Professor Godfrey Grech with Kelvin Sun, Business Manager of Asia-Pacific Region, Sales & Marketing for Luminex Licensed Technologies Group at the Luminex xMAP meeting in Beijing.  

The breast cancer research group at the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, headed by Professor Godfrey Grech, developed an accurate and sensitive test to enhance the molecular classification of breast cancer using the Luminex xMAP technology. The Luminex technology provides the advantage of measuring in one single run (multiplex) more than 80 genes. The research group led by Professor Grech optimised the assay to utilise minimal amount of stored tissue material.

The novel test was presented as a Thermo Fisher web-based seminar and at the Luminex xMAP conferences in Amsterdam, Shanghai and Beijing, by Professor Grech in November 2017. The assay was also awarded the Luminex-JoVE publication grant. Dr Ruud Jorna, Key Account Manager, Luminex Licensed Technologies Group EMEIA said, 'Professor Grech has been a great advocate for multiplexing, as exemplified by his valuable contribution to our xMAP Connect events. We are confident that Professor’s Grech work will contribute towards a simpler and better way of diagnosing breast cancer.'

The commercialisation of this assay is underway, funded through the project 'Accurate Cancer Screening Tests (ACT)' financed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology through FUSION: The R&I Technology Development Programme 2016. The ACT project aims to provide technologies that are sensitive enough to monitor patients under treatment and to promote early diagnosis during screening.  

Note to editors: Prof. Grech may be contacted by email at: godfrey.grech@um.edu.mt