4:42 p.m., Nov. 6, 2008----The University of Delaware and Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (SDI) have signed a partnership agreement to develop biomarkers that detect prostate cancer metastasis. The agreement was facilitated by the University's Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships.

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The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center will become a collaborator on the project under an existing agreement between the University and Christiana Care Health System.

Scientific findings suggest that cancer cells implanting in normal tissue of the body cause damage to surrounding proteins upon breaking away from the primary tumor, leaving behind protein molecule fragments. These fragments are indicators that the cancer has metastasized.

SDI will work to develop antibodies to detect the protein fragments left by the invading cancer cells. The results of tests that employ such antibodies would help determine the stage and severity of the cancer, and allow medical professionals to develop effective treatment options for patients with metastatic disease.

Mary C. (Cindy) Farach-Carson, University of Delaware professor of biological sciences and materials science and engineering who also serves as director of the Center for Translational Cancer Research, has been conducting research in the area of prostate cancer metastasis, which will be the focus of the collaboration with SDI.

Significant funding for the Center for Translational Cancer Research was provided by the state, the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute and the NIH National Center for Research Resources IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Initiative.

The center is a collaborative initiative among the state of Delaware, the University of Delaware, the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.

The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center is one of only 14 National Cancer Institute centers in the United States. The Center is renowned for its achievements in the field of cancer studies and treatment.
SDI officials said they believe that their Genomic Antibody Technology^TM is well suited to the field of cancer metastasis and the company expects to work very closely with the Graham Center on this groundbreaking project.

“We are extremely excited about this collaboration with the University of Delaware and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center,” Francis M. DiNuzzo, president and chief executive officer of SDI, said. “Cindy and her team are doing breakthrough research in the area of biomarker discovery. The applications of SDI's Genomic Antibody Technology^TM in fields such as cancer biomarker discovery represent an important opportunity for us to further demonstrate the efficacy of our technology platform. We look forward to contributing to this critical scientific research with the University and the center.”

David S. Weir, director of the University of Delaware Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships, echoed DiNuzzo's comments on the importance of this partnership. “It is a perfect triple play,” Weir said. “It benefits SDI and is another important step in building a biomedical research and business capability in the state. This partnership is clear evidence of the importance of deploying the University's knowledge-based assets for economic and community benefit with SDI's technology being a strong value driver.”

Farach-Carson added, “Working with the scientists at SDI affords us at UD and the Center for Translational Cancer Research opportunities to translate discoveries in the laboratory to useful diagnostics for cancer patients.”

Dr. Nicholas Petrelli, medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, said, “This collaborative effort between SDI, the University of Delaware and the Graham Center is an example of the successful establishment of the Center for Translational Research, which will not only succeed in helping in the care of patients, but also in establishing new jobs in the state.”

The University of Delaware Office of Economic Innovation &
Partnerships serves as a gateway to enable entrepreneurship and innovation by leveraging the University's knowledge-based assets in partnership with industry, government and other academic institutions.

SDI is a leading provider of antibody technology to the life science market place. Additionally the company provides biotechnology-based detection solutions for a broad range of food, water, agricultural and environmental applications.