Case Studies
Indoor Biotechnologies
The Opportunity
Millions of individuals suffer from allergies and allergy-related conditions. Detecting and assessing the presence of, and exposure to, allergens and other environmental pollutants, especially indoors, is key to understanding and treating allergic diseases including asthma. Up until now, the standard method for monitoring and measuring the dispersal of indoor allergens in the home has been through the use of the enzyme immunoassay ELISA.
While ELISA assays have proved instrumental in establishing the role of indoor allergens in causing asthma and other allergic diseases, they also come with limitations. With ELISA, each allergen has to be tested individually — significantly slowing the discovery process.
In an effort to accelerate the study of indoor allergens and thus treatment for allergic diseases, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) funded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to apply multiplex technology to the detection of indoor allergens. Partnering with Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc., Radix BioSolutions responded to the call and captured the opportunity.
The Challenge
An innovative immunodiagnostics company, Indoor Biotechnologies had developed numerous reagents and kits used for performing ELISA tests to detect allergens. As such, they had experienced first-hand the disadvantages of being able to test only one allergen at a time. Indoor Biotechnologies needed a way to test multiple allergens in one sample — reducing their sample volume and reagent requirements, while also conserving their time. Indoor Biotechnologies turned to Radix BioSolutions for the solution.
The Solution
Leveraging our novel, proprietary Luminex xMAP® multiplex assay technology and specialized expertise in developing multiplexed assays, Radix BioSolutions collaborated with Indoor Biotechnologies to develop and deliver custom assays that allow for the testing of eleven different allergens. Using these assays, all eleven allergens could be tested simultaneously, in one sample and in low volumes — saving Indoor Biotechnologies significant resources as well as time.
Explains Martin Chapman, Indoor Biotechnologies CEO, "We always had great assays, but by leveraging Radix BioSolutions and their capabilities with xMAP technology, we created a product that has been well accepted by the market and uptake has been terrific!"
The Results
As a result of our collaboration, NIEHS awarded us fast track SBIR Phase I and Phase II funding. Our successful collaboration with Indoor Biotechnologies continues. Speaking of their successful partnership, Radix BioSolutions CEO Kerry Oliver points out, "Indoor saw the value of multiplexing and the power of xMAP technology. Our collaboration was both interesting and useful. We combined the strength of their reagents with our xMAP know-how for a successful outcome for the market."
