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An Edinburgh-based spinout has secured \u00a31.2 million to explore how its technology could provide new insights into women\u2019s hormone-related conditions and support improved diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
K?hu SiliconBio, founded by scientists Dr James Flewellen and Prof Teuta Pilizota, is commercialising research from the University of Edinburgh\u2019s Centre for Engineering Biology, building on earlier work backed by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).<\/p>\n
The funding, awarded by the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIN-D), will support the development of the company\u2019s next prototype as it adapts its technology for women\u2019s health applications.<\/p>\n
Unlike traditional hormone tests, which typically provide a single measurement at one point in time, K?hu SiliconBio\u2019s technology is designed to track hormone levels throughout the day, creating a more detailed picture of how they change in response to factors such as sleep, stress, nutrition and the menstrual cycle.<\/p>\n
Dr Flewellen said:\u00a0\u201cHormones play a fundamental role in health, but we still have limited visibility into how they change throughout our lives and how those fluctuations relate to disease. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis funding will help us take an important step towards creating a new type of biological sensor that could give both researchers and patients a much deeper understanding of hormone patterns and their impact on women\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since launching, K?hu SiliconBio has secured support from a range of innovation funding programmes, including Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK, Silicon Catalyst UK and the Roslin Institute Campus Innovation Account. <\/p>\n
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue refining its prototype, expand its team and establish new research and clinical partnerships.<\/p>\n
Dr Liz Fletcher, impact director and deputy chief executive at IBioIC, added:\u00a0\u201cKahu SiliconBio is a strong example of how research-driven innovation can evolve into technology with the potential to address real-world challenges. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe company\u2019s progress demonstrates the value of collaboration between academia, industry and innovation organisations, and it\u2019s exciting to see its work gaining international recognition as it moves towards new healthcare applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
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