit https://www.quanterix.com.

 Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release are based on Quanterix’ expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause Quanterix’ actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Quanterix’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" sections contained therein. Except as required by law, Quanterix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available. 

Source: Quanterix Corporation

PAN Communications
Erin Smith, 617-502-4300
quanterix@pancomm.com