London - DNA Electronics Ltd, a developer of disposable, real-time gene testing at the point-of-care, has been showcased as an exemplary healthcare technology innovator at the launch of the Government's Life Sciences Blueprint - a range of initiatives aimed at ensuring the UK remains a world-leading location to build and grow life science and biotechnology companies.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined UK Minister for Science and Innovation Lord Drayson, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills Lord Mandelson, and Health Minister Lord Darzi for the launch of the report at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London on Tuesday 14th July.

The Government's Life Sciences Blueprint outlines a series of actions agreed across government and with industry to foster a more integrated life sciences industry - combining diagnostic tools with new drugs and new devices to create medical breakthroughs and drive quality and value for money within the high-growth healthcare sector.
Dr Leila Shepherd, Chief Technology Officer and Sam Reed, Director of Product Development for DNA Electronics, demonstrated the company's SNP Dr (pronounced 'snip doctor') innovation to the Prime Minister during the visit. The SNP Dr is a breakthrough silicon chip-based device that offers fast and accurate spot test results for specific DNA sequences that indicate how we are likely to respond to certain drugs. The device is currently being trialed in partnership with global pharmaceutical company Pfizer. DNA Electronics was co-founded by Professor Chris Toumazou FRS, inventor of the technology and now CEO of the company. The core technology, based upon switching transistors on and off with DNA, has led to the world's first DNA logic on standard CMOS technology, one of the company's recently demonstrated technical milestones.

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman & CEO, Genting Berhad, and a major investor in DNA Electronics, commented: "I believe that the marriage of semiconductors and DNA detection pioneered by Professor Toumazou will pave the way for a better understanding of disease and new ways of early detection. We see also enormous business potential by strategically helping DNA Electronics to maximise the value of the SNP Dr to the individual. I am delighted to have made this investment."

Commenting on the Prime Ministerial visit, Professor Toumazou, who is also Director and Chief Scientist of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London, said: "The merger between the semiconductor and biotechnology industries is creating untold opportunities for bringing disruptive translational technology to market. By pioneering semiconductor chips that can switch on and off with DNA, our company is at the vanguard of a wave of innovation that will culminate in a very different model of healthcare delivery - focused on early detection, monitoring and personalised therapy. This will be the future of healthcare, and DNA Electronics is a prime example of the breakthrough global technology platforms that can be created by harnessing an interdisciplinary approach to biotechnology innovation."

More HCB News