Drexel University QLISA technology is a new in vitro diagnostic test for highly sensitive detection of inflammatory biomarkers and differentiation of irritable bowel disease (IBD) vs. irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
QLISA uses quantum dots to measure inflammatory biomarkers and represents a superior alternative to ELISA technique by requiring much smaller sample volumes and simpler assay protocol while preserving ELISA’s sensitivity. These unique features translate into significant practical advantages of using QLISA as a platform for in vitro diagnostics applications. The initial application of QLISA being developed at Drexel is a diagnostic test discriminating between IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (irritable bowel disease).
QLISA Detection System
Image credit Drexel University
As many as 4 million people worldwide (1 million Americans) suffer from a form of IBD and more than 15 million have IBS, with estimated medical costs in the USA at over $2 billion/yr when adjusted for loss of productivity. IBD refers to two chronic diseases of intestinal inflammation: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Diagnosing these diseases is an expensive and lengthy process requiring knowledge of medical history, blood tests, X-rays, endoscopy, tissue histopathology and testing of stool samples.
As a result, early differentiation of IBS vs. IBD is difficult, which leads to unnecessary excessive testing of IBS patients and significant delays in much needed treatment of IBD patients. Thus, there is a critical need to develop a rapid, low cost, reliable diagnostic test to differentiate common intestinal symptoms of IBS from IBD, to monitor remission and relapses of IBD, and to evaluate success of or need to change medication.
The QLISA technology circumvents issues related to sampling and is envisioned for use in a clinical lab environment as a platform for a broad variety of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests, including IBD vs. IBS. It can also be used as a research tool in animal experiments and forensic setting where sample size is small. The QLISA Technology is available for licensing from Drexel University
Differentiating IBD from IBS is critical not only for immediate selection of appropriate treatment but also for monitoring the future health of the patient. Specifically, ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of IBD which affects the inner lining of colon, can progress to colorectal cancer. Compared to the general population, patients diagnosed with UC are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer, with increasing risk by 1% per year since the onset of the disease. A recent study indicates that patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), another form of IBD which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, are equally at risk for colorectal cancer. IBS on the other hand, does not cause inflammation, does not lead to cancer, nor does it require frequent hospitalization and surgery.
However, the symptoms of IBS and IBD are so similar that it is possible to misdiagnose IBS for IBD without using expensive, mostly invasive procedures. Conclusive assessment of IBD versus IBS may necessitate tests such as colonoscopy, barium enema, upper endoscopy, X-ray and sigmoidoscopy and usually takes many months to complete. These assessments with the exception of X-Ray are mostly invasive. There is, therefore, an unmet need for a technology to differentiate IBD from IBS in a cost effective and non-invasive manner at early stages of patient evaluation.
Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems is an integral part and a driver of the regional economy. The focus of the School of Biomedical Engineering on translational research resulted in several ground breaking biomedical innovations. It is the goal of Drexel University to license those technologies either to established corporations or start-up companies to move those innovations from bench to bedside.
For licensing information please contact:
Alexey Melishchuk, PhD, Associate Director, Licensing
Office for Technology Commercialization
Drexel University
3225 Arch Street, Ground Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-895-0304
Fax: 215-895-0310
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